Early this year I decided to go back to Iceland to join Tweed Ride Reykjavik 2023. I enjoyed the event so much back in 2019 when I did the Nordic Tweed tour. That my plan was to return the year after, in 2020. But due to the pandemic that struck the world and other things, it took me until this year to return to Reykjavik.

The 2023 event was scheduled for 3rd of June, a perfect time for a weekend vacation filled with tweed and bicycles. My plan was to bring along my old 1927 Crescent for the event. Since the old bicycle already have been on several tweed events all over the Nordic countries along the years, it would been fun to bring it along to Iceland.

When researching on how to transport a bicycle by air-plane, having a special box, removing pedals and handlebars and so on. I felt that it was a little to much for me, after all, I still have haunting memories from my infamous Finland experience back in 2019. That time when I decided to carry the old 1927 Crescent bicycle in a bag onboard the ferry like normal luggage. If it did not work then, how would it work out now? Carrying the bicycle to the airport and checking it in as a luggage? No, I had to come up with something else.

The answer was as simple as it was logic. Last time when I joined Tweed Ride Reykjavik I rented a bicycle from Jón Óli Ólafsson at Reiðhjólaverzlunin Berlin, the organiser of the tweed event who also owns a bicycle shop. I simply wrote a mail to him and asked if I could rent a bicycle again. That was no problem at all, I was welcome to rent a bicycle for the ride, just to pick it up on the same day just before the event.

I left the Crescent at home and took a flight to the magical island of Iceland with out a bicycle in the luggage. Sometimes the simple solution is the best.

The day of the ride the weather was a little bit grey and cold, just perfect weather for tweed. After a short walk from the hotel in Reykjavik city center I arrived at Reiðhjólaverzlunin Berlin bicycle shop, where I met the owner Jón Óli. It was really nice to meet him again after all those years, it almost felt like it only had been a few weeks since we meet the last time. He showed my the bicycle for the day.

The bicycle was a classic roadster in a “Holland” style with seven gears. The roadster is a style of standard bicycle, where you sit in a upright position while riding. The Holland style is a version of the roadster, along with its long handels on the handlebars, it almost makes you lean backwards when riding the bicycle. Indeed a very comfortable riding position, along with the seven gears the ride was as easy as relaxed.

Whilst I was at the shop I was also handed my starting number for the ride. Jón Óli handed me number 001, but I had to protest. Should not the organiser have number 1? He told me that he always has number 100, so the international guest, that is me, received number 1. It was really honourable and a bit strange to have number 001. In all my experiences the organiser / founder of the ride usually have number 1, but today it was my turn.

I decided to explore Reykjavik a bit of and try out the bicycle before the start of the event. The bicycle worked like a charm with all the gears. Just finde a flat surface and switch to the seventh gear and coasting along. By following the bicycle paths, I found my self down by the water front and took a ride along the sculpture and shore walk with its stunning view over the sea. But after a while it was time to head back to the city and the meet up at Hallgrímskirkja at two à clock.

On my way back, I realised how easy it is to ride a bicycle here. Every city should visit Iceland and take notes on how the city of Reykjavik have designed and planed the bicycle and pedestrian lanes. It was truly a joy to ride on the wide and clearly marked bicycles lanes separating bicycles and pedestrians and marking out separate direction lanes for cycles. If felt spacious and safe to ride a bicycle. Even when being overtaken by the sporty exercise riders with their fast racers it was no problem at all. Everyone got along just fine.

After arriving at Hallgrímskirkja I was the first first there. But more and more tweedians joined up and soon we were about 40 riders standing on the square in front of the church. Jón Óli handed out starting numbers to the ones that did not have any and soon we all had our starting numbers. Tourists visiting the church were baffled and curious about the gathering of all bicycles and tweed dressed riders.

Suddenly there were a loud pop. It was a carbide lamp that most likely suffered from a condition of slight indigestion, and decided to blow apart. But no worries, no riders, bicycles or lamps was hurt in the incident. A quick repair later and the lamp was good to go again. We could almost say that the ride was officially started with a bang.

After the traditional group photo at the statue of Leif Ericsson it was time to get going. The weather had now cleared up and it turned out to be, as a fellow Icelandic tweedian said, a typical Reykjavik summer. First of we headed down Skólavörðustígur down to the centre of Reykjavik, chiming our bicycle bells and waving back to all the smiling and waving onlookers.

The route was slightly different than the one back in 2019. We got to experience both the very famous streets with all tourists, but this time we also rode along some cosy back alleys of Reykjavik. This is simply the best way to discover a city, riding a bicycle on roads a bit from the regular streets. The ride took us to Tjörnin, a small lake in the city and around the areas around Vesturbær, old west side with all the beautiful houses.

Almost every old house have corrugated sheet on their facades, most likely due to the harsh weather conditions on Island. But it gives the houses a unike and special look. Heading back to Kvosin, city center with the urban city life, shops and bars we had to cruise between surprised tourists that took photos and waved. We continued our ride along the sculpture and shore walk. Heading back in to the centre, all the way with chiming bells and happy onlookers. I must say, people were really happy to se a tweed ride in Reykjavik.

After riding for a while it was time for our first stop at Snaps bistro located on Þórsgata 1. There we had refreshments and time for a chat. Snaps is a really nice bistro with Italian and French touch. But as always when a group tweedians entering a location en mass, the expressions on the regular guests faces are quite amusing. They must really wonder what is happening when about 40 tweed dressed people invades the bar and starts ordering drinks.

After a while it was time to be on our way again. This time we crossed several streets that we had been riding on earlier. It is inevitable to do so since Reykavik is not a large city, but Jón Óli did a wonderful job by planning a route that offered different sights, no matter where we went.

After one more ride along the sculpture and shore walk we headed back in to the city and headed to the old harbour and our final destination at Bryggjan Steakhouse and brewery. Thanks to the seven speed bicycle the ride was not difficult at all. A locally brewed beer is always a nice refreshment after a ride, with or without gears.

While we were standing and chatting Jón Óli handed out notes to every rider. Notes where we would write down our selection for the winners in three categories, best bicycle, best dressed lady and best dressed gentleman. After all the notes was handed back to Jón Óli he asked me to help out with the counting of votes as I did the last time. Of course, no problem at all. We sat down at an table and counted all votes and the winners in each category was selected.

We all headed in to a separate section of the steakhouse that was reserved only for us and the price ceremony started. Congratulations to the winners, all well deserved!

After the dinner, we had a pub quiz with 15 questions about tweed and bicycles. It was a really nice touch and a great way to end the day for the riders who still remained. I will not go in further on who won the quiz, but it was not an local resident who won… it was me.

During the dinner Jón Óli and I talked about tweed events and things concerning the administrative aspect of an tweed event. I think it is interesting to learn about how different events are organized, what is the focus on each event.

Tweed rides is a way to invite people to simply start riding a bicycle, both for the benefit of the environment but also for their the health. Instead of taking the car to the nearest shop, why not bring out the old bicycle that have been standing the shed, collecting dust and give it a go. As mentioned before, there is no need to rush or ride fast. When riding in a slower pace you experience and notices things you usually never see. Then it is the matter of dressing up, making the every day routine a bit more special. Meeting others and just having a great couple of hours in good company.

But sadly, everything had to come to an end. It was time to round up the Tweed Ride Reyjkavik 2023 for this time and head back to Reiðhjólaverzlunin Berlin to return the rented bicycle.

Tweed Ride Reykjavik 2023 was a really nice ride in every way and I lift my hat for Jón Óli that he once again created a warm and friendly event. Thank you for all laughters, smiles and a very nice ride around Reykjavik.

Happy tweed all!