Joffrey Maluski - Iceland from East to West by Bikepacking

Joffrey Maluski traveled Iceland from east to west in March 2023! Looking back on his 1,000km bikepacking adventure between glaciers and volcanoes ?

Annabelle : Can you introduce yourself?

Joffrey : My name is Joffrey and I'm a photographer. I've been going on little cycling adventures for 3 years now. My first trip was crossing the Pyrenees via the Route des Cols. I left with two friends for a month and a half with the idea of climbing, highlining, and bivouacking on beautiful peaks. Then, the adventures followed one after the other: 20 days solo cycling and ski touring in the Mercantour, 3 months and 3,000 km in Iceland, 4,500 km from France to the North Cape last winter, then the winter crossing of Iceland via the Highlands from East to West on a Fat bike from March 1st to 28th.

Annabelle : You have already completed several major expeditions by bike and canoe. What motivates you and how do you choose your projects?

Joffrey : I always try to give meaning to my adventures, like we did on Plastiqu'Adour: going down a river in a canoe made from bamboo and plastic bottles. The idea was to raise awareness about the problem of plastic waste and to show that we can have an incredible adventure close to home. I also like to create an aesthetic route and combine cycling with other activities such as climbing, ski touring, highlining, or going into difficult conditions like winter in Iceland. I always try to add a little something extra that will make the adventure unforgettable.

Annabelle : How did you prepare for your itinerary?

Joffrey : I spent a few months preparing every detail: the main route, backup plans, listing every river, bridge, cabin... and thinking about the equipment that would allow me to face any situation (storm, river) while trying to keep a suitable weight on the bike. The bike weighed 78 kg, including 21 kg of food and 3 L of fuel for 25 days. I chose to leave with a pulka for the Highlands to lighten the bike in the snow.

Annabelle : Can you tell us about a “typical day” on this expedition?

Joffrey : I usually woke up around 8am and left around 10am after melting some snow, having breakfast (hot chocolate and a freeze-dried meal) and putting everything away. During the day, I cycled for 9 to 10 hours with a few short breaks to eat my 4 energy bars, 50g of almonds and take photos/videos. At the end of the day, I looked for a place to set up my tent, melt some snow, eat (soup, a freeze-dried meal with olive oil and chocolate) and get warm in my sleeping bag.

Annabelle : How did you deal with being alone during such a long expedition?

Joffrey: It's something I already knew from my previous adventures. So I knew what to expect and I didn't have any particular problems being alone. I like that feeling of solitude, going at your own pace and having to rely only on yourself. There are inevitably difficult moments, but when they do, I focus on what I have to do, on the day's objective, and step by step, I move forward. I also had a satellite phone and a small notebook to write in each evening. It helps to process emotions while keeping a record of the highlights of the expedition.

Annabelle : In these extreme conditions, you were equipped with a Piom2 , what can you tell us about it?

Joffrey: This was the first time I'd taken my Go'Lum with me. I used it every night in the tent, mostly at minimum power. I was surprised by its battery life and resistance to the cold! I only used two of the four batteries I'd taken with me for the 28 days, including about ten around -20/-25 degrees!

Annabelle : What advice do you have for someone who wants to embark on extreme cycling expeditions?

Joffrey: Take the time to properly prepare your itinerary and equipment, and train with it. You can start with small expeditions in France to prepare yourself mentally and physically. We're lucky to have a magnificent playground, whether it's in the Alps or the Pyrenees... we might as well make the most of it!

Annabelle : What are your next projects?

Joffrey: I'm going to participate in a few bikepacking events this summer, including the Race Across France. Then, my next bikepacking trip will be in the sun! I'm planning to tour Corsica in October with four friends. I have some ideas for a future bikepacking expedition next winter, but I'll talk about that later :)