I biked over 120 miles of Icelandic volcanoes, through rain, hail, and strong headwinds, and this is the cycling gear that got me through it

With rain, hail, the occasional sunny spell, and plenty of headwind, The Rift really taxes your wardrobe as well as your willpower. I opted for Velocio apparel's Luxe bibs, which are comfy enough for the longest days in the saddle. I combined these with the brand's radiator mesh jersey and base layer, a pair of their arm warmers and trail gloves, and a vest. This kept me warm enough to function without overheating, allowed me to unzip the vest to cool off on climbs, and gave me access to six pockets that didn't bounce or flap when stuffed with food.

On my feet, I opted for Shimano SH-XC9 S-PHYRE shoes. Like gravel bikes, they're versatile, stiff enough for fast road cruising but robust enough for those steep volcano-side run-ups. Wool socks are a must as well; despite repeated soakings, I stayed warm in a pair of Pursuit Seven merino wool socks from Swiftwick.

A POC Ventral Air helmet kept me safe throughout the day, and the excellent venting meant I never overheated. ROKA CP-1X sunglasses not only allowed me to custom design some sweet frames, it also dealt with the dawn start, constant mud spray, and bright sunlight of the middle of the day flawlessly.

Most of our readers don't live in Iceland (but if you do, lucky you). This means flying to and from the race. Thule's excellent Roundtrip Pro not only keeps your bike safe in transit, it also helps to assemble it on arrival thanks to the included work stand. I also added Lezyne's half-size floor pump because inflating tires with a tiny hand pump after a long flight is more stress than anyone needs.

Combined with Gregory's Tetrad 75, I was able to carry a bike, wheels, all my gear, and have enough space for a climbing harness and shoes so my wife and I could climb in Iceland the day after the race. Thanks to the wheeled bike box and clever design of the Gregory luggage, I could put one bag on my back and pull the other along to check in and then simply unzip my backpack once my hold luggage was checked.

Iceland isn't home to that many of the big hotel chains, but don't worry. Instead of points and suites, you'll enjoy the sort of hospitality that makes you feel right at home in the land of ice and fire. I stayed at Midgard Base Camp, a hotel geared toward outdoor adventure. Not only were the staff polite and friendly, they were also happy to help me clean my bike, lend me a climbing rope, show me trails, and even give some camping suggestions for a trip after the race. The hotel offers healthy food, a great breakfast spread, and private or dormitory accommodation. Book early though; they were sold out on race weekend months in advance this year.