| Bikes and train in Russia [message #208] |
Wed, 02 February 2011 16:53  |
 cemarleni 
Messages: 5
Registered: February 2011
Location: Toulouse |
Junior Member |
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We are a french family: 2 adults and 4 kids (5,7,11 and 12 y.o.) and will be going for a long one year trip with our bicycles. We will cross Europe, arrive in Tallin from Sweden and then intend to cycle to St Petersburg to take a first train to Moscow and then the transiberian to reach Ulan-Bator.
I am seeking informations to know how it can work with all our bikes in the train. We have 2 tandems (they can be folded and them measures around 130*80*40cm) and 2 normal bicycles 150*85*35 cm when packed.
For the first part from St Petersburg to Moskow I was told there is large enough place for bikes in the fast train (sapsan). I we choose this train, are we sure we can climb in it with all our stuff, or do we have to buy a extra-luggage ticket . Is it also possible to take a night train from St Petersburg to Moscow with the bikes ? is it better with the bikes to choose a 2nd or a 3rd class ?
Many travellers managed to travel with their bike, but each time they were on their own. Does someone have the experience with a group ?
Then on the transiberian, it seems also quite complicated, as we do not know in advance if there will be a luggage wagon, and if the waggon chief is going to accept that we take our bikes in it ? Any tip will be welcome. We unfortunately do not speak russian, I am trying to learn the alphabet to be abale to read at leats but I will not be able to speak russian this summer !
Thanks for answering.
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| Re: Bikes and train in Russia [message #209 is a reply to message #208 ] |
Fri, 04 February 2011 11:20  |
centurn 
Messages: 5
Registered: May 2009
Location: St. Petersburg |
Junior Member |
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I remember there were some article about bicycles and varios trains, but I failed to locate it. So...
It's officially allowed to carry a bicycle in the train with you if it's:
1. Disassembled (in reality it's usually enough to unattach the front wheel)
2. Wrapped in something (It's enough to pack in PE foil, but it's better to have special case, like this: http://pk-99.ru/d/47524/d/10_1.jpg)
3. Fits the places designed for luggage.
The normal bicycles as well as folded tandems with mentioned dimensions will fit these places well. Below are some links to pictures that may show you how to place. We usually place bicycles between 3rd (luggage) shelves in platzkart (It's what you call '3rd class').
http://kzoart.ru/e107_plugins/autogallery/Gallery/VeloCrimea %202008/P1040156.JPG
http://i022.radikal.ru/0907/d4/df27cd4faf6f.jpg
http://kolga96.users.photofile.ru/photo/kolga96/150435691/xl arge/160052600.jpg
http://pk-99.ru/d/47524/d/image_99.jpg
I think it may also help to print this: http://photo.raid.ru/albums/userpics/11267/normal_%EF%F0%EE% E2%EE%E7%20%E2%E5%EB%EE%E2.jpg
It's an official answer on the query about allowing to carry bicycle on above terms. There is (unlikely) possibility that train staff may object to bicycles, so this paper should help.
And there should be no problem travelling in a group. I remember more than 20 bikes in a single train car. 
As of St.Petersburg-Moskow, I'd prefer going by normal night train, not Sapsan. I think there's yet not enough information on how easy it's to carry bicycle in Sapsan. I've heard there's not so much luggage space, so 4 bicycles may be too much.
Never mind 'luggage wagon' - just carry the bicycles with you.
Also, maybe when you are here, somebody of local cyclists can show you around the SPB and help loading to train. But it's too much time in advance to plan that now.
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| Re: Bikes and train in Russia [message #214 is a reply to message #212 ] |
Sat, 05 February 2011 14:45 |
centurn 
Messages: 5
Registered: May 2009
Location: St. Petersburg |
Junior Member |
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It appears that in coupee (2nd class), there are two possible sizes of overhead luggage compartment. Height x Width x Depth: 353 x 1772 x 493 or 309 x 2137 x 468 mm. I've heard some people put 2 normal bicycles there, but surely no more.
So, it looks like indeed you'll have to book 2 coupee cabins. Then there should be plenty of place to put everything... and everyone.
If you doubt rules on that, I think it complies with them if you put your luggage on your unused sleeping places. And even if it doesn't comply... Well, in Russia, the rules and laws are not strictly mandatory. E.g. in some local (not long-distance) trains it's allowed to put no more than 2 bikes per train. But sometimes we put 30 or more just in one carriage. The staff sometimes argues against that, but not too much.
Also if you plan to change the train in Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude, haven't you considered visiting lake Baikal? It's so close there...
As of meeting you here, if you come to Russia e.g. at Saturday, I think there's high enough possibility somebody travel with you to SPB. But of course, on working days, most people are working. But meeting in evening is still possible.
Do you plan to follow R1 route from Ivangorod to SPB?
Do you think to take 2 days ride for that or more?
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| Re: Bikes and train in Russia [message #216 is a reply to message #214 ] |
Mon, 07 February 2011 16:42 |
cemarleni
Messages: 5
Registered: February 2011
Location: Toulouse |
Junior Member |
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Spaasiba to all of you.
Now, we are going to take a platzkart for us 6 from Moscow to Ulan Ude.
There, either we take 2 "kuppe" to reach Ulan Bator, or we stop in Ulan Ude and go to Ulan Bator by cycling (we would prefer this solution). That will probably depend on how we can arrange visa for Mongolia and China.
It would be nice to go to lake Ba??kal but I do not know if we have the time to do it. But I certainly feel like going again to Russia to discover it really, and not just from the train.
From Ivangorod, we are perhaps taking the R1 to SPB, we do not know exactly, but if you have good advices about it, we will be glad also. It will certainly last more than two days because the rythm with the children is cool. We have planned an average of 30 km daily. If the road is good, they have already made more than 60, but we do not want to hurry them.
This website is really great for us.
We do not have website for the moment, but it will come in the next weeks.
Thank you for cheering
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| Re: Bikes and train in Russia [message #217 is a reply to message #216 ] |
Tue, 22 February 2011 01:02 |
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I think it is a bad idea cycling from Ivangorod. Road is ugly as my english
and has no any intresting places. I think You may going to Gatchina by domestical train, it more intresting then this way.
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| Re: Bikes and train in Russia [message #218 is a reply to message #216 ] |
Mon, 28 February 2011 01:26 |
Windflyer
Messages: 1
Registered: February 2011
Location: Moscow |
Junior Member |
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Bonjour!
The train from Irkutsk to Ulaanbaatar also includes some Platzkart carriages but they are left behind at Naoushki, the border station. It is 30 km west of Kyakhta, the road border crossing. Alternatively, it is possible to hire a minibus from Ulan-Ude to Kyakhta.
About your preferred option: it is possible to cycle from Ulan-Ude, simply to avoid changing trains again (I can imagine the whole affair) and to see the Ethnographic Museum and the Ivolginsk Datsan - a Tibetan monastery and the centre of Buddhism in Russia. In Novoselenginsk there is a caf?© and a museum of the Decembrists. The 'international' road is not top quality but all asphalt/tarmac and rather picturesque. Also, water can be found at village pumps, and you will need camping gear for sleeping, of course far away from curious eyes.
I also strongly advise that you see Lake Baikal.
Bon succ??s!
This is a view of the road leading from Ulan-Ude south to Ulaanbaatar, in the Kyakhta District. I cycled there in 2006.
Attachment: 000027sm.jpg
(Size: 152.37KB, Downloaded 1604 time(s))
[Updated on: Mon, 28 February 2011 02:00]
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| Re: Bikes and train in Russia [message #221 is a reply to message #220 ] |
Tue, 01 March 2011 15:31 |
Konstantin Shemyak 
Messages: 10
Registered: February 2009
Location: Helsinki, Finland |
Junior Member |
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| cemarleni wrote on Tue, 01 March 2011 13:14 | First we had thought to come from Sweden to Helsinki with the ferry and then cycle from Helsinky to StPB, but some cyclists told us that the route was not very pleasant because there were a lot of trucks and traffic.
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Not more than Tallinn-Petersburg route. Also, on the Finnish side, you can (and should!) ride other, smaller roads, than the E7, and on the Russian side, take the coast road via Primorsk. This route is well described here. I thought you have some special arguments to go exactly via Tallinn; if not, then the Helsinki route is definitely better for cycling. (Well I live in Helsinki, so you may consider my opinion as biased  )
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