Road bike trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg
Klim Legchakov, Alexander Litvinov
With the development of road infrastructure in Russia, domestic tourism is gaining more and more popularity. But the lack of tested and detailed multi-day cycling routes in the media prevents many people from even starting to think in this direction. If you love active recreation and want to test yourself on a trip that involves a sporty approach and a good balance of comfort and hardship, and you are not alien to the aesthetics of movement on an aluminum/carbon horse, we are happy to share a proven seven-day road cycling route that we rode together from Moscow to St. Petersburg in June 2024.
Let us stipulate right away that the route is intended for physically, technically and psychologically prepared (preferably also psychologically compatible) group members. It is necessary to make sure that you and your bike are ready to ride more than 900 km of the route and up to 160 km per day. You may encounter difficult weather and road conditions, bike breakdowns along the way and other troubles, so carefully plan and prepare for the trip. We also recommend that you make a test ride in full gear before the trip.
The participants' fitness level should be approximately the same so that the speed of each person's movement is comfortable for everyone. Working in pairs, sitting in shrimp positions one after another (drafting), will help save energy on the way, especially on windy days.
The chosen route is 95% very good quality roads, and we covered it on road bikes. The advantages of road bikes are the highest speed and lightness, the disadvantages are rigidity and the inability to place all the luggage on the bikes. The price range of bikes can be different, but the main point to consider is the ability to change gears at least on the rear wheel to redistribute the load on difficult sections of the route.
Our road bikes were very different from each other: one was a Chinese-made Fuji Feather with a classic design and ascetic aesthetics, a size 63 chrome-molybdenum frame for a tall cyclist 195 cm tall, 700-inch wheels and a modified 3-speed planetary hub from the Japanese manufacturer Shimano Nexus. The cost of such a bike assembled with contact pedals is about 85,000 rubles. Weight is 15 kg. It was the latter characteristic that was critical for pedaling uphill, but the rigidity of the structure, its repairability and price played a decisive role in the choice of this model by one of us. The second cyclist opted for a more expensive, but at the same time lighter model: the Titan Racing Valerian Carbon Pro from the Taiwanese manufacturer Merida. The model differs from the first one in its modern design, size 59 carbon frame for a height of 190 cm, 11-speed cassette-type rear hub, combined 22 speeds considering the front two stars, and disc brakes (which is not always a plus in professional cycling communities). This racing version of the road bike also has 700-size wheels and weighs only about 10 kg. Price: 307,000 rubles. The second cyclist's main concerns were that this bike was more intended for racing than for long bike rides, but this risk was offset by installing a soft seat and wider tires. About carbon. It significantly reduces the weight of the bike itself, while being more fragile – it is easier to break a carbon element if it falls or is hit. Plus, it scratches and the paint wears off faster, so it is better to wrap it with a special film for traveling.
Another interesting solution from a technical point of view, which also levels out the rigidity of the landing, is to install a damping spring between the saddle itself and the seat post. Few people know about it in the Russian Federation, but you can easily find it in online stores. For long-distance riding, it is primarily good because the user does not feel small irregularities in the asphalt, which can create discomfort for the spine. The weight is minimal.
We rode with backpacks on our backs with a total volume of about 25 liters each and 5 liter bags under the frame. It is essential to have at least 1.5 liters of water and a reserve supply of food for the day. Replenishing food supplies in stores along the way will not be difficult – we made stops every 40-60 km. To speed up the movement, use hydration packs and choose food that allows you to snack while pedaling. Respirators will not be needed often, but on the short section of the M10 and the E95 highway they will undoubtedly help a cyclist. Take with you an extended repair kit, a first aid kit, a change of clothes and shoes, including in case of rain and cold. A helmet, contact pedals, sunscreen, repellent and shorts/tights with padding are not even discussed!
Now about the trip. The cycling route was planned with mandatory visits to quality places to eat and stay, of which there are plenty along the way, as well as a sauna, massage and swimming (our budget for one cyclist is from 30 to 50 thousand rubles).
The route ran through four regions of our country and was full of a variety of picturesque views: deciduous and coniferous forests, plains and hills, rivers and lakes, bridges, agricultural lands, Russian villages and cities. The quality of the road surface exceeded our expectations, but it is worth mentioning the section after Svapushche to the border of the Novgorod region, approximately 12-15 km – as of June 2024, road works were underway there, in other places of the route, mainly in the Tver region, there were sections with old pavement. Despite this, there were no sections where we had to carry the bikes in our hands, and we did not get a single flat tire during the entire route. The weather was mostly sunny, but there was also wind, and we had to run away from the pursuit of rain, which finally caught up with us on the final day of the trip.
The entire distance from Moscow (from the Moscow Ring Road near Dolgoprudny) to St. Petersburg (to the Ring Road near Pulkovo) on road bikes took 7 days, the distance covered was 910 kilometers. On average, we rode 130 km per day. The maximum distance on the Svapushche – Staraya Russa section was about 160 km. Travel time was from 5 to 8 hours daily, excluding stops. The total elevation gain was 4,655 m, the total descent was 4,825 m. That is, the entire route was mostly on the plain, which is a plus for amateur cyclists without professional cycling skills.
Quality rest was one of the most pleasant attributes of our trip. In Dubna, Tver, Torzhok, Svapushcha, Staraya Russa, Luga we easily managed to find authentic cafes and restaurants. In addition, in Tver there was an excellent Thai massage salon, not inferior in quality to the capital's and almost three times cheaper. In Kuvshinovo and Luga we visited baths, and in Staraya Russa a 25-meter pool. All this, of course, added to the piggy bank of pleasant impressions from our trip. After a whole day of pedaling, the sense of beauty is certainly heightened.
We are pleased to state that the route allowed us to fully experience the beauty of the European part of Russia. This journey can be compared in beauty with many bike trips in Europe. High-speed Dmitrovka, VELO 1 along the Moscow Canal, the Dubna embankment and the faces of its residents inspired by natural science knowledge, picturesque Tver with its centuries-old history, the merciless M10 with trucks, noise and exhaust fumes, Torzhok with a wonderful cafe by the bridge over the Tvertsa, dense forests in the Kuvshinovo area, the huge Seliger, the “Road of War Memorials” in the Tver, Novgorod and Leningrad regions, the Staraya Russa resort with laughing seagulls waking up the city residents in the morning with their cries reminiscent of human laughter, a huge park from the tsarist era and a swimming pool that saves clogged feet, the “Road of Storks” on the stretch from Stary Medved to Luga, and the height of athletic patience – the E95 highway – with its straightforwardness and capricious St. Petersburg weather, squeezing out cyclists on the last day of the trip. You need to feel all this yourself, perhaps accompanied by your favorite music, to understand what a beautiful country we live in and how much potential it has for development. A reboot of consciousness is guaranteed.
Each city of our stops has its own history and cultural heritage. In addition, a cyclist can take advantage of all the benefits of civilization and not feel anxious or uncomfortable about the fact that his bike will stop carrying him at a certain moment — you can always call a taxi and get to the place of spending the night, mobile communication along the route is available almost everywhere. At the same time, the route, except for small sections along Dmitrovka, M10 and E95, is relatively free of motor vehicles. Drivers passing by often greeted us with honks against the background of birds singing, which greatly encouraged us in moments of fatigue. Nevertheless, in conditions of little traffic, it is much more pleasant and safer to ride, so the route can be started from the bike path along the Moscow Canal, use an alternative route on the Tver-Kuvshinovo section bypassing the M10, which is slightly longer, and from Luga take an electric train or plan a route along country roads, calculating an additional overnight stay.
The culture of communication in different cities and villages, naturally, differs from the capital, both for the better and for the worse. In small villages, people are simpler – you yourself determine this fact as positive or negative for communication. One example of this was in Kimry, where we stopped after Dubna for a break. When one of us asked in the store, “Please tell me where you have the shelf with energy bars? I couldn't find it.” The polite saleswoman, without taking her eyes off her smartphone, answered, having first mumbled: “You'd better look!” In general, the people on the route perceived us well and were very excited about the run we had started.
The main achievements that can be added to the piggy bank of road cycling tourism in Russia, we suggest considering the opening of three roads that can compete with the Norwegian “Road of Trolls” and the German “Romantic” and “Baltic” roads. They are: “VELO 1” along the Moscow Canal (56 km), “Road of War Memorials” (about 150 km) and “Road of Storks” (about 60 km). Everything is clear with the first one, and it is well advertised (however, at the moment its further construction is frozen). And the other two? They are located in the Novgorod region. “Road of War Memorials” is a very high-quality asphalt surface with two-way traffic, winds between villages, while memorials and mass graves of Soviet and German soldiers, victims of the Second World War, often appear as branches from the road. In the conditions of a carefree bike trip, such moments on the way create a special reverent attitude in cyclists to the place along which the route is laid. Psychologically, fatigue leaves the traveler for a while, perhaps the effect of awareness of the scale of the carnage that took place here is triggered. The “Road of Storks” is positive and cheerful in that along the well-kept villages, made in the old Russian style, storks have settled in nests on the poles. The observer effect, caused by the accompanying glances of these social birds, takes you out of the meditative state of physical work, returning you to the life of summer nature and giving you additional strength at the end of the penultimate section of the route. Interesting sensations.
There was a lot on the way, but the main thing was the struggle with oneself, pleasure and the triumph of the will over the body. After such a trip, even Moscow, which usually returns the vacationer to the harsh rhythm of life on the second day, is not free to do so, resting on the echoes of impressions and the unshakable level of calm obtained on the road.
We hope that the route we have taken will attract new cyclists from our country and beyond, and the infrastructure along the route will be continuously improved. Discover Russia from new sides, have a good trip!
