100 km Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I and 120 km May Velo Trip in 2 days

Nura Glukhikh and Svetlana Lakosnikova on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg
Nura Glukhikh and Svetlana Lakosnikova on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg

On this weekend there were 2 events, which I very liked to attend and decided to visit them both : Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I and May Velo Trip 2016, and let it be 250 km in 2 days. I rode at Saturday morning just in time to come to competitions beginning : it is warm and good, Sun is lighting and heat goes up from the asphalt; by the weather forecasts there’ll be light rain at this day, so, knowing the whims of Urals weather, I took with me coat to not cold on the speed after them, when I’ll ride home. Has come to a couple of places for my own businesses and then to VDR 2016 I; arrived before the start of main races, rode in qualification, but did not shown enough speed for going to main rides, yes, I have to develop and train my speed, because I’m oriented more on long-time and metodical pedals rotation without rest, then to sprint. Then I went for one of my the most loved businesses : photos making, results of my work and what I learned during this winter can be seen at bottom of the page.

Yelena Koreshkova on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I, Yekaterinburg
Yelena Koreshkova on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I, Yekaterinburg

Women on the bicycles are magnificent, men develop speed just from the start and there is no need to go far from it. After competitions I rode to a couple of other places, above the northern part of Yekaterinburg small rain went on ( whereas southern part and Polevskoy highway kept dry ). And this is all for today’s businesses in Yekaterinburg, then ride to home, eat food, make works at home and prepare to tomorrow’s day. First stage of Velo Drag Racing 2016 went just great. Maybe, I’ll ride on 1 – 2 days, or maybe all 4, to Rhipaean Solstice ( group in social network VKontakte ) as a photographer, I very liked to make photos in a process of competitions; I would have participated in 1 day of races, as rider, but at this year 1-day participation was cancelled and all 4 days of races cost considerable amount of money and I did not rode before 4 days in a row of cross-country 50 – 80 km marathons. Maybe, I’ll also ride to Sarapulka on Need for Speed – road race in 2 days : here ‘ll be ability to make a photos of the speed, with car it would be just great : there would be ability to meet sportsmen a couple of times on the distance. Now I’ll participate in a part of competitions as a rider and on a part as a photographer.

Maxim Suhorukov and another one rider, whom I do not know by name, on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg
Maxim Suhorukov and another one rider, whom I do not know by name, on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg

Bought new frontal hub, arrived at home : I cannot just place new frontal hub in front of me and sit and look at it, I need to set it on the bicycle : “But tomorrow there ‘ll be May Velo Trip,” – “It is ok, I’ll invent something,” … up to approximately 3 o’clock of night I changed the hub, respoked only half of a wheel : “The morning is wiser than the evening,” – went to sleep to not brake something in a half-sleeping state. Got up at 5:50 of a morning, even before alarm-clock, laid down for another 20 – 30 minutes, to give a brain in a half-active – half-sleeping state to rest and activate, often this state of half-activity gives neural system ability to rest and activate on a new day much better, than additional 30 minutes of usual deep sleeping. However there is need to not overuse it, because without a full value sleeping neural system will not be able to activate even this way. At morning I continued to respoke the wheel, for a couple of hours worked on this, its centering and rim straightening into one plane; at spokes unscrewing time I teared pair of spokes, because aluminum nipples attached strongly to the steel spokes, next time I’ll screw them with the lubrication. Then businesses before the ride, in result on May Velo Trip ( group in VK ) I moved only at 10:20 – 10:30 a.m. “Hope that organizers will allow me to ride on 50 km, when I’ll arrive to start.

Sportsmen, whom I do not know by name, and Nikita Shneps on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg
Sportsmen, whom I do not know by name, and Nikita Shneps on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg

Almost whole road to Yekaterinburg it was a pleasure itself to rotate the pedals. Only close to the city tube of back wheel started to allow air outside, with its pumping up I arrived to start of May Velo Trip, registered myself, took the map, it is good, that here everything is not so strict, as on competitions; and moved to trip. After start boy around 10 years old approached me : “Can I go with you?” – ( “Hmm, this is not a 100 km road to Shunuth in January, in city everything will be alright,” ) – “Ok, lets go, you’ll ride as much as you can, after Russia Foresters Park you’ll see by your strengths and tell whether you’ll be able to ride further; and make a call to your parents on the way, so that they’ll know where you are and where you ride,” – “Ok, I’ll do this,” – “Lets ride.” On the way I learned, that his name is Artyom, they not long time ago moved to Yekaterinburg and he periodically rides in these areas; replaced tube of back wheel, riding next became easier and more interesting. Markup at the start of a distance is almost missing, probably, with the account on large bicycles riders group, but after start of ways branching everything is good in this respect. Russia Foresters Park : “Will you go further, do you have strengths for this?” – “Yes, I’ll be able,” – “Ok, lets go,” – … : “I want to drink,” – “Here, take tea,” – just small stop here and on 10 x 10 square cm of skin 100 – 200 mosquitoes bite in – this is a nightmare itself, it is better to not stop here without spray against blood suckers.

Group photo, Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg
Group photo, Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg

5% discount on goods in Sportek

Buy sportive goods in Sportek shop and specify my agent data : Karimov Rodion Maratovich, doing this, you’ll receive 5% discount ( does not apply to actions and does not sum with discount cards reduction ), your karma will be increased and you’ll bring happiness to me.

We arrived to first checkpoint, child drank water on it, we moved further; hills are not high here, so they did not caused any difficulties; returning trip to entrance of the park. Again asphalt, there is need to look after the child, so that he’ll not ride too fast from hills and so that he’ll not move to carriageway ( “No, next time I’ll not take children of other people with me in such rides : let their parents do this job, look after them and take this responsibility on them” ). Next asphalt, CP, forest, CP; gave to Artyom half of my food, I can ride 50 – 100 – 150 km without food, a fortiori I ate good at morning. It was better to send him on the turn on the third Check Point to 16 km distance, on the way to 4th CP more or less hills started to be on the distance, here he began to tire and it became clear, that moving next ‘ll be difficult for him; we arrived to CP of ProBike Team ( group in VKontakte ), they gave food to child, I wished to take him with me further, but it was very hard for him to climb into following hills. We returned back to 4th CP to send him back on mainland with event organizers.

Map, booklets and discounts coupons in sportive shops from May Velo Trip 2016, Yekaterinburg
Map, booklets and discounts coupons in sportive shops from May Velo Trip 2016, Yekaterinburg

After consulting with women from ProBike Team on the subject what to do with him, we decided, that it is the best to send him to the Rudniy on direct asphalt road, this is what I done. It’s good, that road is nearby back from CP and it did not take much time. Gave to him money for bus from Rudniy to Yekaterinburg and sent into adult unaided life :-) , I hope, that he arrived without problems : 8 km on direct asphalt road with cars, riding nearby periodically, should not cause difficulties for him. Next time in such trips, if kids are asking to ride with me, then in the city there is ability to think about this, if I’m not loaded very much with my own businesses, but, as soon as forest, ground roads, stones and trees roots start – children have to go home. But anyway, Artyom done well, he rode approximately 25 km and on the asphalt was quite fast, even faster than many adult bikers, if he’ll start to attend sportive bicycles school, then he’ll be able to reach a lot in this area, with proper diligence. “Relived yourself?” ( :-) ) – “Yes, lead him to the road, gave money for the bus and shown the way,” – “Ok, good luck to you,” – “Thank you, … good bye,” – then I enabled my marathon speed and rotated pedals without pauses to arrive to finish and receive ensign.

I am on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg ( photographer is Dmitry Ziryanov )
I am on Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I competitions, Yekaterinburg ( photographer is Dmitry Ziryanov )

On the fifth CP I signed all the documents, Anna sprayed me with insects repellent, part of it got into the moth and nose, for it to soak up into the blood. so that vampires ‘ll not be able to suck it, this is it, now I’m an agent of Sportek :-) ( VK group ) , will advertise them from now on, they worth it : quality goods with one of the smallest prices in the city. On the road to fifth CP and slightly after it the most serious uphills and downhills on the whole 50 km distance have started, I made a right thing, by sending child to Rudniy; after CP of Sportek there is a CP of Multiteam ( group in VKontakte ), they have everything organized Ural MTB Marafonish ( VK group ), made a mark on the map, took booklets and stickers and moved further into the forest through the Uktus to the finish. Part of the trails are familiar from competitions of previous year, on them I quickly rode to asphalt and directed to the TC Globe, from which I started.

I managed to arrive in 1 – 2 hours before finish closing, received ensign and lots of booklets and stickers, then rode to do my businesses, before returning back, tube of frontal wheel also started to let air out, and patch of second replacing tube went off; so I installed one, which started to let air out at morning; with it at least with pumping up there is ability to ride 5 – 10 km at once. This way I went to home, periodically making stops for technical maintenance of the bicycle. When I arrived to Mountain Shield, tube again let air out, not far at the back there is a last for today bus to Polevskoy; in perspective camera can start to pass air outside very strongly and I did not wanted too much after 220 km of these 2 days to walk on feet for 30 – 20 km in night-time cooling, with mosquitoes flying around, in a light clothes and boots with cleats and leading bicycle nearby up to 2 – 3 hours of night before the very beginning of a new working week. So, I decided to slightly remember pop-music and managed to city on the bus : “Strengths has left you?” – “No, tubes pass the air out, I would rode without a problems with working tubes.” – … Now gluing of the tubes, technical maintenance of the bicycle and preparation for new deeds, see you on them.

You can see additional photos here : 100 km Velo Drag Racing 2016 Stage I and 120 km May Velo Trip in 2 days.

80 km bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany with sleepless night before them

Morning begins, 6:49 a.m., bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Morning begins, 6:49 a.m., bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

Yesterday bicycles cross-country competitions Kirgishany 2016 were held on with 80, 60 and 5 ( for children ) km distances and categories men/women 18 – 29, 30 – 39, 40 – 49 and 50+, men/women novices 18+, juniors 16 – 18 and children. Start and finish were located on the territory of Green Cape sanatorium near Tavatuy lake, close to Novouralsk city in Sverdlovsk region. I rode to them from Polevskoy at Friday evening on the bicycle, yelding on day-time heat and weather forecasts with +10 – +15 degrees on Celsius night-time temperature, I did not take jacket with me and additional warm clothes. 51 km unhurried ride to Railway Station without load on the legs – is a good exercise before tomorrow’s competitions, heat, beauty, birds are singing around and asphalt sweeps around with cars; fast I arrived to city and moved to the North, periodically riding on the sidewalks, where roads are too narrow or transport stream is too intensive.

Morning, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Morning, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

On the way I met Natalya Martyanova, she walked with daughter : “Hi,” – “Hi,” – “What fate led you here?” – “I ride to Kirgishany,” – … : “Will you ride to them too?” – “No,” – “It seems, that you intended to go,” – “No,” ( “And do not force me” :-) ) – “Will you ride to Tavatuy this way?” – “No, if I’ll come in time to train, then I’ll ride on it, if no, then – yes,” – “Ok, go on, hurry up, good by,” – “Good by.” Arrived to RS with time reserve, to say softly : I do not ride too often on the trains and did not bought in ticket window in Station ticket itself; already in the train I asked controllers how much trip to Murzinka village with bicycle ‘ll cost : “Don’t you have it already?!” – “Yes, this is so,” – “Then you’ll have to pay box office,” – “How much does it cost?” – “100 rubles + 90 rubles trip + 25 rubles bicycle,” – “Is there ability to buy before train departure?” – “No,” – “Uh, ok, then there is nothing to do, I’ll buy it from you this way,” – “Sit for a while …” … 1 – 2 train stops passed nearby : “Buy a ticket,” – “How much will it cost to Murzinka with a bicycle?” – “Wait, I’ll count … 107 rubles,

Ticket
Electric depot
Murzinka
...
Cost : 107 rubles.
Thank you :-) .

Morning, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Morning, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

Different people travel : old intelligent on the view woman, not drinking alcohol and not smoking, sells newspapers; on some people with red faces, labor took a holiday, when it transformed them from monkeys to humans, to be more precise, it tried as it could, but alcohol made stronger influence on them … Most of people are doing their own businesses and apply this time with use : some are reading books, some are reading tablet PCs. It started to be dark under the sky, dusk and lighting in the railway carriage hidden outside environments, leaving only reflections on the windows; and only risen Moon and part of sky around it are beyond their power. Gat’, Iset, …, Sagra, …, Ayat’, …, Tavatuy ( it is already close ), Kalinovo and Murzinka at last. Came out, lifted down bicycle, found a way down from rail road to asphalt road, sat on bicycle and rode through the thickening dusk there, where I already’ve been 12 years ago …

Morning, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Morning, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

People are recreating on the shore, bonfires burn; up to the entrance to Green Cape it became already dark, guards are little poisoning an air : “I arrived to Kirgishany competitions, where here is the tent camp and ability to stay at night?” – “Here on the alley go up to high-rise, there is a parking, near it you’ll see cars and bicycles – there everybody are encamped,” – “Understood, thank you.” People are singing songs near bonfires, everybody about their own. Ascended uphill, it is not a first time, when I carry bicycle on myself in the mountain, on the top near canteen there is a parking with bicycles on part of cars – I need to go here, lower on the meadow there are tents – I need to go here. Spread out made by myself thermo mat, took off my shoes and went to sleep. First 30 minutes – 1 hour it was quite comfortable and there was ability to sleep, I even started to fall asleep, but events went the other way : instead of night time temperature +10 – +15 it started to go down to +5 – +7 or to something like this … It was better also to not drink tea so close to sleep. From the ground : everything is good and I do not cool, but from the air : coat weakly keeps warmth and protects from night-time cold; there was need to take with me at least jacket, then I already would have been slept normally before competitions. All in all : for a whole night I half switched off for 1 – 2 hours maximum – and this is the all, all other time there was struggling with cold to not cool and to not catch a cold … At night one woman covered me with thermo blanket or something like this, thank you to her for this, otherwise it would have been much colder and harder.

Morning, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Morning, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

At 4 a.m. o’clock it started to lighten, somewhere at 5 – 6 hours Sun illuminated tops of trees, half an hour – hour more and its light reached tents camp, but still did not warm up, and somewhere at 7 – 8 a.m. o’clock it started to more or less bring warmth to ground and dispersed night-time cold. I got up somewhere at 6:50 a.m. – there was no sense to “sleep” further. “Yes, what a condition before marathon, maybe it is better to re-register to 60 km distance?” – “No way, I arrived here to not ‘re-register’ …” Ate food, it became slightly better, Sun started to heat up even more and I started to free myself from night’s colding; registered, took number, took yokes and additional booklets; rode under sunlight – and it became much better and lighter, I started to heat up and activate on a new day, which is a sleepless continuation of previous one. Lower on the slope other competitions are being held – touristic ones. Gave my belongings to organizers of competitions on their duration. Closer to 10 o’clock on the competitions start and finish area arrived Renat Sultanov – I know him from the bicycles rides of previous year, we sat and talked for a while, then I rode and warmed up further. “It seems, that your tire is set in a wrong direction,” – “Where?” – “Back one, arrow like protector picture should be oriented in the rotation direction, somewhere here on the tire there should be rotation direction marked down, here is it,” – “Ah, no, everything is alright,” – “Yes, this is a front wheel of your bicycle … I still sleep …” ( “So an condition before marathon …” ).

People recreating after competitions, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
People recreating after competitions, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

Before start of adult competitions, children on small bicycles competed with each other on ten 500 m laps – future of bicycles sport of Ural and whole Russia. And time have come to line-up before the start, people stood too far ahead and organizers asked everybody to move back, as usual, nobody wanted to retreat and pull back, however, let it be reluctantly, people gave area for lining up in front for the fastest professional sportsmen. So that they are able to start quickly and overtaking of others would not wasted their time and would not created dangerous situations in such a large group of people. In the race events, besides bicycles riders Olympic games awardees participated sportsmen skiers : Anton Shipulin and another one man, I forgot his name, I ask forgiveness for this, because I’m not a frequent TV watcher ( when I did this last time? and I do not intend to do this again ). And so, under the “Fire” of the Scooter start of the race was given, avant-garde burst forth, then wave of speed moved to the middle of column, reached me and went through the whole column.

Thank you, my horsy, you did not failed me on these 80 km, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Thank you, my horsy, you did not failed me on these 80 km, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

On the asphalt somebody passed me, somebody I overtook. Tavatuy lake, Murzinka and other small villages fly nearby, it is hot above the ground, warmth go up from asphalt, it is great to ride. First quarter of a distance I revived myself, warmed up and switched on into competitions, closer to end of asphalt Renat caught up with me and moved forth – well done, he trained well during these Winter and Spring. Then forest grounds with uphills went on – this is what I can do and what I did these Winter and Spring : riding into mountains half-asleep and half switching off, and here I started to rotate pedals, overtook a couple of people, caught up with Renat and moved forth him and a couple of bicycles riders nearby and raced further, when uphills went on – nobody caught up with me, but later on the downhills periodically Renat rode ahead of me and periodically I rode ahead of him : he rode on part of this race lap and knows it and sleepless night in cold affected my pedals rotation speed and intensity.

Before awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Before awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

On the way there are a couple of forest cold and fast rivers with fresh water : vzhu-u-uh, shower and shoes are full of water – this refreshes and there is no need to drink lots of a water on the distance. Then forest grounds went again with periodical puddles, which somewhere are rideable on the sides, somewhere through them and somewhere there is need to go down from bicycle and walk this liquid manure on the feet, especially if those, who are ahead, stay down somewhere on the way. It is good that there were no rains before competitions, otherwise there would have been need to cancel all the forest, completely. On the downhills Renat started to move forth and rode ahead, later I caught up with him only on Check Points and periodically saw him on the straight areas.

Women-novices awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Women-novices awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

After forest, stony and sandy ground road went on – here is the fork had to work a lot, hills are not steep here, so it is easy to ride and whole area rides quite fast. Cars, rising clouds of dust, distracted slightly, there was need to ride through them by holding breath, the Sun heats up already like in Summer, so, it was better to ride part of ground road on left side to stay in trees’ shadows, so that I’ll not exhaust on Sun heating on the right side; it was good that there were not much cars at this time on the road. On Check Points I only made a swallow of water and a swallow of tea from the flask and moved forth. On the CP before asphalt, Renat hesitated somewhy and rotated pedals not so intensively, part of the asphalt to Green Cape we rode together, then he rode ahead. Part of the area I rode alone, then a pair of women-sportsmen wanted to outrun me, one of them is from 40 – 49 years age group : “No way, let it be I cold at night, tired and did not slept, but I’ll not trail behind women, I have a strengths, to rotate pedals faster …” – I intensified my movement and asphalt up to Green Cape I rode mostly ahead, then small uphill to start area. Here is it finish straight line : standing with the strong words, rotating pedals and squeezing everything from me : and here is it a finish.

Women in category 30 - 39 years awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Women in category 30 – 39 years awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

Walked and received medal of finisher, asked whether there is an ability to learn the results : “They’ll be later or in one of the closest days.” All in all : my muscles did not tired at all, after movement to clip-less pedals my legs muscles do not tire at all, even after whole day of rotating pedals; however there is need to replenish energy and nutrition of organism and heart, whole circulatory system, brain and whole neural system, lungs and other systems of organism require rest and nutrition. To say the truth : marathon was not the hardest part of these days : just rotate pedals fast enough and squeeze out everything, which one could do, there was no technically hard areas on the way; the most difficult part was to not cool and not catch a cold at this night – this is a my own guilty, next time I’ll act smarter in such cases, and in other close cases too, applying this experience to them.

Women in category 18 - 29 years awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Women in category 18 – 29 years awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

Took my belongings, ate food, made some photos for the memory and went to make one of my most interesting businesses – to make a photos; people are recreating after marathon and prepare to trips to homes. In-front there is a sanatorium high-rise, in one of these rooms on 3rd or 4th floor I recreated for a week, when I was a student. People slowly move to awards-giving area, event partners speak their words, first awards were given to children, then to the young participant, who rode 40 km of adult distance : well done – he’ll be a sportsmen, if he’ll go on a right road in life. Then to men and women novices, then to women of categories 40 – 49, 30 – 39 and 18 – 29; then to men-veterans, 40 – 49, 30 – 39 and 18 – 29 and to men-juniors at the completion. Small technical questions were performed after this; thank you giving to organizers of event – ProBike Team, they done very well. Group photos and roads to homes.

Men-veterans awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Men-veterans awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

We’ve agreed to ride with Renat on one train to Yekaterinburg, packed everything, said “Good bye” to Green Cape, there’ll be ability to ride to Tavatuy lake at this Summer, when it’ll be warm at night and water will be warm enough too to bathe. Small asphalt to Murzinka, waiting for the train, became acquainted with another one rider, which registered for novices distance, but rode a whole distance, however in the 5 hours. On steel bicycle with additional hinge and very not effective equipment and small experience of riding on a long distances, there is ability to participate in Kirgishany, however, for something more difficult and technically intensive there is need to prepare oneself and the bicycle much better. Trip to Yekaterinburg, mostly the same stations, but in a reverse order. On the way we talked and learned each other better, on one of the stations in the train girl with bicycle entered, she rode with acquaintances to Tavatuy lake, but they somewhy lost each other and started to evacuate back to Yekaterinburg on the trains.

Men in category 40 - 49 years awards giving, велосипедные кросс-кантрийные марафонные соревнования Киргишаны 2016
Men in category 40 – 49 years awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

Here is it – a Railway Station, underground passage to the city, “good bye” to fellows and up to homes each other. It is good to ride through a city with Kirgishany competitions number and finisher medal in the form of heart on the chest. Further the same 51 km of a way home lay in front of me, this time mainly on the autopilot, it is good that at Saturday evening there are not much cars and the road is often free. On the exit from Yekaterinburg dusk started to approach the ground, somewhere there is a still day-time heat and somewhere temperature is much lower : br-r-r, reminder of a recent night. Quite fast I rode through all Polevskoy highway : there is ability to ride fast enough on the asphalt even in the darkness and in dusk road and marks on it are visible quite good. On the entrance to Polevskoy it was already dark; somebody are walking hugging with the beer bottles, somebody with them stay near parodies on street racing cars – how dull all this after Kirgishany and everything that already was.

Men in category 19 - 29 years awards giving, велосипедные кросс-кантрийные марафонные соревнования Киргишаны 2016
Men in category 19 – 29 years awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

Pedals rotating more and I’m at home, at last this 48 hours day without sleep, cooling at night, 80 km Kirgishany cross-country marathon competitions – candidate on the one of the stages of KVMR, and 102 km of rides to Railway Station and from it to home completed. It’ll be good to repeat this again, but this time not so extremely : with sleeping before competitions and without such cold at night. Ate food and switched off to sleep, this night I slept very soundly. Before Ural MTB Marathon I’ll not make such sleepless nights, it is much more complex in technical terms and it is good, that here are a morning buses to Yekaterinburg before the competitions start – I’ll remember pop-music for a while. Next there’ll be May Bicycles Tour ( group of May Bicycles Tour in social network VKontakte ) and other competitions and events, I’ll not pass even one weekend day with good weather of these warm months of year, will use them for the full extent and will receive impressions and feelings up to this winter. See you on the next event!

Men-juniors awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Men-juniors awards giving, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
ProBike Team, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
ProBike Team, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Group photo, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Group photo, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Group photo, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
Group photo, bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
I'm on the bycicle ( photographer is an Ivan Ivanov ), bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016
I’m on the bycicle ( photographer is an Ivan Ivanov ), bicycles cross-country marathon competitions Kirgishany 2016

You can see additional photos here : 80 km bicycles cross-country marathon competitions with sleepless night before them.

Excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg from Sportek shop

On start, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
On start, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop

Yesterday excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg was held on, organized by Sportek shop ( group and meeting album in VKontacte social network ), it was led on by Anna Bushmeleva – the representative of this shop. For exercising for Kirgishany competitions event I rode from home at morning and directed on Polevskoy highway into Yekaterinburg, at morning it was quite cold and strong cold wind blew in the face, cooling muscles and whole organism, so it was harder to rotate pedals, than in more comfortable weather. Excursion started in a first half of day from southern part of city, first we rode through little parks of South-West of Yekaterinburg, then into Green Grove, after it in Dendrarium and park near Youth Palace. Closer to evening wind became not so strong and cold and it started to be much warmer on the streets, so now rotating pedals became much more interesting. On the event I met old acquaintances, which I know from rides of previous year, and became acquainted with new people. Overall around 20 people participated in excursion, on the way some people leaved the group, part returned back and new ones joined the ride.

One of the south-west parks of city, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
One of the south-west parks of city, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop

I found common topics for conversation with Suvorov Sergey – another one photographer on the event, part of photos in this article belong to him, here is his group in VKontakte, devoted to photographing. At the beginning of evening we have come into Weiner Garden in the center of city, after it again small ride on the city streets; park on the Malyshev and Bazhov streets crossroad with photos making with the locomotive maquette in the background; small uphill and we are on the Meteohill : setting Sun in the city mist fills everything with a light. After it – Pavlik Morozov Park – brave soviet boy, which made ideologically right ( ideologically tough duckspeak ), but in terms of moral and soul – quite controversial deed. Lots of memories are connected with this place. Further we moved to Mayakovskiy Central Park of Culture and Recreation – the largest park of Yekaterinburg, on the way we visited food shop, others made some purchases, I took everything with me : already taught by experience.

Photographing with locomotive maquette in the background, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
Photographing with locomotive maquette in the background, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop

On the way in each park Anna told us small story about them and people shared their knowledge about these places, in Mayakovskiy park she made small quiz on the topics of event with give-away of a delicious prizes and small picnic. Closer to evening it started to be colder and people started to ride to their homes, I made some more photos, said “Good bye” to people and rode home – to wind up the distance, accommodate with clip-less pedals even more and make speed on the asphalt. By the 9th May I already knew, what awaits me at evening after sunset, so, this time I dressed much warmer and was not cold at all on the way to home : only hands were slightly blown by the wind, but even this was not strong. Closer to night beginning, receiving impressions and feelings for this day, I arrived at home, met on the way acquainted bicycle rider, we talked for a while and I continued my way. Cooked food, washed myself, sent photos and made connections in social network, then went to sleep. Now training on the ground roads and small hills in the city go on and competitions will start, see you there!

Meteohill, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
Meteohill, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
Meteohill, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
Meteohill, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
In Central Park of Culture and Recreation, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
In Central Park of Culture and Recreation, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
Sunset above Polevskoy highway, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
Sunset above Polevskoy highway, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop
I'm in person, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop ( photographer is Sergey Suvorov )
I’m in person, excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg, organized by Sportek shop ( photographer is Sergey Suvorov )

You can see additional photos here : Excursion in the parks of Yekaterinburg from Sportek shop.

Day of the Victory celebration in Yekaterinburg at 9th May of 2016 year on the bicycle

View from 1905 year square, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
View from 1905 year square, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year

Yesterday I attended Day of the Victory of 9th May celebration in Yekaterinburg : there were lots of people, especially at morning and daytime. At morning it was quite cool, but on the entrance into city weather became real mayish. In the whole city there were different events and concerts went on, center of Yekaterinburg was closed for cars and was given to pedestrians and bicycles riders. Most of people were located in historical square, central squares and large parks, where concerts went on and on large screen war-times movies were shown.

City Administration building, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
City Administration building, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year

First I visited 1905 year square, then rode to Mayakovskiy Park, from it to Black Tulip, after it rode over October Square and then again into CPCaR Mayakovskiy. There are places, where I can ride on the bicycle and for a whole day concerts went on. I wished to stay till evening and look on the fireworks, but closer to 8 p.m. o’clock and sunset it started to be colder and inner felling suggested to me, that at evening and closer to night it will be even colder and in light clothes on high speed, especially away from city and in a low-altitude areas, it’ll be real cold. If I’ll stay till fireworks, then on the way to home at night beginning I’ll complete freeze, so at 8 o’clock before sunset I rode to home, receiving holiday impressions and positiveness and cheerfulness charge till next event.

Main city dam, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
Main city dam, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year

At evening temperature fell down quite strong and on high speed in low-altitude areas of Polevskoy highway hands were blown by wind quite strong. All in all I arrived at home without problems, but next time in such rides, when closer to evening and beginning of night it will be still ( or already ) cold, I’ll take with me additional warm clothes. Now I’ll more frequently visit Yekaterinburg and will use these days for a full extent – its enough from me of loneliness in the mountains, I received, what I rode there for, periodically I’ll continue to ride to mountains to stay in fit, but I’ll not invest my whole life into loneliness in wilderness. Mainly it’s better to be closer to civilization and society. This is all for today, stay in the broadcast.

Central street of city, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
Central street of city, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
City founder monument Tatischev and de Genin, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
City founder monument Tatischev and de Genin, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
Balloon, flying into sky, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
Balloon, flying into sky, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
Black Tulip, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year
Black Tulip, Yekaterinburg, Day of the Victory celebration at 9th May of 2016 year

You can see additional photos here : Day of the Victory celebration in Yekaterinburg at 9th May of 2016 year on the bicycle.

Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions in Upper Ufaley

Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions :
Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions : after competitions and before awards giving

At Tuesday I rode to bicycles cross-country competitions Formula 255 in Upper Ufaley, got up at 5:30 a.m. o’clock, wished to go earlier, but while awoke completely, prepared and made part of home businesses – from Polevskoy northern part I rode only at 7:30 – 7:40 a.m. o’clock. There was strong frontal cold wind, so on the heights and open areas this was felt quite strong, especially above large fields near Poldnevaya village; after it I entered forest on the way to Kladovka village and it became much easier to rotate pedals, to village itself good asphalt road leads on, after it on the way to Cheremshanka village – quite good ground-stony-sand road, which is much better, than road to Large Lavrovka village after asphalt, and in warm weather, than potholes nightmare on 20 – 30 km near Itkul Lake in the direction to Upper Ufaley. It is much faster to ride on it and it is 2 – 3 times shorter, than detour through Itkul, by 12 o’clock I arrived to Upper Ufaley, then at 12:20 to ski base, registered myself, small breath-taking and food and without much rest in the fight again, lets start begin …

Beginning of lap of Formula 255 competitions
Beginning of lap of Formula 255 competitions

Isn’t girl-sportsmen laying there somewhere?” – ( “As Natalia on Grand Rock competitions” ) – “No, I haven’t seen her,” – “When you’ll ride, will you look?” – “Ok, I’ll look for her. :-) ” … “The main thing – is to not give up,” – “Yes, that’s for sure.” First 2 laps after 60 km ride without rest it was hard to move on in competitions tempo, by 3rd I switched on, on 4th one I drank some tea and it became much easier : “Let it be not so fast, but I’ll ride these 4 – 5 laps – for how many I’ll have a time before finish closing – not to go away from distance I rode here, I’ll not stop.” I completed 4 laps, I would rode 5th one too, but finish was already closed. Made a mark in referees protocol, then walked to eat, to rest and to prepare camera, after rides forgot to reduce diaphragm, so part of photos from awards giving are soaped. First awards was given to children, then to juniors, then to men-fitness, then to women-sportsmen, then to veterans, then to men-sportsmen 19+ and by the final to bicycles families + thank you giving to partners of event and award giving to the most young participant. All in all competitions were great : lots of positive and good impressions, as well as cheerfulness charge for a whole May holidays and subsequent work-days, thank you to competitions organizers – Ural Cycling Project and partners of event.

Before awards giving
Before awards giving

After awards-giving I ate small amount of food, prepared and moved into way back home. Just one view of quarry near Cheremshanka is worth all this way. Uphills and downhills from them near quarries away from heavy technics – is a good place to train and form development, they are very similar to ones on Grand Rock competitions. Then downhills from northern slope, on which I rode at morning, and I set my wheels on ground-stony-sand road with not so steep hills. Quite fast I managed to Kladovka, there is asphalt in it, on it I rode very fast to Poldnevaya village, removing tiredness on the way from my legs.

In awards giving time
In awards giving time

On the way to competitions on the hills with wind in face it was slightly undermined me : “This year I’ll ride less to competitions and will make more businesses …” – but after competitions : “No way, I’ll ride and travel this year and receive impressions so much, that I’ll have no any wish to ride somewhere at Winter in the frosts.” 30 – 40 minutes before sunset I arrived to Poldnevaya, it was still warm above the ground. Closer to Polevskoy with high cadence on asphalt all tiredness after competitions came out from my legs and I was not tired at all, clipless pedals is a great thing. 20 – 30 minutes after sunset I entered into Polevskoy, in some forest areas near it it was quite cold already and on the speed with wind hands froze a little and wind blew the clothes, but in city itself it was +9 degrees on Celsius and very warm. Approximately at 9:40 – 10 p.m. o’clock I arrived to home, viewed myself and clothes on the wood ticks presence : there was no them ( thank you goes to aerosol protection of the clothes and I did not walked much in the forests ), then I ate small amount of food, made some home businesses and went to sleep. Next time for competitions I’ll invent something better, than to ride 60 km against wind into hills before actual competitions, there is ability to go to Upper Ufaley by train or at least to ride to Poldnevaya village or to Kladovka itself by bus – it is much easier to ride 25 – 15 km, than 60 ones.

Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions : women-sportsmen awards giving
Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions : women-sportsmen awards giving

It was a great preparation for Kirgishany competitions : 140 km, 80 of them are on good asphalt with high speed and good hills, around 40 are ground-stony-sand roads with good covering for cross-country training and around 20 km of forest ground roads in competitions tempo. This road is much better for preparations to competitions and much more effective for trainings, then to knead clay on the feet for 40 km on the way to Shunuth mountain : there are good asphalt areas, where high speed can be developed, and lots of hills, where I can exercise myself, especially with the wind in a face; there are ground-stony-sands areas with very good covering and very good hills for trainings; distance itself is marathon + half – whole distance of reserve – this is the best for trainings. Also, I ride whole way on the bicycle and do not go off from it : this way it is much better to prepare for competitions, then to walk on feet for 40 km; there is a small amount of cars on it, this is a good, and at the same time they ride sometimes nearby and people in them can help in the emergency case. Also this road leads through civilization – it is much more interesting to ride on it, then to ride alone into the wilderness for tens of km and go mad – will train myself for competitions on this road to Upper Ufaley and will choose mountains for substantive rides not so far from civilization. See you on the next bicycles adventures!

Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions : men-sportsmen 19+ awards giving
Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions : men-sportsmen 19+ awards giving
Thank you giving to partners of competitions
Thank you giving to partners of competitions
Quarry near Cheremshanka village after competitions
Quarry near Cheremshanka village after competitions
Quarry near Cheremshanka after competitions
Quarry near Cheremshanka after competitions
Quarry near Cheremshanka after competitions
Quarry near Cheremshanka after competitions

You can see additional photos here : Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions in Upper Ufaley.

Waterfalls to Shunuth

Flowers on the field near Large Lavrovka village
Flowers on the field near Large Lavrovka village

At this Sunday I rode to Shunuth for exercise, preparation to competitions and for adaptation to clipless pedals. At morning and day weather was changeable : rain downpours alternated with bright Sun, a couple of times I drenched and then dry on the wind and Sun; after rides at Winter, drenching at temperatures above zero do not disturb anymore. The main thing is that there is warm and no frosts and there is ability to ride freely. Road to Large Lavrovka is still flooded, in many areas there are large puddles and soft ground; these clay areas, that seemed unrideable previous year, are rideable : somewhere there is ability to walk on feet, carrying bicycle on the shoulder and walking on more or less solid road sides, and somewhere to ride on the bicycle itself, moving on springs beds, washed clay off down to stones. After clay areas there is good ground-stone road, on which there is ability to ride even after rain, it leads up to field near Large Lavrovka and goes further North to village Krasnoyar; road to it is much better, than to Polevskoy.

Flooded uphill to Shunuth
Flooded uphill to Shunuth

Field is partly flooded, but road in some places is rideable on the bicycle, ground in the forest mainly still wet and soft and there is ability to only walk on it on the feet. On the fields up to turn to uphill to Shunuth somewhere there is ability to ride on the bicycle, somewhere to only walk on the feet, but after turn everything is flooded, crossing the road 2 m wide river flows, everything is flooded around it and from the mountain rivers flow. It seems, that not all snow is melted on Shunuth and these areas will be flooded and unrideable for around 2 – 3 weeks, somewhere at the middle of May there’ll be ability to ride to mountain and see what road is. Now even after rainfalls, if rivers do not flow from Shunuth, I’ll be able to ride to mountain through clay areas.

Flooded uphill to Shunuth
Flooded uphill to Shunuth

From this place I rode home, it is good to ride whole road from Large Lavrovka to asphalt under Sun light; by evening weather became more or less sunny, rainfalls downpours stopped and it became warm enough. Clipless pedals is a good thing : I can ride now on 1 gear higher on the whole distance, can support constant high speed, even into hills and on wet ground and stony areas, and do not tire, doing this, at all, much better control bicycle and my feet do not fall off from pedals on high speed. The main thing is to rotate pedals right and evenly, when one leg presses the other pulls up and this way load on legs is much less; also there is ability ( and necessity too ) to push forward and pull back, providing even pedaling.

Iced buds near road to Large Lavrovka
Iced buds near road to Large Lavrovka

Without problems and fast I managed to asphalt, on it to Polevskoy and then home. Soon competitions will start and there is already ability to ride to Yekaterinburg for participation in bicycles tours with other people, life begins again.

Ground road on the way to Shunuth
Ground road on the way to Shunuth
Ground road on the way to Shunuth
Ground road on the way to Shunuth
Asphalt is nearby, I feel it :-)
Asphalt is nearby, I feel it :-)

You can see additional photos here : Waterfalls to Shunuth.

Konovalov Ridge and Old Man Rock in April on snow

Andrey, bicycles, melting snow and flooded forest areas
Andrey, bicycles, melting snow and flooded forest areas

At last it is slightly easier on work, freezes are passing and after more than 1 month of work without holidays and with half-sleepless nights, I managed to go to ride in forest to the mountains, exercise my legs and relive myself from winter freezings. This time I rode not alone and agreed to ride to Old Man Rock and middle and northern rocks of Shunuth Mountain with 3 local skiers and bicycles riders. Part of them in technical and equipment areas and in physical training too were not completely prepared for such ride, so, we agreed, that everybody will look on their own strengths and other factors and decide for themselves how far they’ll be able to ride and walk to Shunuth.

Snow clearing on the way to Shunuth Mountain
Snow clearing on the way to Shunuth Mountain

They are riding, joking and laughing – do not know what awaits them ahead; this exhaust very much and knocks down psychological and physical tune to overcome the things, that are ahead; because here not jokes and joy are needed, but mostly sternness and even hardness are, otherwise psychology will stop and turn back there, where weather and conditions allow and there is ability to go further. In result : as soon as asphalt ended up and potholes with puddles and snowy mass in some areas started – strong words on Summer-time road tires or with weak physical exercising started to sound aloud in the forest, I did not heard them too much, because not much can be heard from so far behind, but sometimes they were reaching me from a distance. Then two of adventurers understood, that they’ll not be able to ride any further, than Large Lavrovka village, somebody due to technical state of their bicycle, somebody due to weak physical state, but both mostly due to psychological and physiological tune. Two of those, who rode to Shunuth Mountain, even smoked : this kills, but here lungs, heart, neural system and muscles are needed, so, they should free themselves from such killing habit or only dream about long-distance rides, because in really long trips they’ll fall down from bicycles. Further we rode with local bicycle-skier Andrey. We agreed, that we will wait those, who lag behind, near Large Lavrovka, but they rode too slow and we were not able to wait for them for too long, because we had long and difficult way ahead and it the same in a returning trip, and Sun sets at this time at 7:30 p.m., so, we were not able to stay on one place for 30 minutes or longer, cooling down and freezing. All in all, they made right decision to not ride any further, because the hardest part is ahead and they would not withstand this.

I am on the way to Shunuth Mountain
I am on the way to Shunuth Mountain

After Large Lavrovka on the field there is a rolled down snowmobile road goes on and there is ability to more or less walk on it, however legs and bicycles periodically went knee deep or even higher in the snow; near cordon we slightly strayed on the snow-filled roads with drenching pants knee high and even higher and filling boots with melting snow; there was even wish to turn back there and return home, if there was no road, because in the snow drifts with bicycles we would got stuck; but away from cordon on the fields near it there are good rolled down roads go on, so we walked further. On the fields snow is the most loose, so it was the most hard to walk on them, in the forest it is much more dense and solid, so we walked freely there and there were even ability to easily push bicycle nearby. Andrey placed his 16 kg down-hill bicycle shortly after large field near cordon, I raised my 11 kg MTB around to half of a Konovalov Ridge height and then placed it too near tree in the forest to wait for our returning back, when road started to be much more steep and not so rolled-down, further we walked much faster on the light. This time snow-mobile road is much more packed and leads much further, than in January, we walked to North-South road and turned North on it; then arrived to sign “Strictly protected nature area Shunuth-Rock Mountain” and to turn to Old Man Rock : hope arose, that we will reach it : now there are around 500 m up to it, now there are 300, we already managed to Konovalov Ridge passage and from the West, without protection of the mountain, wind started to blow; but not reaching 200 m to the Old Man Rock snow-mobile turned South and further covered with melting snow road laid ahead of us, on which we fell in snow-drifts up to the stomach level, further there was ability to move only by crawling on the snow, but even so hands and legs periodically went into it without reaching bottom; so, even those 200 m on such road would took of us 2 – 3 hours of crawling there and back the same and completely drenched our clothes + we wanted to ride at least part of road from Large Lavrovka village while there is still dusk above the forest, so that we would not walk on feet whole path to asphalt road. We checked road to the South for approximately 100 m, but it did not turned West to Old Man Rock, so we decided to return home from here : further I’ll ride into such trips only without snow, to not depend on snow-mobiles whims and to not turn back after such 50 – 55 km in 200 m away from the chosen target.

I am close to the sign Strictly protected nature area Shunuth-Rock Mountain
I am close to the sign ‘Strictly protected nature area Shunuth-Rock Mountain’

Returning slightly back : there is ability to say, that in his eyes and on all face view, it was clearly visible, that it is hard for him on the fields with bicycle, he has strengths and physical exercising, but his psychology after jokes, laughing, songs and illusions about “to lite some bonfire, to cook some food and to sit and talk” stood in a shocked state from what is going on, and wishes to turn back or walk further were fighting inside of him. I encouraged him as much, as I could : “After this you’ll had what to remember, you’ll be able to tell to your grandchildren how you walked to Shunuth Mountain on the snow in April,” – “There is a Konovalov Ridge ahead, Old Man Rock and Shunuth are peaks of it,” – “Around 4 km are left,” – “3,” – “There’ll be small river, crossing road, it can be jumped over,” – “Here is it,” – “Further there’ll be North-South road, we’ll walk North on it,” – “Then we’ll meet ‘Strictly protected nature area Shunuth-Rock Mountain‘ sign, we’ll walk West from it,” – “Here is it, now 500 m – 1 km to the West and we will arrive to Old Man Rock sign and then to rock itself,” – “In the face wind started to blow from the West, so we arrived to pass of a Konovalov Ridge and it is already close,” … I hope, that this helped him a little, but in any case : fighting goes on inside human himself or herself and human will pluck up a courage and will walk so much, how far weather and conditions allow to go, when walking any further can have consequences to his or hers life and health, or will turn back much earlier and go home. To his credit it can be said : he has physical training and ability to withstand and walk through all this. From one side : when I walk and ride alone – it is easier for me, because I lead only myself and I just switch on movement forward and walk further; however, with other people in such situations they move not on their own, they are walking there, where I lead them, and, if they’ll be left alone, then they can turn back and walk home, and this is slightly harder, because I lead not only me, but other people too; however, if there are other peoples nearby, then this stimulates me to rotate pedals and ride much faster and not just freely ride, look around and admire views and fresh air, and the same way on the uphill path to the mountain. So, all this have its pluses and minuses and it is useful to ride this way and the other.

We ate and drunk some tea near Old Man Rock, to replenish strengths and nutrition before way back home; it is much easier to walk from the mountain, here is a North-South road, then turn to East, here is my bicycle, small river, crossing road, here are fields near cordon and Andrey’s bicycle; and further second larger field lays, we sweat on it, then in the forest near cordon road is much easier and we walked through it without a problems and arrived to large field near Large Lavrovka. During day snow melted on it much more and became much more loose, so even those 500 m with frequent legs and bicycles goings into snowdrifts exhausted us very much, so we managed to the exit from it quite tired, then small rest with bicycles technical maintenance followed, ahead is walking via quite flooded road with snowy mess and potholes on it up to village and entrance to rolled down road near it.

Andrey close to the sign Strictly protected nature area Shunuth-Rock Mountain
Andrey close to the sign ‘Strictly protected nature area Shunuth-Rock Mountain’

Near Large Lavrovka even in the ending dusk on melting road with fresh snow cars and bicycles tracks were clearly visible, so there was ability to more or less ride on it. After 30 km walking on the snow in heavy winter boots, pushing bicycle nearby and periodical pulling it and myself from falling into snowdrifts knee or higher deep, my legs started to exhaust quite much, during riding on the bicycle it was not felt, but further on the clay areas there was no ability to ride, at light time there is ability to ride there, but in the darkness bicycle on such potholes and snowy mess often stuck and slips from one side to the other. So, on these 12 km of walking it started to switch me off and often we made stops to rest, take off exhausting and activate again; there were even wish to take some fir tree branches, go to sleep in forest ( thank you to the weather there were 0 – +2 degrees on Celsius above the forest ) and ride all this mess at morning with Sun-light on the bicycle, to not exhaust so much. For all that walking on feet on such distances in such conditions – is not my kind of sport, it is much easier for me to ride 150 – 200 km on the bicycle, even on the ground roads and trails in forest, I almost do not tire from this, than to walk for 40 km. So, next time I’ll ride in such journeys only without snow or with its 1 – 2 cm thickness in the first half of October, when there is ability to ride on the bicycle in the forest, to not invest so much time and strengths into walking on the feet. And next time I’ll take with me more food with meat, because carbohydrates, of course, give energy, but after so long and intense work there is need in complete feeding, to walk such distance, if needed. To Andrey’s credit : he prepared in this area better, then I, also he took with him replacing warm and dry socks, next time I’ll account this experience.

Bicycles riders on the way to Large Lavrovka village
Bicycles riders on the way to Large Lavrovka village

The most interesting was ahead : while we rode and walked to Shunuth, Heavens’ Manna – asphalt almost completely melt and became dry, as soon as clay area ended and it began : strictly straight line separated snowy mess from good and smooth asphalt, as soon as I sat on the bicycle, started to rotate pedals and started to feel cohesion of tires with the road and speed : all my exhausting and pain passed at once, and what “To stay in the forest for the night” : “To home!” – after this, for sure, I’ll rode there. Closer to night it started to freeze and rear shifters of both of us froze completely and turned into single-speeds, so, periodically transmissions were not optimal, but this did not disturbed us at all and we just rotated pedals to home; also on rims and bushings of both of my wheels by around 0.5 kg of ice froze up, so it was harder to spin them up, then without it, but this did not disturbed any much too.

Flooded area in the forest
Flooded area in the forest

On one of the crossroads on the entrance to Northern part of Polevskoy we said “Good bye” to each other till our next meeting and went further independently, I arrived to home at 2 hours o’clock of night : everything to dry, wash myself, eat food and go to sleep. Next : continuation of the trainings in the city, reconnaissance of the roads and preparation to the competitions in the rides to mountains; at Spring, when everything will melt and more or less dry and wood ticks will calm, we will for all that manage to Shunuth : Old Man Rock and its middle and northern rocks, because to ride and to walk 50 – 55 such km and turn back in 200 m away from Old Man Rock : not very interesting, it is very useful to breath fresh air, to be on nature and exercise legs and whole organism, but there is a large desire to arrive to set target. While wood ticks are very active, on trainings in rides to Shunuth I’ll ride only on ground and stony forest roads and will not turn to grassy ones to rocks to not cling dangerous blood-suckers. At this Summer, at beginning of June I’ll ride to Taganay, there are plans to ride to other mountains, but we’ll see how ride to Taganay will go on and what load will be on the work and it’ll be seen, maybe, these plans will be adjusted slightly. Plus : main marathons, part of XCOs and part of other competitions of this season. This is all for today, see you on the next event.

You can see additional photos here : additional photos of ride to Konovalov Ridge and Old Man Rock in April of 2016 year.

Little 110 km winter ride to concert Pincode Ensemble

Yesterday I rode to concert Pincode Ensemble in CK Ural, Spring is coming and on the streets it is again becoming warm enough for long-distance rides, soon at night times it will be not so cold and there will be ability to ride to mountains in the forest. Pincode Ensemble consists from Different Orchestra musicians and was created in 2012 year. I wished to come at 7 sharp, to prepare before performance, took with me hardware for high-quality audio recording, but winter makes its own adjustments into riding speeds, in result I canceled part of other businesses to not miss concert completely, and arrived only to its second part. I did not prepared hardware in the hall to not disturb musicians and other listeners and only recorded video. Concert was interesting, music beautiful, it is good to visit such events periodically. Tomorrow I’ll upload 1 more video.

Then small ride through pre-nighttime city after concert and 40 km of Polevskoy highway; 3/4 of a path I rode without a problems, stopping only periodically to walk and let legs’ fingers move actively and warm blood to run through them freely to heat them slightly up. During one of these walkings ( at 1 or 2 hours of night under Moon, looking through the haze of clouds ) car stopped nearby : “Did you broke something?” – “No, I walk and rest,” – “A, I thought you broke something,” – “No, everything is alright,” – I raised my hand, to say good bye : “Ok, good bye,” – human turned around and rode back to Polevskoy ( :-) , what impressed him so much, that he decided to not ride into Yekaterinburg? ); I rode and walked further home. Closer to Polevskoy I did not froze and did not tired, but brain started to sleep already, to not fall down from the bicycle, I stopped a couple of times and slept for a while on the handlebar, then walked and rode further; already nearing the city, I almost slept above the handle bar : it is interesting to be able to sleep, riding the bicycle, this is like dolphins do : part of a brain sleeps and part is working, higher cognitive functions almost sleep, organism by itself keeps a balance and rotates pedals, brain through the half closed eyes turns around obstacles and chooses road to home; that is good, that there is almost no cars at night time on the road. Closer to 3 hours of night I arrived to home, drank some tea, ate food and went to sleep.

The Spring is coming, give a road to her,
She is at the doorstep already.
Flowering and blossoming everything is .
The time have come to live, to love, to blossom and
To smell.

Road to Shunuth in January

Road to cordon near Large Lavrovka
Road to cordon near Large Lavrovka

First time I did not wanted to write anything about this, but later decided to write to solidify conclusions. I rode to see is there a road to Large Lavrovka and to look what is going on after it in terms of a way to Shunuth mountain. It is periodically cleared up to village itself and snow solidified so, that it is rideable on the bicycle; on the way to Large Lavrovka clearings in the clouds started to emerge and clear bright sky was visible through them. When I reached village : “I’ll ride to field near cordon, will breath fresh air and will turn back home,” – through the field only tracks of heavy timber transport ( which rode here around 1 – 2 weeks or even 1 month ago, snow on it is very solid and it is easier to walk on it, than through the snowdrifts nearby ) and snowmobile ( snow on which is very loose, so I walked on the timber transport tracks ) lead on. By that time sky cleared completely and Sun filled everything with light, which with its low height above horizon and frozen air created picture of light around and everywhere. On the turn to cordon to the north, timber transport rode further to the West and only snowmobile tracks, on the not completely covered with snow road, led to the North, it is easier to walk on it, then through the snowdrifts, but for riding on bicycle snow is too loose and too deep. On the field after cordon people rode some circles, I walked on them to the Western side of a field, from which there is no road further, in the Eastern direction I saw something like a road and walked there through the waist-deep snow; reaching it I saw bridge and big tube : “This buzzing is not without a purpose,” – it means there for sure road should be.

Forest near road to Shunuth
Forest near road to Shunuth

It is so : it is not completely covered with snow and snowmobile tracks are located on it – this gave a hope, that it leads to the Shunuth itself and I’ll see a mountain today. Recesses of roads-rivers have small amount of snow and it is relatively easy to walk on them, around 200 meters from river, crossing the road, there is another one and snowmobile turned to South here; there is need to walk through snow-drifts from here : “I walked so far and almost came to the mountain, I do not want to turn back now and will continue my way on the feet.” In some areas there are footprints of a horse or elk, for deer and roe they are too big and massive – not many walk this way to the Shunuth at winter time.

Frost and Sun, the day is beautiful ...
Frost and Sun, the day is beautiful …

There are lots of energy in the mountains, stopping on the one place to make a breath and rest for a while, through the heart beating, there is ability to hear that under layer of snow and ice there is still water gurgling. “You are entering area of paid parking near Shunuth,” – I placed bicycle on the parking, across the road, sticking it into the snow, so that it will not fall and will not slide to the sides and it will be easier to find it on the way back, paid with my bank card in the terminal, terminal encouragingly winked pip-bip : “Payment is accepted, have a nice day,” – and walked further with my bag with the food … Around 1 – 1.5 hours have passed : “If after this another turn there’ll be no South-North road, then I’ll turn and walk home,” – voila : South-North road. On it I walked for another 200 – 300 meters to the North, I did not walked to the South, because I already knew, that I have no need to walk there today, somewhere there another Granddad-stone rocks are located, but I’ll search for them when snow will melt completely. Old man rocks were in around 1.5 km of walking, but there are very deep snowdrifts and after 12 km in the snowdrifts in 3 pairs of pants and heavy winter boots, 5/6 of which I carried my bike under armpit, my legs were exhausted so much, that were ready to tell to me : “Hey, man, you a cowboy, you jump, we will lay here and rest for a while and wait for you,” – and part of my mind hinted to me, that I have the same distance ahead to home, let it be downhill, but it is with the bicycle on the shoulder through the snowdrifts. So, way to it would took another 1 – 1.5 of a hour and I would came to it in a complete darkness, common sense hinted to me, that there is no need to climb alone in the darkness on the ice and snow covered rocks in 40 – 50 km away from the city and it is better to meet bicycle before complete darkness, otherwise I can search for it for a long time.

Road to Shunuth
Road to Shunuth

Bicycle stood there, where I left it, I took it under armpit and carried through the snow. At evening time, alone, walking from the Shunuth : I was so exhausted, that had no forces to be afraid and feel jitters and anxiety, but if something like that tried to come close to me, then I said to myself : “Everything, will, be, alright,” – and walked further. Stars shined very brightly, they do not shine so strong in the city, its illumination eats their beauty; Orion on the South-East, Lyra almost vertically up and other constellations : they are so bright, that light almost like projectors. Closer to field near cordon clouds started to cover the sky, partially it is for the best : at least warmth of a day will not fly too fast in the upper layers of atmosphere. In the snowdrifts convulsions started to appear in the right calf muscle, I stretched and worked it through and on the more clear passages freely walked home. I walked footprint in a footprint and did not turned anywhere from the tracks, all other roads are covered with the snow, so this time I did not strayed in the forest and at once reached field near Large Lavrovka.

Forest near road to Shunuth
Forest near road to Shunuth

In the darkness there, where I freely ride on the bicycle at the daytime, often there is need to walk on feet, because road is visible only in the outlines, details are not visible : where here are hummocks or depressions, filled with a loose snow, in result most of a way from Large Lavrovka to the clay area I walked on feet. Brain, unable to fully comprehend what is going on, tried to switch off; it also tried to make a sabotage and mutiny on the ship and switch off legs also, but understanding of that, in this case there will be need to stay at night in the forest and at -8 degrees on Celsius this is not so interesting, as at 0, hold it from doing this. So, I had to stop periodically, locate my arms on the handlebar and half-sleep for 5 – 10 minutes, to not fall into sleep completely and not to start to overcool and give some rest and recover to brain and legs.

Forest near road to Shunuth
Forest near road to Shunuth

From the village in Polevskoy direction car rode, I walked further. After some time light of another one car showed up and it stopped nearby. Without any questions people greet me and offered to bring up me to the city : I do not know whether I wold stopped car by myself and asked to bring me to the city, probably, I would walked to beginning of asphalt road and rode from there on the bicycle : there is ability to ride on such road cover even at night time, I did it many times on the way from Berezovaya mountain and on the Polevskoy highway. But anyway : thank you to the guys for bringing me up to the city, without this way to home would took 2 – 3 – 4 hours more and only by these hours of night I would came to my home; once more I am convinced that there are normal people – this encourages hope and optimism.

Road to the south, Sun is partially closed with clouds
Road to the south, Sun is partially closed with clouds

Here are the conclusions : in case of vital necessity I am able to ride to Shunuth even at January time : now I know this, but making this for a pleasure in January and December is too much : such months are completely not rideable for such trips. Urals weather is changeable : at the morning there can be forecasts, that for a whole day there’ll be only -4 – -3 degrees on Celsius, but everything can change quickly and to evening and night time temperature can easily go down to -15 – -20 or even lower : in this case I would received lots of feel and impressions and for sure there would have been need to ask somebody in the cordon or in the Large Lavrovka village for are sleep in a home and negotiate with local people for somebody to bring me to city with them at morning. There is ability to ride to Shunuth up to the end of October, maximally up to the end of November, and then only from the middle of February; December and January are months of training and not far rides near city, when frosts are not so strong. Now here will be sportive stimulus to rotate pedals more intensively to ride, to walk would be more precise, to Shunuth at the middle of February; hope that snow will solidify there more and it will be easier to walk on it. I do not regret about anything and received my portion of pleasure and feel. So, now here will be only work and training, next time I’ll go in to such long-distance ride into the forest at the middle of February. The day begins to be longer, at 5:57 here are dusk and still relatively light, instead of complete darkness at 24th December. See you in the next bicycle adventures!

Winter uphill to Shunuth through snowdrifts
Winter uphill to Shunuth through snowdrifts
Bicycle on the way home, how much human eyes are more advanced, than photo camera, which even with fully open diaphragm and with maximal exposure cannot perceive, what I see in real time ...
Bicycle on the way home, how much human eyes are more advanced, than photo camera, which even with fully open diaphragm and with maximal exposure cannot perceive, what I see in real time …

You can see additional photos here Additional photos of ride to Shunuth mountain in January 2016.

White Stone in December

Near the rocks roots of White Stone
Near the rocks roots of White Stone

Found at last White Stone, rode to it through “Friendship” collective garden; only city area is rideable on the bicycle in this direction, further on the way there is need to lead it on the side or carry on the shoulder. Snowmobile and quad bike tracks lead to the West : somewhere through the forest, somewhere on the snowy roads; on the way I passed through Gremiha river, it is 2 – 2.5 m wide near the road, but to the side in around 100 m there is icy bridge, through which I walked with the bike on the other bank and to the technics tracks again. Walking on them I came to wide glade for high voltage electric line, walked on it in the North-West direction to the crossing with Gremiha river again and East-West glade and moved through it to the White Stone : it leads directly to the mountain roots. In some places there are unfrozen puddles and small pools.

White Stone rocks
White Stone rocks

On the way I first met 2 skiers, they told to me that ski track leads to the White Stone directly from ski base, near which I exercise myself, and another 4 skiers after them, snowmobiles pave tracks through the snowdrifts and skiers move on them, so I walked not through the waist deep snowdrifts, but on the easily walkable small road. It has small uphill tilt, that is similar to the way to Shunuth, whereas Berezovaya mountain has steep and short slope. Mountain is visible from the distance through the glade, near its roots large rock at once meet : they have around 20 m height on the Eastern side. I lifted bicycle higher, took my camera and walked to make photos and videos; on the uphill on the White Stone after high rocks in front higher rocks appear after them and there is need to walk attentively, because slope is steep and rocks are covered with ice and snow. To the South there is ability to see Berezovaya mountain, this day it was in the mist and only its silhouette was visible; somewhere there through the mist Shunuth stays in the West …

White Stone rocks
White Stone rocks

Rocky ridge of White Stone is quite narrow, but there is ability to walk, basing on the rocks and trees; there is even small stony arc, it seems, that it was formed due to erosion. After it there is ability to walk even further and higher on the ridge, but it is too narrow in that place, without rocks and trees for basement and with rocky slopes to the sides; so, I’ll walk there after snow melting on the dry stones. On the mountain I was for around 1 hour, this day quite strong wind blew from the south, it is not noticeable in the forest, but on the mountain even in -1 degrees on Celsius temperature hands freeze very fast. Admiring this view and big rocks, I descended to the bicycle, put my camera in the pocket and moved in the way back to home.

White Stone rocks
White Stone rocks

On the returning way I went on the ski tracks in the direction of ski base to see where tracks start; quite fast it became dark, so, first I walked in the dusk, seeing tracks for 3 – 5 m ahead, then it became completely dark and I moved by feel. On the way there are unfrozen puddles, skiers move through them without problems, but I with bicycle had to find basement points by touch, to not to go shin deep in the water : this day I did not drenched my boots and walked and rode to home with comfort. On the ski track I came to the road, it lead to the west to the light, track lead further to the north, so I walked on the road and came out of the forest approximately in the same place, in which I walked into it : on the hill with communication towers. On the way I met young lady, playing with the dog : there is ability to imagine what she thought seeing a man with bicycle in the darkness, walking from the forest in the snowdrifts. Then road to home, home businesses and going to sleep. Wish December and January frosts to pass faster; meet you in the next bicycle adventures!

White Stone rocks
White Stone rocks
White Stone rocks
White Stone rocks
Berezovaya mountain in the mist
Berezovaya mountain in the mist
White Stone rocks
White Stone rocks
View through the arc of White Stone
View through the arc of White Stone
White Stone rocky peaks
White Stone rocky peaks
White Stone rocks
White Stone rocks
Rocks
Rocks
Shunuth is there through
Shunuth is there through the mist …
View from mountain
View from mountain

You can see rest of photos here.