Sport | Imagination Works

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 )

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

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

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 :-) .

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 …

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

ProBike Team, 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

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

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

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

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

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.

Formula 255 bicycles cross-country competitions in Upper Ufaley

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

“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.

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.

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

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

Thank you giving to partners of competitions

Quarry near Cheremshanka village after competitions

Quarry near Cheremshanka after competitions

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

Bicycles competitions VeloDRAG 2015 3rd stage

At this Saturday in Yekaterinburg in Day of the City there were VeloDRAG 2015 3rd stage bicycle competitions held. 19 men in MTB category; 4 women in MTB category and 11 men in Road category participated in them. They were held in 3 phases : warming up, in which participants familiarized themselves with track and planned use of strength and transmission on it; qualification, in which they distributed into pairs by time of riding through the track; and competitions themselves, in which winner went into next round for each of 3 categories. In each ride sportsmen rode 1 / 4 of mile : 402 m.

Competitions were hard and one participant fell from bicycle, happily he received only light injuries. There were some delays between pairs and categories starts, organizers of event promised to account this and make next stage better. In MTB men category there were following winners : Antonov Sergey ( 3rd place ), Petrov Evgeniy ( 2nd place ) and Abramov Stepan ( 1st place ) with following times : 33.1, 32.3 and 30.8 s, accordingly. In MTB women category there were following winners : Soboleva Natalya ( 3rd place ), Koreshkova Elena ( 2nd place ) and Lakosnikova Svetlana ( 1st place ) with following times : 43.9, 41.8 and 40.8 s, accordingly. In Road men category there were following winners : Laev Konstantine ( 3rd place ), Rassadnikov Aleksandr ( 2nd place ) and Toropov Arseniy ( 1st place ) with following times : 34.2, 33.5 and 32.5 s, accordingly. Next stage will be held at 19th September and will be interesting, weather will be still warm and summer competitions season will be still open.

You can see other photos here and other videos on my channel on YouTube.

Bicycle competitions “Grand Rock” and journey home

At the Sunday August 9th there were cross-country bicycles competitions Grand Rock 2015 were held in Upper Ufaley city. There were many distances options for riders : 2 laps x 40 km or 1 lap for men; 2 laps x 30 km or 1 lap x 40 km for women; and Fun mini-marathon with 1 lap x 30 km. Race started at 11 o’clock and were held in warm and dry weather, only closer to finish of the competitions there was small rain. Around 100 athletes from different cities of Russia participated in event. There were lots of road areas with big stones on it, fast downhills with length around 1 km, cross-country uphills on rocks on forest path on the way to Grand Rock, wetlands with little wood bridges in the most muddy areas and grand uphills ( the most memorable is the uphill to Wolfs’ Hill, on which only few sportsmen were able to ride on their bikes, the rest moved on feet with bike nearby ). Cars movement was limited on the roads, because of that they were mostly free and those cars, that moved through them, did that with slow speed. On the key points there were police officers and marshals, who showed right way for the riders. Track was marked very good and there was no feeling of movement “in the wrong way”; with thank to that there was ability to move fast and do not turn in wrong directions. Competitions were concluded with awards ceremony and prizes drawing among competitions participants.

I rode 40 km on competition; there was wish to ride 80 km, but, taking into account forthcoming 60 – 80 km of way home, I rode only 40 km. Road from Upper Ufaley to Polevskoy sometimes looks like westerns scene : with sandy and stony roads, quarries and abandoned industrial and living buildings; sometimes like Soviet times park with posters from Soviet Union times; at some areas road is so broken, that bicycle rider can move much faster, than cars with powerful engines; but mostly it is the road through beautiful forest with small villages, that are located on its length ( most memorable is the Selki village, in which there are only 5 – 6 homes on the bank of small half-boggy waters ). First around 20 km there was warm and dry weather and it was pleasure to ride on this road; then intense rain started and fell till Itkul lake, it ended with beautiful rainbow over Itkul lake and with magnificient views of sunset above wet road and forest, that mirrored its light, and humid atmosphere, that scattered it. There were lots of steep uphils with long and fast downhills after them. From Upper Ufaley till Itkul lake road is relatively good; then along its coast and to border of Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions there is very broken part of road. Then from border of Sverdlosk region there is excellent road surface, on which it is pleasure to ride fast. After sunset fog descended on land and there was need to be careful in low altitude areas, especially when cars moved from behind or from frontal direction.

After Poldnevaya village it was so dark, that road signs was not distinguishable and there was need to pedal, while orienting on white road marks and light of sky, that mirrored from wet road surface. In 10 – 8 km from Polevskoy its lights on the sky appeared and it was much easier to pedal on the bike. After entrance into city there were additional 6 – 10 km of ride on its lighted roads with cars, that moved from behind and from frontal direction, and in 11 – 12 o’clock I at last came to home. Then : eat and sleep. See you on the next bicycles event!

Nikel stadium, evening before competitions

Way home ( between Upper Ufaley and Polevskoy )

You can see rest of photos here.

Bicycle tour “West coast of Iset lake”

In this Sunday August 2nd there were bicycle tour “West coast of Iset lake” near Yekaterinburg. 12 people participated in it. First 10 km path run in city in the direction of Ganin Yama and then in the direction of Iset village. After this distance 2 persons separated from group and returned to Yekaterinburg : it was hard for them ride such distance without appropriate experience and on hard bikes. Lets hope, that they will prepare for next event and will be able to ride all 60 – 100 km. After Iset village we moved in the direction of quarry, that is located nearby. Views from it side are truly amazing; its depth is around 90 m.

View of quarry, bicycle tour West coast of Iset lake

Nature of the Iset Rocks

Rocks near Iset has volcanic nature and was formed in late Paleozoic ( 350 – 200 millions years ago ).

Next the most interesting part have started : steep uphiils on boulders and fast downhills in the direction of PetroGron rocks. We made brief rest on them and moved forward. Downhill from these rocks was very fast and run on rocky trails in forest. We’ve went in the direction of bigger rocks, that are located nearby. At the middle of the distance there was fork : with fast and hard way and relatively easy and longer way. I went with part of group, that chose hard way : there were 3 rocky downhills and uphills with jumps above boulders and crossing of little marshes and forest river. In 20 – 30 minutes we completed this way and waited for other part of group. There are fantastic views from these rocks with Yekaterinburg on the horizon.

View of quarry from side, bicycle tour West coast of Iset lake

Next : fast rocky downhills and steep uphills waited for us, with crossing of flooded areas with bicycle on the shoulder. We moved in the direction of Sandy Lake; there are amazing views at sunset. 2 persons swam in it, while water is still warm. Then through the Severka village we moved to road to Yekaterinburg and rode 10 – 15 km to city. In it people started to separate from group and move to their homes. There are lots of positive and impressions and all of this in 1 day.

PetroGron rocks, bicycle tour West coast of Iset lake

Rocks near Iset, bicycle tour West coast of Iset lake

View from rocks near Iset, bicycle tour West coast of Iset lake

Sandy Lake, bicycle tour West coast of Iset lake

Yekaterinburg, evening, bicycle tour West coast of Iset lake

You can see rest of photos here. There is need to say separate thank to Victor Ustinov, which navigated us through these places without mistakes, without him we would miss some of these beatiful areas. And thank to organizer of bike tour Vadim Grebenkin and all of the participants of tour, see you on next bicycle tour event!

Tag: Sport