[link] Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania... on bicycle

Some pictures from our bicycle trips in Eastern Europe
(diarys as well but what a shame in polish )

http://www.republika.pl/araczkowski

--
__o
_'\_ Wars
(_)/(_)

www.republika.pl/araczkowski/eindex2.html

On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:28:09 +0200, "Wars"
wrote:
www.republika.pl/araczkowski/eindex2.html

Thank you for posting these pages and your earlier site in Polish as
well. You have nice photos.

I am in early stages of planning a trip through Russia. I realize
this may be very different from parts of Belarus/Lithuania that you've
traveled, but my question is more in terms of the types of roads I
find on my maps and typical suitability for long distance bicycle
touring of 100s/1000s of kilometers through former Soviet Republics.

To make this more specific in Lithuania/Belarus, in my Europa map, I
can see the following different sizes of roads:

A. Major roads such as "A2" between Vilnius and Panevezys.
B. Next size roads such as "M12" or "M6" that are direct route from
Vilnius to Minsk.
C. Smaller roads such as "A246" from Osm'any to Smorgon.
D. Smallest roads such as through Ponizje/Sivica/Benica/Markovo

My questions a
1. If you were going to bicycle all the way across Lithuania/Belarus,
which size roads would you pick and why?

2. What might I expect on the different size roads in terms of
traffic, road width, sealed vs. unsealed, etc.

3. Many of your photos are of unsealed roads. What sizes are these?

I realize these answers may vary widely between areas close to cities
or in different areas, but appreciate if you have thoughts on the
sizes of roads I see on my maps and what to consider for my trip.
Thank you for any insight you can provide.

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

p.s. To give you a comparison, here is a very very rough comparison of
how I would describe some road sizes in the USA (again a
generalization and specifics will vary widely):

E. Our largest roads are Interstate Highways (or equivalent). These
typically have restricted access to interchanges. They often have
nice wide ~3m road shoulders. Bicycles are not allowed on interstates
in most states in eastern USA or in most urban areas in western USA.
F. The next road size is of major US numbered highways. Some can be
very busy, particularly around urban areas. On other hand, they can
also be good direct bicycle routes, particularly in western USA
states. Shoulders vary but in western USA I've often seen 0.5m to 2m.
G. The next road size is of most state highways. These are smaller
and sometimes less direct. They can be busy in urban areas but also
very quiet. I like these in my bicycle touring when the major US
numbered highways are too busy.
H. The next road size is of smaller roads including county roads.
These very widely by region and state. In some states such as
Wisconsin most would be sealed. In other states such as Michigan many
will be unsealed. I typically avoid these in cross-country touring
since maps aren't as reliable and routes aren't always direct.

This is obviously a gross generalization that can invite many
counter-examples from this list; but if my typical touring style in
USA is to pick mostly F+G roads in the list below, what would I pick
from A-D above when touring Belarus/Lithuania? Why?

Hello,
Thank You for your questins Mike, they are quite difficult but I'll try to
answer.

To make this more specific in Lithuania/Belarus, in my Europa map, I
can see the following different sizes of roads:

What is the scale of your Europe map?

1. If you were going to bicycle all the way across Lithuania/Belarus,
which size roads would you pick and why?

A. Major roads such as "A2" between Vilnius and Panevezys.
B. Next size roads such as "M12" or "M6" that are direct route from
Vilnius to Minsk.
C. Smaller roads such as "A246" from Osm'any to Smorgon.
D. Smallest roads such as through Ponizje/Sivica/Benica/Markovo


1. Picking the track with the map might be a bit difficult.
When I was planning my tour I tried to choose paved roads. Of course as
along as it was worth it. Sometimes it's nice to
cycle unpaved track and it might be the only one short cut (or way) to the
very interesning place. Why nicer? Because you can be in touch with the
nature, see how the people live the remote villages(that are not by the main
tracks), drivers are not able to speed on such roads... Something against:
you are not able to cycle so fast as You would on asfalt track, and dust.
I wouldn't recommend You A and B category (of course as long as there is
different possibility). The reasons? Higher traffic: exhaust, low safety for
You, no possibility to cycle parallel to your companions (no conversations
by the way ). You should remember as well that there are some mistakes on
the maps and nice looking asfalt road might be a sandy nightmare. So the
best is being flexible and choosing the most reasonable ways. My opinion is
C and D (because You feel cycling-pleasure and dont see just cars and cars
and lorrys...)
By the way: the road width is usually the widest on A and B category.

3. Many of your photos are of unsealed roads. What sizes are these?

Usually 3-4 m width.

If You have some more questions, You are more than welcome. I cycled almost
all roads in Lithuania and some on Belarus
Best wishes

--
__o
_'\_ Wars
(_)/(_)

www.republika.pl/araczkowski

Thank you for your reply. I agree the answers to questions will vary.

What is the scale of your Europe map?

I have a map book of 1:750 000, a map book of 1:500 000 and several
Oblast maps of 1:200 000.

You should remember as well that there are some mistakes on
the maps and nice looking asfalt road might be a sandy nightmare. So the
best is being flexible and choosing the most reasonable ways. My opinion is
C and D (because You feel cycling-pleasure and dont see just cars and cars
and lorrys...)

That happens here in USA as well, though not very often on larger
roads. I will then ask local people more about the roads. This will
be more difficult in former Soviet Union, but I've been taking Russian
language classes to learn some language. I expect that will help me
less in some countries.

If You have some more questions, You are more than welcome. I cycled almost
all roads in Lithuania and some on Belarus

Thank you again,

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

Wars wrote:

www.republika.pl/araczkowski/eindex2.html

..... I was hoping for a translation of "Bez komentarza," ... but I guess
none is really needed.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

.... I was hoping for a translation of "Bez komentarza," ... but I guess
none is really needed.

Actually, I believe it is been translated. The Polish is "Bez
komentarza" and the English is "No comment".

I've had bicycling days like she appears to be having, and would see
why I might put a caption like that under the photo...

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

wrote:

.... I was hoping for a translation of "Bez komentarza," ... but I guess
none is really needed.



Actually, I believe it is been translated. The Polish is "Bez
komentarza" and the English is "No comment".


For some reason I didn't think to scroll down on the main page.

I've had bicycling days like she appears to be having, and would see
why I might put a caption like that under the photo...


Tell me about it.

Sometimes I "talk" to the wind.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

I have a map book of 1:750 000, a map book of 1:500 000 and several
Oblast maps of 1:200 000.

Yes The Oblast maps of 1:200 000 are probably the best for Belarus. But
take ca some roads marked on the map as "paved" are in fact just a dirt
ways. But actually there is nothing really scary in good gravel
Best wishes

--
__o
_'\_ Wars
(_)/(_)

www.republika.pl/araczkowski

"Chuck Anderson" wrote in message
...

.... I was hoping for a translation of "Bez komentarza," ... but I guess
none is really needed.

That means "no comments" )))

--
__o
_'\_ Wars
(_)/(_)

www.republika.pl/araczkowski