FAQ
- What is the qualification needed for VOL?
We chose LEL-like soft qualification version. You need to finish at least 300 km brevet within the time limit less during the period of one year before the VOL. Advanced cyclists who participated in brevets 600 km and longer or in long adventure races are sufficient to finish 200 km brevet during the period of one year.
- How much is entry fee?
payed before 01.05.2012 - 90 EURO
late registration: 110 EURO
- What it includes?
Route sheet in roman type, hot food and sleeping in the controls, bag drop to some of the controls (more information later), transportation from the finish to St-Petersburg and brevet participant T-shirt (could be changed).
- How do I reach brevet start point?
Brevet start will be done in Kremlin square of Vologda which is in 2 km of the Vologda railway station. Easy way to reach Vologda is by train from St-Petersburg or Moscow. Russian railway company rules allow to transport the bicycle in the appropriate packing (soft or hard case, box) in long distance trains. Travel time by night trains from St-Petersburg takes about 12 hours and from Moscow about 9 hours. The price for 2nd class car is about 30 euros. You should keep in mind that you'll have to place your bicycle on the 3rd (luggage) shelf - there are no special bike areas in the trains, the most convenient way to do it is to travel 2nd class which has more appropriate compartment. There will be somebody from our club traveling along to help you out. Please contact the organizers for more information about train tickets. We need to have your passport data to buy a ticket. The departure to Vologda is planned at evening of 4 Jul (arrival at morning of 5 Jul) If you need a transportation from St-Petersburg to Moscow (8 hours by night train for 25-40 euros or 4 hours by high-speed train for ~70-80 euros ) in case you have return flight from Moscow you need to buy train ticket in advance as this is high season for the travels.
- What is the accommodation possible in Vologda before the start?
This information will be available in June 2012. But in any case it will be some hotel not too far away from the start point. You need to register to have confidence having the place to stay.
- What is bag-drop option in detail?
Detailed information will be available in June 2012. It must be 2 controls at ~ 400 and ~800 km controls and bag-drop to the finish point in Lakhdenpokhya.
- What are the sleeping facilities? What I need to have with me to have a sleep?
We will organize about 7-9 controls with sleeping in tents or inside school (or similar) building on the mats. Every participant will be given a blanket or sleeping bag. If you want to sleep at the control where bag-drop will be available you can use your own things to organize your cosy sleeping place. More information in June 2012.
- Where I can eat during the ride at the controls or in the towns?
Most of the controls you will be served with food (mostly hot). Usually we offer simple food such as sausages, bread, fruits and vegetables, noodles, hot tea, coffee, chocolate, still water, juices. We can’t guarantee better food at the moment but last edition included even nice hot soup at one of the controls. Route sheet will include information about cafes and shops on the route with (probably) hours of service information.
- What is the relief of the ride?
Mainly very flat with some steep hills at the very end of the ride (north shore of Lake Ladoga).
- What is roads quality?
As far as we know this route has the best road quality among long brevets in Russia but still could not be compared fully to European roads. There are very few kms of dirty roads but many hundreds of very good roads.
- What is the GSM coverage on the route?
Almost the whole route has GSM coverage. We advise to use Megafon SIM cards as it has best coverage. You can buy the SIM card in Russia (take your passport). Route sheet will include info on organizers’ and control volunteers’ cell phones.
- Which lights are sufficient for the night time?
As our brevet is organized during the white nights you don’t need to use very bright lights. But you must have both front white and rear red lights working during the night.
- What is obligatory equipment for VOL?
Every participant must wear the helmet, have working front white and rear red lights and wear reflective jacket during the night time, have bicycle in good order, two spare inner tubes, a pump, cell phone.
- Is it possible to communicate with locals without any knowledge of Russian?
There will be English speaking volunteers at each checkpoint, may be German speaking at some controls. In local towns and villages there is a very small chance to find a person who knows some English, information pack will include a small phrase book to help in some common situations. Previous experience shows that people can understand each other without knowing of the languages if they will.
- How will I follow the route and not get lost without knowing cyrillic?
Route sheet will include all names both in roman and cyrillic to be able to follow road signs.
- What about transport after finish?
the transport from Lahdenpohyay to Saint-Petersburg is planned at morning of 10 Jul
If you need a transportation from St-Petersburg to Moscow (8 hours by night train for 25-40 euros or 4 hours by high-speed train for ~70-80 euros ) in case you have return flight from Moscow you need to buy train ticket in advance as this is high season for the travels.