Date: May 13th 2010

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^{Dear BaltiCCyclists!}

Spring … or suddenly summer? Quite fast: temperatures rose over 20 degrees. Vilnius has seen the first Gay & Lesbian demonstration „Baltic Pride“, and a severe traffic accident during the „Critical Mass“ End of April...

Here the News:

1. Velo-City.lt / BaltiCCycle.eu moved!

2. Bloody incident during the Cyclists' demonstration Fahrraddemo „Critical Mass“

3. ViSoEst by bicycle and other cycle event in 2010

From Lithuania

Yours
Frank "Frankas" Wurft

frankas@balticcycle.eu
www.balticcycle.eu

If you have problems reading this newsletter, read it online or subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter by clicking on the following link/web page:
http://www.dviratis.lt/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi

1. We moved!

   … but still got the same addres

The office of www.velo-city.lt and www.BaltiCCycle.eu in the Old town of Vilnius moved – but only around the corner.

Instead of Bernardinu 10-10 our address is now Bernardinu 10-6.

You may find us opposite to the famous Gothic St. Ann's church – we now shared office with an artists' shop (well, that's long story). The bicycles wait for you in front of the door (but more of them are in our bicycle cellar).

Hope you won't miss us.

Each weekday you may drop in at 11 a.m. For the free bicycle tour „Welcome to Vilnius“ plus the city tour „All sides of Vilnius“ !

Thus, from the 13^th to the 25^th I'm on holidays as well, then the tour happens only after announcement (there more guides, but they do not always sit in the office...)

• Bloody incident during the cyclists' demonstration „Critical Mass“

Tragical incident during the cyclists' demonstration „Critical Mass“ which with over 1000 participants probably made up a new record in size at the end of April 2010:

At 19.40 (7.40 p.m.) a white Ford Probe crushed with high speed coming from the opposite road side right into the peaceful demonstration and injured five cyclists, one of them severe. The driver fled the accident, the car was found later.

Eventually a local resident filmed the accident with his mobile phone. This film was put on „youtube“ quite instantly.

Pictures and movie here::http://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/nusikaltimaiirnelaimes/policija-rado-kritines-mases-dviratininkus-taranavusi-forda-59-95734

(see the accident at 2:20 Min.).

• Tour de LatEst

The greatest event for the promotion of of bicycle tourism in the Baltic states (scheduled: 100-200 participants) will be the promotion cycle tour “Vidzeme and Southern Estonia” (ViSoEst) in July (the used term “Marathon” of cause can be misunderstood).

This will be the best occasion to cycle discover this region with local residents. Of cause for a super-price and in the spirit of the former “BaltiCCycle” Cycle tours.

And here some letter of the organisers (communication language is English)

Dear all!

We are glad to inform you - registration to cycling marathon Latvia and Estonia from 11-24 july started!

Please visit our home page www.vidzeme.com

info for registration:

http://www.vidzeme.com/?v=lat&registration=1

Best regards

Raitis Sijats

Vidzeme tourism association

------------

You are wery welcome to

Cycling marathon

Tour de LatEst

11th - 24th July, 2010

The registration of Tour de LatEst cycling marathon has started!

The marathon will start in Sigulda and will go through the most beautiful places in North Latvia and Southern Estonia. It is planned that during 14 days the most resistant participants will ride 1000 km, visiting Cesis, Rauna, Smiltene, border towns Valka and Valga, Viljandi, Tartu, Otepää, Karula National Park, Aluksne, Gulbene and Gaizins hill, enjoying beautiful landscapes and other interesting sight-seeing objects along their way.

Finnish of the first cycling marathon Tour de LatEst is planned in 24th of July in Sigulda. Everybody who enjoys cycling and likes traveling in motion is invited to participate because you can join marathon team in any place you like, choosing the most likely sections!

Register for cycling marathon >>> http://www.vidzeme.com/?v=lat&registration=1

Marathon rules >>> http://www.vidzeme.com/eng.php?v=&ieks=17

List of registered participants >>> http://www.vidzeme.com/?v=lat&registration=3

Explore marathon route un Google maps >>> http://www.vidzeme.com/eng.php?v=&ieks=15

Download PDF maps and GPS files >>> http://www.vidzeme.com/eng.php?v=&ieks=14

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear friends,

Estonia and Latvia are two neighbouring states and there is a lot of common in the history, nature and people of two nations in the region of South Estonia and Northern Latvia. The region has a lot of beautiful natural sites, nice small towns, rich national culture, not too much factories or wide roads with crazy traffic. It a really nice region for travellers by bike. The best way to understand that is to come, to cycle and to see it yourself.

According to the goals of the project „ViSoEst by Bike“ a new bicycle route has been developed (route map http://www.vidzeme.com/eng.php ). The route named as Tour de LatEst has the length of 1296 km in total, half in Estonia, half in Latvia. The opening event of the new route will be on July 11th – 24th, 2010. The Marathon trip will be 1000 km in 2 weeks, about 70 km per day in average. The accommodation will be in tents at the prepared campsites, tourism farms, motels. Food will be prepared for the participants in the mornings and evenings, there is some technical support and luggage transport. Sauna and some cultural events will be offered for the participants several times.

The Marathon will start on July 11th in Sigulda, easily accessible by train from Riga. The first 2,5 days the participants will cycle in Latvia (Sigulda – Ligatne – Cesis – Smiltene – Valka), then accross the border in Valga and cycle for 7 next days in Estonia (Valga-Viljandi-Elva-Elistvere-Alatskivi-Tartu-Otepää-Karula NP), last 5 days will be again in Latvia (Ape-Aluksne – Gulbene – Cesvaine – Madona – Ergli - Sigulda). The participants can participate at the full route, as well to cycle only a part of the route.

The organisers should offer to you the free accommodation, free breakfasts and dinners, free cultural events in the camps, free maps. The offer is also for your friends/club members etc. who will be registered before May, 1st (after that date the free services can be offered if the number of registrated participants does not exeed the fixed limit). We should reserve for you and for your friends/club members the participation with free services if you will send us the message that you intend to participate before April 10th and register all the participants before May 1st. We believe that you should have a nice time in the 2 Baltic States.

Official registration will start on April 10th at the website www.vidzeme.com

Looking forward to see you in Estonia and Latvia!

Rein Lepik, president of Vänta Aga Cycling Club (www.bicycle.ee , reinlepik@hot.ee ,+372 51 35 132)

Martinš Malcenieks, Active tourism centre Eži, member of the board (www.ezi.lv , martins@ezi.ee , +371 29428846)

• Other bicycle events in the Baltic States (as we know them)

2010-05-13 SEMINAR "Transport in the city and mobility news in Lithuania”
Programm and presentation:

http://dviratis.lt/index.php?page=events&&view=213

2010-05-16 Bicycle marathon in Kaunas

this is a sportive event for the whole family

Information now in English available

http://www.kaunomaratonas.lt/en/race

2010-05-16 Day trip with the Lithuanian Narrow gauge and the bicycle (for the whole family) http://www.siaurukas.eu/index.php?cid=5196

And here (once more) the overview:

other (non commercial ) bicycle events in the Baltic States in 2010

http://wiki.dviratis.lt/tiki-index.php?page=non+commercial+tours

Information in English, because it is the main means of communication.
order by dates

Night cycle ride Kuldīga in Kurland / Couronia (Latvia)

Kuldīgas nakts velobrauciens 2010
DATE: 22nd of May 2010

More (in Latvian) via:
http://www.velokurjers.lv//bicycle/

Bicycle tour  "Around mount ARARAT"

DATE: 2010.07.24 - 2010.09.08

As you maybe know, on Ararat is where Noah's Arc stranded ...  Well, this year an international group is organising a bicycle tour around the Ararat.  (Georgia-Armenia-Iran-Turkey-Georgia). And you, my dear adventurer, are invited.
Information:
http://www.bicycle.lt/en/main/tours.bc2010-ararat

Cycle tour along the Baltic Sea coast in Couronia (Latvia)

DATE: 31th of July to 17th of August

Route Rīga- Venstpils- Liepāja
average km per day: ca. 55 km
participation: 80 Lat for the whole (ca. 120 Euro), 5 Lat per day,
transport Ventspils or Liepaja: + 7Lat
registration via:
info@bicycle.lv
Info
http://www.velokurjers.lv//bicycle/

By bicycle through Northern Samogitia and Klaipeda Region

DATE: 07.24-08.01
Start: Šiauliai,
via  Joniškį, Žagarę, N. Akmenę, Mažeikius, Skuodą,
Šventąją, Palangą, Klaipėdą,  Priekulę, Dreverną, Kintus,
Klaipėdos raj.
Finish: Klaipėdą.
Daily ~70-80 km,
Accommodation: Camping
Participation fee: 70-100 Lt (20-30EUR)

Contact:  linas - at - dviratis.lt 

4. From the Lithuanian Cyclists' news

• In the national bicycle museum in the city of Siauliai an exposition honouring Liudas Alseika, who started 50 years ago for a bicycle tour from Klaipeda to Wladiwostok,was opened.

• In Panevezys an exposition “bicycles: from sport to art” opened

• Firs “Critical Mass” in Silute (Heydekrug) against the ignorance of bicycles and cyclists

• passed year 1500 bicycles where stolen in Riga (at least that's the number of thefts announced to the police) . Until end of April (a bit before season) already 100 thefts were registered. Here's report from the Latvian television: http://zinas.nra.lv/video/688-velosipedus-zog-vairak-policija-sola-karot-ar-zagliem.htm

www.BaltiCCycle.eu

Experts on Cycling in The Baltic States

Info – Shop – Rent – Travel – City tours

Your personal contact (in English): Frank'as Wurft , M. A.

POST: A/d (Post box) 61, OFFICE: Bernardinu 10

LT01002 Vilnius, Litauen

Tel.: 00370 / 699 / 56009

Fax.: 00370 / 5 / 2784074

Frankas@balticcycle.eu

www.BaltiCCycle.eu

Skype: Frankaw