INFORMATION & SERVICE

Velo-city Vilnius

RENT & TOURS

Daily, 11.00 a.m.

Aušros Vartu 7

www.dviratis.lt

FIXED GEAR LIETUVA MEET + AFTERPARTY

https://www.facebook.com/events/143378742492750/145945108902780/

The name speaks for itself! Everybody is welcome – not even fixed gear lovers and their bikes but everyone who wants to race and then later come to a friendly party. The event will take place on 23rd of March in a very cozy pool club “Fuksas”. Everyone is welcome. We really hope that You won’t be lazy and come to meet new faces. Because there are more than a few of us! We also invite everyone who shows interest even though you don’t own a bike. You could gaze at some other bikes and dream about yours.

Every fixed gear owner will be able to get the bike inside. There will be like a little exposition. We’re sorry for the ones who will have to leave their bikes outside but “FUKSAS” won’t have enough space.

Evening schedule:
18.00 – Alleycat race. Race somewhere in the city (the route is still being prepared)
20.00 – dance! Until 3.00

Selectors:
Dj Tommy Whoo (Hip-hop, Jungle)
6P3S (Deep House)
WTK (Shiaures muzika)
Tomas Inna Di Sun (Reggae/Dub)

Jelena Ura (Reggae/Dub)

VeloKuldiga - The Cycle Festival in the Heart of Latvia, May 25th

Read it online or look below:

http://www.balticcycle.eu/news/Newsblog/invitation-to-velokuldiga-the-cycle-festival-in-the-heart-of-latvia-may-25th.html

Good afternoon!

Warm greetings from Your ECF and EuroVelo colleagues in Riga, Latvia - Latvian Bicycle information centre!

It`s winter, land and roads are covered with snow, but however, we still keep on cycling and even riding on the river ice!
This winter ice is thicker as usual what means - we travel even further. :)
Our team is always looking forward to meet our cycling friends from all over the world. Therefore with a great pleasure we invite You to take part in the

Cycling Day & Night in Kuldiga 2013 on May 25th, 2013.

Cycling Festival in Kuldiga will happen for the 6th time in a row already and since 2008 it is the biggest uncommercial cycling event in Latvia.
Though our team is providing the technical support for this cycling fest, anyway we will have enough time to meet with with our foreign colleagues ;)

All kinds of cycling activities, competitions and other fun events will happen during the day.
There are several distances to be cycled in Day Ride. The route promises to be very scenic. The organizers will provide rental bikes, if needed.
Bicycle festival final is Kuldiga's special Night Ride – a wonderful chance to combine cycle fun, warm summer night atmosphere and beauty of the nature.

Please note: it is not a cycling race! It is a ride for all those who love cycling and countryside. Of course, it is also a possibility to find new friends from all over the world and enjoy the summer time!

Cycling Day & Night in Kuldiga is more than just a ride or a city festival - the event has a slogan “Europe, Kuldiga Thinks Green” and it is organized to draw attention to the environmental challenges that we are all facing. The occasion will also be used to encourage cycling as an alternative means of transportation in Latvia and to raise awareness for more safety on the roads. Simultaneously the event will promote the need for an active and healthy lifestyle for all and, by cycling in the surroundings of Kuldiga, underline the beauty of Latvia nature.

This event is being organized by the European Commission Representation and the Municipality of Kuldiga - Town of Bikes.

Check out our few lines about the place:

Kuldiga is one the most magnetic and magical towns in Latvia. It is a town which has preserved its` medieval appearance and charm. Kuld?ga was first mentioned in 1242 and the city centre, which developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, has still preserved the old wooden buildings which form small and narrow streets.

The old brick bridge across the Venta was built in 1874 and is the longest bridge of this kind of road bridge in Europe – 14 m. It was built according to 19th century standards – 500 feet long and 26 feet wide, allowing two carriages to pass. It consisted of seven spans of brick vaults.

The Venta waterfall is the widest waterfall in Europe. This 240 meter wide naturally formed waterfall is associated with a number of legends and historic events. In ancient times, due to Duke Jacob’s invented devices for catching fish on the Venta waterfall, Kuldiga was considered the place “where salmon were caught in the air”. Flying fish shows (jumping salmons over the Venta Waterfall) in springtime attract town visitors.

Alekšup?te Waterfall is the highest natural threshold in Latvia. It was fixed and built up in the 17th century to use the stream to operate the first paper-mill in Kurzeme.
Kuldiga's old town is a perfect movie scene, all kinds film studios were making outdoor filming with historical part of Kuldiga on the background.

Please find more useful information about Kuldiga at local municipality website:

See you another shiny day in Kuldiga,

Ingus Sala
Latvian Bicycle information centre
www.velokurjers.lv,

www.bicycle.lv

ph. +371 22019368

Registration to BC expeditions "The Baikal Circle" and "Vilnius-Warsaw-Viena" online!

Read it online or look below:

http://www.balticcycle.eu/news/Newsblog/registration-to-bc-expeditions-the-baikal-circle-and-vilnius-warsaw-viena-online.html

Dear BaltiCCycle friends,

We feel that the spring is coming and we invite you to register for the two BaltiCCycle expeditions this summer. You can do it on CROTOS or GMPR sites:

The Baikal Circle: from Irkutsk to Irkutsk, July 2-24

PL_Registration Form

http://register.bicycle.pl/2013/bp/?lng=eng

LT_Registartion Form

http://www.bicycle.lt/en/main/tours.bc2013-baikalas/registration

The Relief Expedition to Vienna: Vilnius - Warsaw - Vienna - Salzburg, August 02 - September 09

PL_Registration Form

http://register.bicycle.pl/2013/ow/?lng=eng

LT_Registration Form

http://www.bicycle.lt/en/main/tours.bc2013-vienna/registration

Please, check the presentation of the expedition prepared by Martin Hausmaniger.

http://www.hausmaninger.at/bike_tour_presentation_en.pdf

More info: www.bicycle.pl, www.bicycle.lt, bc2013@bicycle.pl,

bc2013@bicycle.lt.

We are sorry to inform you about the cancelation of the short CROTO-expedition in May in the Drawskie Lake district, Poland.

+++ Background articles +++

Bicycle and public transport in Estonia …

Here is still a general article from Citybike in Tallinn on how to get your bike transported in Estonia.

Read it online or look below:

http://www.balticcycle.eu/news/Newsblog/bicycle-and-public-transport-in-estonia.html

Taking your bike to bus, train or carg

Sometimes you need to use other means of transport beside riding your bicycle. Estonia is relatively small but still there's change you need to use bus, train or cargo service.

Not good for bicycles, not our style (photo taken 2012, petrol station)

Transporting bicycles by train

Train service in Estonia is not well spread but it isn't expensive either. Sometimes there are only 1-2 trains per day. Still, it is cheapest and easiest way to get around (average price for 50 km ride is around 3 EUR only). And if you want to get out of Tallinn, most convenient way.

Trains also have free wifi and charging options for laptops or phones. You can buy your ticket from station or on the train.

And the best thing is bike in train is free of charge.

Train lines to Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi, Narva, Rakvere and Valga direction

It's OK to take your bike with you. Special stands for bikes (5-10 in one wagon) are situated in first or last wagons. Please notice "bicycle" sign on train's side next to door.

It is allowed to enter the train through other doors, but then please be careful to place your bicycle so that it does not block doors or aisles.

Please follow train attendant's orders while travelling with bike.

These lines are operated by Edelaraudtee, see their

Timetables and prices:

Lines nearby Tallinn – Paldiski, Kloogaranna, Keila, Riisipere direction

You can take your bike to these trains too, read the above information, it's valid on these lines too.

These lines are operated by Elektriraudtee.

Timetables and prices:

Tickets from trains.

New trains will arrive in summer 2013, already testing period ( Stadler FLIRT)

Lines to St. Petersbourg and Moscow

You can take your bike to trains to St. Petersburg or Moscow. There are only 2 places for bikes: in 1st ja 4th wagon. You can’t book place for bicycle. When you buy the tickets, please mention, that you have bicycle with you.

Bicycle is part of your luggage and totally you can take 36 kg of luggage. Bike is free of charge.

These lines are operated by Go Rail.

Timetables and prices from here, but information only in Estonian and Russian, (use internet translation to get the information).

Buses and bicycles

You can take your bike to bus. Both intercity and international lines take bikes. As bicycle is part of your luggage, it is free of charge. However, there are some things to have in mind, when planning to take the bike to bus.

Bicycles are carried in a luggage compartment of the coach only if enough space is available. It means that all the passengers will place their luggage first and if there still place, you can place your bikes. And bus driver decides if there is enough space for bike(s). Usually at least 2 will fit in.

If there are several bikes (or oversize luggage), the luggage of first arrived passenger will be placed first. Keep that in mind and try to be 10-15 minutes before departure at the departure stop.

You can’t book a place for bicycle in advance.

Avoid peak hours and days (like Friday, Sunday night, Saturday morning) and travel with bicycle in the middle of the week, when there are fewer passengers.

Packing for bus rides:

Bicycle may not harm the interior of the bus nor the luggage of other passengers. It means, that bus companies ask you to pack your bike (from our experience not always. Just in case keep big black plastic bag or cover ready).

Some companies ask you to take off the front wheel and back both the front wheel and the bicycle separately. Easiest and cheapest packing materials black trash bag/ carton box sides.

SEBE intercity buses are equipped at least with two covers for special luggage and the bus driver helps to use them (not always). Here you can find all timetables and buslines!

Unfortunately on urban buses bicycles are not allowed (yet).

Cargobus
If you rented bike from City Bike and want to finish your tour not in Tallinn, you can use Cargobus to send bike to us.
It is like a post office for oversize packages.

Cargobus has 20 terminals all over Estonia, also in Riga and Vilnius. It costs around 10-15 eur per bike within Estonia. Cargobus stations are in the bus stations, convenient to find.

Sending the bike with Cargobus, you have to pack it. Cargobus will provide you the packaging materials (usually plastic cover). Sometimes they ask to turn the handlebar (can do it by tool from your toolkit what you rented from us).
You can use cargobus also in the emergency when bus it too crowded and your bicycle doesn't have space in the luggage department (some buses are smaller and don't take the bikes at all). Go to Cargobus office, pack and send the bike to your next destination and ask what time it will arrive (it might be next day but it's better than nothing).

City Bike courier service
For our customers renting bicycles or going to self-guided tours by us we offer also courier services.
We can pick up or deliver your bikes from/to Pärnu, Kuressaare and Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania). You should leave the bike to hotel/hostel in a safe place (have to be confirmed first on rental). Our courier will pick it up from there. It costs 20 EUR per bike in Estonia and 25 EUR per bike in Riga or 30 EUR per bike in Vilnius.
It works also very well from Riga, many our clients start from there (Riga airport is twice the size of Tallinn's). We deliver bicycles to hotels in Riga and customers will arrive there, bicycles already waiting and can start cycling towards Estonia.

We also transport bicycles in bigger quantities, trailers 15-22 bicycle + minivans and do it all over Estonia and even to Latvia and Lithuania.

source:

http://bikebaltic.blogspot.com/2013_02_01_archive.html

New bike maps for Latvia - balticcycling.com

Read it online or look below:

http://www.balticcycle.eu/news/Newsblog/new-bike-maps-for-latvia-balticcycling.com.html

A New international project "Central Baltic Cycling" mainly seems to promote Cyling in Latvia, in the regions Zemgale (South Latvia), Vidzeme (North East Latvia) and Kurzeme (West Latvia).

Despite of development plans there where two maps with cycling routes published:

one "Map of Cycling routes Northern Latvia. Vidzeme" including long-distance routes and a proposal for the EuroVelo 13 "Iron Curtain Trail". According to the web page www.balticcycling.com it should be available for download (thus, I couldn't find where...) I have some 20 copies which soon will be available for free via shop.balticcycle.eu:
the second "Map of Cycling routes. Zemgale. Latvia" and a guide of cycling routes are available for download here: http://www.zemgale.lv/eng/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=100117
The guide is available in Swedish, Russian, Finnish, Estonian, German and English.
Thus the routes on the map are local/regional ones and there is no information on National or International routes.

In Kurzeme region the project is more focussing on possibilities to bring a bicycle on the train ("Train and bike")

Here about some shortened information on the project:

In order to develop cycling culture in Central Baltic Sea territories, Zemgale Planning Region in cooperation with partners in Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden has started project's „CentralBalticCycling" implementation.

Project's main idea is to encourage tourists to visit the Baltic Sea littoral countries, inviting them to see what can offer more distant regions, not only capitals of states. There will be analysed current situation and identified potential of cycling culture in order to develop new tourism products in the course of project's implementation, so this is a great opportunity for the development of tourism business in project participant's regions.

Presentation of Map No. 1:

New Map of Cycling Routes in Vidzeme published

Designed already last year, in the first days of 2013 a new Map of Cycling Routes in Northern Latvia (Vidzeme) has been published in terms of the CentralBalticCycling project.

The map will be published in 6 languages (Latvian, English, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, German). The map will be distributed in the tourism fairs VTA will attend this spring, and the next one is in Utrech, Netherlands from 7th-14th of January, 2013.

The map provides information on the new and existing cycling routes in Northern and Central Latvia, will also be available at local and international exhibitions and also in Vidzeme tourism information centres.

Have a safe ride!