† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $50 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.
OVERVIEW
This guided bike tour in Russia is designed for the international and adventurous cyclist and will introduce you to the real Russia! The Golden Ring is a ring of ancient cities, northeast of Moscow, which combined, are living museums of the most significant events in Russian history. They also showcase monuments of Russian Architecture from the 12th to the 18th century. Cycling is the perfect way to explore as you wheel past kremlins, monasteries, cathedrals, and churches. The tour is comfortably paced and in addition to cycling, you will be offered a special cultural program with visits to museums and exhibitions. Along the route, there is opportunity to mingle with the locals and see how Russians really live.
To see details of the tour, see the description of the 2019 Golden Ring of Russian comfort tour (not the adventure tour) at:
https://www.tripsite.com/bike/tours/golden-ring-of-russia/
RIDE RATING
The ride rating is 1B. Daily distances are approximately 40 miles. This part of Russia is mostly flat. The longest day is 56 miles (which exceeds the 50 mile distance level) and has an elevation gain of 600 ft.
WEATHER
The temperature in August ranges from 13C/55F to 21C/70F. There is about a 30% chance of rain on any given day.
LODGING & MEALS
Hotels are rated 3 or 4, star with private baths. Double or twin beds are available. There will be 12 breakfasts, 10 buffet snack lunches during cycling days, and 11 group dinners. The happy hour will be incorporated into the group dinners and participants will pay for their own alcoholic beverages.
LOGISTICS
The tour begins and ends in Moscow, a major political, economic, cultural, and scientific center in Russia and in Eurasia. July 27 is an free day so you can arrive any time and get acclimated. The tour will officially start after breakfast on July 28 with bike fitting and a guided downtown excursion, including of course, the Kremlin, and Red Square. At the end of the tour after breakfast on August 8 you can stay longer in Moscow or make a trip to St. Petersburg by train. The last day will be August 8. Transfers from the Moscow airport to hotel on July 27 & hotel to airport in Moscow on August 8 are included. Other dates for transfers to St. Petersburg instead can be arranged with Tripsite for extra costs.
Special Navigation Notes: No GPS files are available. This is a difficult area to cycle alone. Guides will inform you where the cycling route is, and you cycle alone for about 20 km and then you meet up with the support vehicle and guide again. Support vehicle will mark the turns where possible.
You will receive paper maps (not detailed) and general Google tracks, not for cycling only.
The Russian roads can be bumpy so hybrid bikes with wider tires (40mm recommended) are a better choice than road bikes with narrow tires. If you bring your own bike, the bike boxes can be stored in Moscow with no extra cost.
The rental price for a hybrid bike is €100/$115 through the tour operator. Some E-Bikes are also available for rental. Email the trip leader for information about renting a bike and he will put you in touch with the correct people.
COST & ADMINISTRATION
Included
· Entrance fees to tourist sites and all museums or special side trips including the Kremlin, Vodka Museum, Museum of Hydro Power, Wool Boot Museum, Folklore Program, Outdoor museum of Wooden Architecture & Peasant Life, boats across the Volga river.
· Transfers airport-hotel-airport in Moscow
All transfers along the route
· English speaking cycling guide
· T-shirt
· Maps
Not included
· Russian visa processing fee which will be about $230.
· Alcoholic beverages
· Travel insurance
· Bicycle protection
The total cost of the trip is $2600. The initial deposit is $1300 and the final payment of $1300 is due April 1, 2020. Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be an adjustment in the amount of the final payment and single supplement.
SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY
There is no limit on the number of solos. The single supplement price is $300.
It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until April 1, 2020 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee and a cancellation fee of $60) or pay the $300 solo supplement and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check. They should be mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.
CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded is indicated as follows; If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. TripSite will allow substitutions free of charge up to 45 days before travel. Within 45 days of travel there will be a €50/person cancellation/change fee. If there is a full cancellation (no substitution) cancellation fee will be loss of 300 Euros up until 7 days before travel. For cancellation within 7 days of travel, the cancellation fee is 100% of the tour cost.
BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.
Ride Participant Responsibility
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.
SIGN-UP
To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description. When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List. At this time, you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit $1200 by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org