My intention was to fly to Moscow with my bike, and then bring it with me on the trains across Russia to get to Irkutsk, where I would then begin biking.
Within moments of being picked up at the airport, I had a new plan. Denis, who worked at the hostel in Moscow suggested an alternative as we drove through the city in rush hour:
Put the bike on a cargo train and travel separately.
Less baggage, more freedom. Good idea. So that’s what I did.
Admittedly I was a bit dubious that the bike would actually arrive, and if it did, that it would arrive in one piece… but I have long ago stopped worrying about such things. If it didn’t make it, well, I’d just buy a cheap bike locally, or maybe change my plans altogether and buy a horse instead. I think, even, in the back of my mind, part of me was hoping the bike didn’t make it. I seemed to have so much ‘stuff’. I liked the idea that I could lose everything and travel with nothing. Just a passport, map and mind to do whatever the hell I liked.
But the bike did make it. So the original plan is back on. And it is a good thing. I know once I hit the road and start pedalling, I’ll be loving every minute.
So, for anyone else who’s considering biking in Asia and taking the Trans-Siberian train – don’t take the bike with you, put it on a train separately to wherever you want it sent. It’s cheap and reliable and gives you more freedom.
I used jde.ru – I took the bike to their warehouse by the railway in Moscow, filled in a form, paid £18 (for 28kg, bike boxed together with raft and camping gear, to be sent 5,000km across the country) and was given a tracking number to check it’s progress online. They even called the number I provided to let me know when the bike made to the final destination in Irkutsk. Then I simply collected it from their warehouse at the other end.
Admittedly, it would have been harder to do myself as my Russian is very limited. But I had help from the people at the hostels I stayed at in Moscow (Comrade) and Irkutsk (Nerpa). But really, if you’ve the determination to cycle in Asia and take the Trans-Siberian train, then getting your bike sent by cargo is easy!
Interesting. We’re planning on taking the train the other way in about 14 months, from Beijing to Moscow, as part of the rail leg of our journey back to Engand overland from Japan. We’d planned on taking our bikes on the train with us. Maybe we’ll reconsider. Sending bags ahead by freight courier is very popular in Japan, and relatively cheap too. Most people in Japan send luggage directly to the airport or hotel, but you can even arrange to have it sent to the 7-11! . Thanks for this post!
Hey helen,
Thanks for this post. We are now cycling to St.Petersburg, and are taking the train to Vladiwostok and were thinking of going for a marathon-tour all the way at once. But this is mainly due to the bikes we’re taking and the hassle of loading and unloading at trainstations. We would love to send our bikes ahead of us so we can make some stops in irkuts, ulaan bator etc. This would make us get so much more out of this train journey!
Thanks again, we’ll look into it and maybe try the hostels you mentioned! best, Janneke (bikeabout.nl)
Hi Helen, thanks for the post! I have a que3, did you have to disassemble your bike before sending it? Thanks.