Bike the Baltic

Cycling and bike rental news 2012

2012-01-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

City Bike will start 10th season, already this year. Beginning of May our anniversary season will start. Lot of news to come, focus on quality.

200 bicycles and three rental stations
New bikes for the summer have been ordered. There will be new city bikes with our logos, hybrid trekking bikes and MTB, Road bikes and tandems.
City bikes rental will be from 1 EUR per hour or 6 EUR per day for longer periods. Baskets, locks and helmets are included.
We will focus more on road bikes, totally 7 road bikes will be available for rent, XS size, normal, cyclocross and 1 Time Trial Merida Warp 4. Also aero wheelset for better times. Triathlon competitions are waiting and our team boss is eager to participate.

Tallinn bronze chimney sweeper trying new bike

3 rental stations (2 new ones) - Beside our main office in Old Town (renovation and redecoration is almost finished) one summer office will be opened near the passenger harbour (Terminal D) and one in the centre of Old Town, near Main Town Hall square. All stations will be opened in summer from 09-19.00 and every day.

New speciality bikes come soon
Due to the change of Traffic law in Estonia we were forced to sell our Conference bikes (too wide). We have been looking for new fun and different bikes. And it is unbelievably hard task, there's so much choice: recumbent, cargo bikes, bike steppers, tandems for three, velomobiles, pedelecs and more. But for sure something will come, latest arrival in April.

Coming from Parlament, PM said, no that's not a bicycle any more!

Self-guided routes improved and uploaded
For 2012 we have managed to clear our self-guided tours list. All routes are checked and will be once more checked in April, but the prices are confirmed and not risen. Detailed maps and descriptions with better markings (thanks to all our contributors and customer feedback forms summaries) will be rady by April too. Check the routes from our booking form.

Cyclists Welcomed scheme
We have ordered mechanic tool sets and spare tubes, ordered cycling maps and prepared materials for the network set up. In reality it means small accommodations nearby cycling routes will have signs Cyclists Welcomed and those will meet criteria important for people travelling on bicycles.

But enough of words, winter is outside and I take my studded winter tires friend and get to have fun, summer is not far away.

Winter bicycle tours and more

2011-12-07T03:54:00.000-08:00

Finally the frost have landed and time to ride on snowy and ice roads of Tallinn and Estonia. And in case of snowfall everything stays normal, kids go to school, planes land and we enjoy cycling

Already three seasons we have tested snow studs tires (Schwalbe) on our bicycles and have to admit they gain more and more popularity. The best ones we use (Ice Spicker model has 304 studs in the single tire!), grip is good

And our tours are available all year round. Gloves, hats, scarves and even some extra warm clothing are included. And now we have also hot drinks for free for everybody coming to our tours (selection of Paulig coffee, tea, cacao, espresso, cappuccino).

Welcome to Tallinn winter bicycle tour: we are flexible with the winter route. Some streets might be snowy, some icy but for sure we will find the way. If the wind is too hard on coastal section we use roads more inland. Just to make sure tours is fun and you will get the winter cycling experience.
Soon the water will be frozen on rivers, lakes and at the sea and then we can also try to cross the frozen waters on a bike.

See the slideshow from here: http://my.slideroll.com/?g=hptebgs5
http://my.slideroll.com/galleries/members/citybike/gallery/winter-biking/?g=hptebgs5

Nature tours to Lahemaa National Park: winter in the park is worth seeing. Frozen waterfall, animal tracks or droppings to guess on the frozen water or snow, experience winter cycling and /or forest walks.
If the weather permits we try to have outdoor picnic in the forest and late lunch will be with Estonian traditional dishes at local restaurant.
If we are lucky will see also some animals, binoculars are in the van to take a closer look.

And if the time is short or want to have more freedom, just rent a bike and ride an hour or more, we recommend good routes in Tallinn and nearby.
more and more of our independent travellers combine train and bike, making winter one day self-guided tours (train ticket for 50 km is only 2.3 EUR, including bike transport).

And of course Walking tour with secret tunnels is also good and safe choice, tunnels have stable temperature (around 8 degrees Celcius year round).

Old town walking & Secret tunnels tour

2011-05-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

Dear cycling lovers!

If you are tired of riding your bicycles, we have the honour to invite you to our daily walking tours, starting at 2 PM from our office. We also have new introduction video. To show you some of the highlights of the tour. Available in HD.

The price of the tour is only 10.25 € walking in Old Town + 5.75 € for the entrance to the mysterious bastion passages.

You can book the tour via email (mail@citybike.ee)
or just visit our office on Uus str. 33.

So, come to City Bike for the best tours in town!
PS! Video taken on April, and some snowpiles still on screen. For now they are gone and we have sun and warmer weather.

Bicycle friendly accommodation, Tallinn & Estonia

2011-02-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

Coming to holiday in Estonia! Very often one crucial question is where to stay, specially with bicycle. Want to have good location, secure bicycle storage and price matching the quality.

City Bike have gathered some places and will update it soon. You will find prices and our comments and if you are interested can book them through us, just write to our mail: mail@citybike.ee

Tallinn
Plenty of hostels, starting from 10-15 EUr per bed.

Affordable hotel in Old Town - Hotel Braavo
single 53.75 EUR, double 58.75 EUR, family room 87.5 EUR (breakfast incl.).
Hotel in the big yard and next door to the gym. Good option for sporty people, price includes also free visit to gym (biggest in Tallinn) and even group trainings if you desire to do spinning or some body trainings. Family rooms are nice, good choice also for 3-4 people wishing to save some money (apartment type rooms, on 2 floors). Only 150 meters from City Bike office.

Good quality hotel in Old Town - Hotel Bern -
May - Sept: Single 61.25 EUR, twin/double 66.25 EUR (breakfast incl.).

4 stars in the corner of Old Town, entrance in the small yard. Bern (city in Switzerland) refers of hospitality and high quality. Only 250 meters from City Bike office.

Small and cozy hotel in Old Town, mid range - Hotel Taanilinna
May - Sept: single 59 EUR. twin/double 69 EUR (breakfast incl.).
Location from City Bike office 400 meters. main square 400 meters.

More choices in Old Town - Old House

hostel - less than 100 meters from City Bike office

single 30 EUR, double 44 EUR, triple 64 EUR, Breakfast not included.

apartments, wide selection, mainly in Old town, prices from 69 EUR

Old House has good website and very often attractive special offers, check them out, we can give you same price as their specials.

Affordable hotel in the centre - City Hotel Portus -
May -Sept: Single 42.5 EUR, twin/double 49 EUR (breakfast incl.).

Reasonably priced hotel at D terminal, passenger harbour. They have secure underground car-park for bicycle and are located conveniently next to bike line. Good price-quality level, might be a bit noisy, A/C in most of rooms. Around 1.2 km from City Bike office.

For groups more than 10 special prices.
Ask also about other places, have cooperated with Tallinn accommodations over 9 years and know them well.

Big news!
And good news is also Estonian own Bed and Bike / bicycle friendly network started to spin off for 2012 season. It will be first steps for this season but hopefully around 30 accommodations along best cycling routes will be joined and more services for cyclists offered. We keep you updated, just follow the blog.

Events in Estonia 2011, calendar for summer and our hints

2011-01-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

We have New Year 2011, no surprise! And Tallinn is European Capital of Culture 2011.

There are over hundreds of events concerning Capital of Culture. Every day something going on, just check from Tallinn 2011 events calendar or ask from us.

But there are hundreds of more traditional events you should be aware of and not only in Tallinn but all over Estonia. One reason is because of accommodation, all places might be booked, another about their speciality, not to miss spectacular things.

Here is our choice with links and comments (chronological order):

Pärnu Waterfestival, 17-26 June - Summer capital of Estonia has all week programme around and in the water

11th Youth Song and Dance Celebration in Tallinn, 1-3 July - Tradition from 1869, thousands of young singers and dancers, the essence of being Estonian. Lifetime experience, join if fits to your plans

Song Festival Photo Gallery

The XI Tallinn Medieval Days, 7.-10. July - During the Medieval Days you are able to feel the atmosphere of the flourishing Hanseatic era: merchants and workshops, musicians and dancers and a lot more
Saaremaa Opera days, 18-23. July - Estonian biggest island full of Opera
XIX Viljandi Folk Music Festival, 28-31. July - Viljandi will be filled with merry and bubbling masses. Key words "Rhythm and Pulse". Old and modernised folk traditions to join.
Viru Folk in Käsmu, 06-08. Aug - Music festival which gives the beautiful beach village of Lahemaa a new atmosphere and spirit for three days

Want to see all events, check the online calendar, covering all Estonia

And here are events for cycling enthusiasts:

Cycle fans coming to Tallinn in February (5-6th) shouldn't miss the Simple Session 11 - one of the biggest and best contests in the world of BMX bikes and skateboarding.
International XC bike racing: Port of Tallinn GP 2011, 09. July - all-terrain bike competition will be 2011’s highest-calibre bike race, not only in Tallinn or Estonia, but anywhere in the Baltic and Nordic region.
14th Tartu Rattamaraton (MTB race), 17-18, September - Second biggest MTB marathon in the world, yes we have some hills and this marathon is 89 km in length, quite a challenge

And last, not least important note is that Estonia is covered with Tourist information centres network and you can always ask specific local point about more details.

Gotland–Ventspils–Saaremaa ferry line to come

2010-11-29T06:38:00.000-08:00

Saaremaa County Government announced recently that the ferry connection will definitely come for 2011 season.
That will be great news for cyclists, they can travel between Latvia and Estonia over the sea (Kuresaare and Ventspils) and have more options for routes.
Routes like:

Tallinn - Estonian islands - Ventspils - Klaipeda - Nida
Tallinn - Estonian islands - Ventspils - Jurmala - Riga
Riga - Jurmala - Ventspils - Estonian islands - Pärnu
ect...

Hopefully more detailed news will come soon, then we know the schedule, prices and ship planned.

So far we know that:
Ferry line should be Rederi AB Gotland and some people say the fast ship (or hydrofoil) will travel between Kuresaare and Ventspils around 2 hours!

Lets hope it's all true and hope to write here soon in more details...

Winter season, winter cycling

2010-11-16T13:56:00.000-08:00

Here in Tallinn the winter is getting closer and closer. We already have had frost frosts and slippery roads. Cars have to wear winter tires from 1st December.
Bikes are no exception!!!
At least not in City Bike in Tallinn.

We will have around 10 bicycles fitted with winter tires, spikes!
We use Schwalbe Snow stud tires 26" and 28".

And we hope there will be lot of ice and snow. From previous years, already 3 years experience, riding in winter is fun. We even have warm hats, cloves to give you with your winter ride.

We also run our Welcome to Tallinn City tour, Lahemaa National Park day-tours and just rent bikes.

Office is opened upon requests, so if you plan to enjoy the ride in winter better book ahead. mail@citybike.ee or just call +372 5111 819.

Last year the winter was snowiest for last 60 years history. And it was around 60 days constantly below zero degrees Celsius. But is was not very cold, it staid around -5 C. ;)

The best sites were waterfalls close to Tallinn. Jägala waterfall was so icy, I can't even remember it being ever so big of a ice hill. Actually between the frozen water and the back wall of the jug was decent cave to hide.
We hope this winter will be the same and cycling in winter or just going to nature, snowy forest is definitely thing to do in Estonia.

Hope to see you around :)

Starting a cycling blog

2010-03-20T13:33:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Estonia

City Bike starts it's own cycling blog to be closer to our customers, give more changes to follow our everyday issues and cycling tourism development in the Baltic Sea area: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
We plan to write here:
- cycling routes and suggestions in the Baltic's
- cycling support: transport, accommodation, repair, sights, dining & wining
- interesting and innovative cycling gear: from grips to saddles

We service around 6000 customers a year, some of them buy one inner tube, others do 4 weeks trips. Something for everybody!

We have enjoyed the winter and cycling for almost 5 months, the spring is in the air and season comes busy, as usual. We hope it will be fun!

Toomas Lelov
manager on bicycle