Digital Wanderer

Participated in the subject matter.

It takes place in Sigulda, the declared goal is to unite cycling enthusiasts in Latvia (which is clear from the name). The ride was held during Latvia's first independence, the current one is a revival of the tradition in 1995. It's the most massive cycling event in Latvia.

It was my first time participating in a cycling competition, everything was a novelty to me, so I'll write as usual, from a provincial's point of view.

We arrived in Riga on Saturday, because the modern art forum Balta Nakts 2010 was taking place there. This is also a mass event, held in various places across Riga, from 12 PM Saturday to 6 AM Sunday. It coincided very unfortunately with the unity ride (unfortunately for us). Obviously, the audience doesn't really overlap for these two events, so the organizers didn't bother, even though both are notable events in Latvia's public life.

So, as part of Balta Nakts  we only managed to go to a performance by the well-known art-cartel "Orbita" (Russian-speaking), a photo exhibition at the Dirty Deal Cafe,  and also to stand gloomily outside the Anglican church, because we couldn't fit inside anymore - too many people. A pity, because the musicians there were provided by our favorite Forest of Sounds.

The photos were taken on a "Polaroid" and didn't impress me (except for one, with the rails).

"Orbita", on the other hand, performed relatively well, the action was interspersed with  musings in the spirit of Grishkovets (but with their own character and style) and the broadcasting of convoluted free verse from a box. From a box - literally, a guy sat in a box, his face pressed against the glass, and muttered into a microphone. All of this was projected onto a big screen, with Latvian subtitles to boot. A funny moment. Dirty Deal Cafe itself is located near the market, in buildings called Spikeri, and is a spot for hipsters and indie kids, as far as I can tell.

Next to the cafe was an exhibition and sale of handmade stuff, knitting to music for young mommies, and some other performances which were packed so we didn't get in.

We headed off to sleep on the last minibus at 11 PM, and at the bus stop I accidentally deceived a bunch of people, telling them the last bus would still arrive, later, on a special holiday schedule. Looked at the wrong thing on the website, I repent.

Went to bed at 1 AM, got up at 7, and at 8.20 rolled out on our bikes to Sigulda. The GPS came in handy, even though the road was simple, there were no signs in some places.

From Riga to Sigulda it's almost 60 km. Why we dragged ourselves such a distance before a speed ride - go ask the punk about that.

In any case, we got there swiftly, in about 2.40 or even faster. Along the way we overtook some kids and old folks who were heading the same way. We also helped a guy pump his tire, because the pump at the Statoil wasn't working. Somehow they are broken a bit too often. Good thing they exist at all, though. Although after the punk bought a cool pump, the need for Statoil decreased.

The asphalt is fresh, the Navigon app on the iPhone didn't know this road yet.

We arrived with time to spare, which was good, because getting to registration among several thousand participants isn't easy. Registration was done smartly: for each letter or a few letters there was a separate line and girls handing out envelopes. Inside the envelope is a map, a number with an RFID chip, a couple of brochures and a food voucher. They also gave out a small chocolate bar. They know a thing or two about organizing competitions properly!

My number turned out to be 4950, and in general the numbers of the People's Ride, which I participated in, started from 2000. So theoretically I started somewhere in the third thousand. Practically, more like in the second.

In the next part, read about the ride itself and my impressions of it.

Here, by the way, is the map