Fontanka ZSD City Bike Festival 2025

The weather forecast was frightening: thunderstorms, downpours, hail. But there was no option to postpone the festival to another date, because clearing the route for cyclists requires a lot of approvals. So all morning we looked out the window with anxiety. I packed a backpack with warm clothes and a raincoat to protect me from the elements, but I really hoped not to get caught in the hail, because there would be nowhere to hide. Fortunately, the weather forecasters made a bit of a mistake this time. The sky remained clear all day, the rain delayed for a few hours. The night rain caused some discomfort to those who rode home on bicycles after the last evening ride, but even they managed to get home in a light drizzle, the heavy downpour began late at night.

The festival route runs along a highway called the “Western High-Speed ​​Diameter”. This highway was built several years ago to improve transport accessibility between the southwestern and northwestern districts of the city. The first trips along this highway were perceived as something out of science fiction. If before the road took more than an hour, and during rush hour you had to stand in a traffic jam for a long time, now you spent only 15 minutes to get to the desired place.

A bonus to the improved transport accessibility were the beautiful sea views. The highway is built along the western border of the city, and a significant part of the route runs along bridges over the Gulf of Finland. The views are stunning, especially in the evening, during sunset. But when you are driving in a car on a high-speed highway, you have little opportunity to admire the views. You can fully enjoy a walk along this highway only one day a year, during the bike festival.

The cycling festival includes three races, spaced two hours apart, and takes up the entire second half of the day. The first race is a sporty speed race. The time of passing the route is recorded, and the winners receive memorable medals and prizes. The second race is the easiest race, for everyone from 14 years old. The evening race is also open to everyone, but there is a stricter age limit, 18+. Any mechanical bicycles are allowed.

Last year I chose a daytime ride. I decided that daytime would be better for me to explore the route. The route itself seemed easy, but during the ride I had to overcome three long climbs. This time I chose an evening ride. I was hoping to admire the sunset - but at least in this part of the forecast the weather forecasters were right, the view of the sunset was blocked by clouds, so the colors of the sky were not very bright. But the sky above remained clear, and the participants of the festival really enjoyed this ride.