Moscow

Possibly heading to Moscow with work for 3 years. From my brief recent visit, it appears that driving in Moscow is a competitive sport, although I did see 3 guys on fixed wheel bikes on Saturday. Does anyone have any experience of riding in Moscow, and in particular, of getting out of the city on (safe-ish) routes? Thanks.

When I was in Moscow for 3 months in 1994 we were advised not to drive by my work let alone cycle, the standard of driving was poor and a complete lack of respect for other road users, cars mounting pavements to get past traffic jams was common with peds expected to get out of the way. If we did drive we were also advised not to stop for RTAs as these were frequently staged as a prelude to mugging. I went back in 2007 staying with a friend and was advised little had changed.

I would think very carefully whether cycling would be a good idea............

I should mention I spent 4 years living in Eastern Europe and Moscow was bad in comparison to pretty much everywhere else I went. Most of my time was spent in Poland where I had a road bike and MTB. The road bike pretty much stayed on the tacx trainer given the poor roads, while cycling in Warszawa was not such a good idea but out in the more rural areas was great fun.

Are you sure you left the UK?

you obviously didn't go, UK positively track like in comparison

while some of the negative comments are not unfair I met loads of people who didn't fit the stereotype and infact were amazingly generous as only people who have little can be. There is a lot to see and do although 3 years is quite a stint !

Moscow is awesome for riding. There aren't bike lanes, but the pavement is very good almost everywhere. So we ride among cars. Police doesn't give a shit to how are you riding,no fines, so Moscow is heaven for outlaw riding.
We have a huge (not near lfgss of course) fixed-gear community here.
forum.fixedgearmoscow.ru
Season is coming, so soon there might start some alleycats, races and others

Are you sure you left the moving to a backward, nasty, homophobic, corrupt, dangerous, racist country would be a good idea.

As if you can't say the same about UK