travel contact 42 622

Top CONTACT II vs CONTACT Plus Travel review

In this entry we are going to compare and review Continental Top CONTACT II vs Continental CONTACT Plus Travel tyres. Both manufactured by the same brand Continental , these tyres have been designed to be used for the same purpose so that you can really enjoy your Urban/Tour activities.

"26"

Specifications, "28".

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In light of this and their spec, I wasn't surprised to discover the 42mm offerings weighed 998g apiece – not outlandish by genre standards, but still heavier than the seriously heavy duty 26x2in models presently adorning my Univega.

Their size and the wire beads do mean, for the most part, they're a doddle to mount, with directional arrows to help. You might want a single lever to scoop them aboard deep-section hoops, otherwise it's a tool-free affair, requiring just a pair of strong thumbs.

Belt 'n' braces

Comparisons with Schwalbe's Marathons are perhaps inevitable. These are rated 7 for puncture/cut prevention and I wasn't surprised to discover they use a thick rubber layer beneath the tread – just like the Schwalbes. This is the main point of defence, flexing and pushing any sharps out with a capillary action, though they also employ a Kevlar strip beneath for added protection, should anything sneak past.

Hitting the mother of all potholes, with a nine-inch nail lurking beneath, while hauling the kitchen sink, might do it, otherwise you'd be very unlucky to flat. Deliberately riding through thorns, shards of glass, tacks and anything else that usually has our senses screaming with alarm has made no impression to date. There's not even a nick in the casings.

Operating pressures of 50-73psi for the 42mm, and 56-85psi for the 35mm aren't anything out of the ordinary and give some scope for additional grip during really wet rides or a slippery winter. Generally speaking I've run them around the 70psi mark, which has catered for most scenarios. Acceleration isn't on par with a big slick, but they aren't difficult to coax up to speed and keep at a decent tempo.

I've been happy enough letting rip at 35mph along local 1-in-4s, and pushing them hard into corners. Wet manhole covers/similar ironworks call for a bit of common sense, but railway crossings, cattle grids and so on haven't taxed them – or spooked me.

The big pocket of air guarantees a smooth-as-you-like ride over lumpy tarmac and takes the sting out of those occasional unavoidable holes and ruts.

> Why you need to switch to wider tyres

Something like the Maxxis Roamers are a notch or two quicker, especially on the open road, but the Contis have felt a good deal more dependable. This is a consideration for touring and long, dark commutes, or when riding with children, say on the tagalong, where reliability is paramount.

The water-channelling grooves do a decent job of flushing wet stuff out, taking muck, silt and flints away too. That said, it doesn't hurt to tickle them clean with a brush when treating bikes to a spruce-up.

So long as you're not going too mad, they're surprisingly comfortable off-road too – dirt roads, moderate forest trails and towpaths – great if you want to explore.

As an aside, when it comes to lights I'm a hub dynamo kind of guy, so I was slightly disappointed by the lack of dynamo track – the sidewalls are certainly stout enough. However, they do sport the familiar and extremely extrovert reflective pin-stripe.

Bottom lines

Although there are faster 42mm tyres around, the weight penalty and more pronounced rolling resistance isn't going to be apparent on a heavily laden expedition bike, tandem, or off-road on an adventure type build for that matter. The 35mm section is noticeably quicker, much easier to mount, and my choice if you wanted a super-dependable four-seasons road-biased tyre.

Versatile, dependable and surprisingly quick-rolling big-section tyres

road.cc test report

Make and model: Continental Contact Plus Tyres

Size tested: 42-622 (998g), 37-622

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Continental says: "For E-bikes, we have combined the SafetySystem Breaker with a highly elastic material. The result is an extremely puncture and cut resistant casing which, thanks to its high elasticity, gives especially low rolling resistance, saving battery power and the environment. The breaker also meets the demands of the higher speed e-bikes, of up to 50 km/h. The breaker is also adapted for the higher acceleration torque of e-bikes as well as the faster cornering speeds. The specialist tyre for fast e-bikes and rental bikes."

My feelings: Though this may be the target audience, the Contact Plus make a very fast rolling, highly invulnerable option for heavy duty touring and road biased duties on a cross/adventure/gravel build. Although by my reckoning and in the latter context, the 35mm section is superior to the 42mm.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Also from Continental: "In the course of the development of the new CONTACT Plus, a total of nine tyres has been compared with a competitor's tyre model in a susceptibility to piercing (blade) test. The Zedler Institute (Zedler – Institut für Fahrradtechnik und -Sicherheit GmbH, Teinacher Straße 51, D-71634 Ludwigsburg. Testing on 16.12.2016) underlined that the CONTACT Plus would perform 'distinctly more resistant' against the damages by pieces of glass and comparable items than the competitor's tyre."

The 37mm section is much sprightlier than its 42mm sibling, and my default for gravel/cross bikes, although the latter would be my preferred option for a heavily laden/rough stuff tourer and/or really poorly surfaced roads.

Seem pretty bombproof thus far...

Hefty, but both roll surprisingly efficiently.

The 42mm sections require more effort to coax up to speed but roll very efficiently without too much drag. Both widths offer sublime "magic carpet" ride over poorly surfaced roads and less challenging dirt roads/trails or towpath.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall, the Continental Contact Plus tyres are far more versatile than their city tag might suggest. Surprisingly sprightly, both sections handle impeccably in all contexts, especially the wet, and to date have resisted every sharp I could encounter, while offering a remarkably refined passage over pock-marked, pot-holed streets and moderate trails too.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Pretty much everything, given the design brief.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Not a deal breaker but a dynamo track seems a missed opportunity.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Versatile and surprisingly fast-rolling tyres for commuting, touring, trekking and e-bikes.

Overall rating: 8 /10

About the tester

Age: 43   Height: 1m 81cm   Weight: 70kg

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset   My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years   I ride: Most days   I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

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Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets. Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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These are terrible in the rain, you have to cycle very slowly when turning.

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Bottle dynamo fail.

"... letting rip at 35mph along local 1-in-4s..."

Wow! You are some climber! 

But note also the new Schwalbe Marathon Supreme folder, stated weight 595g in 42-622 size, a very reliable tyre

I'm confused. What has running a dynamo hub got to do with tyres?

I've run these tyres before on my Alfine hub equipped commuter, when having to do puncture field repairs was something I really wanted to avoid. I found these to be excellent, and just as the review says, able to cope with mixed terrain without impacting tarmac speed too much. 

I'm currently running Panaracer GKs on that bike and they are more supple and considerably lighter. I suspect they will puncture more readily but so far so good.

BikeJon wrote: I'm confused. What has running a dynamo hub got to do with tyres?

I guess the reviewer must be old school, and instead of being sensible and use a dynamo hub, they are clamping to their frame one of the old style bottle dynamos that rely on friction from the tyre to turn them.

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/busch-mueller-dymotec-6-left-light-travel-dynamo-28007?currency=3&delivery_country=190&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq4Kx_MCI1QIVJrXtCh333w-REAQYAiABEgL8S_D_BwE

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but thats the problem its should not, not must not. and drivers will always claim theyre allowed to overtake you.

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I've been really happy with my Rapha cycling stuff - mainly the cheaper end as core is more than sufficient. The colours recently have been very...

Frame built by my own fair hand, heavily supervised, at the former Downland Cycles a few years ago.  Cobalt blue by Argos. ...

when 3D arione plz 

So - to something like a photog's mini reflector. I do enjoy working out the detail of what will be the best solution.

I think the mass of the car can be treated as infinite, in the sense that the velocity of the car is not going to change much at all on impact....

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Commuter and urban tires

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Product Key Features

• Wheel Size 27.5 in
• Features Foldable
• Color Black
• Material Rubber
• Compatible Bike Type Road Bike

Continental 26 In Bicycle Tires for Folding Bike

Black 26 in bicycle tires for folding bike, folding bike black 26 in bikes, 26 in bicycle tires for folding bike, 26 in bicycle tires for folding bike, continental 26 in bicycle tires for mountain bike.

Continental Bicycle tires - Writing cycling history with "Handmade in Germany"

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Safety Plus Breaker

Specially designed for e-bikes up to 50 km/h, we have combined our SafetySystem Breaker with a highly flexible natural rubber. The result is an extremely cut and puncture resistant breaker ply which has a low rolling resistance thanks to its high elasticity. This helps saving battery life and the environment. High acceleration torques and fast speeds in turns are easily absorbed by the breaker. The specialist for fast e-bikes and rental bikes

Suitable for E-Bikes

For our E-Bike tyre we fall back on over 100 years’ experience with moped and motorcycle tires. All of our city/trekking tires are rated to a standard speed of at least 25 km/h. Those tires marked e50 are also certified for S-Pedelecs. With their high quality structure, puncture protection is high and the rolling resistance is low offering protection from premature wear brought about by the additional driving force.

Still have questions?

Learn more about our premium technologies.

We are happy to answer all your questions and support you with our tire expertise.

CONTACT Plus Travel

Bullet proof tyres for that glass strewn commute across parks and footways

The CONTACT Plus Travel is the best choice for touring riders or commuters who ride on and off road and who’s priority requirement is puncture protection. This tyre features Continental's Safety Plus anti-puncture belt technology – up to 30% more puncture resistant than it's nearest competitor.

• Premium Quality multi terrain tyre - adaptable for heavy duty touring or commuting
• Safety Plus belt - an extremely cut and pinch-resistant breaker yet providing low rolling resistance for saving both leg power and battery life!  
• Semi slick tread, great on the road and not bad either when the road ends and some off road riding is required 
• With a reflective sidewall as standard

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Touring Bike Tire Test: Continental Top Contact II

Contents and Test Summary

• Introduction

Manufacturer Specifications

• Size, Weight, Thickness
• Rolling Resistance: 24.2 Watts
• Puncture Resistance: 95 Points
• Static Wet Grip: No Data
• Conclusion: 3.0 / 5 Recommended
• Continental Top Contact II

The Continental TopContact II is Continental's top of the line tour/e-bike tire. This tire is handmade in Germany, has folding beads, a 3/180 TPI carcass, state of the art rubber compound and a double layer of Vectran puncture protection. It also comes with the ECE-R75 certification which makes it suitable for up to 50 km/h e-bikes. Continental claims this to be the ultimate tour/e-bike tire with a low rolling resistance, high puncture protection, and long life.

The double layer of Vectran puncture protection used in the TopContact is the same material Conti uses in their top performing road bike tires like the Grand Prix 4000S II and Grand Prix 4-Season. Those tires are among the top performers in the rolling resistance and puncture resistance tests. The double layer of Vectran is much lighter and thinner than the softer but thicker material the Schwalbe Marathon uses to protect against punctures. This offers a different kind of puncture protection, both have pros and cons.

Because this is a 'premium' tire, it also comes at a premium price. The TopContact II is a good bit more expensive than our favorite tire: the Schwalbe Marathon ( read review ). It's obvious this higher price also ups our expectations. Let's see how it performs on our tests.

Continental Top Contact II Test Results

Size, Weight, and Thickness Measurements

Specified weight of the 37-622 TopContact II is 600 grams, my sample comes in at 584 grams. The measured width on a 17C rim is 37 mm, height is 35 mm. It's nice to see a tire that's rated to be 37 mm wide to actually have a width of 37 mm. Most other 37-622 tires seem to measure less than 37 mm.

I've measured tread depth at 2.5 mm, which is the highest value I've measured up to now. This is a good indication that service life will be good. The Total Tire Thickness Tread measurement comes in at 4.4 mm. 4.4 mm is much less than the 7.3 mm of the Schwalbe Marathon, which uses a 3 mm thick anti-puncture layer. Total Tire Thickness Sidewall comes in at 1.05 mm, which is also on the low side.

Rolling Resistance Test Results

With the lower weight and thin anti-puncture layer, the TopContact should rock in the rolling resistance test, Right? Not exactly. Rolling resistance is higher than the Schwalbe Marathon ( read review ) at all air pressures. At very high air pressures, even the cheaper Continental Contact has a slightly lower rolling resistance. The TopContact improves at the lower end of the air pressure range.

Although the TopContact has a higher rolling resistance than the Schwalbe Marathon, it isn't a slow tire. On average there seems to be only a 3 watts per tire disadvantage, which will be hard to notice and can easily be made up by other factors like better service life or grip on wet roads.

Puncture Resistance Test Results

In the puncture resistance test, which measures the force required to puncture the tire, the TopContact performs excellently. With a score of 16 points in the tread test, it scores 2 points more than the Marathon. In the sidewall test, it performs great as well. With a score of 6 points, it scores 1 point more than the Marathon.

Because the TopContact doesn't use a thick layer of puncture protection material, Puncture Factor comes in lower for both the Tread and Sidewall calculations. With a tire thickness of only 4.4 mm at the center of the tire, Puncture Factor Tread ends up at 70 points. With sidewalls with a thickness of just 1.05 mm thick, Puncture Factor Sidewall ends up at 6 points, which is average.

Static Grip Test Results

NOTE: Grip test data is only available on tires tested after November 2018. You can find more information about our grip test here: Introducing Grip Testing

The Continental TopContact II doesn't impress, rolling resistance is higher than I expected from the top of the line Continental touring bike/e-bike tire. It does perform very well in the raw puncture resistance tests. Puncture Factor, on the other hand, is only average because of the absence of a thick anti-puncture layer. The pros are a good tread depth, good volume, and a low weight.

The TopContact isn't a bad tire, but based on our tests, I would prefer the Schwalbe Marathon ( read review ) as it performs better in almost all tests and is available at a much lower price point. If you're willing to spend, it might be worth trying.

RATING: 3.0 / 5 TEST VERDICT: Recommended

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Home » Prices and Trans-Siberian Tickets » Trans-Siberian Railway Prices

Ticket prices for the Trans-Siberian Railway also depend on the current ruble exchange rate.

Is the Trans-Siberian Railway expensive?

Before starting on your Trans-Siberian Railway adventure you naturally want to know what the entire trip will cost. Although this sounds like a simple question, it is pretty difficult to answer. The Trans-Siberian Railway price of travel depends on the following factors:

• Which travel class do I want to use? The price for a first class ticket is about three times the price of a 3rd class ticket
• Am I willing to buy the tickets myself and assume responsibility for the organisation of the trip?
• How many stopovers do I want to make? The more breaks, the higher the total price.
• What sort of accommodation do I want? Will it be a luxury hotel or will a hostel dormitory be sufficient?
• What tours and excursions would I like to go on?
• What is the current exchange rate for rubles?

Basically, everything from a luxury to a budget holiday is available. If you buy yourself a 3rd Class nonstop ticket at the counter, a few hundred Euros will cover the price. All you will experience is a week on the Trans-Siberian train and will see nothing of the cities on the way. There is, however, any amount of room for upward expansion. Everyone makes different choices about which aspects they are willing to spend money on. I personally prefer to save money on accommodation and railcar class, visit as many cities and do as many trips as possible. To enable better classification of your travel expenses I have contrasted two typical traveler types. In the third column you can calculate the total cost of your own journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Please keep in mind that these are only rough estimations and not exact prices.

The all-in costs seem fairly high at first. However, they cover everything and it is quite a long journey taking four weeks. Many people forget to consider that when looking at the list. We should also deduct the running costs for food and leisure at home. I think most visitors to this page will classify themselves somewhere between the two categories, that is around the € 2,000 – € 2,500 range. When comparing these prices with other travel packages, you get the impression that it is hardly worthwhile travelling individually on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Please keep in mind that most packages last no more than 14 days and you are herded like cattle through the most beautiful locations.

If you spend less time on the Trans-Siberian Railway you will, of course, pay less. I chose this particular travel length because I prefer not to do things by halves. If you fulfill your dream of travelling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, enjoy it and don’t rush things. But it’s up to you, of course. Try playing around with the form a bit to find the appropriate price for your trip.

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• Independent Trave...

Independent Travel to Moscow and St. Petersburg

My wife and I have traveled independently to many European countries and, after reading many of the comments in this forum, feel like we may be able to do so in Moscow and St. Petersburg as well, although we feel somewhat less comfortable than the other countries where we have traveled in Europe.

My biggest question is how much we will miss by visiting the main sites without a tour guide. In the other European countries we have visited on our own we have been comfortable and satisfied with the level of knowledge we have gained by studying and visiting on our own, although we believe a tour guide or tour company in any country would normally be able to provide greater insight than visiting a site on our own, but about in Moscow and St. Petersburg?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Unless you speak at least some Russian and read the alphabet it would be difficult without a guide. Very few signs in English especially in Moscow. Also not too many people speak English there.

I visited St Petersburg last Autumn for a protracted period , and did not find it anymore daunting than any other European city . As Ilja says , learning the Cyrillic alphabet is a big plus . I also found that it was fairly easy to grasp . It will , among other things , enable you to read signs with relative ease . I would answer the main part or your question ( about tour guides ) thus - I am not enamored of tour guides or tours. While I only use a tour under duress ( A sites rules prohibiting an independent visit - ie Glasgow School of Art , Municipal House in Prague , etc ) . Doing your own preparation and homework is the best way , in my opinion . My wife and I ventured through St Petersburg with nary a concern ,and made two day trips outside of the central district ( one was twenty five miles away , and no English speakers in sight ) Figuring out the logistical details , did not present any difficulties . While I never use tours , I am an inveterate eavesdropper , have done so many times , and find , that on balance , the information that they impart is fairly elementary . If you want greater detail , they are unlikely to supply it . I also prefer to go at my own pace , not being rushed and being able to dwell on things that most other visitors barely give a passing glance . If you are interested , let me know . I would be happy to provide you with information that will enable you to travel independently

Thank you, Steven. I am encouraged by your comments and feel the same way you do about tour groups. We are very much willing to prepare in advance and learn the basics of the Cyrillic alphabet to help us have a better experience.

I would be very interested in learning more about your experience in Russia and receiving any additional information you can provide on independent travel there, starting perhaps with obtaining the visa.

I am not opposed to hiring a private or small group guide for a specific site or for a day trip outside St Petersburg and Moscow, but, like you said, I much prefer the freedom of staying at places as long or short as I want and seeing the sites that interest me most. For example, neither my wife nor I are big into shopping, yet most tour itineraries leave afternoon time for just that. Not interested!

Please provide whatever you may feel would be helpful for us.

Russ , I see you are quite near San Francisco - you can start by looking at the VISA procedure , it's fairly straightforward . Since there is a consulate in San Francisco - look here http://www.consulrussia.org/eng/visa-sub1.html

And here - http://ils-usa.com/main.php

Having always traveled independently, we thought we could do a better job than any tour. How misguided (pun intended) we were. Now that we have had the experience of having someone native to the area walk us around and explain things through a personal perspective we realize how much we missed. For St. Petersburg I highly recommend http://www.peterswalk.com/tours.html . This is not a traditional guided tour, but an opportunity to receive some orientation to the area as well as insight into the "Russian soul". I think if you did this upon arrival the rest of your time would be much more meaningful. We really liked the http://www.pushka-inn.com . The location is superb (just around the corner from the Hermitage square), the rooms lovely, the included breakfast at the restaurant next door ample and overall an excellent value. We used this company to get our visa: https://www.passportvisasexpress.com/site/san_francisco_customer_service Note that it costs about the same for a 3-year visa as a one-year, and you never know if you might want to return within that more extended window of time. It is not cheap, so factor that into your planning.

If you like traveling without a guide in other countries and find this satisfying, the same will be true in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Of course it's not either/or - you can certainly take a guided walk or boat tour, for instance.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning Cyrillic if you're going on your own. The book I used was Teach Yourself Beginner's Russian Script, which was great. It breaks down the alphabet into letters that are the same as English, letters that look the same but are pronounced differently, etc. It's out of print, but you can get used copies on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-Beginners-Russian-Script/dp/0071419861/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1459701143&sr=8-2&keywords=teach+yourself+russian+script

Russia is indeed a bit more "foreign" than say, Italy. However, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, I found enough English to be able to get by. Many restaurants had English menus and/or English speaking staff, for instance. This was most emphatically not true in Vladimir and Suzdal (two cities in the Golden Ring outside Moscow). I went with my sister, a Russian speaker, and if she hadn't been there, I would have been in big trouble. So, if you want to see places outside these two big cities, use a guided tour (even if just for that part). Also, Moscow and St. Petersburg are huge cities. Coming from New York, I wasn't intimidated, but those not used to a megacity may not be so cavalier (even I found them overwhelming at times, especially Moscow).

I found both Lonely Planet and Rough Guide to be helpful, and both to have various errors. Look at both, buy whichever one has a more recent edition, and then be prepared to have to discard some of the advice therein. Also, these places change more quickly than places in Western Europe. Be very careful of outdated advice. For instance, I was there in 2001 and 2010, so I won't give you any specifics on getting a visa - that changes constantly.

Just as a teaser, two things I saw and loved that I doubt would be included in any escorted tour are the Gorky House in Moscow (an Art Nouveau wonder) and the Sheremyetov Palace in St. Petersburg (it's now a museum of musical instruments, and the decor is amazing, particularly in the Etruscan Room).

Thanks for all the good advice. Any additional thoughts are welcomed.

One of history's seminal works pertaining to Russian history and culture and a MUST for anyone contemplating a visit or simply interested , is this fine work from 1980 - http://www.amazon.com/Land-Firebird-The-Beauty-Russia/dp/096441841X

This is about you and not about Petersburg. Do you like guided tours? We don't and didn't find that a guide added to our experience in China where we did hire private guides mostly for the logistics; it was easy to have someone drive us places. But once at a site, we didn't need the guide. I felt the same way about our 9 nights in Petersburg. We did hire a guide for the trip to the Catherine Palace again for the ease of logistics for us Olds. Here is our visit: https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2016/01/23/an-easy-trip-to-the-catherine-palace/ There are also snapshots of the Church on Spilled Blood in this photo journal. Having someone pick us up at the apartment and get us in without line ups and shepherd us through the palace steering clear of the tour groups was lovely. But we didn't need commentary because we can read and prepare.

You certainly don't need a guide for the Hermitage (we spent 4 days there), the Russian Museum, the Kazan Cathedral or Church on Spilled Blood or the Faberge Museum. We enjoyed a number of self guided walking tours including a couple from Rick Steves guidebooks. We took the canal cruise suggested by RS that had an English commentator. I would not take one without that as you will be totally clueless. The commentator was not all that good but at least we had some idea what we were seeing. So for people like us who like to do our own thing and can read a guidebook and don't particularly like to be led about, a tour is not needed. If you enjoy tour groups, then go for it. Petersburg is easy to negotiate. It helps if you can read the cyrillic alphabet and it is also useful to have the google translate ap on your phone. We found ourselves translating packages in grocery stores with it and the occasional museum sign or menu. I have one food I need to avoid and so it was handy to have the translator to talk with waiters (I could either show them the sentence, or play it for them or play it to myself and then repeat it to the waiter -- that all worked well)

Dear Russ, I cannot help you with Moscow, but about four years ago, my husband and I went to St Petersburg on our own. But, we did use a private guide for 4 half days. We both feel that our guide absolutely made our trip (we stayed 6 or 7 nights). We used a company owned by Tatyana Chiurikova, www.tour-stpetersburg.com I cannot say enough good things about her and our experience. I emailed her and we worked out a schedule/ sights that was tailored to our interests. She also offered some recommendations, which we took. The guide will meet you at your hotel. And frequently, at certain places, with the guide, we were able to skip the long entrance lines. We had an half day driving tour of the city (car, driver, & guide). You are taken to & go in places such as Peter & Paul Fortress, some of the cathedrals, etc. We had a half day with the guide at the Hermitage which ensured that we would see the major sights there. And, of course, you can stay after your guide leaves or return another day. Also, we had the guide for Peterhof (a must & go by boat) and Catherine's Palace. I hope that you will go to the website. As I said, our guide made our trip. I am positive that we would have missed quite a bit on our own everyday. And I'm sure we would have wasted a lot of time trying to get to various place.This was the best of both worlds, a guide where needed and plenty of time on our own. Whatever you do, I'm sure that you will love St Petersburg! Ashley

I am curious about the lines as we encountered no lines on our trip -- but it was in September. We got tickets for the Hermitage at machines and skipped those lines and our guide for the Catherine Palace which was our only guided experience (as noted before, chosen for the logistics of getting there) had arranged tickets and we didn't have a line, but then we also didn't see lines. We did not find lines at any other site.

Both Moscow and St Petersburg I've done on my own, that is together with the Dear Partner. I can't remember any problem getting where we wanted to go. The Metro systems are well signed, and with a little exercise and patience you can recognize the station names. With a good map and a good guide - we had the Rough Guides - that part of the logistics is solved. The language is a major problem, but the usual tricks of pointing, looking helpless, and making a joke of it all do wonders. I would hate to be led by a guide, but for others it is a comfortable thought.

We also did both cities on our own. I found the DK Eyewitness guide for Moscow has the best map. I used the one from our library (kept the book at home). Took the smaller RS book for St. Petersburg ( his book on northern cities). His map and restaurant ideas were all good. We also downloaded the Google maps in our Android Samsung tablets/phones for both cities and then could get directions to any place we typed in. The blue ball guided us everywhere. I'm sure we missed somethings by not having a guide, but we just enjoy walking around and getting a sense of a place. If you like art, The Hermitage is great. We went 3 times and still missed alot. In St. Peterburg we stayed at the 3 Mosta which we loved (quite and not far from the Church of Spilled Blood.) We also loved the Georgian food in both cities. There's a great Georgian restaurant near the 3 Mosta hotel. We're now in Belarus- very scenic. Enjoy your trip!!

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Continental Contact Tire - clincher, wire, SafetySystem Breaker, E25, black or black/Reflex, 20', 26' or 700 sizes

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Sound contact all-rounder for impressive tours that is the jack-of-all-trades amongst city and trekking tires guaranteeing fast, safe and comfortable ride.

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