1998 trek 5200 oclv carbon

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Trek 5200 Road Bike

Frame Material: carbon fiber composite Frame Angles: 73.8 head, 73.5 seat Sizes: 50cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 60cm, 62cm Colors: Blue/Pearl/Carbon, Carbon Fork: Bontrager Race Lite Carbon Rear Shock: Not applicable Brake Levers: Shimano Ultegra STI Dual Control Handlebar: Bontrager Race Lite Stem: Bontrager Race Lite Headset: 1 1/8" threadless Cane Creek S-2 Front Der: Shimano Ultegra Crankset: Shimano Ultegra, 39/53 teeth Rear Der: Shimano Ultegra SS Pedals: Not included Tires: 700 x 23c Bontrager Race X-Lite

• USER REVIEWS

I never regret choosing this. I love the fixed hanger on the back, geometry, and old school smooth carbon transitions, especially on the rear stay. I've been using this when doing Emergency Tree Service in a nearby area.

Nothing weakness found.

Excellent Bike. In my third season on it and I absolutely love the carbon frame for the chip and seal roads in Western PA. The carbon frame removes all of the harshness from the ride and still has the stiffness of aluminum. I came from riding an all aluminum Cannondale and I can't believe the difference in ride quality.

custom stickers | print stickers | business printing | printing company

Had it for 17 years since new in 2003 and its never let me down, smooth and comfy, perfect fit, enjoy climbs with it and it has a good kick/acceleration.. upgraded wheels and put carbon seatpost/stem and bars on it and it made it purr even more! Long Live the 5200!

I guess todays ultralight superbikes make it seem like a heavy old doddering relic but it really isnt..I've tried the odd lighter frame but they seem to lack something the 5200 has always had, it always feels like it wants to give me back more which is why ive always loved it.

I bought a Trek 5200 OCLV used as a form of exercise but started to ride as a commuter (26 miles per day). At the time, I weighed 240lbs and would carry a backpack with clothes. I gave this bike hell and did for two years as a daily commuter. It's a strong bike, light enough for commute and race, durable enough for an overweight guy like me (50 lbs lighter from day one of commuting).

Wish it would last forever

My 5200 is a 2006 triple chain ring Ultegra gruppo model that has performed flawlessly for nearly 10 years. For its era, it is very light, stiff, but with enough compliance to feel smooth at full gas speed. It has good power transfer to wheel when compared with my recent purchase of the Trek Emonda SL5. It does not quite have the climbing giddy-up that I note with the Emonda, but then it rides much smoother. The only improvement made was to switch out wheel set for Mavic Open Pro with Ultregra hub.

There is no weakness in my opinion!

After thousands of mile on the "52" I still get a kick out of how it performs.

Sure, stead, fast

3-4 pounds heavier than some of the newer bikes out there.

Bought this bike close to ten years ago. It does close to everything very well. The only way it's shown it's age is in the weight area where newer technologies have resulted in lighter frames. Recently swapped out the wheels which has breathed new life into it. Came with Ultegra 6500 which continues to perform very well despite only having 9 gears(who needs more?)

Climbs extremely well - descends even better :-). I love the fixed hanger on the back, geometry, and old school smooth carbon transitions, especially on the rear stay. I can also sit on the top tube and pose like a pro racer, which is easier than the new compact frames.

It's not a fair comparison, but I ride a Speed Concept most of the time, and can definitely tell the ol' 5200 has a little flex in the BB under extreme load (for me, that's north of 350 watt efforts for short duration) but not enough for me to want to switch to a newer frame or one of the open molds (although I have been tempted by the FM028 and FM015...)

I purchased my 5200 (the nude carbon model) in 2003 and am the original owner. I ride and train primarily for long course triathlon, but the 5200 gets a few races and events each season and is my go-to for technical rides or mountain climbing. This past winter I pulled the entire grouppo and replaced with the dark glossy ultegra 10 speed. Also just mounted new Zipp 101's with Michelin Pro Race 3's. This baby will move. I've dropped newer bikes, and have also been dropped myself by steel bikes, old Serrottas, etc. (at least no one with a burley trailer has passed me yet.) From a reliability perspective - the 52 has never let me down.

Great on Century Rides

On slow rides not the best road feel

Have this bike for 8 years. It's phenomenal

Fast light, agile. Great ride.

Poor customer service, weak frame that'd broke after 5 years. The bontager race liters almost killed me when the rim crack on a step downhill. I 've heard that many people had similar experiences. Trek should have recalled these and instead they wait for them to fail.

Great bike that trek has ignored its faults. I think trek has figured we have the reputation, let's not fix the flaws, make money and let people assume it is their fault.

Hard fast accel smooth ride

Bottom bracket flex even though it is lateral stiff and its not really a problem

This is a Trek 5900 found this ultra lite with less than a 100 mi on it. Been sitting in garage for years had orginal tires dry rotted but still ridable. What a great bike 15lbs 4oz 56cm will upgrade to sti new tires convert to 9sp . I ride ti most of time wanted to try carbon without big cash outlay wow!

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Our strongest, lightest carbon yet

OCLV Carbon is Trek’s patented carbon fiber process, the result of more than 25 years of experience building the world’s finest carbon fiber bicycles in Waterloo, Wisconsin, USA. Experience matters, especially when working with a material that holds seemingly endless possibilities but presents such unique challenges as carbon fiber. To understand the best technology, you have to build it, and we’ve been doing just that since 1991.

Why OCLV Carbon?

A well-built carbon frame dramatically reduces weight compared to metallic materials, while maintaining the strength and stiffness that high performance bicycles and their riders demand. This is where Trek’s pioneered and patented OCLV Carbon—an acronym for Optimum Compaction Low Void—process comes in. OCLV Carbon frames begin with the best material available. Trek has spent countless development hours perfecting the construction of a variety of weights and types of carbon (cloth, unidirectional, etc.). The OCLV process is best explained when broken down into two parts:

Optimum Compaction: Carbon is layered into a series of plies compacted to the ideal fiber-resin ratio. The process starts with cutting carbon fiber from large sheets to a specific shape which is then placed into a mold. A combination of heat and pressure then compresses the sheets of carbon into a carbon lug. This combination of heat and pressure is OCLV’s most essential and closely guarded equation. Low Void: Voids are the spaces that exist between the layers of carbon fiber that comprise a component or frame. Minimizing these voids is the primary goal of quality carbon engineering, as more voids translates to reduced strength and durability of the composite material. OCLV Carbon exceeds aerospace standards regarding the number of voids in its material.

Shapes matter

In addition to sizeable reductions in weight, the largest advantage of carbon fiber frames over another material are the limitless shapes that the material can be molded into. Different shapes exhibit different strength, stiffness, and aerodynamic properties. Trek utilizes Finite Element Analysis, a comprehensive software simulation toolkit, to tell us exactly how different shapes will respond to different riders and riding surfaces. We utilize proven theories of fluid mechanics through Computational Fluid Dynamics in order to explore the aerodynamic properties of various designs. Our bikes are conceived with computer-generated designs, fluid-dynamically assessed and finite analyzed, and the resulting shapes appear seamlessly machine-made. At the end of the day, these complex scientific investigations are applied in a hands-on, ground-up process that combines multiple molds with a variety of carbon materials to result in a magnificently engineered and largely hand-built product.

OCLV Mountain

Mountain biking is about pushing the limit of where your bike can take you. Riding on every conceivable surface in hostile conditions takes a toll on any material. To develop OCLV Mountain, Trek’s engineers developed a methodology borrowed from the aerospace industry to ensure our frames were up to the challenge: Retained Strength. The philosophy is simple and based around the single question of how durable a frame remains following impact. By employing different composite materials in unique layups specifically in typical high damage areas, Trek’s engineers have created frames that now retain their ability to bear load after an impact surpassing even their aluminum counterparts.

Carbon armor

Taking durability to another level, Trek’s development team created Carbon Armor, a highly refined elastomeric designed to slow down and spread the distribution of a sharp impact to the frame. Carbon Armor essentially decreases the immediate impact of a rough hit the frame feels, leaving you feeling more confident than ever to go after that next drop.

Built to last

Trek builds bikes to last and we stand behind every one that we bears our name. Just as the first Trek hand-welded over forty years ago in a red barn, our first full carbon frame is still under warranty. All OCLV Carbon bicycles come with a limited lifetime warranty, because we believe that more people riding bikes is in everybody’s best interest.

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1998 Trek OCLV 5200

• Serial: unknown
• Manufacturer: Trek
• Name: Mark's Carbon Fiber
• Model: OCLV 5200
• Primary colors: Black
• Frame size: 60CM
• Frame Material: Carbon or composite

Distinguishing features

matte black carbon fiber road bike TREK 5200 OCLV with shimano600 gears.

• 1996, Trek, 5200

1996 Trek 5200

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Frame & Fork

Bicycle condition guide.

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Trek 5200 (2000)

New build using a used frame, fork and some parts from my destroyed Trek 1500 SL.

Frame: Trek 5200 OCLV 120 (2000), 56cm, This is the first carbon frame to win a Tour-de-France in 1999 and the same as the top-of-the-line 5500 frame that won the Tour de France again in 2000. This is one of the last Handmade-in-the-USA, overbuilt carbon frames, before Trek moved production to slave laborers in communist china (along with all other bicycle manufacturers), and their quality control went down the drain. Frame weight = 1100 g = 2.44 lbs.

Fork/Headset: Fork: 1" ICON OCLV Carbon Air Rail with steel steerer / Aluminum Crown and Dropouts / carbon legs. Headset: Cane Creek C2.

Crankset/Bottom Bracket: Crankset: Ultegra FC-6600 175mm Bottom Bracket: Shimano SM-BB4600 BC1.37 x 24 Road KC Hollowtech II.

Pedals: Xerama Campy Centaur / Campy Super Record Clones,

Drivetrain/Cog/Chainring/Chain: Chainrings: Alloy / Steel 130mm BCD 54t (unbranded aero) + 39t Shimano Ultegra. Cassette: Shimano CS-6700 Ultegra 10 speed 12-30. 12-13-14-15-17-19-21-[24-27-30] Chain: Shimano CN-5701 105 10-Speed Chain.

Derailleurs/Shifters: Shimano RD-4600 Tiagra 10 Speed. Shimano FD-4600 Tiagra, braze on. Shimano Tiagra ST-4600 2x10 Speed speed Shifters / Brake Levers

Handlebars/Stem: Handlebars: "Benotto" Aero 42mm alloy handlebars. Stem: Bontrager Race X Lite - RXL (130g version) 7050-T6 aluminum 7 degree x 100mm x 31.8mm. Two Shim 1" to 1.125" fork Adapters. Two 10mm carbon fiber spacers.

Saddle/Seatpost: Saddle: Bontrager Aeolus Comp 145mm Seatpost: Trek Icon Graphite Series 27.2mm x 250mm,

Brakes: Shimano BR-6800 Ultegra

Front Wheel/Hub/Tire: Alexrims R400 700C, 32 spokes, 3-cross. Hub: Shimano HB-5700. Tire: Maxxis Dolomites 700c x 25mm, @85 psi

Rear Wheel/Hub/Tire: Alexrims R400 700C, 32 spokes, 3-cross. Hub: Shimano FH-RS400. Tire: Maxxis Dolomites 700c x 25mm, @85 psi

Accessories: GW USB Seatpost red light.

More Info: Weight = ~9kg = 19.8 lbs

Bike History

Click a link below to see past stages of this bike.

Added over 4 years ago by TWB-Third-World-Biker . Last updated about 2 years ago.

ankcupu says:

Awesome bike, I really like your setup.

Posted over 3 years ago

TWB-Third-World-Biker says:

carbon , mavic , road-bike , trek

• View TWB-Third-World-Biker's Profile

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TREK 5500 oclv USPS...anybody still riding these wonder machines?

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Just wondering if anybody is still riding these wonder machines from the TDF of the past and your impressions still if any. Pics would be sweet!! Thanx's!  

I have the LeMond Maillet Jaune variant of it I bought in 1997ish. I recall the first day I got it on the road. It was so much stiffer than my LiteSpeed classic. It was jarringly stiff by comparison. Of course, my bike right after that (an aero aluminum frame) was jarringly stiff and the OCLV felt much more compliant by comparison and the Litespeed like a spaghetti noodle. Perspective changes ... I recall I had Shimano DuraAce downtube shifters on it originally but then DuraAce 9speed with primarily the Mavic Cosmic Carbones. A few years later I then upgraded to Campy 9 speed (post 2001 9 spd) with a few same 9spd upgrades/replacements along the way. It lived that way for a long time until a few years ago I upgraded it to 2018 Campy SR/Chorus 11 speed with Campy Bullet Ultra wheels as the main wheelset. I also upgrade the handlebar/stem setup to 31.8 aero bars and stem (major stiffness upgrade). I have about 1,400 miles on it so far this year, and last year was 1,500 miles. I have 3 road bikes though that share in duties.  

I think the bikes would hold up, but i think everyone's butt's gave that up!  

duriel said: I think the bikes would hold up, but i think everyone's butt's gave that up! Click to expand...

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I had a 5200. It was my main bike until 2013 when I went C59. Continued to ride the 5200 winters and when my Colnago was being packe for Vacation but I finally got a gravel bike in 2015 and after that the Trek just didn't offer any advantages. It just wasn't competitive anymore as a bike. I junked it last year. Just didn't have room an with a C59, C64 and a Firefly it was simply time. It might have become a commuter bike but the Dahon folds and I can bring it into stores. The 5200 was usps. If i recall the 5200 and 5500 were identical except one was ultegra while the other dura ace  

Trek_5200 said: If i recall the 5200 and 5500 were identical except one was ultegra while the other dura ace Click to expand...

Still have and ride a 1996 oclv . Up graded the fork but otherwise it’s pretty much stock from 1996. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

I had a 5200 the first year they came out and then was replaced with a 5500 when the BB broke. Rode it over 10 years it was a great bike and nothing wrong with it compared to todays bikes. I bought a used frame off eBay for cheap and built it up for my daughter. I do like my current Cannondale EVO, but it is not a huge difference.  

I rode a 5900 for several years. That was the first year they offered frames with full 110 oclv tubing. Had a different USPS paint job than what came on the 5500. The bike had a wishbone seatstay and I was more comfortable at speed and cornering on that bike than any other bike I've owned. The frames (and fork w/ aluminum steerer tube) are obsolete boat anchors by today's standards, but still it's not a bad bike to be riding today.  

My 5200 handled ok, it was a pretty dead ride and is nothing compared to the bikes built today. Sorry, otherwise why are you not riding it now?  

I never understood why people thought the early Madones felt 'dead', but that's not the first time I've heard that. Why aren't I riding it now? Well, I've gotten four new road bikes in the 19 years or so since I got that one.  

I've got two Madone 5.2 bikes hanging in the garage that don't get ridden. My Ritchey Road Logic weighs the same (similarly equipped) and rides better. These older Trek carbon bikes are not that light. They handle great, ride a bit stiff, and lack tire clearance for wider tires. I'm running 23 mm Continental 4000 S tires, which measure almost 25 mm mounted. Made in the USA though.  

You have to remember that back then, a bike under 20 lbs. was gee whiz light. And almost all bikes of that era don't have clearance for tires that are marketed as 25 mm and up tires these days. I had a Kestrel 200 sci back in the early 1990's, it was an exotic bike at the time when steel was still real.  

My impression was not great. Didn't buy one back then. Other carbon bikes from the same period gave better road feel. Still ride a Calfee. Agree on the comment that many early Ti bikes were noodly  

768Q said: About 5 years ago I happened across one of Kevin Livingston's frames from the '99 season (only year for the quill stem USPS bike). I built it up with NOS 7800 Dura Ace 10 speed stuff and then built one up for the wife in her size, try to get them out a few times a year. Still a great riding bike in my opinion. Click to expand...

@farva thanks and agreed 7700 crankset would look good, one would really have to look to notice the 10 speed then. Keith  

Spinman said: Just wondering if anybody is still riding these wonder machines from the TDF of the past and your impressions still if any. Pics would be sweet!! Thanx's! Click to expand...

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Red Square & Moscow City Tour

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Description

Highlights:.

• Experience medieval Kitay Gorod (China town).
• Wander picturesque Red Square and Alexander Garden.
• Explore grand Christ the Savior Cathedral on our Red Square tour.
• Breathtaking panoramic views from Patriarch bridge.
• Enjoy a hearty lunch on the large open verandah and marvel at the stunning views of the Kremlin.
• Learn about Russian culture from the local through relaxed cultural discussions.

Tour Itinerary:

Red square:.

Russia and Moscow are synonymous with Red Square and the Kremlin and that's hardly surprising as you'll find these places absolutely stunning!

• - Walk-through the Resurrection Gate and don’t forget to flip a coin so you’ll be sure to come back one day!
• - Visit the world's famous Kazan Cathedral .
• - See the State Department Store (GUM), once the Upper Trading Stalls, which were built over a century ago and still operating!
• - Admire the lovely St. Basil's Cathedral! The French diplomat Marquis de Custine commented that it combined "the scales of a golden fish, the enamelled skin of a serpent, the changeful hues of the lizard, the glossy rose and azure of the pigeon's neck" and wondered at "the men who go to worship God in this box of confectionery work".
• - Walk by Lobnoye Mesto (literally meaning "Execution Place", or "Place of Skulls"), once Ivan the Terrible's stage for religious ceremonies, speeches, and important events.
• - Entering the Alexander Garden , you’ll take in spectacular views of Russian architecture from ancient to Soviet times, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame. Watch Changing of the Guard Ceremony every hour in summer and every half an hour in winter.

Kitai-gorod:

Stroll along medieval Kitai-gorod with its strong ancient Russia feel, known for its bohemian lifestyle, markets and arts.

• - Nikolskaya Street. Here you will find the Russia's first publishing house, the second oldest monastery, and Ferryn Pharmacy, known as the number one pharmacy back in Soviet times and famous for its Empire-style architecture.
• - Ilinka Street. The financial street of the Kitaigorod (China Town) district, where you’ll find the Gostiny Dvor (Merchant’s Yard), which is now a showroom for Ferraris and Maseratis. The street was designed in the 1790s by Catherine the Great.
• - Varvarka street. The oldest street in Moscow, which dates back to the 14th century, and still has remnants of early Muscovite architecture, such as the Old English Court and the Palace of the Romanov’s.
• - Kamergersky Lane. Only a small road of about 250 meters, it is home to some of the oldest artifacts of the city, as each building holds a fascinating story. Some of Russia's most famous writers, poets, and composers from as far back as the Golden Age of Russian culture, have lived or worked on this lane.

Historic City Center

Walk the historical old center of Moscow with its cool local vibe, including the main Tverskaya street , and indulge in desserts in the first grocery “Eliseev's store” , housed in an 18th century neoclassical building, famous for its baroque interior and decoration.

From our tour. Impressions of our American tourist:

At 3:30, as energy flagged, lunch was on the agenda at a Ukrainian restaurant.  Just in time!  We asked our guide to order for us.  We all had the same thing....borscht (the Ukrainian version has beans and more tomatoes than the Russian version, which has more beets and includes beef). 

The special high bread served is called galushki.  Our main course was golubtsy...a dish of minced meat rolled in braised cabbage leaves.  Both dishes called for optional sour cream as a topping....of course, yes, please....I recommend it. 

Full, satisfied, and completely refreshed, it was off to Red Square and St. Basil's and GUM department store.  Red Square is not so named because of the color of the brick walls of the Kremlin.  Rather the word for 'red' and the word for 'beautiful' are similar in pronunciation....and, there you have it. 

As we made the turn by the National Museum in front of which is the mounted sculpture of the "Marshall of Victory," Giorgy Zhukov from WWII and caught our first view of St. Basil's, my friend and I simultaneously emitted "Oooohhhhh!"  There it was....the iconic onion domes of St. Basil's!  Hooray....it was open until 7....we had about 30 minutes and were allowed in, AND we could take photos with no flash. 

Now, I can give you a taste of what we saw in the other cathedrals in Cathedral Square.  What we learned is that St. Vasily and St. Basil are one in the same....Russian/English.  He was a common man who wandered Moscow unclothed and barefoot.  But, all, even Ivan the Terrible, heeded his opinions derived from his visions.  Ivan had this cathedral built over his tomb. 

As we exited and took photos up close of the onion domes, Inna presented us with chocolate (how did she know we were ready for another energy boost, and we each got a big piece of chocolate.  The baby's name pictured on the wrapper of this famous Russian chocolate is Alyonka....the Russian Gerber baby, don't you think? 

One could wear out the credit card in GUM's (capitalized because it is actually a government abbreviation), but the 'kitty' and my credit card stayed in my pocket as we strolled through the glass-topped arcade. 

We then strolled through some of Moscow's lovely pedestrian streets; paused to listen as a wonderful quartet performed Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in an underground passage to cross the busy street (hooray!....we DID have our 'classical concert' experience after all; a request Alina tried in vain to fill because none was scheduled those days), saw the Bolshoi, which means 'big' (my friend has yet to recover that their performance schedule did not coincide with our cruise), saw the Central Telegraph Building, dating from the 1930's, and made our way to the Ritz-Carlton to see the night view of Moscow from the rooftop bar, called O2. 

There were fleece blankets to wrap yourself in....yes, it got that cold when the sun set.  We each ordered something hot to drink...the ginger, mint, lemon tea served to me in a parfait glass (for 600 rubles...about $9....you pay for the view here!) was delightful and hit the spot perfectly.  It was time to call it a night....

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting city tour, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time.

*This Moscow city tour can be modified to meet your requirements.

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Moscow-City: 7 surprising facts about the Russian capital’s business center

1. Guinness World Record in highlining

The record was set in 2019 by a team of seven athletes from Russia, Germany, France and Canada. They did it on September 8, on which the ‘Moscow-City Day’ is celebrated. The cord was stretched at the height of 350 m between the ‘OKO’ (“Eye”) and ‘Neva Towers’ skyscrapers. The distance between them is 245 m. The first of the athletes to cross was Friede Kuhne from Germany. The athletes didn't just walk, but also performed some daredevil tricks. Their record is 103 meters higher than the previous one set in Mexico City in December 2016.

2. Domination of Europe's top-10 highest skyscrapers

7 out of 10 Europe’s highest skyscrapers are located in Moscow-City. Earlier, the  ‘Federation Tower’ complex’s ‘Vostok’ (“East”) skyscraper was the considered the tallest in Europe.

Left to right: the lower of the ‘Neva Towers’ (296 m), Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (300 m), Gorod Stolits (“City of Capitals”) Moscow tower (302 m), Eurasia tower (309 m), The Shard’ skyscraper in London (310 m), Mercury City Tower (339 m), Neva Towers (345 m).

However, in 2018, the construction of the 462 meter tall ‘Lakhta Center’ in Saint-Petersburg was completed, pushing ‘Vostok’ (374 m) into 2nd place. The 3rd place is taken by OKO’s southern tower (354 m).

3. The unrealized ‘Rossiya’ tower

If all the building plans of Moscow-City were realized, the ‘Lakhta Center’ in St. Petersburg wouldn't have a chance to be Europe's highest skyscraper. Boris Tkhor, the architect who designed the concept of Moscow-City, had planned for the ‘Rossiya’ tower to be the tallest. In his project, it was a 600 meter tall golden cylindrical skyscraper ending with a spire that was inspired by traditional Russian bell towers. Then, the project was reinvented by famous British architect Sir Norman Foster. He had designed ‘Rossiya’ as a pyramid ending with a spire. The skyscraper itself would have been 612 meters tall, and the height including the spire would have reached 744,5 meters (for comparison, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ in Dubai, UAE, would have been just 83,5 meters taller). Unfortunately, the investors faced a lot of economic problems, due to the 2008 financial crisis, so the ‘Rossiya’ skyscraper was never built. A shopping mall and the ‘Neva Towers’ complex was constructed at its place in 2019.

4. Changed appearance of ‘Federation Tower’

In its first project, the ‘Federation Tower’ was designed to resemble a ship with a mast and two sails. The mast was to be represented by a tall glass spire with passages between the towers. It was planned to make a high-speed lift in it. The top of the spire was going to be turned into an observation deck. But the ship lost its mast in the middle of its construction. Experts at the Moscow-city Museum based in the ‘Imperia’ (“Empire”) tower say, that the construction of the spire was stopped, firstly, due to fire safety reasons and secondly, because it posed a threat to helicopter flights – the flickering glass of the spire could potentially blind the pilots. So, the half-built construction was disassembled. However, an observation deck was opened in the ‘Vostok’ tower.

5. Open windows of ‘Federation Tower’

We all know that the windows of the upper floors in different buildings don’t usually open. Experts say that it’s not actually for people’s safety. Falling from a big height is likely to be fatal in any building. The actual reason is the ventilation system. In a skyscraper, it’s managed with a mechanical system, and the building has its own climate. But in the ‘Zapad’ (“West”) tower of the ‘Federation Tower’ complex, the windows can open. The 62nd and last floor of the tower are taken up by a restaurant called ‘Sixty’. There, the windows are equipped with a special hydraulic system. They open for a short period of time accompanied by classical music, so the guests can take breathtaking photos of Moscow.

6. Broken glass units of ‘Federation Tower’

The guests of the ‘Sixty’ restaurant at the top of the ‘Zapad’ tower can be surprised to see cracked glass window panes. It is particularly strange, if we take into consideration the special type of this glass. It is extremely solid and can’t be broken once installed. For example, during experiments people threw all sorts of heavy items at the windows, but the glass wouldn’t break. The broken glass units of ‘Zapad’ were already damaged during shipment . As each of them is curved in its own way to make the tower’s curvature smooth, making a new set of window panes and bringing them to Russia was deemed too expensive . Moreover, the investors had financial problems (again, due to the 2008 financial crisis), so the ‘Vostok’ tower even stood unfinished for several years. Eventually, the cracked window panes were installed in their place.

7. The highest restaurant in Europe

‘Birds’, another restaurant in Moscow-City, is remarkable for its location. It was opened at the end of 2019 on the 84th floor of the ‘OKO’ complex’s southern tower. Guests at the restaurant can enjoy an amazing panoramic view at a height of 336 meters. On January 28, the experts of ‘Kniga Recordov Rossii’ (“Russian Records Book”) declared ‘Birds’ the highest restaurant in Europe, a step toward an application for a Guinness World Record.

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Stalin’s Soviet Union – Moscow in 1953-1954

No comments · Posted by Sergei Rzhevsky in History , People , Photos

Major Martin Manhoff spent more than two years in the Soviet Union in the early 1950s. He worked as an assistant to the military attache in the U.S. Embassy, ​​located near Red Square.

Manhoff, being a gifted photographer, shot hundreds of scenes from everyday Soviet life – both in Moscow and in other regions of the USSR.

Construction of the hotel “Ukraina” from the roof of the U.S. Embassy on Novinsky Boulevard. On the left you can see the Church of the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus (1954).

After the accusations of espionage, he left the country with hundreds of color slides and negatives taken during his time in the USSR. Among these materials was the shooting of Stalin’s funeral – one of the turning points in Soviet history.

Hotel “Moskva” on Manezh Square.

The Kremlin from the entrance to the U.S. Embassy.

In 1953, Red Square was not yet closed to traffic.

Approaching the intersection of Okhotny Ryad and Tverskaya Street.

Movie theater “Khudozhestvenny” on Arbat Square.

Theater Square.

Driving up Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street.

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.

Novinsky Boulevard, 18.

Storefront at Theater Square.

Novospassky Monastery.

The corner of Bolshoi Devyatinsky Pereulok and Novinsky Boulevard.

The view from Vorobyovy Gory.

The newly built main building of Moscow University in the night illumination.

The funeral of Stalin.

Celebration at Manezhnaya (Manege) Square.

Pushkin Square.

The building of the Central Telegraph.

Moscow Zoo.

In the pool of Moscow State University.

Metro station “Park of Culture”.

The second part of photos

Tags:  Moscow city · Soviet past

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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(A New Guide Posted Every Other Wednesday)

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