February 21, 2023

Riding through Russia


Riding through Russia
Ziganshina at a stop on her route. RIA Novosti, Tatyana Ziganshina

Tatyana Ziganshina, a Russian female motorcyclist, set a world record for riding from Magadan to Mirny across permafrost in 2022. The nearly 2,000-mile journey gifted her the ride of a lifetime in just ten days.

Her first trip was around 124 miles, from Nakhodka to Ussuriysk. In an interview with RIA Novosti, Ziganshina saw her motorcycle as an extension of herself, believing that she and her bike are one together. "The air seems to pass through me. The floral aroma intoxicates me..."

She claims that no man-made architecture can beat what nature has to offer. From the Caucasus Mountains to Lake Baikal, she was endlessly fascinated by the Russian landscape. "In Moscow, I realized that because of modern technology, one can deteriorate. Now, everything is done for us: cleaning, washing, one doesn't even have to visit the store, there are delivery options. But when I travel, I go back to the basics. I maintain my equipment, I cook for myself."

Upon returning from her solo journey, Ziganshina says she was a different person. She became more in tune with her body riding independently across the country, even noticing that her priorities and tastes evolved. Although she had a support system of friends who were always in touch with her, she was forced to overcome obstacles single-handedly: sluggishly riding through sand, experiencing technical difficulties, and encountering bears on three separate occasions.

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