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.

You Might Also Like

Trekking Baikal
  • January 01, 2011

Trekking Baikal

Winter offers unique travel opportunities to Russia, particularly when it comes to Siberia. For instance, how about a trek across the world’s largest freshwater lake? Or ice skating atop crystal clear waters, then enjoying a searing banya...?
Of Rivers, Mines, and a Lake
  • September 11, 2017

Of Rivers, Mines, and a Lake

Two days in Irkutsk and one on Baikal, where we meet a soft-spoken mechanic and visit two very different tourist destinations.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
93 Untranslatable Russian Words

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
The Samovar Murders

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955