You’re not likely to be going to Ukraine any time soon, but that will change one day, and I’d recommend it as a touring destination. It can be a bit challenging in some respects, but although visiting cyclists are quite a novelty the welcome will be extremely warm and friendly. The West of the country has been relatively unscathed by the hostilities, on a bike you’ll be away from the major cities enjoying the traditional Ukrainian culture.
Roads
Entering from Poland or Romania, the first thing that strikes you is that the roads tend to be straight. Completely disregarding the geography, instead of following the contours they just go straight up and down the hills. This can be quite taxing on a bike.
The continental weather — cold, icy winters, hot summers — takes a toll on the roads. Major roads have a big dip and hump at the edge where you need to cycle, caused by heavy lorries pushing up the tarmac in the heat. Minor roads are massively broken up by the ice in the winter.
Sustenance
Avoid the tourist menu, it will be frozen, bland and expensive. Ask for the local menu — typical Ukrainian food is of course heavily based on potatoes, beetroot and lots of fresh vegetables but it’s not bland. Don’t miss Ukrainian Borscht, available with or without meat.
Look out for Roshen Chocolate, a company owned by the ex-president Petro Poroshenko, it produces the best chocolate in the whole of Eastern Europe and is exceptionally good.
Sights
Ukraine has a long and illustrious history, there’s plenty to see, but do your homework before coming, it’s easy to miss some amazing stuff.
