Blade-Runner

I'm headed there next month and thinking about buying/taking a cyclocross bike with me for the deployment.

Anyone there or been there lately? Will I be about to train/ride while there?

mrtornadohead

I have no idea of what to bring, but I just wish you the best while you are there. Looking forward to your safe return, too.

rugerben

Thank you so much BR for your service to our country. We are forever in your debt.

bassplayinbiker

Make sure to bring as many tubes and other perishables as possible. I dont know about the LBS situation over there.

Good Luck!

xfitf16pilot

Anyone know anyone selling a bike at Balad Air Base in Iraq?? I show up in early May.

email me directly james@fighterpilotfitness.com

RonH

BR, why not post this in the General Cycling forum? They get a lot more traffic so you may get a few replies with riding details.

Blade-Runner

There is a number of "classifieds" here, but no one has or is selling any bikes with buying. They are all the type you can buy at Wal-Mart (sold by AAFES here).

If I had to do it all over again I would have brought (flown here with) a cyclocross bike.

I'm still playing around with the idea I having a cyclocross bike mailed/shipped here to me. I'm currntly filling the cycling void with spin class every night.

Blade-Runner

I did, very few people replied to it and it got pushed back/away by other posts.

jnorto06

Hey, Im currently in TQ, Iraq. Dont waste your money on bringing a bike over here. It will get destroyed. Look for a bike on base they are always laying around when people leave. I found my self a TREK 820 mtb that I use, all im waiting on is my pedals and couple small upgrades. to train with. Will you get time to train, it depends on your mission but you should have plenty of time I run 2-6 miles a day 5 days a week and bike any where from 30-75 mins a day with plenty of left over time. get used to being bored my friend. Hit me up on private message. If you have more questions about iraq just ask i will tell you what i can.

Banzai

A cross bike could serve you well...but whether it's worth the expense is up to you. The roads are atrocious, and in some areas the army drivers on them are as dangerous as anything else you may encounter there. You can ride the perimeter road, depending on what security edicts have been passed.

Getting the bike to and from your bunk and/or other places will be a lot like cyclocross, actually. In many areas the ground has been covered in pea gravel...a pain to walk on and impossible to ride through. The pea gravel was put down, however, to keep you from trudging through the dirt...which turns to mud in rainy season. The mud is like peanut butter the way it sticks to things, and after walking 100 yards through it you're practically six inches taller with the platform boots you've grown on that trek.

There are cheap, crappy AAFES bikes available.

Out of curiosity, how did you propose getting an entire bicycle there and back?

Banzai

I just caught up on everything else, and realized that you're already there! Pardon my apparently poor reading comprehension!