a bicycle of war

[Tumbleweed]

found this in a story about the congo pullback from the associated press:

 

"?In the last two days, soldiers could be seen walking away from Kanyabayonga, which rebels had advanced to but not taken. But on Wednesday, many appeared to be walking back with reinforcements, pushing some supplies on bicycles made entirely of wood?"

 

here's the pic that shows it:

 

[Tumbleweed]

another bike in the same warzone. a trader at a coal market in eastern congo:

[Thug]

Campag or Shimano ?

 

 

[Square-circles]

Price? Couch?

[Tumbleweed]

Campag or Shimano ?

 

woodn't want to hazard a guess.

[Napalm]

That's nothing.... in the battle of Dien Bien Phu,  the Vietnamese had cycled in their artillery, so much so that it outnumbered the French by 8 to 1.  After chasing out the Monguls, Chinese, French they then proceeded to kick the US' ass.

 

[TNOSE_E]

Cedar....

[Thug]

 

Cedar....

 

You sure ?

 

Could have sworn it was Maple.

 

[dirtrider]

In western Tanzania these wooden bikes are all over the place . They are made from Wattle trees .

[Canaris]

In the DRC, especially Goma, Bukavu and Uvira, you can catch bicycle taxi's.  You sit on the carrier on the back, and the taxi peddlar cycles you around.  Motor cars are few and far.

[dirtrider]

a Bike Taxi .

 

[Tumbleweed]

let's not forget the original bicycles of war?

[Canaris]

bicycle were first used in war by the Americans in Cuba (as transport and crowd protection).

 

They were then organised and used in a conventional war in the Anglo Boer war by both sides.  Danie Theron was the first to come up with tyre liners.  He convinced Kruger to set up a bicycle corps by proving that the bicycle was faster than a horse in a race.

 

 

 

O yes, remember the military mtb race on saterday 22 Nov 09 (Shameless plug for my clubs race) Entries will be taken at the event (if you ask nicely)

 

THe rain has washed out some of the "very easy" bits.  Now described as "not so easy, but still easy".

[bored girl]

and there's Francois Theron's uncle story.... think Ride had something on it in the past and then I read it on the weekend in the latest Cyclingnews...

 

oops Kona....I didn't see you mentioned it...

bored girl2008-11-20 01:33:56

[Danger Dassie]

Bianchi even make a military bicycle.... Even the bikes we ride for recreation make use of materials originally developed for use in the military. Strange world eh

[Tumbleweed]

http://www.military-bike.de/paratrooper-animation.gif