[IRONCLAD]

I am a bike rider here in Iraq.

Here is a picture of me on my bike and ready for combat.



This picture was taken just before a mission. Instead of walking to my Gun truck, I ride my bike to her.

So far, I had to replace:

1. I'm on my second seat.
2. I'm on my third tire.
3. I'm on my second back wheel
4. I'm on my fifth chain
5. I'm on my second sprocket.
6. I'm on my third bike tube.

I've had this bike since July of this year and it's been down more days then the days I've rode it. This bike is an Iraqi bike and it should have went to bike heaven, but I needed a bike and the Iraqi teens went home and brought me this one.
Yes, I could have gotten rid of the bike, but it's part of a story now and I can't get rid of it now.
Plus, I may just ship this bike home when I'm finished here.

Here's the amount I've sent on it since I've owned it.

1. $90. - buying the bike used.
2. $25. - new seat.
3. $35. - new tire and wheel.
4. $15. - new tire and tube.
5. $10. - new chain.
6. $20. - repairs
7. $15. - bike helmet
total: $210.

Wow, this was the first I put this amount together and I've bought a lemon.
BTW - the bike is back in the shop tonight, due to a chain breaking again. That will not cost me anything this go around.

This picture is of the Iraq teens and me.

[Xela]

Wow! Great to have you! Thank you for what you do!

[Grape Ape]

Sweet bike. If it were me, I would hand it off to whoever replaced me and buy a new one when I got home. Sounds like that one would nickel and dime you to death.

[mtndoc]

Bring the bike home, put it in the shelf so you can look at it....then go out and get a new one...

Welcome to Two Spoke.....

DrB

[TxCyclist]

Great story. I assume bikes are real popular in Iraq?

[IRONCLAD]

Thanks folks for the warm welcome.
Dean - Not really, well at least what I've seen.

[Smiley]

Hey and welcome! Thanks for all that you are doing for our country! Great pictures, thanks for sharing your story with us.

[IRONCLAD]

Well, I'm now up to $240 on repairs with my bike here.
I was also told I need lights on the front and back of my bike if I want to continue to ride my bike in the dark.

I lost another back tire during Chirstmas, so I was without for a couple of days. Now, I'm just waiting on my lights to come in from the town next to us here.

Just a couple of days ago, we had an I.E.D. blow up next to one of our gun trucks. No one hurt and no real damage came to the gun truck, so we were able to roll soon after.
So far our "convoy set" has conducted over 25 missions and we only had three attacks to our "set". We came out looking good all three times.....knocking on wood.
Bad guys "0" Good guys "1" - meaning out of the three attacks, we were able to kill one of the enemy by an unmanned plane.

[CTD50]

Man, I'd like to yank the bike I gave my ungrateful brother out from under his creaky @$$ and send it straight to you! As it sits right now, it's probably worth about $700; X.7, 9-speed rear, disc front, full suss, sized for a six-footer.

It would be the least I could do for what you do.

From an old soldier to a new one....

[IRONCLAD]

CTD50 - Hey thanks, that's sure means a lot. I am about to go home anyways. I was riding the bike today from the motor pool and I shifted to a lower gear to climb a hill and the gears on the back tire within to the back spokes and tore the hell out of the gear box. The bike is down again, but in three days the iraqi teens will have back up again. I think in the six months I had the bike, I'm at break down number 16.
I don't get mad about it anymore, I just laugh and took it to the shop. Everyone here can't wait to hear that bike is down again.... it's like a running joke.