This takes Cahonas
 

https://theradavist.com/afghanistan-part-i

Not sure how I feel about this. Beautiful scenery, seems like some welcoming MEN…I believe in the inherent good in all mankind… but who’s gonna bail his arse out if something goes wrong?

Even if I could do this ride, I could not do this ride…

Link-ized to that article. I read some of it but it looks too rugged an adventure for me, and that should be cojones in the thread title..

https://theradavist.com/afghanistan-part-i

Gravel riding takes a little bit of cojones but in the end most people are pretty friendly and curious especially riding a bike. Just because a government or terror organization might be present somewhere doesn't mean the people aren't friendly. My biggest fear would be mechanical issues or me getting hurt riding and my not speaking any Afghani languages. I wouldn't fear the worst I would hope for the best.

Sounds like what my European friends say about traveling here in the US, honestly.

This isn't about cojones, it's about a lack of common sense.

The U.S. Department of State gives Afghanistan a travel advisory level 4:

It is my hope that nothing would go wrong, however if something should happen, there should be no expectation for the person's home country or countrymen come to his rescue. You are on your own when you decide to navigate a country driven by a hostile government.
As for the comment on someone's European friends fearing for their safety if they visit the USA, they gotta be weird in some way or another. Maybe conspiracy theorists? There is a Sicilian, two families from Japan, two from England, almost 3 from India, and one from Germany all in my neighborhood and they are all very happy to be here:) Maybe the Midwest is an exception to the big cities. As they say, the Midwest is the best.

I'm not gonna elaborate as it would get us into P&R territory...but this is a hilariously US-centric viewpoint.

Yeah, there is a certain reality that is being ignored. I have lifetime friends who have passed on lucrative promotions in other parts of th US for geographical reasons. One, who worked for Ford, took the job, stuck with it for nearly a year, and then returned to a place in the 21st Century. And I have some Brit friends whom I most likely will never see again.
I would be reluctant to return to the state where I was born, driving my car with California plates.

Ah, well

People from other countries often do not share Americans' views on what makes a society safe. That does not make them weird.

Yep.

Example: decades ago, on a vacation in Tuscany, my wife suffered a medical issue that required a surgical procedure, an overnight stay, and medication. As we were checking out, the hospital administrator asked for our insurance info, and we both burst out laughing -- because we knew the visit would not be covered. Not a dime. We told the person that we'd give her our address for the billing, and she waved us off and said, "If the insurance doesn't cover it, the Italian government will." And that was that.

If I were a European, I'd be concerned about visiting a country (the US) that has a medical system that is a byzantine outlier in the modern industrialized world -- one in which the overnight stay described above could easily cost $10,000. And that's just one concern relating to one of the ways in which the US differs significantly from (almost literally) the entire rest of the developed world.

I would never take the risk the guy did. Good on hm, but have to question his sanity. Hopefully there will be. Part two.

I suffered a concussion in S Africa and an ambulance crew was sent out for an initial assessment, where it was determined I was shaken but not stirred. Then. I started losing vision and another ambulance was sent and I had a ride to a private hospital for a thorough neuro-exam. Spent a few hours in the ER while a neurologist was brought in. Knew that my insurance would not cover it. Was released and told to stay put for two days and watch for worsening symptoms. Luckily I just felt disoriented and the visual hole filled. A month after getting home a bill arrived for the ambulance trips and the ER and neurologist. To say I was nervous opening it was an understatement. The bill was sometthing like $240! Was I ever happy to pay that.

All the worst case scenario stuff aside, I have no interest in cycling around anywhere I can’t freely enjoy alcoholic beverages, or will be unlikely to eat at a table with chairs and silverware. I have seen the maggots in the mind of the universe, and I was not impressed.

Is it 2027 already?

Fascinating link. Thank you for sharing.

From my perspective, it seems like he's taking on similar risk to say an American intelligence officer operating deep behind German lines in WWII or Vietnam or Iran or something. Just without the motive of saving the lives of his countryman!

While I don't condone what he is doing (for his own safety), the pictures and stories he brings back are absolutely stunning because no one else has them. I don't know what the guy does for a living to have time to explore random corners of the world, but with his skill set and testicles, he might fit as a war correspondent for the New York Times or perhaps as a field officer in the CIA.

If he makes it out of Afganistan alive, the CIA should reach out to him. Random American nut cycles across North Korea!

I guess you'll have to restrict your travel to a small percentage of the world, because most people don't eat with silverware.

Insert many a country or place name here ______ - and that bike he is riding is probably worth more than what many of those people will earn in a decade, and the pretty obvious fact that he will have cash, electronics, shoes, clothes...

Add Afghanistan to the mix...

All's it takes is one guy to club you over the head, steal all of your stuff, and leave you stranded.

Play stupid games...

That can happen in Detroit if you take a wrong turn and end up in a wrong hood.

The intentional homicide rate in Afghanistan is about the same as in your state. And I'll bet they don't have as many of those scary ebikes over there, too.

sure - I could get clubbed over the head here, have my bike stolen... but still be in the USA. Where I could call someone to pick me up... get an uber, talk to the police.

You really will argue anything just to argue.

You always find some way to dismiss contradictory viewpoints and facts rather than addressing them directly.

The point is that this assault is not really more likely in Afghanistan, and is probably less likely since property crime (of the sort you're imagining) rates are often lower in majority Muslim countries than in Western countries. And by the way, there are Taxis and police forces in Afghanistan. (Though when have you ever heard of any police, anywhere, recovering a stolen bike?

I know, poor me! I hear those Taliban public executions are really something! It’s just not everyday you get to see a woman stoned to death for adultery…

🤨

Yeah, but you’ll never know the deep, spiritual satisfaction of seeing the thief’s hand cut off.

Because you are trying to argue that riding a bike in Afghanistan is somehow an OK thing to do. There is no point you are making, nothing rational at least. And the other times you "address" me - you are typically cutting 1/2 of what I say or just flat making crap up.

You may have been some sort of professor... whatever. I grew up on the streets - street smarts coming out the wazoo. No way in fark would I ride that bike in the streets where I came from, no no no no way in fark would I ride that bike in Afghanistan - let alone ever step on of my pinky toes into that country. Why? Because I am not stupid.


If you are clubbed over the head in Afghanistan, have all your crap taken... papers, passport, phone, money - well, you would be in a bit of a pickle. If it happens here, and it can - not one person is arguing that... you can walk into a WAWA and call your house.

Tell you what - why don't you go over there and act all know it all, all being, always right... see how it works for you.

What does that have to do with dining with silverware?

Aw, c'mon Chuck, don't give up now! You can do it, Charlie Brown!