I have launched myself into the post-parenting part of my life with a vengeance, and biking is part of that adventure. I'm a teacher and a journalist and independent. I've never participated in a cyber-community before, so I'm not sure how to interact and what to expect. Anyway, in a few weeks I'm off to Syria for a year, and I wonder about biking in a Middle East country.

Boulder to Syria is pretty extreme. You will be dreaming of Pearl Street in no time.

Extreme? You must be joking ;-) Cycling anywhere away from the house should be considered an adventure :-) In a previous life, I found the middle east the be full of very hospitable and generous people. Now there are some crazies there - as there are in Canada and the USA.

While the north american media focuses on the suicide bombers etc in the middle east, there are plenty of anti-bicycle motorists verging on (or even practicing) different levels of road-rage/aggression HERE in north america. Heresey?? Nope, just a basic FACT. The north american media unfortunately ignores these members of north american 'society' to a large extent, and instead focuses on the suicide bombers. Danger everywhere - even at home.

All the best in the middle east. Wear sunscreen and large hats. Cover your skin. Take LOTS of H2O and be careful. Oh yes, take lomotil with you - you WILL need it ;-)

Ken
Canada

??? If you're implying that I suggested anybody was getting blowed up, I was not. I was just saying cushy Boulder and Syria seem like they'd be polar opposites. Texas and Syria might be similar, but maybe that's just my heat-phobia talking.

welcome to syria .
we have wonderfull places for mountain biking and im sure u will enjoy it .
we r group of bikers, we go on trip every friday and saturday .
hope u will have nice stay in syria

Google is so much fun. I entered SYRIA BICYCLE. I found a listing for a video made while the cyclist rode around in Damascus for 90 minutes. The filmer was not pleased with locally made bikes, bring your own. Wikitravel.org said it was a bike-sized country but traffic was bad and drivers aggressive and underskilled for the most part. I lived in Turkey for two years in the late 1960s and wearing colorful spandex would have gotten a female is incredible trouble very quickly. Watch what you wear and how you behave. I would not recommend that you go anywhere alone. Check with the US State Department before you go and register with the US Embassey when you get there.

This introduction thread was posted 9 months ago.

Welcome and have great adventures in Syria.

Peace.
Eric