Balad AB Iraq
01-24-09, 09:21 PM
#1
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Balad AB Iraq
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?
Anyone there or been there lately? Will I be about to train/ride while there?
01-24-09, 10:37 PM
#3
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I was in Northern Iraq from mid 06 to late 07, spending time at just about every FOB/COB/COP whatever north of Baghdad.
When I was there it was crazy traffic, vehicular/air/pedestrian. Its a big base, but I would get something more along the lines of a mtb because you're going to have to stay away from the roads, even the gravel gets crazy thick. The mud is HORRIBLE when it rains, like 3 inches on the bottom of the boot bad. Also, to get from one side of the LSA your going to have to ride along the perimeter. I was never fond of that and I'm Army so I spent all my time outside la casa.
I don't know who, Army wise, is there now, when I was there it was a HBCT so there were lots of tanks and such to make a mess of the roads.
Oh, and it gets mortared like 3 times a day. INCOMING INCOMING
Feel free to email me or PM me.
When I was there it was crazy traffic, vehicular/air/pedestrian. Its a big base, but I would get something more along the lines of a mtb because you're going to have to stay away from the roads, even the gravel gets crazy thick. The mud is HORRIBLE when it rains, like 3 inches on the bottom of the boot bad. Also, to get from one side of the LSA your going to have to ride along the perimeter. I was never fond of that and I'm Army so I spent all my time outside la casa.
I don't know who, Army wise, is there now, when I was there it was a HBCT so there were lots of tanks and such to make a mess of the roads.
Oh, and it gets mortared like 3 times a day. INCOMING INCOMING
Feel free to email me or PM me.
01-24-09, 11:23 PM
#4
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You had to be in close proximity to your gear at least when i was at cmp. anaconda
I heard it's a little more lenient at Balad, but i also heard that if not in duty uniform you were in pt gear and vice versa.
+1 on mtb .. iraq is just a rough place on things and not just the roads. besides, getting mortared in spandex and clips is kinda ....... you get the idea.
I heard it's a little more lenient at Balad, but i also heard that if not in duty uniform you were in pt gear and vice versa.
+1 on mtb .. iraq is just a rough place on things and not just the roads. besides, getting mortared in spandex and clips is kinda ....... you get the idea.
01-25-09, 08:48 AM
#5
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+2 on the MTB. Im scheduled to either go to Balad or Afghanistan in June. Either way I'm probably taking my beater MTB. One thing to consider is that folks often buy/ship bikes and then leave them to avoid shipping them back.
01-25-09, 10:51 AM
#9
Jet Jockey
I was in Northern Iraq from mid 06 to late 07, spending time at just about every FOB/COB/COP whatever north of Baghdad.
When I was there it was crazy traffic, vehicular/air/pedestrian. Its a big base, but I would get something more along the lines of a mtb because you're going to have to stay away from the roads, even the gravel gets crazy thick. The mud is HORRIBLE when it rains, like 3 inches on the bottom of the boot bad. Also, to get from one side of the LSA your going to have to ride along the perimeter. I was never fond of that and I'm Army so I spent all my time outside la casa.
I don't know who, Army wise, is there now, when I was there it was a HBCT so there were lots of tanks and such to make a mess of the roads.
Oh, and it gets mortared like 3 times a day. INCOMING INCOMING
Feel free to email me or PM me.
When I was there it was crazy traffic, vehicular/air/pedestrian. Its a big base, but I would get something more along the lines of a mtb because you're going to have to stay away from the roads, even the gravel gets crazy thick. The mud is HORRIBLE when it rains, like 3 inches on the bottom of the boot bad. Also, to get from one side of the LSA your going to have to ride along the perimeter. I was never fond of that and I'm Army so I spent all my time outside la casa.
I don't know who, Army wise, is there now, when I was there it was a HBCT so there were lots of tanks and such to make a mess of the roads.
Oh, and it gets mortared like 3 times a day. INCOMING INCOMING
Feel free to email me or PM me.
I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but...
The advantage of air bases, vice army posts, is the large geography. Air bases have to contain two two-mile long runways with a mile between them, plus all the other stuff; rampspace, support functions, living quarters, etc. That's a lot of land. And the mortars aren't "aimed", save for in the general direction of the base.
I was sitting alert one day, and I was bored, so I did some calculating. I figured the number of mortars, the frag radius, and the approximate numbers that were duds. I then, assuming an "un-aimed" shot, calculated my odds of getting hit on the large land area of that base. Highter than the odds of getting hit by lightning, but not exceptionally high. After that, I used the "incoming" alarm as a chance to get the coffee shop (no lines!) or once or twice to take a hot shower (no lines equals hot water!).
The fact that on my final day there a mortar impacted right next to the alert shack I was in and peppered the side with shrapnel may be karmic in nature...
The only real riding you can do is on the perimeter road (not that bad, actually) and on some of the more finished parts of base. Getting to lots of things, including living quarters, often involves a hike in pea-gravel covered peanut butter dirt. Traffic can be lawless congestion...though I'm confused why jacks thinks the air traffic will effect your riding.
I didn't try to ride while I was there...too busy anyway...but a MTB could serve you well. Maybe a cross bike.
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Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
Last edited by Banzai; 01-25-09 at 10:59 AM.
01-25-09, 11:18 AM
#11
Jet Jockey
SoreFeet,
I've never supported the Iraq war, and I do believe that we acted both amorally and illegally; and I am a veteran of this "operation".
That being said, the OP doesn't really have much of a choice, nor did I. You do what you can, and you try to do the best you can in a bad, bad situation.
Beyond that, he was writing about riding on base. He won't be riding "centuries with the locals" or any such thing.
I refrained from interjecting my own very strong opinions about this war...you can refrain from putting the OPs life expectancy in doubt.
I don't think you know what I would give for an effective and competent anti-war movement. A movement with a broadly organized base that consistently makes the mature, moral, and well-reasoned arguments that are abundant for ending this occupation. A movement that would have stopped it in the first place. Saying things like that, however, sounds both petty and shrill, and undermines the credibility of such a movement.
I've never supported the Iraq war, and I do believe that we acted both amorally and illegally; and I am a veteran of this "operation".
That being said, the OP doesn't really have much of a choice, nor did I. You do what you can, and you try to do the best you can in a bad, bad situation.
Beyond that, he was writing about riding on base. He won't be riding "centuries with the locals" or any such thing.
I refrained from interjecting my own very strong opinions about this war...you can refrain from putting the OPs life expectancy in doubt.
I don't think you know what I would give for an effective and competent anti-war movement. A movement with a broadly organized base that consistently makes the mature, moral, and well-reasoned arguments that are abundant for ending this occupation. A movement that would have stopped it in the first place. Saying things like that, however, sounds both petty and shrill, and undermines the credibility of such a movement.
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Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
Last edited by Banzai; 01-25-09 at 11:28 AM.
01-25-09, 12:09 PM
#12
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Let's not turn this into another morality thread. There are plenty of forums here and other places to talk about how Iraq was such a lovely place before we went in there.
All politics aside, I'm going back there again this summer and I'm building up a beater road bike specifically for this trip. I'm not sure if you can ride the perimeter yet (you couldn't the last time I was there) but I should be able to do a ton of laps around the perimeter of H-6 and ride to-from the squadron. When the weather turns foul (it's the dry season, don't expect it to be too bad) I'm also mailing over a cheap trainer to ride indoors with. Yeah, I'll have to wear the standard USAF PT gear, but I'll bring some cycling shorts to wear under the USAF ones. I might use some MTB SPD/platform pedals so I can walk the bike to-from the paved surfaces off of the gravel and dirt that covers 99% of the base.
I'm only going for three months, but it's right smack dab in the middle of the season and I'd like to try and keep some of my fitness for the late season races after I get back.
All politics aside, I'm going back there again this summer and I'm building up a beater road bike specifically for this trip. I'm not sure if you can ride the perimeter yet (you couldn't the last time I was there) but I should be able to do a ton of laps around the perimeter of H-6 and ride to-from the squadron. When the weather turns foul (it's the dry season, don't expect it to be too bad) I'm also mailing over a cheap trainer to ride indoors with. Yeah, I'll have to wear the standard USAF PT gear, but I'll bring some cycling shorts to wear under the USAF ones. I might use some MTB SPD/platform pedals so I can walk the bike to-from the paved surfaces off of the gravel and dirt that covers 99% of the base.
I'm only going for three months, but it's right smack dab in the middle of the season and I'd like to try and keep some of my fitness for the late season races after I get back.
01-25-09, 12:14 PM
#14
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SoreFeet,
I've never supported the Iraq war, and I do believe that we acted both amorally and illegally; and I am a veteran of this "operation".
That being said, the OP doesn't really have much of a choice, nor did I. You do what you can, and you try to do the best you can in a bad, bad situation.
Beyond that, he was writing about riding on base. He won't be riding "centuries with the locals" or any such thing.
I refrained from interjecting my own very strong opinions about this war...you can refrain from putting the OPs life expectancy in doubt.
I don't think you know what I would give for an effective and competent anti-war movement. A movement with a broadly organized base that consistently makes the mature, moral, and well-reasoned arguments that are abundant for ending this occupation. A movement that would have stopped it in the first place. Saying things like that, however, sounds both petty and shrill, and undermines the credibility of such a movement.
I've never supported the Iraq war, and I do believe that we acted both amorally and illegally; and I am a veteran of this "operation".
That being said, the OP doesn't really have much of a choice, nor did I. You do what you can, and you try to do the best you can in a bad, bad situation.
Beyond that, he was writing about riding on base. He won't be riding "centuries with the locals" or any such thing.
I refrained from interjecting my own very strong opinions about this war...you can refrain from putting the OPs life expectancy in doubt.
I don't think you know what I would give for an effective and competent anti-war movement. A movement with a broadly organized base that consistently makes the mature, moral, and well-reasoned arguments that are abundant for ending this occupation. A movement that would have stopped it in the first place. Saying things like that, however, sounds both petty and shrill, and undermines the credibility of such a movement.
01-25-09, 12:18 PM
#15
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Let's not turn this into another morality thread. There are plenty of forums here and other places to talk about how Iraq was such a lovely place before we went in there.
All politics aside, I'm going back there again this summer and I'm building up a beater road bike specifically for this trip. I'm not sure if you can ride the perimeter yet (you couldn't the last time I was there) but I should be able to do a ton of laps around the perimeter of H-6 and ride to-from the squadron. When the weather turns foul (it's the dry season, don't expect it to be too bad) I'm also mailing over a cheap trainer to ride indoors with. Yeah, I'll have to wear the standard USAF PT gear, but I'll bring some cycling shorts to wear under the USAF ones. I might use some MTB SPD/platform pedals so I can walk the bike to-from the paved surfaces off of the gravel and dirt that covers 99% of the base.
I'm only going for three months, but it's right smack dab in the middle of the season and I'd like to try and keep some of my fitness for the late season races after I get back.
All politics aside, I'm going back there again this summer and I'm building up a beater road bike specifically for this trip. I'm not sure if you can ride the perimeter yet (you couldn't the last time I was there) but I should be able to do a ton of laps around the perimeter of H-6 and ride to-from the squadron. When the weather turns foul (it's the dry season, don't expect it to be too bad) I'm also mailing over a cheap trainer to ride indoors with. Yeah, I'll have to wear the standard USAF PT gear, but I'll bring some cycling shorts to wear under the USAF ones. I might use some MTB SPD/platform pedals so I can walk the bike to-from the paved surfaces off of the gravel and dirt that covers 99% of the base.
I'm only going for three months, but it's right smack dab in the middle of the season and I'd like to try and keep some of my fitness for the late season races after I get back.
01-25-09, 12:23 PM
#16
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Stay safe, dude.
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01-25-09, 12:50 PM
#17
Jet Jockey
Chuckie has good points about the dry season. I was there during wet season, and that formed my entire picture of the base in my memory.
Also, platforms would be a good idea.
I wasn't aware that you couldn't ride the perimeter road when I was there...but I didn't make an attempt to ride, so there is that. Chuckie also makes a good point about the perimeter of H-6. That's a slightly more "finished" area, at least as far as the roads are concerned.
Also, platforms would be a good idea.
I wasn't aware that you couldn't ride the perimeter road when I was there...but I didn't make an attempt to ride, so there is that. Chuckie also makes a good point about the perimeter of H-6. That's a slightly more "finished" area, at least as far as the roads are concerned.
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Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
01-25-09, 01:05 PM
#18
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I'll echo everything said here. I'm a primadonna fighter pilot...not an Army guy, but the comments written are 100% accurate. The mud is like walking in peanut butter...but the good news is that after you walk 100 yards you're 3 inches taller!
I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but...
The advantage of air bases, vice army posts, is the large geography. Air bases have to contain two two-mile long runways with a mile between them, plus all the other stuff; rampspace, support functions, living quarters, etc. That's a lot of land. And the mortars aren't "aimed", save for in the general direction of the base.
I was sitting alert one day, and I was bored, so I did some calculating. I figured the number of mortars, the frag radius, and the approximate numbers that were duds. I then, assuming an "un-aimed" shot, calculated my odds of getting hit on the large land area of that base. Highter than the odds of getting hit by lightning, but not exceptionally high. After that, I used the "incoming" alarm as a chance to get the coffee shop (no lines!) or once or twice to take a hot shower (no lines equals hot water!).
The fact that on my final day there a mortar impacted right next to the alert shack I was in and peppered the side with shrapnel may be karmic in nature...
The only real riding you can do is on the perimeter road (not that bad, actually) and on some of the more finished parts of base. Getting to lots of things, including living quarters, often involves a hike in pea-gravel covered peanut butter dirt. Traffic can be lawless congestion...though I'm confused why jacks thinks the air traffic will effect your riding. I didn't try to ride while I was there...too busy anyway...but a MTB could serve you well. Maybe a cross bike.
I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but...
The advantage of air bases, vice army posts, is the large geography. Air bases have to contain two two-mile long runways with a mile between them, plus all the other stuff; rampspace, support functions, living quarters, etc. That's a lot of land. And the mortars aren't "aimed", save for in the general direction of the base.
I was sitting alert one day, and I was bored, so I did some calculating. I figured the number of mortars, the frag radius, and the approximate numbers that were duds. I then, assuming an "un-aimed" shot, calculated my odds of getting hit on the large land area of that base. Highter than the odds of getting hit by lightning, but not exceptionally high. After that, I used the "incoming" alarm as a chance to get the coffee shop (no lines!) or once or twice to take a hot shower (no lines equals hot water!).
The fact that on my final day there a mortar impacted right next to the alert shack I was in and peppered the side with shrapnel may be karmic in nature...
The only real riding you can do is on the perimeter road (not that bad, actually) and on some of the more finished parts of base. Getting to lots of things, including living quarters, often involves a hike in pea-gravel covered peanut butter dirt. Traffic can be lawless congestion...though I'm confused why jacks thinks the air traffic will effect your riding.
I didn't try to ride while I was there...too busy anyway...but a MTB could serve you well. Maybe a cross bike.Also, most of the spots I was in had perimeters that were either in the city or had excellent views into it from surrounding buildings. Hooray!
Balad is alright though, lots of AF guys, and its in the "middle of nowhere-ish"
Most importantly guys, stay safe.
Last edited by jacksonhandy; 01-25-09 at 03:52 PM. Reason: You know, OPSEC and such.
01-25-09, 01:24 PM
#19
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Balad-been there done that
Hi,
Been to Balad last Jan through May. You don't need to bring a bike. They can be rented from MWR or BX.
I did not ride while there but did Spin class 3x per week. Lots of running, weight lifting. Keep me in good shape for riding. It was actually good to get a break from the bike and do something different.
Be careful and stay safe.
DM
Been to Balad last Jan through May. You don't need to bring a bike. They can be rented from MWR or BX.
I did not ride while there but did Spin class 3x per week. Lots of running, weight lifting. Keep me in good shape for riding. It was actually good to get a break from the bike and do something different.
Be careful and stay safe.
DM
01-25-09, 06:41 PM
#21
Share the road.
I was there for about 8 months ago and I had a 20" bmx shipped to my off ebay. You shouldn't expect to find parts for your bike like tubes, tures, seats, etc. And you aren't supposed to ride on the perimeter roads. I was going back this January, but my orders were cancelled. I bought a folder and put it in an "A" bag, so I could have it soon as I hit the ground. I had to take it all the way apart to fit in the bag.
