{"id":146384,"date":"2017-02-02T13:27:40","date_gmt":"2017-02-02T13:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=146384"},"modified":"2017-02-03T13:06:27","modified_gmt":"2017-02-03T13:06:27","slug":"afghan-freeride-club-meet-downhill-enthusiasts-camp-cobra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/02\/02\/afghan-freeride-club-meet-downhill-enthusiasts-camp-cobra\/","title":{"rendered":"The Afghan Freeride Club: Meet the Downhill Enthusiasts from Camp Cobra"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>\u201cI\u2019ve spent 26 years in the US Army,\u201d says Mark, as we sit at a campfire in an Indian mountain valley. \u201cI started cycling late, as I did with everything. We used to run every morning, and that got boring after twenty years. So I bought a bike at the Army PX store and started riding \u2013 first just to work, but I was stationed in Germany at that time, and there are bike trails that go for days, just following a river and such.\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\n<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cEventually, I was posted to the Baghram air base in Afghanistan,\u201d Mark continues, \u201cand there is an eight-and-a-half-mile loop around the base. I tried to order a bike online, a good one. My first bike was a Kona Unit single-speed bike with hydraulic brakes, I put an eight-speed Alfine internal gear hub on it and I got some smooth tyres. I was riding about a hundred miles a week for several months. I lost a lot of weight doing that and I really enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02288.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-146391\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02288.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1632\" height=\"848\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-146384 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02601.webp'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02601-1024x683.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02601-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02601-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02601-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02601-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02601-272x182.webp 272w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC02601.webp 1631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb13491402.webp'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb13491402-1024x683.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb13491402-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb13491402-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb13491402-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb13491402-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb13491402-272x182.webp 272w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb13491402.webp 1631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cThen I went to a Special Forces Commando training base in the mountains near Kabul. I was leading a thirteen-man team and when at the base, I saw there were peaks all around me. I asked: Does anybody mountain bike around here? No? I guess I could. And I did end up getting stationed out there and I brought my Kona, put an eleven-speed IGH Shimano on it and started biking north and south of the base,\u201d Mark told us.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"secondary-quote\"><p>\u201cI met Mark in Afghanistan,\u201d says Jose. \u201cI was always into photography and I think it is a perfect match to ride up a mountain and take pictures.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWhat is our typical riding session? We need to go at first light, whenever that is,\u201d Jose sighs. \u201cI get up at 4 and get ready to go, we are out the gate at 5. We started going straight up the mountain following the walking tracks. There is also a gravel road, which the Afghan army uses to resupply their guard towers around the base.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode-ys-post-pinup\"><article class=\"loop-simple post-145824 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-ride2unite tag-blog tag-blogs\" data-postid=\"145824\" role=\"article\" data-post-id=\"145824\" data-word-count=\"1301\" data-headline-length=\"58\" data-category=\"#Ride2Unite\" data-author=\"Hera van Willick\" data-published=\"2017-01-02T14:11:31+00:00\" data-published-day=\"Monday\">\n    <div class=\"entry-thumbnail article-thumbnail\" content=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/1331331_31133131-150x150.webp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/01\/02\/travelling-world-hera-van-willick-dripping-south\/\" class=\"image-holder\" target=\"_self\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/1331331_31133131.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/1331331_31133131.webp 900w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/1331331_31133131-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/1331331_31133131-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/1331331_31133131-272x182.webp 272w\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 300px, (min-width: 768px) 25vw, 100vw\" alt=\"travelling-world-hera-van-willick-dripping-south\"\/><\/a><\/div>    <div class=\"entry-meta\">\n        <a class=\"label label-secondary post-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/category\/ride2unite\/\" title=\"#Ride2Unite\">#Ride2Unite<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"entry-details\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/01\/02\/travelling-world-hera-van-willick-dripping-south\/\" class='entry-title-wrapper'>\n            <h3 class=\"entry-title\"><span>Travelling the World with Hera van Willick: Dripping South<\/span><\/h3>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe road used to be in poor condition but now we can use it. We get up, greet an old Afghan named Nakibullah, who guards a cellphone tower, we drink some chai with him and we have different routes down to choose from. There are a lot of steep descents, we like to change it up. We wear elbow pads, knee pads, the whole kit, because there is a lot of loose shale. We also ride tubeless because of nasty thorns from the bushes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/20160714_061438.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-146389\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/20160714_061438.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1632\" height=\"918\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-145824 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/IMG_3507.webp'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/IMG_3507-1024x683.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/IMG_3507-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/IMG_3507-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/IMG_3507-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/IMG_3507-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/IMG_3507-272x182.webp 272w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/IMG_3507.webp 1632w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04722.webp'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04722-1024x683.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04722-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04722-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04722-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04722-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04722-272x182.webp 272w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04722.webp 1631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cBut that is not our main protection,\u201d Mark adds. \u201cWe put together two extra bikes and we started riding with the Slovak Special Forces providing security. On our base, it is the Slovak and the Polish units, rotating. Some of them like to ride so we became friends really fast.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode-ys-post-pinup\"><article class=\"loop-simple post-145943 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-road-cycling tag-democratic-republic-of-congo tag-goma-cycling-club\" data-postid=\"145943\" role=\"article\" data-post-id=\"145943\" data-word-count=\"375\" data-headline-length=\"53\" data-category=\"Road cycling\" data-author=\"Adam Marsal\" data-published=\"2017-01-06T09:28:07+00:00\" data-published-day=\"Friday\">\n    <div class=\"entry-thumbnail article-thumbnail\" content=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/84848858585-150x150.webp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/01\/06\/cycling-peace-democratic-republic-congo\/\" class=\"image-holder\" target=\"_self\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/84848858585.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/84848858585.webp 900w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/84848858585-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/84848858585-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/01\/84848858585-272x182.webp 272w\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 300px, (min-width: 768px) 25vw, 100vw\" alt=\"cycling-peace-democratic-republic-congo\"\/><\/a><\/div>    <div class=\"entry-meta\">\n        <a class=\"label label-secondary post-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/category\/road-cycling\/\" title=\"Road cycling\">Road cycling<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"entry-details\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2017\/01\/06\/cycling-peace-democratic-republic-congo\/\" class='entry-title-wrapper'>\n            <h3 class=\"entry-title\"><span>Cycling for Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo<\/span><\/h3>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAnd what do I ride? I like to build my own bikes, I built the latest one from a Kingdom Hex, which is a titanium frame designed by a British guy living in Copenhagen,\u201d Mark says proudly. \u201cWe get the parts shipped in the Army care packages, then put it together on base.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-145943 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04642.webp'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04642-1024x684.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04642-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04642-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04642-768x513.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04642-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04642-272x182.webp 272w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04642.webp 1630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04182.webp'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04182-1024x683.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04182-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04182-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04182-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04182-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04182-272x182.webp 272w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/DSC04182.webp 1631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/The-Afghan-Crew.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-146403\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/The-Afghan-Crew.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1631\" height=\"1088\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cKabul is a city of almost four million people, so even there you can find some cycling enthusiasts. We linked up with some young Afghans who ride, mostly downhill and enduro,\u201d Jose explains. \u201cSo we ordered some tyres and tubes and gave them a box of spare parts to use, we sponsor them in any way possible. This is mostly what they need, tyres and tubes, because of the way roads are here.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode-ys-post-pinup\"><article class=\"loop-simple post-145636 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-urban-cycling tag-brubakken tag-norway tag-trondheim\" data-postid=\"145636\" role=\"article\" data-post-id=\"145636\" data-word-count=\"168\" data-headline-length=\"38\" data-category=\"Urban cycling\" data-author=\"Angie Ng\" data-published=\"2016-12-16T10:46:51+00:00\" data-published-day=\"Friday\">\n    <div class=\"entry-thumbnail article-thumbnail\" content=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2016\/12\/448487487-150x150.webp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2016\/12\/16\/meet-unique-norways-bicycle-lift\/\" class=\"image-holder\" target=\"_self\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2016\/12\/448487487.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2016\/12\/448487487.webp 900w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2016\/12\/448487487-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2016\/12\/448487487-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2016\/12\/448487487-272x182.webp 272w\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 1200px) 300px, (min-width: 768px) 25vw, 100vw\" alt=\"meet-unique-norways-bicycle-lift\"\/><\/a><\/div>    <div class=\"entry-meta\">\n        <a class=\"label label-secondary post-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/category\/urban-cycling\/\" title=\"Urban cycling\">Urban cycling<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"entry-details\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2016\/12\/16\/meet-unique-norways-bicycle-lift\/\" class='entry-title-wrapper'>\n            <h3 class=\"entry-title\"><span>Meet the Unique Norwegian Bicycle Lift<\/span><\/h3>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/article>\n<\/div>\n<p>They smile and start talking about their adventures in Aladdin Pass, Tajikistan, where they were the first people on bikes. There is still a lot to be told.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-146400\" src=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2017\/02\/p5pb12455217.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1632\" height=\"1056\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Some details were omitted or changed for security reasons.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI\u2019ve spent 26 years in the US Army,\u201d says Mark, as we sit at a campfire in an Indian mountain [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":146410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4142],"tags":[836,837],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-146384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ride2unite","tag-afghanistan","tag-army"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.3 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - 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