Cycling Warfare

"Richard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In light of recent events in Iraq does anybody have any idea if the

British

Quoted message said:

Military have any use for Bicycles in warfare.

I like the idea of a bike with a handlebar mounted missile system to get revenge on the next car
that cuts me up on a roundabout!

"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In light of recent events in Iraq does anybody have any idea if the

British

Quoted message said:

Military have any use for Bicycles in warfare. I know the Americans have several military bike
units. Can anybody tell me if these have been or are being used in the current conflict.
Thanks Richard

I take it you haven't done much riding on sand then?

K

Richard said:

In light of recent events in Iraq does anybody have any idea if the

British

Quoted message said:

Military have any use for Bicycles in warfare. I know the Americans have several military bike
units. Can anybody tell me if these have been or are being used in the current conflict.

Highly unlikely. But I'll tell you one thing: if the military invested a whole load of expensive
research and development into bicycles, 100 years overdue we'd finally have puncture-free tyres
overnight!

--

Scatterbunny ~..~ ( ' )

Scatterbunny said:

Highly unlikely. But I'll tell you one thing: if the military invested a whole load of expensive
research and development into bicycles, 100 years overdue we'd finally have puncture-free tyres
overnight!

Don't need the army for that! Vredestein Dutch Perfect are almost bullet-proof. Heard the other day
that the Swiss have finally disbanded their last bicycle unit, wouldn't know if anybody else still
have any (well, there's a few military bicycle bands left, IIRC)

As for mounting anti car missiles: a smallish flame thrower should really be sufficient, just melt
their tires to the pavement ...

Mark van Gorkom.

Mark van Gorkom said:

Scatterbunny said:

Highly unlikely. But I'll tell you one thing: if the military invested a whole load of expensive
research and development into bicycles, 100 years overdue we'd finally have puncture-free tyres
overnight!

Don't need the army for that! Vredestein Dutch Perfect are almost bullet-proof. Heard the other
day that the Swiss have finally disbanded their last bicycle unit, wouldn't know if anybody else
still have any (well, there's a few military bicycle bands left, IIRC)

Is this true?

I visited the Swiss Expo '02 last year. Think of it as the Millenium Dome exhibition - but done by
the Swiss. So lots of rail transport, and excellent organisation.

At one of the venues there was an exhibition put on by the military. They had bicycles for loan -
sadly I didn't try one. They were really heavy steel framed bikes, with leather saddlebags and the
like. And of course painted green. There was also horse and buggy rides laid on. Pity the poor
squaddie I saw sent out with a shovel and bucket...

I guess I won't contradict you though - it may very well be that the last combat unit is no longer
reliant on bikes. But I seriously doubt if the Swiss Army have totally done away with their bikes.

"Mark van Gorkom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't need the army for that! Vredestein Dutch Perfect are almost bullet-proof.

I'll tentatively second that. Been using them for a month, and it's the longest I've been without a
puncture at this time of year (up here they cut the hawthorn hedges about now which leaves a lovely
coating of sharp thorns on the road - why can't they do something about that?)

Tim

--
Sent from Brum, UK... ...scheduled completion Sept 2003 'What's keeping the White House white? Is it
chalk, is it fog, is it fear?' Steve Skaith, 'America For Beginners' Look, mum, an anorak on a bike!
Check out www.nervouscyclist.org

Now see this, by the left, quick pedal geocities.comatb.htmOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Highly unlikely. But I'll tell you one thing: if the military invested

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

whole load of expensive research and development into bicycles, 100

years

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

overdue we'd finally have puncture-free tyres overnight!

Some years ago, driving cautiously down into Switzerland from, IIRC, the St Bernard pass, we met a squad of Swiss soldiers cycling up.

Their bikes looked like everything you'd expect from the expression "army bicycle" - greenish, heavy, three gears, moustache handlebars.

I'm not surprised Switzerland never gets invaded. These guys must have been tough enough to push a tank over.

Chris Walker

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by John Hearns

BOn Sun said:

Scatterbunny said:

Highly unlikely. But I'll tell you one thing: if the military invested a whole load of expensive
research and development into bicycles, 100 years overdue we'd finally have puncture-free tyres
overnight!

Don't need the army for that! Vredestein Dutch Perfect are almost bullet-proof. Heard the other
day that the Swiss have finally disbanded their last bicycle unit, wouldn't know if anybody else
still have any (well, there's a few military bicycle bands left, IIRC)

Is this true?

I visited the Swiss Expo '02 last year. Think of it as the Millenium Dome exhibition - but done by
the Swiss. So lots of rail transport, and excellent organisation.

At one of the venues there was an exhibition put on by the military. They had bicycles for loan -
sadly I didn't try one. They were really heavy steel framed bikes, with leather saddlebags and the
like. And of course painted green. There was also horse and buggy rides laid on. Pity the poor
squaddie I saw sent out with a shovel and bucket...

I guess I won't contradict you though - it may very well be that the last combat unit is no longer
reliant on bikes. But I seriously doubt if the Swiss Army have totally done away with their bikes. [/B]

"Tim Dunne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mark van Gorkom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't need the army for that! Vredestein Dutch Perfect are almost bullet-proof.

I'll tentatively second that.

Did you see the letter in C+ from a bloke in northern ireland saying his "bomb proof" tyres were in
fact punctured by shrapnell.

"Mark van Gorkom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Don't need the army for that! Vredestein Dutch Perfect are almost bullet-proof.

Tell me more! Do they come in 700x23C?

--

Scatterbunny ~..~ ( ' )

"ChrisW" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Some years ago, driving cautiously down into Switzerland from, IIRC, the St Bernard pass, we met a
squad of Swiss soldiers cycling up.

Their bikes looked like everything you'd expect from the expression "army bicycle" - greenish,
heavy, three gears, moustache handlebars.

I'm not surprised Switzerland never gets invaded. These guys must have been tough enough to push a
tank over.

Of course, if you really want to admire Swiss Army cycling tactics you should read the history of
their tandem & sidecar Gattling gun squads. These three-man teams operated mainly on the St
Gotthard pass, where they could get a good run-up around Lake Lucerne before standing on the pedals
to ascend the pass.

The Gattling gun was mounted on the rear handlebars (obviously raised as high as possible to avoid
shooting the man at the front) and the ammo belt was fed by the man in the sidecar. Unfortunately,
due to the 40-mile downhill run on the other side of the St Gotthard pass, most units ended up in
Italy and couldn't be bothered cycling home, so the whole squadron was scrapped.
--

Scatterbunny ~..~ ( ' )

Wasn't entirely certain; heard it on the radio about one/two months ago. Just checked the Swiss army
newssite <www.armee.ch > and there's a speech about downsizing the army. In short: several elements
will be disbanded entirely, incl. the bicycle batallions (battalions sounds impressive! Imagine
being overrun by a few hundred cyclists wooshing down the nearest alp...). OTOH they'll keep the
mules and horses.

Mark van Gorkom.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Heard the other day that the Swiss have finally disbanded their last bicycle unit, wouldn't know
if anybody else still have any (well, there's a few military bicycle bands left, IIRC)

Is this true?

Quoted message said:

I guess I won't contradict you though - it may very well be that the last combat unit is no longer
reliant on bikes. But I seriously doubt if the Swiss Army have totally done away with their bikes.

"Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I like the idea of a bike with a handlebar mounted missile system to get revenge on the next car
that cuts me up on a roundabout!

I recommend a chinese RPG-7

g2mil.comRPG.htmOpen ↗

definitely not the accessory for the weight-weenies among you. But when you absolutely, positively
MUST show White Van Man who's boss...

-Luigi engage the enemy more closely

In one of Leonard Liggio's lectures on history he recounted the use of bicycles in the invasion of
Singapore and by the N. Viets.

"Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Richard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In light of recent events in Iraq does anybody have any idea if the

British

Quoted message said:

Military have any use for Bicycles in warfare.

I like the idea of a bike with a handlebar mounted missile system to get revenge on the next car
that cuts me up on a roundabout!

Sounds like something straight out of a Bond film; "Now pay attention, 007...." ;-)

David E. Belcher

Dept. of Chemistry, University of York

"Robert Goodman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In one of Leonard Liggio's lectures on history he recounted the use of bicycles in the invasion of
Singapore and by the N. Viets.

Was waiting for someone to bring that up; the uses were very different.

The Japanese used bicycles as a means of infantry transport--(no surprise; the germans did as well)
and were thus able to make exceptional time down the Malayan peninsula.

The North Vietnamese used them as a means of supplying troops; often, bicycles were so laden with
supplies that they were used more as (remarkably efficient) wheelbarrows rather than being ridden.

And somewhere I remember seeing a great picture of an Afghan fighter riding a Raleigh-knockoff
roadster, slinging an RPG, on his way to or from a fight.

-Luigi

(Luigi de Guzman) said:

"Robert Goodman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In one of Leonard Liggio's lectures on history he recounted the use of bicycles in the invasion
of Singapore and by the N. Viets.

Was waiting for someone to bring that up; the uses were very different.

The Japanese used bicycles as a means of infantry transport--(no surprise; the germans did as well)
and were thus able to make exceptional time down the Malayan peninsula.

The North Vietnamese used them as a means of supplying troops; often, bicycles were so laden with
supplies that they were used more as (remarkably efficient) wheelbarrows rather than being ridden.

And somewhere I remember seeing a great picture of an Afghan fighter riding a Raleigh-knockoff
roadster, slinging an RPG, on his way to or from a fight.

-Luigi

Look in Antony Beevor's recent book, "Belin" for pictures of cycling anti-tank patrols. The
pictures show each bike with a Panzerfaust each side of the fork; for transit only. Didn't save
Berlin, though.