Unfortunately these battle ready cyclists aren’t going to be part of a Bridlepath Infringement Rapid Deployment force (B.I.R.D) locked in ceaseless combat with the red socked hordes. You will however find a bewildering amount of hardware and suitably ridiculous acronyms on this site with it’s details of the US LBI (Light Bicycle Infantry) concept.

We have to admit we’d wondered where the monster tyred Hannebrink bikes had gone, so it was nice to see them turning up in the formidable US arsenal, alongside folding bikes from Schwinn and Dahon. Not sure they’d be our personal choice for fronting down a column of rampaging communist T-80 tanks though – all that flex in the mainframe can’t be good for your aim. Still what with Russia going down the pan these troops are probably re-training to fight the Chinese divisions and their infamous Flying Pigeon squadrons (no really, it’s their biggest bike brand). Where’s Muttley when you need him.

Go have a look to brighten up your Friday, and spend the drive to the trailhead at the weekend just thinking how great it would be to parachute straight into your favourite singletrack from the back of a Hercules transport. Now that would be a big drop off.