A Syrian team establishes the “Sky Bike” project to be the first in the Arab world

In a project that is the first of its kind in Syria and the Arab world, and the seventh in the world, the “Sky Bike” project was born in the countryside of Lattakia by a team of young Syrians who fought on the corner of the dream to realize their project.

110 young people brought together by the spirit of life to be the motto of their team. They proved that there is no limit to dreams and no ceiling to passion, where the will of young people can adapt life and achieve the difficult possible that some think impossible.

With self-financing and efforts and without any support from any party, the “Spirit of Syria” team was able to complete its own “Sky Bike” project after 20 months of continuous work, with the challenges it went through that did not break the team’s determination, but rather made it stronger and more determined to make the dream a reality.

Skybike is the sport of rowing on a rope by bicycle, in which the bike travels between two cables, up and down, on the principle of a railway track.

The “Sky Bike” project is completely safe, according to what confirms to “Sputnik”, the leader of the “Spirit of Syria” team, Captain Ali Esper, noting that all international standards have been adopted to implement this project accurately and professionally, to give the participant a sense of safety as well as the pleasure of experiencing this project. The experience is in the midst of a beautiful pristine nature.

With a short and enjoyable trip, the participant rides his bike suspended between heaven and earth from the shoulder of a hill in the village of (Al-Tariqiya) in the countryside of Lattakia to pass over the beautiful Lake (Mashqita) and then enters a pine forest 40 meters deep.

Esper refers to the preparation of the cable that carries the bicycle in terms of height so that any boat passes under the cable, no matter how high the level of the lake, pointing out that the site is served with all logistical needs.

Regarding safety standards and technical information, Esper explained that the length of the cables used in the “Sky Bike” is 250 meters, and withstands a tensile value of 40 tons. The joint and the bike on the cable are European, and the joint mounting equipment is independent of the bike mounting equipment consisting of harnes, buckles, pulleys and a climbing rope.

Esper shows that the “Skybike” bike differs in its shape and specifications from the regular bike, as it is intended for such a sport and is fixed with pulleys and cable and with a special mounting bracket, and the wheels are designed for walking on the cable and bear all weights.

The measures taken by those responsible for the Skybike project are deemed sufficient by Esper, but the team, despite its conviction, will provide the participant with an extra life jacket to wear during the experiment in case the lake level rises in the winter.

Esper indicated that there are two medical points at the beginning and end of the cables, where, before participating in the experiment, the participant is subjected to a quick medical examination of oxygen, pressure and weight, giving the necessary instructions and equipping him with safety equipment, pointing out that despite the bike bearing all weights and ages, but in compliance with international standards, a standard was adopted that The weight of the participant ranges between 45-110 kilograms, and his age is between 16-65 years.

Esper explained that it is not necessary for the participant to be proficient in riding the bike on the ground or balance to be able to experience the experience because the bike is designed and installed so that it does not require previous experience of riding or balancing on regular bikes.

As an individual project, “Sky Bike” faced several challenges and difficulties, which Esper summarized by referring first to the sanctions on Syria, which made it difficult for the team to secure the supplies and equipment required to implement the project, especially since it is of European origin, pointing out also to the high exchange rate against the dollar, which made the cost of importing equipment more than double the team.

Not to mention the closure due to the spread of the “Corona” pandemic, as Esper explained that the launch of the “Sky Bike” project was scheduled for 2020, but due to the closure of Corona and the economic blockade and the consequent difficult economic conditions, its launch was postponed for the current year after we were able to secure all The equipment and we installed it with a strong will that was stronger than the siege and attempts to stifle the Syrian youth.

The “Sky Bike” project goes beyond the limits of the dream of the team that believes in its ability to achieve its dreams in light of the difficult reality, as well as the limits of the financial benefit of the team members, to be in the field of developing rural areas through the implementation of such projects that attract many lovers of these activities and introduce environmental and forest sites Encouraging visiting it and emphasizing its protection and respect for nature, in addition to providing job opportunities for the people of the surrounding villages by working within the service facilities of the project.

An adventurous and enchanting experience among the beautiful nature mixed between water and forests, this is how the visitors of the “Sky Bike” project described their unforgettable experience, as Ruba Harfouche told “Sputnik”: a new and distinctive project that will attract tourism to this remote area. But she has a charming nature.

In turn, Maya Ahmed said: At first I felt some fear, but it quickly faded when the bike started walking on the cable, and adds: An exciting and beautiful experience, especially when you enter a pine forest to feel as if you are uniting with nature, I feel happy and proud to achieve such a project in Syria, which deserves To combine the mysteries of its beautiful nature, such as these advanced tourism projects.

Ahmed called on everyone to try “Sky Bike” and to circulate such experiences to more than one geographical spot in Syria to revive the tourism sector and take advantage of the beautiful nature that Syria enjoys.

As Adel Esber described the project as safe, he based his evaluation on his knowledge of the equipment, the way the bike runs, and the reaction of his predecessors to his experience before participating, and he added: We thank the Soria Spirit team for implementing the “Sky Bike” and giving us live this exciting experience.

The dream of the “Soul of Syria” team does not stop at the borders of “Skybike” in its current form, but rather transcends it to a broader horizon that befits the youth’s passion and mastery of their will. One, and next to “Sky Bike”, the team’s dream draws the features of the “Zip Line” project, which is to glide on ropes between mountains full of beauty and magic.