Ride Report - 23rd Feb. 2008 - By Ariel
יצאנו 18 רוכבים ביום אביבי יפה מחניון המשביר לסיבוב מקומי.
הכיוון מערב והדגש - לראות את פריחת האירוסים ליד קיבוץ יקום. במעבר פסי הרכבת פתאום שיחת טלפון - דניאל חבר הקבוצה מבקש להמתין לו במקום. אז המתנו. (מי רוצה ליפול בידים של רופא נקמן...)
בתחילה יצאנו למסלול "עוקף בוץ" בדרכנו לקיבוץ שפיים ואכן לא נתקלנו בבעיות . עברנו בשדות פורחים והירוק שולט.
אחרי שחלפנו ליד שטחי הגולף של יקום עברנו בסינגל קצרצר שעובר במרכז חורשת אקליפטוסים קטנה. נחמד, אך היינו מעדיפים לדווש בכזה מסלול לאורך קילומטרים רבים...
הפעם לא נכנסנו לשמורת הטבע שליד קיבוץ שפיים והמשכנו צפונה, עברנו את הגשר ליד קפה בונו ביקום וזזנו הלאה לא לפני גיחה קצרה לחנות אופניים חדשה שנפתחה במקום.
כאן חברי הקבוצה תפסו יוזמה והחלו לנווט עצמאית לגבעת האירוסים ליד יקום. אין פחד - כולם הגיעו לחזות בנפלאות האירוסים השחורים.
בדרך חזרה עברנו במסלול יפה ליד הקיבוץ משובץ גם הוא באירוסים.
הדרך היתה כבר מלאה במכשולי בוץ שבדרך כלל חצינו בהצלחה למעט אדריאן שרצה לבצע בדיקת עומק של שלולית שרישומה נראה בוודאי בגלריה שדיויד צילם.
את הפינלה עשינו בבית קפה ברישפון
נתראה בשבוע הבא ברכיבה מאתגרת בקיבוץ רעים.
Ride Report - 16th Feb. 2008 - By Ted
Apart from the predictable cold, the start of the ride was nothing unusual unless of course you wish to mention the glaring absence of the Cyclenix elders. All had good reason and they won’t be held to account.
The remarkable fact is that in their absence we had a unique treat when Ariel unfolded the first of the fully completed Cyclenix shirts and they were a sight for sore eyes. After all the false starts at getting the project off the ground,
John did it. But a special mention goes to Ariel who took up the challenge and together with John sorted out the glitches and at last we are official. Someone succinctly remarked that now as we ride in last at official events everyone will know who we are. To put it another way we will now stand out come whatever. Of course we may even have an occasional winner in our superb outfit.
Look at today’s photos and see the first of the uniformed riders. We were 11 this morning and we rode west to Herzelia and north along Dina’s route for a short break at Arsuf lookout in the Nature Reserve where we also spotted the first of the black (argaman) Iris but sadly no fotos were taken. We later headed for Wingate along the golf course and returned southward. The south-westerly-almost-gale was unwelcome but what could we do? We struggled parallel to the highway where we split for reasons unclear to finally meet up at Gofferman. Yummy! We rode back home after and almost perfect-riding-conditions day made even more memorable by our “coming out” so to speak. Long live long Cyclenix shirt rides!!!!!!!!!!
Now, here’s a Quiz. Look at the photos of last week’s ride to Amatzia and see the shot of two shadows on he ground. If you think you can identify the riders send a message to John.
Ride Report - 9th Feb. 2008 -Amatzia- By Denis
Well we were promised "The ride is 35 kms and is mostly flat, slightly hilly. It's classed as easy to medium but technically easy." The "mostly flat" bit is, as Churchill put it, a terminological inexactitude. Altitude ranged from about 280m to 500m, and there were a half dozen climbs, the longest a grueling 180m, but then there was also an equally long descent. So for the Englishman who devoted a whole day to surveying the route before the trip, slightly hilly means more than a few little bumps; remember next time. But a little masochism is good for the constitution.
Eli Set describes the route: "From the N side of Amatzia head SW along the foot of Khirbet Hazan ridge until Nahal Adoraiim. Then follow Nahal Domeh to Givat Mirsham. Head NW towards Khirbet Gomer, but before it turn N to the wadi around Khirbet Naqiq, and then W. At Khirbet Harish take the road NE to a seasonal lake. Cross the dam and continue N on the forest path, past the Shavshevet well, NE to Khirbet Zita, and N again. Ascend and relax on Givat Gad. Then E to the Amatzia road." But you can only appreciate it after you have been there and done it.
Max did a great planning job, and with the aid of his trusty navigator Nurit we were able to find our way along barely marked paths, up and down stony hills, and across rocky traverses. The sun shone brightly, the wind blew mightily, the eagles hovered, and we were immersed in an area rich in history and geography. And we did actually see some Kalaniyot (anemones).
There were ruins and hints of ancient settlement on almost every hilltop. The region is famous for its dozens of cave systems that were important from biblical times to the Bar Kokhba era. At Horbat Naqiq we managed to get a quick look into one of the caves, which even had steps leading down to (probably) a cistern; no lighting, so we couldn't check.
We saw contented cows grazing, and a young calf even considered joining our group, but, after leaping joyfully in the air, decided life with mother was more promising. On some stretches we were entirely on out own, not a soul in sight, but in others the Hebes in Jeeps were out and about, tainting that rustic feeling. The final stretch, missed by a few due to misunderstanding, was, to quote Max "Har Gad with the tomb of Sheik Ali; this was the hardest uphill of the whole trip and the views from the top were amaaaaaaazing."
The 18 or so smiling(!) faces at ride's end agreed it was a truly memorable event, exhausting perhaps, but then there is the whole week for recovery. Great company as always, and some managed to bring closure at a coffee stop on the way home.
Max added: it was good to see new faces and we look forward to seeing you again in our future rides. To all those who didn't quite make it..... be well quickly.. the paths are waiting and again I apologise for the wind.
Check out these sites 
Israel Police cyclist rules of the road:
http://www.police.gov.il/english/Traffic/Road_Safety/04_en_tr_bicycle.asp
Beginner's Mountain Bike Info Guide:
http://www.romp.org/rides/beginnerguide.html
Bicycle Unit of the Civil Guard (Mishmar Ezrahi),
The Department of Community Affairs and the Civil Guard of the
Israeli Police Force in conjunction with the Israel Cyclists' Association call
on you to join the Cycling Unit of the Civil Guard.
Volunteer Now .
Follow the link for more details .
THE BOTTOM LINE ! :
ALL RIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE CLUB'S ACTIVITIES MUST ACCEPT THAT THE CLUB
CONSISTS OF A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, FOND OF RIDING IN EACH OTHERS COMPANY, ON
THE BASIS OF UNDERSTANDING THAT NO ONE TAKES OR BEARS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR
OTHERS AND EACH IS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN LIFE, HEALTH AND BELONGINGS.
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