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On The Trail - January - February 2011 Archive
Ride Report - Feb. 26th - A Windy home Patch Ride - by John
It was chilly but NOT cold and there was NO RAIN or WIND when the "Famous Five" David, Shaul, Ted Uri, (listed in alphabetical order) and yours truly met at the normal meeting place at 7.30 and off we headed on a well worn route throught the Industrial area towards Bazra, then on towards Bnei Tzion, Udim, back to Yaqum with refreshment stop at a place that has become a favurite with us, the service station a little way south of Yaqum. When we got to Yaqum the wind picked up and the more south we rode the harder it blew......and whilst I don't mind riding in Rain, thunder, hail and lightning, I hate riding against the wind!!!! David said that it's the same as riding uphill, but I pointed out that when one rides up a hill there is no force trying to blow you back down again!!!, Anyway, apart from the wind it was a great 30 km ride with great company. Pity that there were so few of us, but what we lacked in numbers, we made up for in quality!!!!! The next time you decide not to ride, think again and perhaps change your mind.
Getting up at 05.30 on a Saturday is not really the done thing and there must be a good reason unless you are crazy or go the Shule. As soon as we hit the region this morning and saw the carpets of flowering Kalaniot I knew I could skip my session with my psychologist and I can't remember the last time I was in Shule. It's quite far to Be'eri and as the flowering season is very short half of Israel comes down there at this time annually and this week was no exception. But we were smarter and came early and even parked cleverly. Well done David! As for the ride….it had its ups and downs and I think for some it was at times quite scary. Our two injured riders are proof that this technical ride requires 100 percent focus and lots of experience and even then s… happens. A good bike and friends are also recommended but Megan proved that any bike will do if the rider is gung ho. The weather was perfect and the trails packed solid and not one sniper took a shot at us from Gaza. Now that's perfect! The fress-up at Yad Morechai is always welcome but I exceeded my calorie intake (with a hearty breakfast)if to go by David's GPS counter which showed the ride burn was less then 600c's. The one sour note was that Rafi did not complete the course and I am confident that on next year's ride he too will have his ups and downs. Thanks to David for a great and beautiful picturesque route….if in fact you were one of those who followed him. (I know some who didn't but no names will be mentioned this time@@@@@). If you did not know what a "single" is I'm sure you know by now.
Around 20 of us gathered at the gas station close to Kibbutz Hazorea in the crisp, chilly morning air to start our climb up Nahal Ha Shofet.
We started off through the kibbutz, which is very pretty, and were encouraged along by the early morning walkers and runners. We didn't stay too crisp or chilly for long, though. The first climb was not easy: even the best of us were heard to huff and puff a bit. But what a view from the top! Each bursting lung breath was worth it. But of course, the huffing and puffing didn't stop here.
After a short respite downhill we soared up again, this time along a bumpy Roman road (via) - the very important route that liked Wadi Melik and Wadi Ara. The Kvish 6 of the Roman era! During ancient times, there were very few routes linking east and west, and this was one of them. The Roman engineers were well-known for their civil engineering feats and the roads they built were primarily for transporting troops across their empire. Of course, they were also used for trade - there are still many remains of the ancient trade routes that criss-crossed Israel.
We continued until the source of Nahal Taninim where we were to climb a steep incline to view some interesting ruins - or so we were led to believe. Those that followed our leader up the hill saw ..... a view. No ruins in sight. But the view was worth it.
From here on, it was mostly downhill with some exhilirating singles, through Nahal Mishmar ha Emek. The last part was very muddy and, for those that are Charlie Brown afficianados, we all looked rather like Pig Pen.
We tanked up on hummus and the like at a restaurant by the gas station. A great day's riding: around 21 km in perfect conditions.
Only one person could have written the description of today's ride, me, because I was the only rider!!! I left home at 7.15am and headed for our usual meeting place because I didn't want anyone to able able to say "I was there, where were you?" Well, now I can say..."I was there where were you?" From the time I left home until I returned 30+ kilometres later there was a light rain, but no wind at all, and it wasn't too cold until I discovered that my rain suit is no longer rain proof!!! The photos will show where I rode. I must admilt that from the time I set out from the starting point I saw on one cyclist from some Far Eastern country!!! Even the traffic on the road was minimal! There were, however, a few surfers, walkers, joggers and fisherman out enjoying the rainy weather, as well as lots of wagtails, a fair number of spur-winged plovers, 4 or 5 hoopoe birds getting the early worms, a few crows, and that's it. So, maybe I was a bit touched to go cycling, but it was a most enjoyable 30 odd kilometre ride. Sorry you weren't there!
What happened to all the regulars??? I can't believe that you were frightened off by the weather. Only three riders today....Gerry, Avi and yours truly. Gerry was the only sensible one of the three of us. He brought NO rain gear!
We rode our "Thursday Night" route through passed the Herzliya Airport and then through the Herzliya Park on to the pier at the Marina. There were not too many bikers out but we did stop to meet two (topiary) just before the bridge that crosses the railway line at the Herzliya Station. These two bikers are always there, irrespective of the weather. In fact, they thrive on rainy weather!!!! They have been there for years.
Actually, the weather was almost perfect, no rain, not one drop and almost no wind and it was as cool as could be, making for a very comfortable 30 km. ride.
See you next week.....I hope!
Ride Report - Jan. 22nd - Jerusalem Hills- by Frederic
Petit récapitulatif en français!!!... sans prétentions.
Après plusieurs reports, cette sortie tant attendue est enfin arrivée !!! Et nous voila, dix téméraires, prêt à affronter la nature. Départ de Raanana en convoi vers Tzomet Eshtahol ou nous nous garons. Nous prenons le départ vers 7h45, en suivant une hypothétique rivière malheureusement asséché nommée Nakhal Kisalon, nous sommes sur la « piste rouge ». Après 1h45 de pente ininterrompue, nous arrivons à Ein Limon, nous profitons de cette petite pause d'un quart d'heure pour nous restaurer. Et nous voici repartis, cette fois ci en descente, toujours sur le même chemin mais jusqu'au croisement de la « piste noire !!! » nous reprenons la montée et arrivons au sommet, aux alentours de 600 mètres, après 18 kilomètres de côte… Et nous commençons enfin la descente, le paysage est exceptionnel, la vitesse nous enivre, bref, à l'arrivée, tout le monde affichera un sourire de satisfaction malgré quelques crampes ici et la. Oui, cette sortie en marquera plus d'un d'entre nous ! Un grand merci à David pour cette expérience, et encore bravo à Avi qui nous a donné la cadence tout au long de la montée.
Herein lies the English translation with the help of Google Translate and a bit of editing:
A short summary in French !!!... without pretentions.
After several postponements, this long awaited ride has finally arrived! And here we are, ten adventurers, ready to confront nature. Departed in convoy from Raanana to Tzomet Eshtahol where we parked. We leave at 7:45am, along a hypothetical river dried unfortunately named Nakhal Kisalon, we are on the "red trail". After 1h45 of uninterrupted slope, we arrive at Ein Limon, we take this little break of a quarter of an hour to restore us. And then we are off again, this time downhill, always on the same path, but until you cross the "black run! "We will resume the climb and reach the summit, about 600 meters, after 18 km of coast ... And we are finally beginning the descend, the landscape is exceptional, speed intoxicates us, in short, on arrival, everyone will show a smile of satisfaction despite some cramping here and there. Yes, this outing will mark more than one of us! A big thank you to David for this experience, and congratulations to Avi who gave us the pace throughout the climb.
John asked me to write a "short" report on today's ride 1.15.11
Six of us left shortly after 7.30 towards the railway line. We took a wrong turn on a supposedly mud free route and had our first short taste of mud as we scaled a short muddy wall to get to the road. Travelling along the eastern side of the railway line we dodged heaps of short shallow puddles but as the mud took a turn for the worst I did a side slip and muddied my shorts. We reached the gully just before the Ra'anana train station and added another layer of mud to our shoes but it was a short–cut to avoid deeper mud had we continued straight. The mud was no behind us as we diverted to Ronit Farm and took ashort break while the repetitive offender raided the Avocados. The sky was blue with patches of grey clouds and short bursts of sunshine kept us warm. We passed the Farsimons without a hitch and at the Yakum gas station we turned west eventually riding along the nature reserve southwards and then a short hop onto the Shfayim gas station for a short breakfast where John received his Shakshuka in the shortest time ever. We were short changed for cash but shortly worked it out so off we went turning into Rishpon and home. The mud now dried, we banged away to loosen it off shoes and bikes. It was a super short ride.
Count how many "shorts" in this short ride!!!!!!!!!!!
(Ed. note: and Ted seems to be the only one WEARING shorts as well so add that to the list)
The weather forecast said "Rain". Indeed, there was rain but NOT when we were riding. Okay, I admit it. We were lucky. I use the word "we" because there was one other who pitched up at the start......Uri. Well done Uri, and to those of you who weren't there you missed a nice ride.
Uri and I set off West, along Ahuza Street and continued down Rehove Ha'Park to the first turn off to the left which takes us along a sand track (which was nice and firm due to the recent rains. At the botton of the hill instead of turning left we took a righthand turn and rode in and out through the orchards. On two occasions we had to turn back due to "dead ends", but eventually we came out on the road between Ra'anana and Rishpon. At the leven crossing we headed North along the Eastern side of the railway line, passed Shefayim Rail siding and continued to the macadamised road where we made a righthand turn to the T-juntion that gives us a choice of turning right towards Ra'anana or left towards Netanya.
The lefthand turned is at the moment closed to traffic as they are in the midst of building a macadamised road to the North. We took this "closed" road all the way to where the road heads to the East towards Spingo. That whole dirt road with it's potholes and sandy/muddy patches is now a thing of the past! Another bit of nature has disappeared!!!!
Anyway, we then made our way to Spingo for a refreshnment/breakfast stop. We were the only two cyclists there!!! As we got there the heavens opened up and there was a downpour (but we were already under cover). We satisfied our thirst and hunger and a few minutes before we left, the rains stopped as suddenly as they had started. It was a great ride. We made a few discoveries and we got home DRY, another +/- 28 kms of very pleasant riding under our belts.
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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