Ride Report - 29 Nov. 2008 Tour of Tel-Aviv - By Adrian Wolff
Have you explored Tel Aviv by bicycle?
Over the past years the municipality has made Tel Aviv ‘bicycle friendly’, constructing over 50 kilometers of bicycle paths, and stands to lock a bicycle (as if this helps!!)
On Saturday 29 November 2008, Cyclenix organized a cycle tour of Tel Aviv – some 27 kilometers.
Over 30 participants met at seven in the morning at the NW corner of the Ramat Gan Ayalon shopping mall. Within a few meters we were already over the bridge along the path next to the Yarkon River heading towards the beach. The trail from the edge of the Ramat Gan Kanion Ayalon westwards to the beach is 8.5 kilometers. You can also continue eastwards on sand trail for another 12 kilometers to arrive at the source of the Yarkon River at Rosh Ha’Ayin.
The beauty of the ride is every 100 meters or so is a change in scenery and activities of the citizens. There are other cyclists, joggers, walkers, exercise stations, people walking their dogs, tai-chi, folk dancing, matkot, and beach goers and in Jaffa we came upon fishermen having their morning breakfast after a night in the sea.
At the Reading Power Station where the Yarkon enters the sea, we came upon an ancient Canaanite port, over 4000 years old. This is where King Solomon brought the cedars of Lebanon, which arrived in Jaffa and then floated up the Yarkon River before being brought by wagon to Jerusalem (I Kings 5: 20, 23).
The Tel Aviv Promenade (tayelet) enables us to ride all the way to Jaffa without competing with cars. The Jaffa Port is presently undergoing reconstruction. Then the steep ride up the hill to Old Jaffa and down again to the first suburb of Tel Aviv, Nave Zedek, built in 1909, now a desirable, upscale neighborhood.
Rothschild Boulevard is delightful – wide cycle path in the middle of the boulevard with the stately Bauhaus architecture buildings with its simple design, high ceilings and large window. Tel Aviv has over 3500 Bauhaus buildings, the largest in the world and was awarded a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2003.
Pass the Habima Theater and Mann Auditorium, down Chen Boulevard to the Tel Aviv Municipality, along Ibn Gavirol to the Yarkon Park and back to our cars.
This ride is recommended to all cyclists, regardless of ability or fitness. Just do it – get on the bike and ride. Have fun.
Thank you to all the participants.
Ride Report - 22 Nov. 2008 - By Frances
13 of us gathered at Yad Labanim to cycle off on a sparkling winter's morning. The women nearly outnumbered the men - so come on gals!
Martin led us down the pardesim paths where we dodged puddles and enjoyed a bit of mud splattering. We headed north through Bazra and then went along the eastern side of Geha. Lots of up and not too many downs. The highest point was the water tower in Tel Mond. From there we did go down on road to Tzomet Dror where we went off-road again with a challenging big dip. New sights and smells for the group.
It's great to see all the citrus that has been planted again and we enjoyed a short stop amongst the Clementine trees where the group divided up into those that peel and those that eat.
From here we crossed back to the more familiar western side of Geha and on to Spingo for refueling. The sun stayed with us and the threatening sky remained just that: threatening. A great ride of around 33 km.
Ride Report - 15 Nov. 2008 - By Mina
דו"ח רכיבה מאת מינה.
בבוקר בהיר ונעים נאספנו 14 רוכבים ורוכבות ובינהם 3 רוכבים חדשים. דניאלה ברכיבה ראשונה שלה ושמחה על הגלוי החדש, מיכאל שרכב איתנו חלק קטן מהמסלול ( ונקווה שנתראה בהמשך ), ומוריס ברכיבה ראשונה והיה מעניין לרכב לצידו ונקווה לראותו בהמשך.
יצאנו בעקבות המוביל מרטין אשר חש את רוח הקבוצה ולקח אותנו למסלול נעים נהדר וזורם, יצאנו מהמקום הקבוע של הבוקר ורכבנו לכיוון מערב, משם לכיוון פסי הרכבת עד רישפון עברנו בגשר מעל פסי הרכבת חדש להולכי רגל אשר נבנה לא מזמן היה מעניין לראות אותו גמור, משם לכוון שדות דרך הפרדסים ועצירה קטנה לאכל קצת קלמנטינות טריות ישר מהעץ יציאה לבני-ציון ומשם ישר לבית הקפה הקטן והחמוד ומלא אנשים מפה למפה מנוחה נעימה ופטפוט קל עם כל הרכבים ומשם ברכיבה קלילה לרעננה.
חזרנו לא עייפים אך מרוצים ושמחים.
מרטין הוביל אותנו שבת זו רכיבה יוצאת מהכל (28 ק"מ ).
תודה בשם כולם.
Local Ride - Nov 1st. - By Ted
Winters a Cumin'!
We eleven Kinnert defaulters decided (or was it David?) to see how well we remembered mud so we set off east eagerly led by Martin via the road that passes Zimmermans Old age "Club" where some of us may end up (still on wheels). On that stretch leading to the Highway 4 ridge, we learned that wet sand remains sandy even when damp but it was still fun as the perfect weather and the beauty of the verdant countryside with rolling hills (no kidding) helped to make the stretch enjoyable. We crossed Highway 4, after some muddy patches where Ingrid in a dramatic fall almost tasted the mud as we played dodge –ems' in an attempt to keep out of the mud along the Kana Stream. We followed parts of the Yarkon and then veered south and crossed Highway 5 riding under the bridge and eventually taking a break at the concrete Eucalypt by the "wetlands" pool of the Yarkon overflow where we repaired Martin's very Jiffa-wet tyre. To dispel any doubts we were quite muddy by now but worse was to come as we headed back for home and rode under the new bridge near Afek park where some genius forgot to plan for drainage so we mudded across in parts and later continued on drier patches by riding along the railway line towards Kfar Saba via Elishema. We headed for the elusive coffee break and eventually Udi suggested a new place with naming it or its location. We followed him, all agog at the mystery, and lo and behold we ended up in Kfar Malal where Udi has his catering business. We were from that point on in his excellent professional hands and set down to a wholesome repast in delightful surroundings as Udi continued to lavish upon us the best. We then departed for home but not before thanking Udi for adding the topping on what was a great 37kl's muddy ride of magnificent dimensions. Notice the bridges a la Talia?
31st "Around the Kinneret Memorial Ride" 1st November, 2008 By John
3.50 am and the alarm startled me from my sleep. Oy! I have to be ready to load the bike onto the car at 4.30am and set off for Tsomet Tzemach by 5am......I must be nuts!!!
Cyclenix did not ride as an organised group but I counted at least 13 members taking part so we did have a nice representation. The weather was perfect and the organisation was excellent. We done to the Israeli Police as well. They did an outstanding job of controlling the traffic. The route was completely sealed in both directions to all traffic except emergency vehicles.
Until today the "Wheels of Hope Annual rode was the biggest "bicycle happening" in Israel. Today, this title was "won" by the Kinneret rode with over 10,000 riders registered and taking part. Control was strict and the whole event was run smoothly and efficiently.
I hope that next year Cyclemix will take part as an organised group and that perhaps (as in the past) we will travel down on the Friday and celebrate a festive Friday night together before the ride on Saturday.
Check out these sites 
Israeli Police, cyclist rules of the road:
Israeli Police, Bike Riding Rules
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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