Ride Report - 25th Oct - local Ride - By Talia
Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water
Seventeen of us gathered at the usual meeting place, with one new rider (a very warm welcome to Sigalit) and an impressive new Focus bike for Ronen. I would like to say that we left seven thirty on the spot – mainly because it was the one morning I had actually arrived on time – but I think it was more like a quarter to eight before we got going. People had returned from their various vacations (Montenegro, New York, and other equally glamourous locations) so there was a lot of catching up to do.
We cycled down Ahuza and into the fields behind the Park Mall. Where we went from there I really didn’t have a clue, so thanks to John for enlightening me.
It appears that we rode through the fields to Kfar Shmaryahu, and then crossed a graffiti-covered bridge (some of it quite artistic) over the coastal road and into the shady streets of Nof Yam. Leaving Nof Yam, we rode (or rather schlepped our bikes) along a sandy path parallel to the coastal road, continuing past Arsuf and through kibbutz Shfayim. From there we headed to our favorite resting spot, the lookout point in the Sharon nature reserve. With a stunning view of kayaks in the middle of a glorious morning ocean, we munched fruit, sandwiches, and granola bars, and did a little more catching up.
Rested and refreshed, we continued North through kibbutz Gaash, past the golf course, and into a small forest with the various challenges that tree roots and berry-bush thorns provide. Next we skirted the southern side of Wingate and started on our homeward trail. We again crossed the coastal road, this time over the forever filthy bridge that leads into Yakum, and continued through a nature reserve into the fields behind Udi'im.
We next crossed yet another bridge (constructed recently across the railway line following a tragic train-crash), continuing through Bnei Zion and on to Spingos for refreshments. I must just add that Spingos is a favorite for me, with its bicyle racks, helmet stands, reasonable prices, good service, and the tastiest tuna mini-sandwich in the universe. From Spingos it was a quick 20-minute sprint back into Ra’anana and home.
If there is a theme to this week’s ride, it has to be the bridges. As Tzvika pointed out, we rode over no fewer than three of them, and even encountered a fourth baby bridge in the making, over Poleg. (Poleg is a river currently camouflaged as a puddle, partly due to a dam created temporarily for the construction effort and partly due to the fact that it hasn’t rained in a decade.)
I could become all teary-eyed and philosophical about the symbolism of bridges, but I’ll spare you. I could also tell you about a Web site that illustrates maybe 30 different types of bridges and how each is built, but I’ll spare you that too. What I can say is that although I’m still not managing to ride up the darn things, it certainly is a lot of fun whizzing down!
To summarize, it was a very enjoyable 48 kilometers with great weather and excellent company. And none of us crossed our bridges before we got to them – we just took it all in our (st)ride!
Ride Report - 18th Oct - local Ride - By John
First of all, a hearty welcome to Orna who joined our ride today. It was great having you along and we hope to see you often in the future. Ten riders (including Orna) met at our usual starting point but instead of our "Westward Ho!" or "Northward Ho" start it was A "Southward Ho" start through the fields of Givat Chen. Due to the recent rain, those long sandy stretches that we so often encountered were nice and firm....a nice change after the long hot summer, which now seems to have taken leave of us. The warm, but not hot, weather was perfect. After climbing to the highest point in the Sharon area we made our way passed Sportan and then eastwards to the area between Rosh HaAyin and Ramot Hasharon. Included in our route were the Hayarkon River, The Baptist Village, the source of the Hayarkon and two beautiful lily ponds. We cycled through Neve Yaraq and then Adanim.
The route was more or less circular and brought us back to the Ramot Hasharon shopping centre opposite Sportan where we made a "Coffee break" at Aroma......good food, good drink and a very pleasant staff to boot! From there we made our way back to Raanana, again through Givat Chen, but this time on the road. The ride was longer than usual (45 kms +), but not at all strenuous and one which everyone present coped with. All who participated enjoyed some good exercise and a nice social atmosphere.
Just as an aside, one thing which really was so noticeable to those who hadn't ridden in this direction for some time, was the huge amount of building that had taken place...new homes all over the place and what looks to be another big shopping mall just East of Hod Hasharon.
Ride Report - 11th Oct - local Ride - By Avraham
Today's local ride was a pretty regular one, except the nice, on the cooler side, weather and two and a half attractions. Half ! You may wander? Be patient.
So eleven riders gathered at the usual local spot, including a new to the biking bussiness, Roni, with a brand new (one month, still wrapped in nylons) Specialized XC bike. Welcome Roni! While waiting for people to arrive I did some advertising, e-mail collecting and flier distributing for the new group "Hasharon on the Biking Path", with which most of you are by now familiar.
Any way, John took as to the first attraction, at least for me it was a one - the BIKE PATH Raanana municipality prepared for us, bike riders. Very impressive and well done!. It starts at the LEV HAPARK quarter. We followed it till the foot of the MOUNT ZEVEL.
Here John had a striking idea – to climb the mountain and enjoy the beautiful view. And so we did, some on bikes, some on foot. In both cases it was worthwhile the effort. That was the second attraction. I did some more advertising. The way down was endlessly easier.
Then Yakum, over the pedestrian bridge, Gaash, Shfayim and
finally the HALF attraction: Arsuf Kedem, the Green Gallery and Park Dina. I visited here a week earlier, by car, with my wife, enjoyed the fruit tree park of more then 100 sorts and the sculptures in nature. We rode here many times, never noticed more then the Arsuf restaurant and the one sculpture of flames opposite it. And there is so much more.
I gathered the group, did some basic explanation. On the way I met Mr. Meinham, the founder of this site, and while talking to him, the group, eager to do more biking, disappeared, still not noticing the most of the attraction. Chaval.
I bring here the internet link to this site, so everybody can see what we missed today and every time we passed thru:
www.greengallery.co.il/heb-home.html
Ride Report - 4th Oct - local Ride - By John
The 7.30 start saw 9 riders at the starting point all raring to go, including a new rider, Merrill. Welcome to you Merrill and we hope to see you often on our future rides.
The route was one we have taken many times before (Northwards) along the new cycle track constructed by the Ra'anana municipality, then through Batzra and Bnei Tzion, back tracking to the Tel Aviv - Netanya Railway line and on to Moshav Udim. But this time there was something new! A new bridge has been opened across the railway line and just before we enter Udim from the southern border the trees have been cut down and we discovered a lake of dam that has always been hidden from us in the past. The water was not the cleanest but was clean enough to support duck and other water fowl that were present in not small numbers...... a rather pretty sight! (see the photos from today's ride). We made our "breakfast stop" at Gofferman's and then headed for home. The distance covered was 34 kilometres. The weather was perfect and the company was even more perfect!!! Can something be more than perfect?
May the coming year bring us all closer to everything we wish to achieve and may it be a year of lots of happy riding.
Ride Report - 4th Oct - Away Ride -Kerem Maharal (Carmel) By
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.
©
