On The Trail - March 2008 Archives

Away Ride Report - Givat Ada - 29nd March. 2008 - By Max

29th March, 2008

Who the hell wants to get up at 5.30 in the morning. Well it seems that 22 Cyclenix riders all have a sleeping disability.

Off we set, with Ariel leading the way to Givat Ada. Parking at "So Good "was plentiful and there were other riders there before us. With our steeds all prepared, off we went to our first uphill warm up climb and then onto the first of many singles.

The area was beautiful and here and there we were all reminded of Provence or Toscana especially where the vineyards were. This time of the year all of Israel is Green, oh so very greeeen. Wild flowers are still pressing their heads to the skies even though the weather is turning into the Summer. Did I miss Spring. Soon all will be barren again. But the riding was great some of the singles were slight uphills and some were slight downhills. All had an element of technical riding and some of us took advantage of these little treats. Did we go the right way??? Did we go the wrong way?? Well it really didn't matter. We got where we aimed for and had fun doing it.

Well done Ariel for taking us there and perhaps next time we do this area we can add more kilometrage coz the area is really very beautiful.

Local Ride Report - 22nd March. 2008 - By

Mar 22, 2008

A shorter ride today because of the HEAT!!!! What's going to happen when it's really summer??

This is a question put forward by John. The answer should be obvious. WE RIDE!

So what did happen today... why was the short ride short? Firstly it was the sudden heat. Secondly it was the sudden heat and thirdly David and Max were away. So, the mice were at play. They were quite satisfied to nibble down to Hezeliya, look at the sea, sigh, push through some sandy spots and try to reach Yakum. No, we did not make it as one group dropped out (no names mentioned I may add) at Arsuf ON THE WAY NORTH!!!!! This lot really set the reverse pace and from then on the rot set it. Two others scurried past at the Arsuf nature reserve aiming to reach the Holy Grail at Yakum but the remainder turned back, slightly broiled, at Shfaim. It was too early to wake the cook at Gofferman and Matuta was closed for a change so Arcafe at Ra’anana was the new target. By then we had dwindled down to 4 from 16 and remarkably some noted it really was not that oppressing (the weather!).

Shame on you Cyclenix...is this what we really wish for ...?

Let’s wait to see next weeks ride for the answer!!!!!!!!!!

PS. David and Max are back so we know the answer. No more slacking off.

Local Ride Report - 15th March. 2008 - By John

15th March, 2008

What's the recipe for a nearly perfect ride? I say "nearly perfect", because, there is always some way to improve anything! Yes, even our nearly perfect rides can be improved upon. Well, I think that the recipe is as follows:

1. Take some weather, not too hot, not too cold, little and sometimes no wind, and lots of sunshine.
2. Add a route that's not too difficult, that has great scenery, green foliage, the sea, colourful flowers, clear skies and tracks that are not too sandy or muddy.
3. Now sprinkle in approximately 20 nice people who get on well together, who make interesting discussion and who enjoy each other's company....
4. Last but not least, find a pleasant spot to stop for refreshments that has good service, serves good food (especially shakshuka) ........

And that my friends is what we had today! Who cares about the route! As long as our bottoms are on the saddle of a bike and all the ingredients of the recipe are properly mixed, that's what counts. Just as a matter of interest, the route we took was another "Home Patch" ride to the north today, a route that we have done many times.

HAPPY PURIM TO YOU ALL!!!

Local Ride Report - 8st March. 2008 - By Max

2008_03_08

The Yarkon River while still being polluted is still a great area for a XC trail.
We began, some from Ranana and some (2) from Hod Hasharon and started the trail just outside Moshav Eli Shema. There we met the Kana River which still has a good flow of water (??) and rode along it till we met the Yarkon. On the way we had to ride through thigh high fauna (winter and Spring wild plants and flowers) which made for a very green and yellow undergrowth.

On reaching the Yarkon we made a left (East) turn and came upon our first descent and ascent. Most of us made it Ok and we did a little detour to avoid a mud bath. Here we met a young man riding a cool Cannondale decked out with the flag of Israel and he joined us for the rest of the ride. From here we carried on along the banks of the Yarkon towards Kfar Baptist and our many thanks go to the Yarkon authorities who are replanting the paths with "Suf" and are doing their best to plant rocks so that 4 wheel vehicles will not clash with our 2 wheeled varieties. Did anyone notice that several of these rocks had been planted with "Racafot".

Next we came to the water crossing and here we all waited with baited breath for the first one to fall in. However we are all sooooooo experienced that the best we could do was when one of us lost his balance and had to "dip" his toes in. From here past Kfar Baptist which still has the remains of old Nissan huts installed there by the British before 1948.

Then onwards to the beginning of the Antipatrous park (Afek). Here another little descent under a bridge which nearly all of us did with no problem. From here along the railway line and down to the "Makor" of the Yarkon.

Once the Yarkon was a powerful spring, supplied from other rivers, clean with good flowing water but in 1955 with the erection of the Yarkon-Negev Water Factory which brought water from the Yarkon down to the Negev ("Let the desert bloom") it gradually began to dry up. Now with the aid of Mekorot fresh water is pumped into the Yarkon and there are plans afloat to try and restore the Yarkon to its former beauty. Most of the East part of the Yarkon is clean but from where the Kana river flows into it and all other industrial waste the rest of the river is mostly dead.

Next stop the water Lilly ponds which are as beautiful now as they are in the Summer but of course without the flowers. From here we did another descent and ascent which looks more scary than it really is. Next on round the field to the West part of the Antipatrous castle and then past the Rosh HaAyin station and onto Einat.

Just before Einat we had another descent and ascent and having persuaded everyone to NOT use any brakes on the way down, most of us went down and managed to go up at least half way on the other side. Some of the more foolhardy did it twice.

From there easy sailing till the fuel station at Einat which has become the starting, End or middle point for many MTB riders.

The way back was via road to the Rosh HaAyin North station and then along the railway tracks back to Eli Shema.

All in all a great ride, a nice turn out it certainly is a great feeling to be out there on our bikes.

Nurit says: Thank you from the whole group to Max who found another nice trail for us.

N.B. To all...Please make sure that you come with enough water, don't forget your helmets (Moni) and your backpacks

Away Ride Report - 1st March. 2008 - Reim - By Adrian Wolff(edits by John)

2008_03_01

Cyclenix has a few ‘compulsory’ events in our annual ‘away calendar’. These include Wheels of Hope (31 May), Kinneret (1 November) and Reim/Be’eri in February.

So what if we arise before six in the morning, the weather is drizzle, as we head towards the war-zone. The western Negev and Ashkelon has 150,000 inhabitants who have been subject to 2700 qassem and mortars in 2007 alone, over 150 this last week. We, who live in the center have to show them support and not remain closeted in our warm homes.

Seventeen of us arrived at Kibbutz Re’im where Gao awaited us. He is an interesting character – born in Viet Nam, left as a very young man for France where he lived for 10 years before visiting Israel, which has been his home for the past 9 yeas. He speaks Hebrew with a French accent!!!! He has a planned route for us.

We rode in perfect weather conditions for 12 kilometers along single-track, through eucalyptus trees, wheat fields, natural grass with poppies, yellow, white and pink flowers – sheer delight upon our eyes. Our return ride along the Besor river was sad – on previous occasions the river flowed and now just a trickle since it rained only 80 millimeters this season, instead of the annual average 250 millimeters. The wheat fields are not irrigated and are very short.

On the way home I took some participants through Sederot where they viewed an exhibition of a few of the thousands of rockets fired into the western Negev. We also saw the concrete reinforced bus-stops/shelters, concrete mazes erected along the main streets to protect civilians from shrapnel, the concrete arch built over the local school and the new MDA building whose exterior had to be repaired before the building was completed due to a rocket landing in its precinct.

The photographs show some of the beauty and experiences, but please, do join us next time. The Cyclenix family wishes Uri Speelman a speedy recovery following his injury on the ride.

To all those MTB riders out there who manage to get to Reim: We had the great pleasure last week to be led on a super ride around the Reim area by a great rider whose name is Gao. Born in Vietnam, moved to France and then arrived as a volunteer in Israel. Now an Israeli with his family here with him, this young man together with a couple of partners has built and marked a great single track of about 20 Kms around the "Bitronot" of Reim which is a funpark for any level of MTB rider.
We all would like to thank him again for a great "fun" ride, for the technical hints he gave us and for the care and attention he has put into this trail so that we can enjoy the rides while looking after the natural state of these Bitronot.
Well done Gao !!!!

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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