Motza around Jerusalem LIfta

Distance 40 kms Av Speed 13.7 km/hr Max Speed 39.3 km/hr Time 2:49 Hr Elev Gain 607 mtr

Succot seems to be a good time to do a Jerusalem ride. So we did.
We (Amos, Nurit, Erez, shimon and myself) met in Motza, a place of colder than elsewhere temperature and climbed to Even Sapir, then upto Hadassah and then Saadim. We all know this part of the Jerusalem hills but still, its a great place to ride in. (is the railway line now superfluous?).
Then on to Ein Levan, now transferred into a National Park, and then the final climb, passed the aquarium and the zoo and into Jerusalem via the old Turkish/British railway. Now a gentle, long climb ridden at a fast rate till we reached the old/new railway station. Next stop after visiting Neveh Yamin and David's tower, was Kikar Safra and the Russian compound, then down to Lifta and along Nahal Sorek and back to Motza.

מוצא סביב ירושלים ליפתא

מרחק 40 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 13.7 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 39 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 2:49 שעות סה"כ העלייה 607 מטר

בלוג

Bat Shlomo to Amikam

Distance 28 kms Av Speed 12 km/hr Max Speed 41.5 km/hr Time 2:19 Hr Elev Gain 506 mtr

Amos, Nurit, Shimon and Max, 8.00 a.m. , some might say a late start. I say a normal (our age) start. Old Bat Shlomo is a quaint little village, a couple of restaurants and a technical short downhill to the beginning of our trail. A planned ride which became a navigation game as we progressed trying to find paths which had been obliberated by kind farmers. Today thanks to our smart phones and Amud Anan, it is just about impossible to get lost, so a lot of flexibility and we managed to build ourselves a great ride through a great area.
We aimed for Ein HaEmek crossing under Highway 6 and got to Ramot Menashe instead. This in turn led us into Nahal Shalef, into a "biosphere" area where beasts, humans and nature have formed a close knit community........we didn't notice a difference......but the forest was a good cooling experience.
We got to Ein Mecholalim a watering place, not too much water.....and carried on to Amikam to Ein Amikam which looked inviting but not too much, so we reserved the dip for another time.
Now a climb over Horshan and with a couple of complaints I managed to shorten our travels through Horshan to be a direct South to North experience, then a nasty little technical climb and 28 hot sweaty kms later we arrived back to our cars.
Not too much shade today, bloody hot but a good ride.

בת שלמה לעמיקם

מרחק 28 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 12 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 42 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 2:19 שעות סה"כ העלייה 506 מטר

בלוג

Katzarin to Yonatan

Distance 47 kms Av Speed 13.5 km/hr Max Speed 41 km/hr Ridden Time 3:24 Hr Elev Gain 635 mtr

Todays ride is called the Mattress ride. Amos sold a mattress to a customer in Katzarin. We were the "people of the delivery".
Amos, Jonathan, Erez, Nurit and I. Mattress duly delivered, we all met in Katzarin at 08:00 and quickly prepared ourselves to ride out........BUT Amos had a flat.........so out came his new toy, an enormous pump, nearly as tall as Nurit.......so a quick connect to the ventil and......OOPS!!, the ventil snapped.
But not to worry, he took an inner and quickly placed that inside the tubeless....err.......withtube.......tyre and pumped up and again we were ready.......but NO.......Jonathan's seat collapsed under him.........a major tragedy........so we cancelled the hydraulics and put the seat as high as we could and Jonathan spent the next 7 hours in a crouch...........But he did the ride.....well done Jonathan.
So an hour later, about 9:00 we started.......13 kms of gradual uphill through the powdery earth of the Golan till Tel Hushnia and the outskirts of Keshet and then South down to Hirbet Faraj for our first break.
Break over we rode towards Ein el Pras, a water stop. 3 other cool people there before us but welcome and we jumped into the 1.50 meter deep pool and it was refreshing to say the least.
On the way we passed Rajim el Hariri a stone circle, best seen from the air, and possbly a means of determining the seasons and months back in days of old......
So refreshed we were after our quick dip, we started our return North over bumpy stony ground but good riding fun passing Yonatan on the way untill just passing Aniam, Nurit had a puncture. So we told the 3 gents to cycle on and having fixed the puncture we carried on until we reached Einot Eden, a charming set of 5 pools, perfect for dipping our hot bodies in, but not deep enough to really enjoy.....Then a quick dash down to the Kazarin junction and a visit to the memorial for the soldiers of Hativat 7, complete with 5 old tanks (none in working condition). Then finally a short uphill and back to the car. 7 or so hours the whole trip. I enjoyed it...I hope you all did.

קצרין ליונתן

מרחק 47 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 13.5 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 41 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 3:24 שעות סה"כ העלייה 635 מטר

בלוג

Bet Zera to Yar Shveitz

Distance 39 kms Av Speed 12 km/hr Max Speed 44 km/hr Time 3:20 Hr Elev Gain 780 mtr

Last week was too hot, somewhere in the region of 37 degC, so we postponed it to this week and were blessed with great weather. Cloudy with a breeze and sometimes I did also feel as if the iron was just atop my head.
The start was flat and comfortable, along the Jordan river, we went past many campers, and a great place it is to camp, then we started our climb to reach the beginning of the KKL Yar Shveitz single.
The climb was good, healthy and not too difficult. All rideable for most.
An hour and half later we reached the beginning of the single.
The single itself is non technical, on a crumbly smooth earth track (spelt "treck" by KKL), it climb a total of 240 meters in 14 kms but has some cool flowing downhill sections. The part overlooking the Kinneret affords some amazing views and are well worth the effort of the ride.
After the single we crossed Poriah and joind Nahal Yavniel for a very bumpy fast ride down to Bet Zera.
All in all a good challenging ride.

בית זרע ליער שוויץ

מרחק 39 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 12 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 44 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 3:20 שעות סה"כ העלייה 780 מטר

בלוג

Gal On and around Lachish

Distance 44 kms Av Speed 14 km/hr Max Speed 39 km/hr Time 3:30 Hr Elev Gain 780 mtr

A great area to ride in. Only an hour from home. Unfortunately no camera today. Scenery was still green and very Marlebrough Country

גלאון מסביב ללכיש

מרחק 44ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 14 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 39 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 3:30 שעות סה"כ העלייה 780 מטר

בלוג

Revaya to Malkishua - Different

Distance 42 kms Av Speed 12.8 km/hr Max Speed 49 km/hr Time 5:41 Hr Elev Gain 945 mtr

8 o'clock is definitely a good time to start our rides, especially now when the weather is so good.
This time we (Amos) decided to do the ride backwards, so we started in Revaya as we like doing and rode East till we got to the road adjacent to Nahal Avner, leading to Shmurat Nahal Bezeq.....and reaching the East side of Malkishua.
Having ridden down it several times, we were all prepared for a hard 14 km slog uphill, and so it was.
We had several breaks but kept a good pace and in reallity the going was not as bad as we thought.
Our quest as usual was to find the Iris HaGilboa and find it we did and so did many others......visitors to the area.........
The photographs tell all but their real beauty is only to the eye and they really are majestic flowers.
Continuing the ride we arrived opposite Merav, overlooking Jelaboun for our most waited for, tea break.
So Jonathan pulls out his thermos, so far so good, filled with hot water, still looking good, but lo and behold the tea was very clear, too clear in fact, in fact so clear as to be very much like hot water with not too much else. But bless his soul, we'll forgive the lack of actual tea, he is after all, getting on in his years.
Anyway, tea less break over, by the way forgot to mention Nurit's amazing cakes, tasty stuff, we carried on up dale and down valley till we reached Kibbutz Maale Gilboa. Here the idea was to find a new route down through the back of the Kibbutz through Har Gefet. Eventually we found our way but the paths were so overgrown, probably not well used, that we missed them a couple of times.
We crossed Nahal Yatzpor a couple of times and then on what should have been the last couple of kms to Revaya, our route was messed up by fences, new ponds, new water towers and lost paths. Eventually we got back but we did have to go back and forth till we found our way.
All well that ends well and I thoroughly enjoyed a great climb and a reasonable descent.

רוויה למלכישוע - אחר

מרחק 42 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 12.8 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 49 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 5:41 שעות סה"כ העלייה 945 מטר

בלוג

Givat HaMoreh Single

Distance 30 kms Av Speed 13 km/hr Max Speed 43 km/hr Time 4:17 Hr Elev Gain 610 mtr

We got to the parking in the Naura petrol station........it was full..........
Fortunately and in spite of a request by one of our riders to start early, we started at 8:00 probably quite some time after all the "professionals" had long gone started.
The area at this time of the year is beautifull, filled with Lupines of the most amazing purple colour. Here and there we saw Calaniot but these were mostly just old timers on their way out.
The single is well planned, thank you KKL, and while the first half is mainly uphill, it is nicely rideable and great exercise.
After a break for jokes we fled downhill as fast as we could until rock bottom was reached. Then a fast climb through the last single and the cars we reached.
All in all a great day, weather was perfect and company of 6 all arrived home safely.

סינגל גבעת המורה

מרחק 30 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 13 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 43 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 4:17 שעות סה"כ העלייה 610 מטר

כבר כמה שבועות, אני קורא כתבות על סינגל גבעת המורה שמספרות על כמות מדהימה של פריחה בכל האזור שמעצימה את החוויה של הסינגל המעולה הזה. אז בשבת האחרונה הגענו סופסוף לדגום אותו. מי הגיע?: מקס שכרגיל מתכנן ומוציא לפועל את הרכיבות, נורית הצלע הנשית בחבורה, עמוס, יונתן, שמעון ואנוכי ארז. מזג אוויר מושלם, מעונן חלקית – שימשי, וטמפרטורות בדיוק כמו שצריך.
כשהגענו ב 8:10, הבנו שלא רק אנחנו קראנו כתבות. החנייה היתה מפוצצת. מה שטוב היה ש-99% מהרוכבים כבר היו ברכיבה, ואנחנו לא נכנס לפקקים בדרך – מה שהתברר כמאד נכון.
r> גבעת המורה מסתפקת בשם "גבעה" מטעמים מקראיים אך היא הר לכל דבר, בדומה להרי הגלבוע והתבור הסמוכים. הצמחייה רב גונית, בשלל זני עצים מול שטחים פתוחים, אדמה רכה ונעימה מול אזורים טרשיים, פריחה מרהיבה של תורמוסים, כלניות אדומות ולבנות, נרקיסים, רקפות ואפילו איריס נצרתי. אל כל אלה מצטרפות תצפיות נוף יפהפיות לכל הכיוונים – הגלבוע, הרי הגלעד, רמות יששכר וסירין, התבור, עמק יזרעאל ועוד.
הסינגל נבנה מתחתית הגבעה ליד נאעורה , עד לפסגתו במגדל התצפית. עליה של ~600 מטרים, השביל מתאפיין בעלייה לאורך מחצית המסלול וירידה ארוכה ארוכה ומהנה בחציו השני. הוא בנוי בצורה מעולה עם שיפועים סבירים ועבירים. הסימון לאורך כל הדרך מעולה – אי אפשר לטעות.
לאורך הדרך, מידי פעם, הסינגל חוצה שדות פרחים. החצייה של אזור התורמוסים הכחולים – מהפנטת. לאחר כ8. ק"מ מתחילת הרכיבה עוברים ליד מערות חצובות בסלעים משמאל. זוהי חורבת סהר שבה נמצאות כעשר מערות קבורה מהתקופה הביזנטית.
במבואת מגדל התצפית – שיא הגובה, מיד לאחר חציית כביש האספלט, עצרנו לקפה-תה וכמה נשנושים להחזרת האנרגיה שנשרפה יפה בעלייה...
משם, בסינגל - סוף סוף מגמת ירידה. המהירות עולה, החיוך נמרח על הפנים, והאדרנלין מתחיל לפמפם בדם.
גם כאן, הסינגל בנוי בצורה מעולה, אמנם מהיר מאד, אבל רכיב, לא טכני מידי. כייף.
הגענו לחנייה, על השעונים, 2:20 זמן רכיבה נטו (ועוד קצת לברוטו  ), 30 ק"מ ולפחות 600 מ' עליה, תקלה אחת בשרשרת של מקס שנפתרה בזריזות, וכולם בריאים ומאושרים.
מסלול מושלם לתחילת מרץ. רק שישאר ככה.

Ein Tamar to the Machtesh HaKatan

Distance 50.5 kms Av Speed 12.2 km/hr Max Speed 40 km/hr Time 6:35 Hr Elev Gain 575 mtr

It started at 05.00. Still dark and such a problem to get out of the warm bed.........
The plan was to get to Ein Tamar at 08.00. A little late, but we still managed to start before 8:30.
We rode through Nahal Amatziyahu andd then turned off to ride through Nahal Aviah. The scenery is just out of this world, every turn brought us new sights, new formations and new feelings. On the one hand the riding was great , smooth flowing and easy going, on the other hand I wanted to stop eveery 2 minutes to take pictures. Such a dilema........

We crossed route 90 and joined Nahal Zin at the Balcony....a brilliant view point overlooking the falls where the flash floods come from nowhere and fall into the river. Although dry ..ish... it was still an amazing sight.

We rode on after a short break, at some point turning North to climb towards the small crator.
Shar Hashmadai, the entrance to the small Crator, always amazes me. How the rock faces are pushed up into totally wrong positions.......truly amazing........just to see this is worth the ride. In the Crator we had a good break, and admired one of the more fascinating geological features of this area. The "small" crator is just small enough so that the eye can take in all of the Crator. Another truly amazing sight.

The ride back was the same as coming to the Crator. At some point we went on a red trail thinking it might be slightly easier, but this led us to another water fall, one which we could not ride down, so we returned on a harder climb to carry on back to Route 90.
On the other side of the road we went into the single "Haritz Be Havarr" which is another river bed hewn out of the rocky mountains and another great view of the power of water........a great ride but quite long. The end is about 3 kms on the road back to Ein Tamar. A long day but a wonderful day..

עין תמר למכתש הקטן

מרחק 50.5 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 12.2 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 40 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 6:35 שעות סה"כ העלייה 575 מטר

בלוג

Bet Zera to Yavniel

Distance 34 kms Av Speed 11.3 km/hr Max Speed 39 km/hr Time 2:49 Hr Elev Gain 1,017 mtr

Amos Nurit and I decided to do a massive climb from Bet Zera to Yavniel. We started relatively late, at about 9.00, and had wonderful weather with us all through the ride. The climb was hard, mostly rideable but very slow going. The lower levels, we started at -227 meters, were very brown parched scenery but as we came up to the top, +362 meters there was much more green to be seen. The area around Ein Rechesh is lush greenery and very beautiful and is fed by Nahal Tavor. Going down to Yavniel is a very steep slippery slope but again rideable, although the disc brakes were burning up as we rode down. From Yavniel back to the car we a great ride mostly downhill and very fast.
Steep uphills and steep downhills, but a great feeling at the end of this ride.

בית זרע ליבניאל

מרחק 34 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 11.3 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 38.9 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 2:49 שעות סה"כ העלייה 1,017 מטר

בלוג

Neveh Or to Gazit

Distance 43 kms Av Speed 13.1 km/hr Max Speed 43.9 km/hr Time 3:14 Hr Elev Gain 812 mtr

We started in Neveh Or, a sleepy kibbutz in the Bet Shean valley. As a warm up we rode down to the Jordanian border passing Yardena and Bet Yosef until we met the Issashar river just before Road 90. We crossed the road and then started our climb to Gazit.
This time we rode all along the river as close to it as possible . The route was a good one, all rideable and not too steep. We had 26 kms of a gradual climb and most of it was in undulating country side just turning green after the first rains but still not showing its very pure beauty. We climbed and climbed meeting several tractoronim on the way, making a hell of a lot of noise, engines firing and music blasting the whole area, a sport which I have never sympathised with.
We finally reached Ramat Issashar, a plateau with a slight incline to keep our muscles working, and then rode past Moledet and Taibe to Gazit.
Here we began our descent, the first part through the Nahal Tavor single which was great fun and where we had our break (without tea or coffee) then onto the 4x4 paths up and down until we reached Road 90 again. Here the plan was to ride on the East side of the road down to Neveh Or, but due to the heavy construction work goin on, we were forced to go back(west) to Road 90 and then to return to Neveh Or.
All in all a great day out, the weather was great, the scenery even better and the company................wellllllllll..........

נווה אור לגזית

מרחק 43 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 13.1 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 43.9 קמ"ש זמן רכיבה 3:14 שעות סה"כ העלייה 812 מטר

בלוג

Farod to Har Hillel

Distance 28 kms Av Speed 10.4 km/hr Max Speed 59.3 km/hr Time 2:42 Hr Elev Gain 1077 mtr

Nurit put her back out so wisely (in hindsight) didn't come.
I met Amos and Jono in Farod and we began the ride with a steep climb, on asphalt but tough. Then off road into a path which was blocked by felled trees, which we three scrambled over somehow, At some point the path became rideable again and we climbed back to meet the road a bit further up. Then again off road and now the serious stuff began. The paths were stoney as stoney could be , steep, mostly rideable but some pushing was required. Did I say steep? wow...steep it was.
Past Shefer upto Miron and then into the Miron nature reserve. All this was climbing, incredibly hard, real work. We rode through beautiful countryside mostly up, we climbed 1077 meters in 16 kms. Eventually we got to Bet Jann to climb its steep alleyways till we reached the beginning of our downhill. We all managed to burn our our brakes so we had a break to let them cool down until we rode again on ashphalt back to the cars. A very hard ride, probably the hardest we have ever done. Brilliant.

פרוד להר הילל

מרחק 28 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 10.4 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 59.3 קמ"ש זמן רכיבה 2:42 שעות סה"כ העלייה 1077 מטר

פרוד להר הילל

Aviezer to Bar Giora

Distance 35 kms Av Speed 11.6 km/hr Max Speed 40 km/hr Time 3:00 Hr Elev Gain 650 mtr

Wonderful ride. Had all the elements in it. Hard climbs, fast downhills, sweat, heavy breathing........in short everything needed for a good ride.

אביעזר אל בר גיורא

מרחק 35 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 11.6 קקמ"ש מהירות מקס 40 קקמ"ש זמן רכיבה 3 שעות סה"כ העלייה 650 מטר

רכיבה נהדרת. היו בו כל האלמנטים. טיפוס קשה, ירידות מהירות, זיעה, נשימות כבדות ........ בקיצור כל מה שצריך לרכיבה טובה.

Motza to Har Zeitim

Distance 34 kms Av Speed 13 km/hr Max Speed 52 km/hr Time 2:36 Hr Elev Gain 670 mtr

The fab 4 set out from Motza, cold for the first 10 minutes, at least until we began the climb up to Har Harzl. So we found a new route, through the Jerusalem forest adjacent to Bet Zeit. The markings on the map definitely showed all the paths I chose as being 4x4 but when we got to a certain spot, we had a hard climb down on a hiking path. Still all in a days work. I enjoyed the ride up, great scenery, wild Jerusalem forest, very green as we criss crossed the Revida stream. I knew we would hit a wall just before the top, but I thought maybe walkable.........but.........no way. It was far too steep to walk. so we opted for the asphalt and rode uphill till we reached Kiriat Moshe.

From here we crossed the city till we got to the old railway line, now touted as a leisure sport area for bikers and others. There is now a bike lane all the way to the Railway station and then continues around Jerusalem. We left the railway line and rode down outside the old city walls to the road overlooking Abshalom's tomb and then a short steep climb to bring us to the gardens behind Mary's church, past the University building, and then up the steep paths and steps to the Al Joz area for a quick view point overlooking the beginning of the Judean Desert and then we started our long descent on the Jerusalem trail all the way back to Motza, passing as we rode the towering structure of the new Jerusalem railway bridge.

Its always a delight to ride in and around Jerusalem.

בית זית להר זיתים

מרחק 34 ק"מ מהירות ממוצעת 13 קמ"ש מהירות מקס 52 קמ"ששעה זמן רכיבה 2:36 שעות סה"כ העלייה 670 מטר

בלוג

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Aviezer to Bar Giora

Well, the picture taking seems to have fallen off somewhat. Maybe because we seem to be riding in areas covered in previous rides and maybe its because everything is still so dry , brown and dusty.....so we'll wait a month or so until the rains and then hopefully the pics will be a bit more colourful.
Aviezer as everyone knows is a Moshav in the Eyala Valley opposite those big round saucers and opposite the plains where David smote Goliath of the Palestines.
We started here and began our climb towards Bar Giora. On the way we climbed Maale Tzipor, the Bird climb, a very stoney very slippery ascent to reach Har Yaaran, the Forester Hill, overlooking the Tziltzal stream. We carried on to Har Hanut, the Hanut hill, and then crossed the road, passing the place where it is said that Goliath is buried in or around Hirbet Hanut. Then a nice if somewhat technical downhill to the Zanuach stream, no water but still quite pretty.
Carrying on from here was another steep climb, going past Ein Ozen. From here while we still climbed, most of the climbing was a bit more gradual and so a bit easier on the legs. Finally Bar Giora was reached and we passed Bar Behar, a famous stopping point for all bikers of all kinds.

We decided not to stop here and carried on to The Ness Harim Junction where we stopped for a well deserved break. As an observation point, we were able to observe 4 police cars and 3 police motor bikes pull up and start stopping cars for checks etc. Could be a bit of an overkill here. But if you need a spare police car this is definately the place to look.

The plan now was to ride between Mevo Betar and Tzur Hadassa but for some reason a wrong path was taken and we ended up riding for a short time on the road until we are able to reach the entrance to Tzur Hadassa.
We rode in with the hope that we would find a way out.......the settlement is totally surrounded by a wire fence. Being an optimist I led the way and lo and behold we came across one of the many gates and on the outside of the fence, trying to get in were two happy bikers who had phoned the security patrol, who were coming to open the gate.
After being let out we carried on. For anyone reading this, when you get to this gate, there is a noitice with a phone number to enable a quick phone call to the security patrol to come and open this gate.

Now our way was clear to began a very enjoyable gradual descent back to Aviezer.
One of the high lights of today's ride was when we met a few riders on one of the trails who were very impressed with Nurit's power and called her ....the Jedda........

All in all a great ride, hard but enjoyable, not too hot and great tea was drank by all.

Statistics:
Total ride: 38 kms
Total ascent: 900 meters
Actual riding time: 3:17 hrs
Avr speed: 11.4 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 42 km/hr

אביעזר לבר גיורה

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 38 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 900 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:17 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.4 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 42 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Motza to Har Heret

It's been a long time since we started from Motza, normally a freezing cold place to begin. Today however, the temperature was about 24 deg C, just perfect.
Well Amos, Nurit and I went off to ride pastures new and some old.

I had changed the ride so that we could get to areas that we had never ridden in before. One slight miscalculation found our intrepid 3, climbing up a black marked trail for hikers only. A very steep climb with bikes on our shoulders reminded us of times long gone when we use to do things like this.

30 minutes or so of puffing and panting we managed to climb to a considerable height and still have fun. The trail is very beautiful, especially when we reached a certain point when we could get on our bikes and ride along a very narrow path overlooking a very steep drop down to the river. The views were probably spectacular but there was too much summer haze covering the land.

The ride was planned as 21 kms long with about 500 meters climbing. Well I felt we were climbing all the way. just before we got to the end we had to tackle a very steep technical descent where at some point I decided a double somersault with a twist in between would make the perfect ending to a great ride. I dont know why but all the air went out of my tire and I suddenly found myself flying, but with no bike.

Fortunately bruised but not broken, we used a CO2 cylinder to get air ito the tire and within a short time were back on the ride down to Motza.

Statistics:
Total ride: 20 kms
Total ascent: 489 meters
Actual riding time: 1:49 hrs
Avr speed: 11 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 39.6 km/hr

הר חרת והר איתן

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 20 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 489 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 1:49 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 39.6 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Ramat Hashofet

Last time we did an away ride was on the 21st May when we started a ride in bet Hananya and Horshan. Since then we seemed to have concentrated on Horashim for various reasons. Now we are back in the heat of Summer so we will try and find shaded areas in israel to ride in and enjoy.

This morning we managed to find about 60% shade within the forested areas of Nahals Gahar, Shofet and Hashnayim and rode over a myriad of paths which ciss cross this area in all different directions. The track I had was not one of the best and we had to constantly make changes as we rode. The end result was a great ride but a lot of the ride was trying to figure out the next section. Anyway we rode 23 kms in a great area and managed to have fun, exercise well and remain reasonable fresh even with the humidity for this time of the year.

Statistics:
Total ride: 23 kms
Total ascent: 520 meters
Actual riding time: 2:04 hrs
Avr speed: 11.1 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 45 km/hr

רמת השופט

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 23 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 520 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:04 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.1 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 45.00 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Hazorea

Amos, Shimon, Nurit and I. Jonathan went shopping in London.
Ramot Menashe is only 45 minutes from home and at this time of the year is so full of green and the flowering of all colours, there are paths, 4x4 trails, singles, uphills and downhills. Something for everyone.

Our ride took us on a smooth single from Hazorea to Mishmar Haemek and then we commenced a long climb, not too hard ....for some........and all rideable. We crossed Nahal mishmar HaEmek and continued past Ein Hashofet, then South of Dalya. We crossed Nahal Shalef and rode past Ein Taninim and Ein Sukar and then further North to Ein Mecholalim, then visited Ein Demonit and Ein Shalef, all by this time filled with picnic'ers of all types.
By now it was beginning to get quite hot so I decided to change the track and ride to the Ramat Hashofet junction and continue on road 672 till we met Nahal hashofet where we turned East towards Ein Rehania and then followed the Nahal all the back to the cars.

A beautiful ride, lots of watering places, we didn't stop this time, but a great place to ride in the summer months.

Statistics:
Total ride: 38 kms
Total ascent: 683 meters
Actual riding time: 2:58 hrs
Avr speed: 12.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 37.4 km/hr

הזורע

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 38 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 683 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:58 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 37.4 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Nahal Oren

So, one was sick one was on holiday, one had family committments and that left us, Nurit and I to do our own thing.
It's now getting more and more difficult to find routes we have not ridden before so most of our rides are made up partly of trails we have ridden before, interspersed with new ones.
Today we decided to ride up from Nahal Oren in the Agam picnic area to Usfiya. This trail we have not attempted before and it was quite a challenge. Most of it we rode but here and there the lungs and muscles ganged up on us and said too much.....walk already.......

Once the top was gained we joined the Carmel scenic route overlooking the valley. Unfortunately it was a grey day so the sight seeing was not too great. This part of the route is quite long and we'd ridden it before so not too interesting.

Then into Daliat HaCarmel where we found a little short cut to bring us back on the trail to the MUchraka. Having visited the Muchraka several times on various rides, we decided to forego the pleasure and cut off down towards Nahal Oren and the Agam.

In the morning the picnic are was deserted. When we returned it was packed. Cars people children bar b ques and of course one person spoiling the fun of all the other picnic...ers. A gentleman with his remote car toy making an infernal noise and kicking up as must dust as was possible, right in the middle of the famillies and totally impervious of all around. Shame........

Statistics:
Total ride: 31.75 kms
Total ascent: 596 meters
Actual riding time: 2:39 hrs
Avr speed: 11.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 42 km/hr

נחל אורן

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 31.75 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 596 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:39 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 42 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Ravaya to the Gilboa

Now is the time to visit the Gilboa. Flowers of every sort, colours abounding with joy and cheer, and as a special treat we have the Iris of the Gilboa.
A very special flower, deep purple and a texture which is amazing.
But in order to see these very special flowers we set ourselves a difficult task. to climb the Gilboa on its hardest trails.

We set off from Revaya on an eleven km flat warm up ride, riding past Shluhot, Reshafim, Mesilot and Nir David until we reached Bet Alfa. Directly above Bet Alfa is the beginning of the first sepentine, a hard gruelling climb to the first look out above Emek Harod, Mitzpe Jonatan. The sights are amazing, even with a slight haze covering the far off mountain ranges, it was still breathtaking, and so was the climb, as we slowly rode up and up until a welcome break at the end of the hardest sepentine in Israel.

The next part was the easiest of the two serpentines, of the Barkan climb. When I say easiest, it was still a long slog consistantly climbing, right and left and right and left until eventually we reached the road on the Gilboa..

From here we made our way through the hordes of visitors to the Gilboa until we found ourselves in the Gilboa forest, home to the Gilboa Iris.
We continued climbing to Har Yatzpur and then joined the Gilboa single for a brief while up to Merav having passed Maale Gilboa and har Avinadav on the way. Then another gruelling climb, this time on asphalt until we reached Malkishua and here we met traffic jams as other Iris seekers took to the trails to see this wonderful flower. Apparantly this year there are more Iris's then there has been for many a year.

And now came the final episode onf todays task. Going down. Normally an unbounded pleaserable adrenalin rush. Today a bone jarring, joint fracturing, neck cracking, hand acher continuous vibrator trail down to the cars. Sounds terrible...it was. Howver it was downhill.

Statistics:
Total ride: 45 kms
Total ascent: 1029 meters
Actual riding time: 3.45 hrs
Avr speed: 12.1 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 45.6 km/hr

רוויה לגלבוע

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 45 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1029 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:45 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.1 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 45.6 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Lahavim to Sansana

It was about time for another one of my specials. I actually never know if the ride will be special or not until after its done. Most rides, when I plan the route myself are good rides but some just turn out to be special.
So what was so special about this one. Well first off it was the colour green and then 50 shades of it. This time of the year is definitely one of the most spectacular times to ride. Everything is green, the number of different plants and flowers which push themselves out of this normally parched land is quite amazing. We were blessed with reds, pinks, blues, purples, yellows and browns to colour just a few. The trees are nearly in full bloom. And then the scenery, the rolling hills, the forests of Lahavim and Sansana and then to add those cherries to our cake we added a 10 km part of the Lahav single, very fast flowing downhill single and the a 4 km climb on the winding single back up to the Joe Alon memorial to begin a hair raising downhill back to Lahavim.

And the weather......well driving down was a wee bit foggy, couldn't see a bloody thing...but when we got to a couple of kms before Lahavim , all of a sudden we had blue skies and bright sunshine and this was our weather for the whole ride. Not too hot. In fact perfect. Everything in fact. In fact...a special ride........

Statistics:
Total ride: 42 kms
Total ascent: 810 meters
Actual riding time: 3.13 hrs
Avr speed: 12.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 49.6 km/hr

להבים לסנסנה

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 42 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 810 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:13 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 49.6 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max- Shoeva to Maale Hahamisha

Woke up it was a Chelsea morning and the first thing that I saw.......
That was a song from Joni Mitchel........a long time ago....
So what did we do today.......
Well we rode 37 kms with an accumulated height gain of 848 meters. Not bad.

From Shoeva we rode along the topographical contour lines loosing height here and there and then gaining some,
riding partly on the Ein Rapah single until we got to Ein Limon. The single was smooth hard packed earth and easy to ride on.
We rode through Ein Rapah and Ein Nekuba, passed Shmurat Ein Hemed nearly devoid of all water for some reason, untill we reached the overpass over Highway Number One. Then into Abu Gosh on the 4x4 route parallel to the main road until we were just below Maale Hahamisha then we turned west towards Nataf and Har Haruach. Here we stopped for our first break, a bit windy but still a good place for some piping hot tea courtesy of Jonathan's new green 750 gm thermos.

From here we climbed around the back of Maale hahamisha till we reached the WALL........Pink Floyd in the background.......
Then over to har Adar with their sculpture garden.

Somewhere along these delightful trails as I was happily riding along, there came upon us a 6 meter expanse of SHIT. Literarily shit. It seems that some kind farmer from one of the Moshavim had decided to fill a dip in the trail with the contents of his cow shed. HOT STEAMING SHIT. Actaully it was quite cold but the smells...........honestly I have nevere wanted to get off my bike so fast in my life.........
The thing was that there was nowhere to go round this less than sweet smelling obstacle. The only way over was to ride through. I did and so did Jonathan but what happened to Amos and Nurit. Well they seemed to have come accross a wall which we had not seen. Eventually Amos took the plunge and easily rode through and then Nurit attemped the same but decided that her foot needed a better smell so she did what one does from time to time and ......put her foot in it.....

Laughter over and smelling like our very own refet (cow shed) we ploughed on until we reached Mevaseret Zion. Another healthy climb until we crossed Highway One then through Moaz Zion and the Castel quarry and on to Tzova. Another break to add some energy and we zoomed down the Nof Dromit trail until the junction where we turned North to ride the final climb back to Shoeva.

A great ride, a great day and perfect weather.

Statistics:
Total ride: 37 kms
Total ascent: 848 meters
Actual riding time: 3.09 hrs
Avr speed: 11.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 46.7 km/hr

שואבה

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 37 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 848 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3.09 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 46.7 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Yar Kedoshim & Yar Camila

Where can you go after 2 days of continuous rain..??? Well Yar Kedoshim of course.And its only 40 mins from Home, or an hour and a quarter if you go via Beer Sheva. (Amos will tell all).

12 kms of a gradual climb until we get to Zova and then to the top of Yar Camila, another 6 kms or so of more climbing and in between some cool downhills. Big puddles on the way but we managed to skirt around all of them so a clean ride. The weather was perfect and we are just at the beginning of the best time of the year in Israel. The flowering is just beginning and the colours already are a sight for sore eyes.

Statistics:
Total ride: 29 kms
Total ascent: 680 meters
Actual riding time: 2.20 hrs
Avr speed: 12.5 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 39.1 km/hr

יער קדושים ויער כמילה

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 29 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 682 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2.20 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.5 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 39.1 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Damon to Muchraka

the Carmel Forest is being rejuvenated. We decided to visit our old hunting grounds. its been a long time since we were there and also a long time since the fire. Then everything smelled terribly, everything was very sad and everything was very black. Now, all is green again. Trees are again showing off their green foliage, even if their barks are still a dark shade of burnt.

We rode down from Damon towards Nahal Oren, enjoying as we rode the amazing greens that cover this whole area. Then up through the Westeern outskirts of Usfia and onto Daliat El Carmel. At this time all the shops are still shut and there are no hordes of tourists bustling around the city. From here a gradual climb up to the Muchraka, always a place of great attraction.

After the break a long ride along the Nof Carmel trail, overlooking the valleys below....a great view and then at the end a long climb back up to Damon and back to the cars.

A beautiful day, clear blue skies and a beginning that was so freezing cold as to be unbearable to be in the shade. Even after a couple of hours in the glorious sun it was still bloody cold........but all in all a great day out and a great ride.

Statistics:
Total ride: 36.5 kms
Total ascent: 732 meters
Actual riding time: 2:49 hrs
Avr speed: 13.2 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 55.5 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 36.5 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 732 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:49 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13.2 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 55.5 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Around Eilat

This time we took the bikes down with us to Eilat. We stayed at the IsroHotel Yam Suf just opposite the Almog Beach. A delightful Hotel, perfectly matched to what we needed.

Our first ride, we called it "around Eilat" touk us.......wait for it.... yes....around Eilat. Breakfast at the Hotel and then we pushed hard against a strong wind all along the Eilat Beach front along the promenade, at that time empty of people, until we reached nearly the border with Jordan. we then made a decision to vist the salt ponds where the flamingos, pink ones at that, have made their temporary home every year now for the last few years. We met them there about 200 of them we were told and with my new compact 20 x zoom camera managed to take a couple of nearly decent shots of the pinkies in the middle of the lake.

After this the serious stuff began. We rode back fast and furious to cross over the main 90 highway on the North end of Kibbutz Eilot, where we started our climb up the mountains behind Eilat. We met a single trail somewhere which brought us back toward Eilat but then making a U turn climbed us back up the mountains. Following various trails we rode up hill, down dale, through wonderful desert scenery, mostly looking down on the Eilat bay from on high. We took our time....in no hurry and at some stage we met the "singles playground of Eilat. having ridden by now about 40 kms, we took a democartic vote and decided to leave these single to another trip. So be it........

So on we pushed now beginning a long....a very long downhill ride partlyy in the mountains and then partly through the town....all good fun and all very much downhill. All too fast we reached the port and then it was only a short way back. So with 47 kms under our belts, we reached the Hotel after having had a glorious day out in the mountains, with perfect Eilat winter weather.
We will do this again...............

Statistics:
Total ride: 47 kms
Total ascent: 430 meters
Actual riding time: 3.20 hrs
Avr speed: 13 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 38.4 km/hr

אילת

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 47 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 420 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:20 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 38.4 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Taoz

Its been a long time, but finally we rode out for a non local ride. The last few weeks have been pretty hectic, what with Maya's wedding and bad weather , we haven't managed an away ride for quite some time. So......Taoz seemed a good option. Plenty of climbing, great scenery and not too much mud.
the beginning of the ride was newly planned and turned out to be a great ride, uphills there were but none too difficult. The area is totally green, even the trails have turned into pasture land. The earth , is tightly packed now with just a slight give, to make perfect conditions for riding and climbing. The second part was a bit more hilly requiring a lot more effort, one particular part was very difficult but somehow we managed it. In the third part we met another wall but managed to overcome this as well.
All in all a great day out. The weather was perfect, the scenery was magnificent, the company ....well you know......

Jonathan.......you missed a great ride..........

Statistics:
Total ride: 29 kms
Total ascent: 853 meters
Actual riding time: 2:45 hrs
Avr speed: 10.5 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 43.8 km/hr

תעוז למסילת ציון

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 29 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 853 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:45 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.5 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 43.8 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Haifa +

The Haifa urban ride is always good fun, especially in the winter after the rains have turned normal paths into mud baths. Well today wasn't exactly winter but for mpnths now I have wanted to try this route. The Urban part is much the same, but the descent down to sea level is new for us and very technical.

So the off road descent starts in Ramat Begin and goes down to Givat Haezim. A real 4x4 paths strewn with rocks of all colours and sizes but just about rideable. By the time we got down our hands were aching and quite sore. However all of this pales against this man we met walking down these barely walkable paths. We chatted at the bottom, and he told me that he was 86. To be honest he looked his age but for his age to do such a walk......amazing......Kol HaKavod.

Statistics:
Total ride: 27.27 kms
Total ascent: 424 meters
Actual riding time: 1:58 hrs
Avr speed: 13.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 47.8 km/hr

חיפה

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 27 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 424 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 47.8 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Bet Guvrin to Tzanan

It was so good we just had to do it again. We went back to Tzanan to the cool refreshing pool, we thought we'd take a nice romantic break before the drive home. however, when we go there it was full with other party poopers, enjoying their lunch and a swim in the small but Oh so refreshing pool.

So this morning we all arrived late at the start, we later than others. I blame this on Google who bought out WAZE , who gave us a wrong indication of time to arrive at destination point.
Anyway we set off to ride through the myriad trails around Bet Guvrin, through parts of Park Britania and onto the Adolam Nature reserve. We rode on 4x4 paths, on singles, some technical some less so but all smooth flowing and great fun evev though it seemed at times that we were climbing all the singles.

We managed to do some good climbs, according to the GPS, we did over 600 meters and all in all with temperatures and humidity remaining in the bearable "range" we all seemed to have had a great day out. I really enjoyed the ride, especially Nahal Guvrin and the Tzanan pool, which we all enjoyed about 8 kms before the end of the ride.

Definitely a ride to do again.

Statistics:
Total ride: 35.5 kms
Total ascent: 671 meters
Actual riding time: 2:47 hrs
Avr speed: 12.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 44.1 km/hr

בית גוברין

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 35.5 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 671 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:47 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 44.1 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Singles Rish Lekish and Hoshaya

Temperatures are dropping but very very slowly. In fact in the laast few moments of the ride, it was bloody hot. You would have thought we would be use to the heat by now, but it seems to me that it gets hotter and more humid every year.

the beginning was the four of us, Amos and Jonathan, Nurit and myself and then Shimon arrived, unannounced and unwritten. Still we welcomed him with open arms and bikes ready we sterted the ride.

Rish Lekish is a smooth flowing single, allowing you to get some nice speed going while still being able to concentrate on the single. The surface is very dry but very firm and is well looked after and there were quite a few other riders out there enjoying the ride as well. The Hoshaya single is another kettle of fish. Obviously not well ridden and not too popular according to the overgrowth but still a better single for those who want more of a challenge. The trail is quite smooth but with lota if technical bits thrown in for good fun. The first half is a good climb, and can be done at a good steady pace and the second half is a bit more of a technical downhill. All easily rideable and all good fun.

The way back once on Rish Lekish again is fast smooth and fun and depending on the way you choose to ride back is about 10km with a slight uphill.

All in all a nice morning's ride.

By the way, photos are a bit sparse due to the lack of stopping times........

Statistics:
Total ride: 26.24 kms
Total ascent: 386 meters
Actual riding time: 2:04 hrs
Avr speed: 12.6 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 35.1 km/hr

סינגלים ריש לקיש והושעיה

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 26.24 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 386 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:04 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.6 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 35.1 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Bet Hananya

A great ride, smooth, one single but this ride is mainly a 4x4 track, up through the hills towards Horshan and then climbing to the highest point untill the smoth exciting downhills.

A great ride eminently enjoyable but still very hot. At least the terrible sand storms ar now a thing of the past. Although there were still some remnants of the sand and dust high up in the air, we didnt suffer it too much down on the ground. Still it was great to be out again after a 5 day closure. days where it was nigh on impossible to breath let alone ride.

My GPS conked out towards the end so no stats this time.

Statistics:
Total ride: 35 kms
Total ascent: meters
Actual riding time: hrs
Avr speed: km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max-Kfar Uria

A surprise......Itzik joined us. Shimon did not......a sore throat.....noo noo, Nurit did not....queasy stomach......noo noo. So off we went, not a breeze anywhere to be found.......hot steamy weather.
We rode paths ridden before for about half the ride and then new pastures where we had not. All easily rideable, some long gruelling climbs but no walls to break our backs.
Two punctures, one chain break and two good breaks and the time reached five hours where we actually rode just over 2 hours. Still, it was a nice morning out, a lot of the ride shaded in parts and some cloud cover made the heat bearable.
If they had cold showers at the end of each summer's ride, that would be a mechaya....a wonderful thing..

Statistics:
Total ride: 28 kms
Total ascent: 686 meters
Actual riding time: 2:12 hrs
Avr speed: 12.3 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 45.6 km/hr

כפר אוריה

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 28 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 686 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:12 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.3 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 45.6 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Migdal to Masad

Nurit said .....too hot.......too long......too high.......... Nrit said....I'm not coming.......can't do it....... So Jonathan and I set out to meet with another Max in Ein Nun. A quiet watering hole, perfect place to end a tough ride. A quick dip, cool off the body and then ............. the beginning was a tough climb all the way up to Arbel, Temperatures hot but manageable but so so damp and sweaty, Max, the second, managed well, on his hard tail and we hardly had to wait for him. Through Kfar Zeitim we rode and then the second climb, through Nahal Arbel up to Elabun. here Max the second left us and Jonathan and I braving temperatures in the 40's rode on. The second half of the ride was meant to be downhill but apart from some cool descents it seemed to be mostly uphill. Anyway we managed the way down, including both my legs cramping very tightly, and got to Ein Nun. A quick dip, body cooled off and off we joly well went for malt beer and ice cream Oh and a cnaffe!!!!!! Ah yes, the heat......unbearable at the end....actually the worst part was from the air conditioned restaurant to the car.......

Statistics:
Total ride:40 kms
Total ascent: 856 meters
Actual riding time: 3:24 hrs
Avr speed: 11.6 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 54.0 km/hr

מיגדל למסד

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 40 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 856 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:21 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.6 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 54.0 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Habonim to Bat Shlomo

Shiman, Amos and myself, parked in the Habonim airport, ready for take off.
Bikes prepared we set off. Road riding until the Ataturk forest.
here a happening, Mondraker plus 200 cars parked.......funny no riders, one lady walker.
We climbed the first single, short and sweet.
Then through trails 4 x 4, white paths, sandy singles, steep singles, technical singles,
We climbed, rode, descended, singled and doubled.
Through the Ofer forest, passing Kerem Maharal, then down to the Mekora winery,
a place visited many times before, then over to the Hagit single, thorns
and thorns and thorns, agrressive thorns, prickly thorns, scratching thorns,
Didnt finish this single......ouch.
The break, under a tree next to some old caves, buriul places of long gone ancestors.
Then continue, in 200% humidity, cloud cover nearly all morning sweat requiring 4 big bath towels,
mine was a midgets hand one.
Another climb, another single and then a quick dash back to the cars.
A great ride, had everything......rocks, stones, gravel, sand .....
hills to work hard at, and singles to test our skills.
Shimon, Amos and myself returned after a great ride.
Thanks to Raz Goren for the plan.

Statistics:
Total ride: 33.50 kms
Total ascent: 578 meters
Actual riding time: 2:34 hrs
Avr speed: 13 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 44.5 km/hr

הבונים לבת שלומה

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 33.5 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 578 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:34 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 44.5 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Hazorea and Singles

it was meant to be a ride in the shade. The forecast was for a hot day before a Sharav in the evening. So we all decided that short and shady was the name of this ride.

Well it started well, riding a single we'd never been on before........but a sharp right hander on an incline uphill and my chain snapped.
I had in my tool box a quick chain connector but not the trusty Sram one. This was another sort and for the life of me I could not get the damn thing to snap closed. Amos to the rescue and a chain pin was found. So chain fixed and off we went again. 400 meters on and again it happened...this time it snapped in 2 places, but more critically I noticed that the rear gear derailleur was hanging on for dear life on one strand of wire. So I decided a cable change was required. No problem, the old one came out in a jiffy but installing the new one turned out to be a lesson in the making. My bike (Rocky Mountain) has internal cable routing and so I was now faced with trying to insert a wire cable through the smallest of openings inside the main tubing.
But nothing stops the spokes and with suggestions and help from Amos and Joathan we understood the way to do it.

You have to release the cable from the front derailleur. Then with the bike up side down you have to remove the plastic cable support in the back of the crank base. Then you thread the cable through the gear handle, through the tubing, through the plastic support. THEN replace the plasrtic support, connect the front and back derailleurs, adjust the cables to their correct positions so that the gears change correctly, both back and front, and then have a cup of tea and help some other lost child who also had chain problems.

All in all more than an hour of repair work on my bike.
By the way the ride was great but a bit too short for my liking............

Statistics:
Total ride: 24.5 kms
Total ascent: 465 meters
Actual riding time: 1:56 hrs
Avr speed: 12.6 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 40.1 km/hr

הזורע + סינגלים

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 24.5 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 465 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 1:56 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.6 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 40.1 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Zanuach to Zur Hadassah

Nahals galore. Nahal Zanuach, Nahal Dolev
Nahal Machasia, Nahal Sorek, Nahal Kutlev
However not too much water to be found. So Zanuach was our starting point, the beginning of a climb, filled with stones, then more stones and then many many more stones. The incline was rideable but add the stones and it was difficult, it was slippery and it was tiring.
All of it, none of us rode. Most of it a few of us rode. Some of it , most of us rode. A lot of it some of us walked and so on.........
Reaching the higher plateaus we rode above Nahal Sorek, the views ,...simply brilliant, maybe a bit hazy here and there but tremendous none the less.

KKL provides us with a picnic table, Shimon (of the broken rib fame)provided us with the coffee, Jonathan made the tea. Perfect. Break over it was time to ride on and then the way down. Wonderful, full speed ahead, adrenalin pulsing, relaxing on the bike and down we flew.... Oh too soon we had finished the descent, just a wee dash back to the cars and it was over.
A perfect Saturday's ride.

Statistics:
Total ride: 26.40 kms
Total ascent: 634 meters
Actual riding time: 2.00 hrs
Avr speed: 13.1 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 43.7 km/hr

זנוח לצור הדסה

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 26.4 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 634 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2.00 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13.1 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 43.7 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - The Megiddo Forest

The Megiddo Forest seems to be an unending forest of multiple paths going in all different directions and covering every inch of its very pretty area. Our trail took us near Kibbutz Megiddo and then to Madrich OZ, a lot of the riding is through partially covered shaded areas, a boon for summer riding. We were very lucky as in addition to the trees forming a canopy above us, we also had a considerable grey cloud cover. All in all, this managed to keep the temperatures down and our body heat stayed at a reasonable level throughout the ride. While this was not planned as a singles ride, we did manage to find a few here and there and one stood out in particular as it had a few very steep elements in it which necessitated walking a bit. Apart from that and one other steep but uphill climb, we managed to ride the whole trail, setting a good pace while enjoying the wonderful forest all around us. Even though we have ridden extensively in the area, we still managed to find trails we had never ridden on before. All in all a great day out and as usual great company.

Statistics:
Total ride: 31 kms
Total ascent: 802 meters
Actual riding time:2.31 hrs
Avr speed: 12.3 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 50.0 km/hr

יער מגידו

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 31 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 802 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2.31 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.3 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 50.5 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Jonathan - Ayelet Hashahar via Nahal Dishon

It's ages since we've had a rhyme
I guess we're overdue
We headed north t'ward Lebanon
To see what we can do

In Ayelet Hashachar we parked our cars
We saw some birds in flight
We rode beside some grazing cows
And lots of flies that like to bite

In to the forest of Biria we went
Not really hard at all
Along a trail than curved and bent
But then we struck a wall

It's wasn't long - though just as well
The angle was a bitch
We struggled, panted, pushed like hell
I nearly got a stitch

Onward to more singles bound
On forest trails we rode
Some up some down some round and round
Past frogs and one big toad

At half-way through we started down
The Dishon river lied in waiting
Full of stones and rocks we bounced around
Our arms hurt from all the shaking

But that passed too and we were done A quick dash back along the road We'd had our work and lots of fun And we headed back to home Another week another ride
Max - thanks for all the preparation
Great mountain views and friends at side
We look forward to the coming destination

Statistics:
Total ride: 45 kms
Total ascent: 900 meters
Actual riding time: 3:40 hrs
Avr speed: 11.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 46.4 km/hr

איילת השחר דרך ביריה ונחל דישון

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 45 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 900 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3.40 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.07 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 46.4 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Revaya Gilboa & Malkishua

We started in Revaya after having been stopped by the police for a normal driving licence check. The strange thing was that the policeman who stopped us was a very orthodox Jew and we tried to understand why he would work on Shabbas in such a mundane job.
We rode North passing the various pools on the way, inviting but still a bit cold in the day, we passed Nir David and then started our climb up the Gilboa. The way up is rideable, just, but it is a slow slog requiring mental abilities as much as physical ones and we divided the climb into three parts. The first unbelievaly hard, the second less so and the third, a serpentine that hust goes up and up but is a little easier on the legs...and on the heart....and on the lungs.....

We reached Har Barkan after a break for tea, provided by Jonathan and continued climbing to Har Achinoam where we entered the forest for a nice esy downhill before climbing to Har Yatzpor. Then a ride down to the fence and towards Maale Gilboa, then a gradual climb to Har Avinadav and finally to Malkishua, our highest point of today's ride.

The weather was really great, a cool start and then a warm up, both us and the temperature outside, and blue skies all around. The scenery as we climbed was absolutely stunning, even though the lush green is slowly turning a not so lush ,dry brown.

Another break in Malkishua and then we started down to Revaya.
16 kms of fast stony downhill, vibrating our bikes with no let up, hair pin bends to add to the enjoyment and views to just sit back and enjoy , which we did not!

48 kms riden, up some of the hardest climbs we have achieved to dat, and down some of the fastest stony descents of all time.

A truly great day out.

Well done to Nurit, Amos, Jonathan and myself.

Statistics:
Total ride: 48 kms
Total ascent: 1,108 meters
Actual riding time: 3:57 hrs
Avr speed: 12.1 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 53.5 km/hr

הגילבוע עד מלקישוע – בלוג על ידי נורית

אחרי תקופה ארוכה יצאנו שוב לדרך הגענו למושב רוויה לרגלי הגלבוע בדרך עברנו את מושב רחוב!!! בחיים לא שמעתי על המקומות האלה.

עמוס ויונתן הגיעו כמה דקות אחרינו. מזג האויר היה מעט צונן אבל השמיים כחולים וסוף כל סוף הרוח המטורפת שהיתה בימים האחרונים שקטה.

יצאנו לדרך בין בריכות הדגים לכיוון בית אלפא. את עשרת הקילומטרים עברנו יחסית מהר.
ומכאן התחילה העלייה לגלבוע.
את הדרך אפשר לחלק לשלושה חלקים.
החלק הראשון קצר מאד עדיין סלול אבל תלול מאוד. הדופק מרקיע שחקים.
החלק השני התחלת דרך עפר תלולה וארוכה עד דרך שפויה יותר אבל מתפתלת.
החלק השלישי של העליה דורשת סובלנות והתמדה.
בסיום העליה הגענו לכביש שהוא דרך נוף הגלבוע להר ברקן.
הנוף מכאן עוצר נשימה......
ירידה ראשונה עד האזור של האירוסים.( לא בתקופה הזו).
ואז נכנסנו לסינגל .
אחרי טיפוס מייגע להתרכז בסינגל לא היה קל. שתי נפילות של עמוס ומקס עברו בשלום .הסינגל הוביל אותנו למעלה גילבוע ומשם עלייה מתמשכת עד מירב.
אנחנו עדיין על הגלבוע אבל מטפסים הלאה עד הר מלכישוע.
מנוחה קצרה השעון מראה כ32 קילומטר והדרך עוד ארוכה.

עכשיו מתחילה הירידה.
מקס הוביל אותנו בדרך אוירה עד לכביש שנקרא מעלה מירב.
ומשם המשכנו בירידה נחמדה עד כביש 90. ועוד כברת דרך עד המכוניות.
אין ספק שאחרי 49 קילומטר. ו1100 מטר טיפוס. יש סיפוק מאד גדול.
הנופים המלווים את הרכיבה הזו לאורך כל הדרך מהממים .

מזג אוויר אידיאלי .
חברה טובה ועידוד מימקס עשו את הרכיבה הקשה במיוחד לאפשרית😂
שבוע טוב לכולם.

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 48 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1108 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:57 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.1 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 53.5 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Jonathan - Mitzpe Dani to Almog

Amidst fears of an unfriendly forecast (heat and predicted hazy, dusty skies), our band of intrepid riders met at Almog near the Dead Sea early in the morning. Max and Nurit, Stas, Amos and Jonathan.
Our friendly driver, Mohammed, took us up to the starting point of our ride - a place high in the Judean hills called Mitzpe Dani, not far from Ma'ale Michmas if you know where that is.
Mitzpe Dani was named after the son of ex-neighbours of Max's family in London who was a victom of a terrorist attack several years ago. The mitzpe is a settlement of only a handful of families - each with a vicious guard dog - but with magnificent views overlooking the Dead Sea.

We were greeted by barking dogs (mercifully they were all on leashes) and spent the first twenty minutes trying to find the start of our trail. We eventually opted to ride through the settlement (not a comfortable choice given that they are all religious) but with a little help from a local, eventually found a path heading eastwards and down so off we went.

A rapid descent along the reasonable path took us to lower altitudes and then the trail left for more adventurous terrain. That meant a lot of walking - large rocks strewn everywhere, no clear path or direction. There were plenty of flowers around and the hills are still quite green (for a desert) and we even saw a tree or two. We finally made it to what looked like our trail and pressed on.

From here the ride was a mixture - some riding (more downhill than up) but plenty of walking too as large rocks and poor or non-existant paths made riding at times almost impossible. One of two sharp uphills took us to really magnificent view-points. A break near a monastery near an old aquaduct well-known for both it's size and height gave time to repair a puncture and get some refreshment. We eventually found ourselves in a river-bed (all stones) and from that point started to climb again. That was where the real challenges started. Max and Stas debated the more manageable path and eventually we took Stas'. It may have been the easier way - but in that case I wouldn't like to see the harder one.
We pushed, scrambled and dragged our bikes up ridiculously narrow and steep paths. The angle was so severe we sometimes had to walk criss-cross even over the grassier parts. But finally, breathless and after much perseverance, we made it to the top to our 4*4 path.
If you own a 4*4 don't try it - unless you have a very small jeep - the trail was only about 10 cms wide. But at least it was a trail!

It took us up and down along the hills (some riding, some walking) until we eventually reached the vantage point overlooking the St George Monastery. It's a beautiful sight if you've never been.
At that point, Amos was having trouble walking so we opted to take the road back to Highway 1 which involved a few rather long and demanding climbs - but at least we were riding! From there, we had a speed-of-light descent back down to Almog. Max clocked himself at over 70 k/mh - surely a new Spokes' record! Back at Almog, a quick ice-cream and drink and we set off home. In the end the weather was fine - a little hot but not too bad, a little hazy but didn't cause any respiratory difficulties.

The area is great, views are as always unique. Most of the paths weren't ideal for riding this time but we all had plenty of sun, fun and exercise all the same. We don't ask for anything more!

Statistics:
Total ride: 25.66 kms
Total ascent: 495 meters
Total descent: 1312 meters
Actual riding time: 1:56 hrs
Avr speed: 13.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 70.4 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – מצפה דני לאלמוג

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 25.66 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 495 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 1:56 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13.2 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 70.4 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Dvira & single Lahav

So today we were three, Amos Jonathan and myself. Nurit didn't feel well and Shimon sent me an early sms to say that he'd overslept. Nu Nu.....!!

We started our ride from kibbutz Dvir and rode down to the beginning of the Lahav single, a free flowing smooth single with plenty of gradual climbing, some downhills but I didn't notice too much of them, and nearly totally non technical. the route is planned well and follows the contours of the hills very nicely. The scenery at this time of the year is beautiful, green, lush scenes all around. Inside the single itself the flowering is quite magnificent, lots of calaniot and other varieties.

We started the ride at 08.10 and at 09.00 when we had our first break we had already ridden 11.5 kms so most of the single was behind us. Great fun riding it. Having drunk our tea we carried on for a few more undulation kms until we branced off on a fast downhill to the second part of our ride through the North Lahav Park, a very pretty (at least at this time of the year) area full of hills on all sides and great paths to ride around on. We rode North until we lost our track and found ourselves riding through rock strewn fields and towards the ruins of an ancient Jewish village called Zak. The ruins are quite well preserved and date from the times of the Maccabies. After some exploratory work by myself, we continued for a bit through the rock strewn hill hoping that nothing would throw us off our bikes. Amos decided at some point to do a double back flip with a forward twist over the top of his handlebars, actually he had a very minor flip over the top but landed very well and so we carried on down the hill till we rejoined a normal 4x4 path. Then through a fast trail down towards Dvir and with one more hill to test us just a bit more, we managed to get back to the cars after a really great ride in a great area and we all said we would be back for more.

For the next 2 weeks we will be in Switzerland skiing so no organised ride for the next 2 Saturdays.

By the way the dearth of photos was due to 1, no Nurit, and 2, no time to stop as we were having such good fun............

Statistics:
Total ride: 28 kms
Total ascent: 579 meters
Actual riding time: 2:06 hrs
Avr speed: 13.3 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 37.6 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Bror Hayil to Ruhama

Well, we can't go through this period of the year without visiting Ruhama and seeing zillions of anemones or as we like to call them, calaniot.
We started in Bror Hayil for a change and rode East through the Bror hayil single, meandering smoothly through the cannopied forest, here and there bunches of calaniot in their pure bright red colous, surrounded by green grass, interspersed with violet blue flowers and then yellows to add to the abundance of colours.

We rode long and tirelessly, past Tel Shekef, past tel Hassi onto Tel Keshet, our furthermost point East of the ride, then we turned South parallel to Road 40 until we reached Philip's farm. Then South West to tel Nagila, everyman's 4x4 wet dream....or so it appeared.

Then we joined the Ruhama single and the Dorot single and then the wide paths , battling the 4x4's all the way, until we reached the cars.

Statistics:
Total ride: 53 kms
Total ascent: 614 meters
Actual riding time: 3.58 hrs
Avr speed: 13.4 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 39.5 km/hr

ברור חיל לרוחמה

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 53 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 614 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:58 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13.4 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 39.5 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Bet Zera to the Yavniel river

I had a job to do in one of the Kibbutzim in the area so we took the opportunity to plan a ride up North.
We arrived in Bet Zera, the start of the ride, at 11.15 and started off at 11.33.
this was after finding out that Nurit had forgotton her riding pants (the padded ones......damn!!) and then she noticed that she had brought one actual riding shoe (with cleats) and one sports shoe (without cleats). But no problem, our Nurit got on with the job at hand and started riding with what she had. Anyway we were only going for a ride around Bet Zera..........

Well the first 300 meters was a nice downhill to the Jordan river, to a pastoral, very pretty, very green river bed where we admired the birds perched on small stones in the flowing river. looking up it seemed that the hills around us were very high but......
According to the elevation profile, we rode the next 6 kilometers uphill over very steep paths to gain about 700 meters in height, probably more in actual riding. It was very steep. It was very hard and it was....
Most of it was rideable.( in the lowest gear possible)...for some....for others most of it was walkable.
Fortunately the views were out of this world. Green lush forests with a smattering of red calnaiot everywhere, paths and no paths. Finally with plenty of stoppages to reclaim energy we made it to the top overlooking Shmurat Har Yavniel. An amazing climb, probably the hardest i have ever done.

From here we rode a long gradual downhill picking up a good speed and following the contours of Nahal Reches. We rode all the way down to the lowest point of this part of the ride where Nahal Reches meets Nahal Tavor to begin the long second climb to the lookout point over Yavniel.

Here we hit a very technical downhill, churned up and destroyed by countless 4x4 animals doing their best to climb this ascent. We got down, very fast but the daylight by this time was turning very fast into dusk. We then joined the red path down and arrived at the meeting point with Shvil Israel. But this was a hiking point of about one kilometer to the next 4x4 trail so what was there to do but hoist our bikes on our shoulders and hike. The trail was full of boulders of all sizes, slippery paths and stinging nettles and to cap that it was really starting to get dark.

Well we marched on, heads held high actally very low to try and see the non existant trail, and stung and scratched eventually made it to the next 4x4 path, by this time dark.!! Fortunately a full moon shone down on us and blind leading the blind we rode down for the next 30 or so minutes hoping that the trail was in good shape...................
Very soon we saw the lights of Bet Zera, peeping through the darkness and in a short while arrived back at the car.

Phew......and PHEW again. 7 hours of a trek, ride, hike, probably the hardest total ride we had ever done and with coffee and cake eaten we started the long drive home.

Statistics:
Total ride: 33 kms
Total ascent: 1094 meters
Actual riding time: 3:22 hrs
Avr speed: 9.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 38.2 km/hr

בית זרע לנחל יבנאל

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 33 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1094 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:22 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 9.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 38.2 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Amazia, Lachish

Why is it that the temperature in Amazia is just freezing. According to the car it was 6.5 deg C. Still the sun was out and after a short thawing out of fingers and other extremeties, we managed to get the bikes ready and off we rode.
I had changed the beginning of the ride so that we would not have to cross fields and ford rivers like last time and we managed to do this bit OK.
The area has become one of my favorites at this time of the year, the green colour covering everything is simply wonderful and the flowering as we gradually rode through the area was simply beautiful.

Shimon joined us today on his new Santa Cruz Tallboy. A very pretty bike but one which still needs a bit of adjusting to get it to Shimon's best configuration.

We started just outside Amazia and rode around Kerem Ami, down to Shekef, West towards Bnei Dekalim and then generally South on 4x4 paths, on trails which we made up as we rode them and here and there on singles, short and sweet. The middle section I had changed and we found ourselves on a never ending downhill, through green fields with hundreds of Calanyiot all over. Uphills we rode and downhills we flowed.....

Getting closer to the Adoryim Dam, we began to see more and more cars bringing visitors to see the very amazing red sights of the flowers. The last part was too over crowded for my liking, but everyone wants to enjoy the red south, so no real complaints.

After climbing 800 meters and riding 40 kms we all felt our legs, but having spent the last 5 or so hours in the glorious sunny weather, it was well worth the effort.

Statistics:
Total ride: 40.03 kms
Total ascent: 802 meters
Actual riding time: 3:10 hrs
Avr speed: 12.6 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 41.8 km/hr

אמציה

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 40 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 802 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:10 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.6 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 41.8 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Jonathan - Amazia - Lechish

One of the most enjoyable rides I've been on with Israel Spokes!
There were four of us (Max, Nurit, Amos and me) and we met at Amatzia on a cool-but-promising-to-be-sunny morning.
In fact, the start was quite cold: Amos looked like a ninja in his Artic face gear and Max was wearing more layers of clothes than I could count.
But as we started riding, we did warm up and as the sun gained heat, the weather was really perfect.
We started off as usually looking for our path. One or two false starts and we found it, going east and then south past Shekef. The area is Lachish and it is absolutely stunning right now: hilly, green and lush. Soon the calaniot will be out in force and it should be a real spectacle, but even now the views were breathtaking. Max promised a re-run in March when there should be more flower - should be a real treat.
The route then continued south, not far from the green line and the security fence. We overlooked lots of Palestinian villages along the way - many of which lent themselves to creative puns: Bayt Awa (Max: "that is how I charge my clients") and Dayr al'Asal al Faqa (what Max's clients would say if he charged too much by the Awa).
The terrain was lots of rolling hills - so lots of little uphills and downhills without anything too dramatic.
Things then changed when we came to a junction and turned left. Nurit warned of a big climb and it was not long in coming. A series of very steep inclines, very close together that went on and on. The gradients were about as much as we could manage, but push on we did until virtually the top where we all ran out of air (and muscles).
A break followed among some ruins (not sure if they are ancient or not) - Max discovered a handful of no-doubt-invaluable relics. An old coin, a broken urn and even a millipede.
We pushed on, some more ups and a couple of breath-taking, heart-stopping fast downhills that were great fun. At one point we passed an imposing climb that from a distance looked impossible: very long and extremely steep. Showing his experience, Max said it's usually not so bad when you get there. So we tried - or sort of. Nurit waited while the three gallant knights rode off to challenge the monster hill. Amos and I got there and turned back without trying. Max throw himself at the hill and made it up about 2 meters. So we went back to the trail.
More ups and downs - we were getting tired now. One final long hard climb and then (after a puncture) a final speedy downhill back to the cars.

All in all, it was a ride that had everything. Good hard climbs, fast flowing downhills, perfect weather and really beautiful scenery. If there is a re-run in March, you really shouldn't miss it.

Statistics:
Total ride: 38 kms
Total ascent: 836 meters
Actual riding time: 3:07 hrs
Avr speed: 12.2 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 42 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג38

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 38 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 836 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:02 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.2 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 42 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Modiin to Bekoa

Todays ride was a cross country ride in all senses. No technical singles , no walls, no mud and no temperatires over 25 deg....or so it seemed.
We rode through very green countryside interspersed with enormous flyovers made of hard concrete which did not exactly fit in to the landscape. hardly any mud on the paths we rode but plenty of evidence that it had rained a lot in the area. the ride had a built in gradual climb and while it didn't kill us , we all felt our legs at the end of the ride. Still it was great exercise, great weather and great company...as always.

What was the topic today...... Bikes....now what a surprise. Shimon G is taking the important step of upgrading his bike. So we discussed the pros and cons of Shimano XT, XTR, SLX as opposed to Sram, X9 X0 X1 etc. Which brakes, which shifters, which gears, 2 x 10 or 1 x 11 or any other combination...just not 3 x 9....for goodness sake.
And then which grips, which derailleurs, tyres and what about the spokes. and the diameter of the front wheel shaft, and then the shoks. Fox or Rockshock. With handlebar control and hydraulic seat...well of course.....and the seat..saddle by any other name, ...did someone say stem?.....and finally Carbon or aluminium.......and pedals, bottom bracket and cranks....and then the wheels.......HELP!!!
So my advice is.......

And by the way if anybody says that its the rider and not the bike........then they are so so wrong. Without a good standard bike, riding is so much harder and so much slower.......quality is a leveler.

Good luck Shimon G...........

Statistics:
Total ride: 44 kms
Total ascent: 823 meters
Actual riding time: 3:26 hrs
Avr speed: 12.8 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 45.1 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 44 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 823 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:23 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.8 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 45.1 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Yehudya, Golan

From the Desert to the Golan, from Mitzpe Ramon to the Yehudya river....what a contrast.
So we got up at an unearthly hour and set off from home at 07.30. Arrived at destination at 09.00 and started the ride at 09.13, way too late but who cares...we were alone.

The first section was on road as we climbed from the Yehudya junction up to the entrance to the Yehudya nature reserve. An organised place. Pay please....22 shekels per person. We paid, it was part of the ride so we did it. Mostly 4x4 paths with some unhealthy boulders to make us walk. We looked for the Yehudya waterfall but it was so boulder strewn as to make the trail impossible to ride and as we didn't fancy carrying the bikes , we gave this a miss.
So we continued on our upward trail, now having done about 450 meters climb, and arrived at the Yehudya pools, another walking-only path to get there so we gave this a miss as well. Next time we'll come on a walking trip.
So a break we had and then carried on upwards to Katzrin on a heavily rutted path. A gradual cadence and eventually Katzarin was acomplished. Then North above Katzarin onto wide open plateaus, filled with birds of all sorts, of deer in large groups frivolously jumping their way across open land, frogs croaking in the rivers and generally we enjoyed what the land gave us.
We passed old Syrian buildings, old artillery pieces, old tanks and apc's and forged our way along 4x4 paths where there were any and over old tank trails where there were not.

The next goal was Aniam, just to go past it but on the way we met a kindred spirit in his 4x4 who told us about a pool.....we follewed his advice and found a most beautiful pool hidden away in a rocky canyon and had another break there enjoying the rock formations.

Now our aim was to find a trail to lead us down from the heights back to the Yehudya junction. I had mapped a 4x4 route, seen quite clearly on google earth and on Amud Anan. The beginning we found as a walking trail, and I wisely said "it probably widens out into a 4x4 trail", but did it???? We walked and walked and stumbled pushing our bikes but it was never a path to be ridden, hardly one to be walked on, unless you were of the bovine sort.

After about an hour of torment, we made a dash....(40 meters per hour) for Aniam and back to the tarmac, but this meant retracing our steps back to the road....an upward slog of about 25 minutes. Well we did this with Nurit leading at a good cadence and finally arrived at a bus stop.
Sunset was in another 5 minutes but we were ok as the last segment of this ride was now a 16 km downhill on road and back to the Yehudya junction.

Whoopee we said as we started..........wow we said as we finally got off our bikes at 17.00 after a hair raising, exhilarating ride down from the Golan. 60 km per hour reached and ridden for quite some time.....wow.

This track will be changed to allow for the deletion of 4x4 tracks from the face of this earth.

Nevertheless....an amazing day!!!!!!

Statistics:
Total ride: 50 kms
Total ascent: 1094 meters
Actual riding time:4:51 hrs
Avr speed: 10 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 60.2 km/hr

יהודיה

נסיעה של שעה וחצי ואנחנו בתחילת מסלול הרכיבה.
חאן יהודיה. או צומת יהודיה.
בעיקרון פננו לקצרין. השלט מראה 16 קילומטר. תחילת הרכיבה על כביש 87. מקס מחפש דרך מקבילה בשלב מסוים פנינו מהכביש לדרך שאולי היתה פעם עבירה היא בהחלט עבירה לפרות שנחו על השביל והסתכלו עלינו במבטי השתאות גם הם לא הבינו מה אנחנו עושים שם. היה שווה את המאמץ כי השביל הוביל לנוף מדהים לעבר נחל יהודיה. חזרנו כלעומת שבנו חזרה לכביש והמשכנו לעלות ולעלות .

הרמה ירוקה ירוקה.
הגענו לשמורת יהודיה. קיבלנו הסבר איך להתנהג בשמורה ובעד סכום סימלי המשכנו בדרכנו לכיוון קצרין. השביל היה מאתגר.
עברנו את נחל זויתן וישבנו להפסקה בשמש נעימה שלפננו שקדיה פורחת.
קשה היה להמשיך אבל דרך ארוכה עוד לפננו.
עוד כיברת דרך והגענו לקצרין. מחפשים שוב שביל עפר. ביצירתיות רבה מצאנו שביל עפר פנינו לאניעם. ממשיכים לטפס כאשר אנחנו מלווים בלהקות של ציפורים ויעלים. את אניעם לא רואים באופק אבל הגענו למפל האירוסים.עוד הפסקה מתבקשת מול הנוף היפה. איפה אניעם?

וואו כביש. צומת המפלים. מאד מפתה לחזור בכביש. אבל מקס משכנע אותע שבשטח יותר קצר.רכבנו בכביש לאניעם ומעט לפני הישוב נכנסנו לשביל שהוביל לבריכה. מצוין בקייץ. מחפשים שביל ארבע על ארבע. לא בדיוק מצאנו דרך .וברוב קולות החלטנו להגיע לאניעם ולחזור בכביש.

חזרה לצומת המפלים. וירידה מטורפת עד המכוניות. ליתר דיוק 17 קילומטר בלי כמעט לנגוע בפדלים במהירות שהגיע ל60 קילומטר לשעה. אז עלינו 35 קילומטר וירדנו 17 מעניןןןןןן.

מה ראינו בדרך. כבשים פרות ולהקות של יעלים ציפורים צב צפרדעים אוגר.
נרקיסים רקפות שקדיה.והרבה ירוק בעיניים.
מדהים בהתחשב שהיינו ברמה שרק לפני כחודש היתה שוממה.

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 50 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1,094 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 4:51 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 60.2 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Machtesh Ramon

Nov 29, my birthday, always falls in Winter. Always falls on the days to ride in the desert.
So packed and ready, with bikes onboard, we drove to Mitzpe Ramon, stopping on the way in Neve Midbar for a bathe in the sulphate,phosphate, magnesiate spa. All good fun.

Then continue to our Zimmer..."On the roof of the desert" so it is called. Highly recommended, some minuses but mostly pluses.

The Ride

We started in Khan Beerot, a place visited in a previous ride and from there through the desert until the road climb to Mitzpe Ramon. Not too fast, a steady pace and we both got to the top in good time. Passed a couple of sleepy Ibex's on the way. After a break to reduce the sweat, the panting and other external signs of exertion, we carried on to the next part, the newish single "Single Hava". This led us through the pristine desert parallel to the cliff tops above the Machtesh and East. Beautiful desert views, and a gorgeous day and a good flowing single just technical enough to keep the adrenaline flowing. At some stage the single brought us to the edge of the cliffs for an amazing lookout over the Machtesh. We sat here for a while enjoying the splendor and regaing some energy.

From here a combination of 4x4 and the same single brought us to the beginning of the Maale Noah, a long stoney climb with stairs to climb, gravel to slide on and millions of desert stones to ride over.
We made it until I felt like I was floating on water, or that my bike wheel was going all over the place. A lack of air or so I thought. Quickly pumped up the tre and continued but agin a swishing feeling and again low air pressure. No apparent hole to be seen, so again pumped. But to no avail, it seems that the tyre for some reason was not staying in place on the rim, so i gave up on tubeless, put an inner in, repumped and carried on.

Then Nurit said "air please" as her tyre had caught the same malady. I pumped, she pumped and then we fixed the tyre..........another story.
So pumped now to the full and having wasted about one hour off and on we began to get a wee bit anxioius as the time was creeping towards sunset.

Finally we reached the beginning of the downhill part of Maale Noah, and it was a terror, but tusik well back, seat lowered, brakes nearly full on and eyes closed, we rode down to beging the final fast return ride to Beerot. Good fun was had by all as we rode, blinded by the low sun, with a slight downhill and finally arrived in Beerot, 55 kms ridden, 715 meters climbed 60% singles, 40% stones. A great ride. Long, hard but very satisfying.

Statistics:
Total ride: 55 kms
Total ascent: 755 meters
Actual riding time: 4:25 hrs
Avr speed: 12.5 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 39 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – מכתש רמון

סיכום רכיבה

אחת המתנות הכי יפות שאפשר לתת למקס זו רכיבה.
אז ליום ההולדת ירדנו למצפה רמון.

חנינו בחאן בארות. יצאנו צפונה בדרך הנפט ותוך זמן קצר פנינו שמאלה לסינגל חדש. באופק קפצו כמה יעלים ובשמיים חיל האויר ביצע תעלולים. למעשה רכבנו בתוך מכתש רמון לכוון מזרח. לאחר כ11 קילומטר הגענו לכביש 40 היורד דרומה לאילת. אנחנו פנינו ימינה למצפה רמון . עלינו במעלה עצמאות. בדרך פגשנו באיילים מנומנים. העלייה תלולה הזיעה נטפה ובסוף לקול מחיאות הכפיים של מקס גם אני הגעתי לפיסגה.

כמובן שההפסקה למראה הנוף מלמעלמה היתה מהנה במיוחד.
מכאן המשכנו ועברנו את מלון בראשית.(לא שם אנחנו ישנים אבל בצימר מקסים שמהחלונות יש נוף מדברי פיראי עם שקיעה מהממת).

רכבנו בדרך הפסלים על צוק המכתש. בשלב מסויים נכנסנו לסינגל שאיתו המשכנו לאורך זמן לא מבוטל.( לא שמתי לב כמה קילומטרים כי הייתי שקועה בנוף וברכיבה). בשלב מסוים שוב הגענו לשפת המצוק והזדמנות להפסקה נוספת מול הנוף המרהיב. מקס התחיל לשוט על אופניו מילא אוויר בגלגל האחורי. שוב היינו מוכנים לרכב הספקנו לרכוב כ500 מטרים ושוב שט מצד לצד. עצרנו שוב בשלב הזה המונה הראה 31 קילומטר הסיפור חזר שוב עד שהחליט להכניס פנימית לגלגל. כל ההפסקות האלו היו בליווי רעש מחריש אוזניים של מטוסי הקרב שלא הפסיקו לתרגל מעל ראשינו. ( ואני באתי למדבר השקט). המשכנו בדרכנו וגם הגלגל שלי הראה סימני עייפות. מילאנו אוויר ושוב אנחנו בסינגל. המונה הראה 37 קילומטר והשמש התחילה לשקוע והזמן דוחק.

הגענו לקצה של מעלה נוח . קצה הצוק והמכתש מתחתינו הירידה מתחילה. די תלולה ומאתגרת. המשכנו בירידה שהיתמתנה הדרך היתה משובשת אבל הרצון להגיע למכונית לפני החשיכה אילץ אותנו לדווש במהירות.

רכבנו 55 קילומטר במזג אוויר נעים אין ספק שספגנו את אוירת המכתש. הנופים יפים ומגוונים.

אז גם ביום הולדת מקס הצליח לארגן לנו מסלול מענין.
שוב המון מזל טוב .

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 55 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 755 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 4:25 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.5 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 39 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Jonathan - Eshtaol and Carmila

"A perfect ride after a week of rain" was what was advertised on the site - and so it turned out to be.
We met at Eshtaol not too early on a crisp, fresh morning with blue skies. Amos, Shimon, Nurit, Jonathan and the birthday boy - Max (HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS) wearing a spanking new pair of bright red riding gloves. Apparently one out of a long procession of presents he most rightfully received (we were read most of the list).

It's a ride we've done several times before - one way around or the other - but each time is as enjoyable. After the rains, all is green and the rakafot are just starting to bloom. The parking area was packed with riders, but there are so many trails that there was no problem with crowds.

The way up to Zova was basically dry - it's a long climb but not too steep to ride. We had a break along the way for some tea, a birthday cake and time to fix Shimon's puncture (twice). Eventually we made it up to the top and refreshed to some coffee and cakes, offered by the second catering service. From there, a very steep and technical descent, made worse by the recent heavy rains, but negotiated successfully by all and then on to more hills both up and down.

The terrain was now getting wetter and muddier, including some sewerage from a burst pipe, but all still very rideable. Lots of puddles, splashes of mud, dirty bikes, dirty clothes, dirty bags and dirty glasses (all except for Nurit, of course who was spotless). We really started looking like a group of cross-country riders. The final long downhills were fast and furious, plenty more puddles, bumps and curves but fast flowing and great fun.

Before we knew it we were back at our cars and the long process of wiping off most of the mud and dirt from our torsos began.

A great ride - lots of fun, good exercise, terrific company and a great way to commemorate Max's birthday. It really was a perfect day.

Happy birthday dear Max
We wish you many more
Thanks for all the rides and tracks
For all the sweat and fun galore

Another year passed so happily
With Nurit and the blokes
Enjoy the day with your family
Best wishes from "Israel Spokes"

Statistics:
Total ride: 28 kms
Total ascent: 714 meters
Actual riding time: 2:06 hrs
Avr speed: 13.3 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 41.6 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 28 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 714 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:06 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13.3 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 41.6 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Avdat to Sde Boker

5 o'clock alarm goes off. get up, organise, drink coffee and tea. Bikes out of store room.
6 o'clock, load car, bikes attached, number plate, did you remember my socks luv??
6-8 o'clock, drive, empty roads, listen to Oldies, courtesy Galeh Zahal.
Do ya wanna dance.......twist and shout.......wake up little Suzie, wake up....
8-8.30 drive back and forth between Avdat and Midreshet Ben Gurion.
Ride start at 8.45.
Nearly 4 hours gone already. Time flies......when you'r having fun..!!!

8.45-14.30 ride. Singles non stop, singles climbing, singles..down hilling and stones,
We stopped counting after 27 but I can assure you that they were there in their millions..
Nearly went to the top of Mount Arkov. We turned left. Missed the right. carried on.
Scenery: desert, rocky, desert, hills, desert views, desert animals.....none.
Not one bloody animal in all of 5 hours. Only one bird and nearly missed that one too.
Not even a snake, a desert mouse.....nor a fox or a wolf, not a camel or an Ibex. Stones yes.

Our break. One tree we saw in the whole 5 riding hours, one tree. So obviously that was the break tree.
Tea was served by Jonathan, somehow, his tea seems to be the best everywhere.
Refreshed, we rode on. Singles again, climbing, technical but still rideable.
Clouds loomed in the distance. Maybe we should redirectionalise and head for home.....
But me....I said no way. We have a route...we ride it. And so we did. All the way.
Every last bit of single until we reached the Midreshet. Ben Gurion's final resting place.

Then a quick drive back to Avdat to fetch my car, then back to the "Midrasha".
Fond farewells said, kissed and hugged, we set off for home.
Coffee on the way and back by 17.00
So calculations we made. 35 kms ridden in 12 hours. Thats an average of.........
too tired..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

5 kms an hour...phew!!

Statistics:
Total ride: 35 kms
Total ascent: 628 meters
Actual riding time: 3:22 hrs
Avr speed: 10.2 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 36.9 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 35 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 628 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:22 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.2 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 36.9 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Sde Moshe (Guvrin)

Well, after an absence of way too long we actually managed to plan and organise a newish trail. We started off from Sde Moshe and rode down towards Lachish. The area is green after the weeks long rain of two weeks ago. Still too early for the flowers but very soon there will be an abundance of colours to satisfy our eyes. Hills there were, but gradual rolling ones none too steep to die for but still enough to get a good work out.

Caves galore, columbrii everywhere, old villages from ancient times these fill the area....we concentrated on the macro, riding mostly with not much siteseeing.

Tel Lachish dissapoints, as most of the excavations were taken to various museums around the world and nothing is really left to show off the splendor that once was here. Then the grape vines.......the colour of the leaves is unbelievable, forget Maine, forget Hampstead Heath , it's all here, in Lachish, 45 minutes from home, according to waze....

And then the House of Natzer built in the 1940's still impressive, waiting for some entrepreneur to convert it into a coffee shop, or bar, or restaurant, or hairdresser or something. Still with the many coloured floor tiles and still not totally defaced by the grafitti of passing souls. Why do people feel the need to "grafitize" empty walls...??

And so we rode, up Tells and round them, here a climb, here a long stretch through a farmers field. Will someone please tell all the tractorists (farmers) to leave us a little path to ride round the fields. Are there no by laws in Israel stating "thou must not plough up bike paths....????

So all in all a nice Saturday morning ride......Lachish we have conquered.....40 kms and 611 meters climbed.

Statistics:
Total ride: 39 kms
Total ascent: 611 meters
Actual riding time: 3:14 hrs
Avr speed: 12 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 37.1 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 39 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 611 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:14 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 37.1 ק"מ / שעה

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Just a few thoughts from Max
It all began because of a guy named Jacob.
He rang me from SA and said: "I have a dream".......
That dream was to ride up to Jerusalem.

A few logistics later and we found ourselves meeting in Kfar Saba, to begin a 100 Km ride through the plains of the center of Israel and then up the rolling hills of Jerusalem.

A pleasure meeting you Jacob, and thanks for causing us to ride up to Jerusalem.

And to all ye riders who joined us......A better bunch of riding buddies..I could not hope for!!!

---

Dear Max

Riding with you and your fellow IsraelSpokes mountain bikers was a special experience for me Firstly a big thank you for arranging Fridays ride. It has been a dream of mine to ride UP to Jerusalem and you made it come true.

The friendship and comaraderie shown to a total stranger was exceptional. No doubt if I lived here I'd love to join your group and ride regularly with you.

I have limited experience in organizing rides and know full well that no matter how "simple or routine" a Ride appears to be, the responsibility on the organiser - You! - is ever present.
Jules and Frances made the intro and you made the reality.
The memories will remain with me for years.

Unfortunately I wasn'nt feeling too well on Friday and in fact ended up at one of the Haifa hospitals last night for X-rays etc. I have an upper respiratory infection and been banned from riding for a week.
The few pictures I took ill forward to you when back in South Africa
Thank you again to you and all our fellow riders for their friendship, coffee, transport and above all comaraderie.

I hope I can return the favor to any IsraelSpokes fellow rider if you visit South Africa. My email address is jacob@jhins.co.za

Safe pedaling

Jacob

Blog by Jonathan - Kfar Saba to Jerusalem

We met at Atir Yeda early Friday morning for the long ride up to Jerusalem: Max, Nurit, Amos, Shimon G, Itzik, Jonathan and a guest Jacob who is visiting from South Africa for a school reunion. So welcome Jacob! Weather was perfect- slightly cool and we went the usual path near the Kula forest, through Renatia, by the airport, Lod and Ramle where we had our first stop. Fortunately Max had opted for the traditional route after trying a new one through Modi'in that would have had us climbing 1,200 just to reach Eshtaol.

The first casualty was Amos' rear tyre thanks to some broken glass outside Lod. A quick plug up and we were travelling again. We stopped in Ramle for a feast on cookies and coffee thanks to Shimon and to Jonathan's regular green tea. Then we were going again.

The second casualty was Itzik - the patriarch of our group - who decided after leaving Ramle that his legs were not up to the climb that day and headed back for a rendez-vous with his son-in-law and a ride back home.
Max added. In the end He rode back to Ramle after fixing a puncture, then got a bus to Tel Aviv, then rode back home from Tel Aviv to Ranana. Also, Not a short ride.!!

From Ramle we headed towards Bet-Shemesh over one side of the railroad and then another. Max took a small detour to see a spectacular bridge somewhere (not exactly the Golden Gate, but then again they don't have good coffee in San Francisco).
We were joined by Ray in Bet-Shemesh who had been waiting a while after riding down from Jerusalem earlier in the morning. Met a fellow-rider who showed us a sleeping bag the size of a small bread roll and a other contraptions for the long distance endurance rides. Amos started complaining of squeaks and creaks in his bike but we persisted!

After Bet-Shemesh the going gets harder. Through some industrial area and then we started climbing in earnest. At first short, sharp and stony climbs alongside Nahal Sorek that gradually turned smoother and a little flatter, but continually uphill. Nurit (sick last week and only just recovered) was starting to struggle but battled on with typical tenacity.
We rode, rested, rode and rested until we reach road 386 (named after the famous Intel processor, no doubt) and Nurit's legs finally packed up in an agonizing cramp. Our group split there, Max staying to chaperone (in typically English chivalry) while they waited for the car to come and the rest of us pressed onwards and upwards.
Amos' bike was becoming noisier and noisier, interrupted only by the frequent din of motor bikes and tractors.

Ray provided us with expert stone-by-stone detail of each upcoming section including all expected gear changes for the next 15 minutes. Jacob was enjoying his experience (and coping extremely capably) and Shimon was typically unflustered by all of the commotion. We reach the Kobi Bridge and were treated to some fresh coffee by some parked motorbikers and then started the long climb affectionately known as the BBC (Big Bad Climb). It's long and fairly unforgiving - we've done steeper and harder, but we'd already ridden 90Kms by the time we reached it and it's no push-over. We all made it up, a short break under the sole tree on top and then after a few downs and ups, we were at the Biblical Zoo.

There we were re-joined by Max and Nurit (now recovered), brought there by Maya (their daughter) and our courteous drivers, namely Shuli (Amos) and Joanne (Jonathan) who together got us all home safely.

As usual, it is a great ride. The time and distance takes its toll - especially on our legs and where they join our body. By the time we reached to zoo we all walked like someone from the Funny Walks skit from Monty Python. But it is a great day and a terrific experience. But despite being stiff and sore, we were all in great spirits as we enjoyed the beer and snacks that Max and Nurit had organized for us. Thanks to both of you - and we are already looking forward to next time!

Statistics:
Total ride: 105 kms
Total ascent: 1155 meters
Actual riding time (estimated): 8 hrs
Avr speed: 14.5 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 29.5 km/hr

כפר סבא לירושלים

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 105 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1155 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל (משוער): 8 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 14.5 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 29.5 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Hazorea, Hills & Singles

Artos (Amos), Porthos (Max) and Aramis (Jonathan)
met in Hazorea, one fine day in October.
The idea was to conquer hills, climb singles and look for windmills.
Windmills, nary a one. Hills a plenty and singles
in leaps and bounds we took them all, drops, berms, ascents and descents.
We had them all, and we did them all.
35 kms ridden and 770 meters climbed, the downhills speak for themselves.

We rode the new Hazorea single, well planned and well layed out,
Then a short 4x4 to begin the next single (Yoash VeItzik),
then rejoined the Hazorea single for a great roller coaster of a single,
Down to join the Ditza single, for a short dash to ride the Singlia single.
Then crossing Nahal Hashofet to start a gruelling climb up Givat Shlomit.
Then a gravelly steep downhill, a wee fall by Aramis, no broken bones.

Coming back to Nahal Hashofet, a 4x4 track and then the Mul Hataipan single until
we joined the "HaKaveret" single. Then on multiples of 4x4 and singles until
we reached the "Kipod" fiollowed by the "Riki" single to bring us down to join
the "Sigal" single and the "Irusim" single. A fall by Porthos into the bushes,
again no bones broken, and then back to the cars.

All that in fast mode, 35 kms, 770 meters and an average of 12 km/hr.
We worked hard, breathed heavily, sweated profusely and had a brilliant ride.
Most of the singles we had done before but to two new additions added a new dimension. Sorry - no pics....had no time to take any.........!!!!

Statistics:
Total ride: 35 kms
Total ascent: 770 meters
Actual riding time: 2:50 hrs
Avr speed: 12.2 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 48.7 km/hr

הזורע - הרים וסינגלים

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 35 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 770 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:50 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.2 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 48.7 ק"מ / שעה

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Jonathan on his new bike.....speedy and steady
Amos, brought coffee and cake...thanks Shula,
Stas , a good man to have around, both Doctor and navigator.
Nurit a trooper, overcomes hardship and finished (!!) with a smile.
And I, ....I love being out, fresh air and a beautiful country.
What more could a man want......

Blog by Jonathan - Mount Hazon to Mount Camoun

"Two healthy climbs" was what was said
Of the ride near Carmiel
Two healthy climbs was what we did
And a little more as well

We started off from outside Zvia
That's supposed to be quite pretty
And climbed up past Moshav Hazon
So high we all got giddy

We reached the peak and had a break
Where they put the Iron Dome
Max told us "just one more climb"
And then we're off back home

Climb A was really quite hard work
Not steep but never-ending
Climb B was really something else
Stoney, steep and unrelenting

Heart-beats surged as we rode up
Lungs scrambled for some air
We fought the hill with great resolve
(with short breaks here and there)

We reached Camun - a welcome sight
We thought that we were done
But as we turned to round hill B
We saw more climbs to come

We swore and pushed on yet again
On pedals and on feet
And finally a fast descent
We'd done it - quite a feat!

Hard, but great ride! Beautiful area, challenging climbs but pretty much all rideable. Thanks Max and Nurit!

Statistics:
Total ride: 33 kms
Total ascent: 920 meters
Actual riding time: 3:10 hrs
Avr speed: 9.00 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 48 km/hr

הר חזון להר כמון

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 33 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 920 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:10 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 9.00 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 48.0 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Iron Hills

Parked in the parking lot of the Moatza Azorit Menashe,
Clear uncrowded, plenty of room.
Rami first then Nurit and I and then Amos and Shimon,
Five souls craving for their Saturday injection.

The ride was built of singles, all around the "Iron" hills
With a medley of 4x4 trails mixed in to create diversity.
We met a group of about 30 similar souls who filled
the valleys with noise for no reason.

The area must be very pretty after the rains but now it was brown, barren, and bare,
The singles, well laid out but dusty crumbly earth, we need rain.
One technical single, on two sides of a hill, the up, tough
And the down, technical. All rideable for most.

One puncture, mine on my new backwheel tubeless tyre,
We used a "worm" used a pump, and then used a CO2 cylinder,
Woooosh and the tyre was filled and ready to go.......thanks Rami.
Coffee and cake from the house of Shimon et Sharona.....super thanks....

And that was that. Singles, climbs, descents, as Rami said:
A great combination with great company..

Statistics:
Total ride: 26.25 kms
Total ascent: 500 meters
Actual riding time: 2:26 hrs
Avr speed: 10.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 38 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 26.25 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 500 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:26 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 38 ק"מ / שעה

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Shimon ben Lakish better known by his nickname Resh Lakish, was an amora who lived in the Roman province of Syria Palaestina in the third century CE.
He was reputedly born in Bosra, east of the Jordan River, in around 200 CE, but lived most of his life in Tzippori .
Nothing is known of his ancestry except his father's name.
He is something of an anomaly among the giants of Torah study as he was supposed to have been, in his early youth, a bandit and gladiator. He was regarded as one of the most prominent amoraim of the second generation, the other being his brother-in-law and halakhic opponent Rabbi Yochanan.

Blog by Max - Singles, Rish Lekish & Hoshaaya

A hot Saturday was forcast
High humidity, high temperatures
But still we woke up weary bodies
And Off to the jolly woods we went.

Rish lekish, named after Mr. Rish and Mr. kish
winding singles, courtesy of KKL
Hoshaaya, perched on a hill top, with their own single,
A bit more technical, a bit more stony.

Meandering lines through shady forest, in part,
A bench here, a park table there, all courtesy of KKL,
Met a couple of riders, some hard tailers some cushioned,
Even another Rocky Mountain Altitude 27.5 inch wheels....

The singles are smooth flowing, non technical
Some good climbs here, some fast descents there,
A couple of jumps , then twists and turns and
all shaded by the forest cannopy, noisy but so quiet.

Amos, Nurit and I, a great ride on a hot day,
Where were you all, in bed?, under the covers??
No tea was served today, no cake and no coffee
Shimon, come back....jonathan....we missed you
And Itzik?? retired??? cannot be!!!

Next week no ride. We go North......to a Tzimmer for 2
Bikes with us, we'll tell you about it in 2 weeks.
let there be quiet amongst those warring factions
Enough already.

Statistics:
Total ride: 29.5 kms
Total ascent: 465 meters
Actual riding time: 2:22 hrs
Avr speed: 12.4 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 31.9 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 29.5 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 465 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:22 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.4 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 31.9 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Kfar Uria, Hills & Singles

We've done this route in various versions for the last 3 or 4 years, each time we've added another hill, another descent and lately where possible another single...or two. The first time we did this we finished at about 10.00 and decided it was a great ride for a hot, sweaty August ride and this time although we added a few more elements we still managed to finish at about 11.15. So plenty of time to go home early and start the clean up after the family dinner the night before.

From Kfar Uria we rode down, crossing Road 44 and then to Mitzpe Harel. Here a little lady forgot her sunglasses and caused 2 gallant riders to return to retrieve them. Next stop was Einot Susin, used in past days to increase pressure in the pipes supplying water to Jerusalem, now no longer used. Then up a number of single/double tracks no longer looked after but still rideable, down the famous Serpentine, and then a sudden sharp right uphill to start the very smooth flowing single down towards Mesilot Zion.

What goes down, must go up and so began the long climb on 4x4 tracks until the Ochigens picnic area, where we stopped for our first real break. Although the weather was hot, sweaty and heavy, we sat here in comfort with a slight cooling breeze making it very difficult to get up again and start the second part of the ride.

2 weeks ago Amos told me about the Moni winery and described the delicious grapes, sweet and juicy waiting to be picked, and so I added this to the ride and this was now our next stop. We rode South crossing Road 44 once again to join the Tzara scenic path and then the Sculptures trail. Here and there a sculpture, the work of dedicated artistes, and the route took us West above Tzara and to the Western Lookout overlooking the very Toscana like Sorek valley, a very pretty sight to enjoy.

Now with Dir Rifat in sight, the place of the Convent and further on, the Moni Winery, all we had to do was to ride down a very slippery steep powdery descent and then appearing as a grey apparition out of the dust, we saw Amos, bruised and covered in a fine grey powder-like dust and understood that he had met the dust on his way down.
We rode on till Moni's Winery and we washed, cleaned and plasterd Amos and then turned to look for those sweet, delicious grapes, but to no avail. All had been eaten by the ones who came before us. Meanwhile Stas had to deal with a cut in the side wall of one of his tyres, but eventually we all were prepared for the last section of the ride, basically a fast downhill back to Kfar Uria and a short climb in the village is all that remained of a great ride with a great group of riders.

Statistics:
Total ride: 28 kms
Total ascent: 640 meters
Actual riding time: 2:23 hrs
Avr speed: 11.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 48.1 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 28 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 640 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:23 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 48.1 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Jonathan - Misgav, Hills & Singles

With bombing starting once again
In the kibbutzim in western Negev
We stayed up north again this ride
And rode around Gush Segev

The air was warm, with clouds around
We felt a drop of rain
There were trails, hills and lots of views
All over the terrain

We started on a single track
Going wrong way round of course
With lots of riders flying down
We climbed, ignoring all the laws

Up and down we rode around
Then a technical descent
But then the track came to a stop
So we took a break. Max went

Looking for the way to go
He found the next part of a trail
A climb like which we'd never seen
So long and hard words fail

For over two kilometers
Straight up with no respite
We slipped on stones and cursed the slope
We'd strain and pant and fight

Eventually we made it up
Quite breathless, legs were sore
We ate some food and caught our breath
Then mounted bikes for more

A trail here and short-cut there
The ride was now more flowing
A quick dash back to all the cars
And home to see what was on TV showing

Statistics:
Total ride: 27 kms
Total ascent: 750 meters
Actual riding time: 2:40 hrs
Avr speed: 10.2 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 55.7 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – מסגב, הרים וסינגלים

09/ נפגשנו ביער שגב
השמיים מעוננים ואפילו טיפות גשם
יצאנו מקס עמוס יונתן סטס ואני.
החלק הראשון סינגל בעלייה
יצאנו מהסינגל ירידה בשביל טכני
הפסקת תה באדיבות יונתן

עלייה מטורפת שנמשכה ונמשכה ונמשכה
הגענו למנוף
הפסקה מבורכת
ירידה בכביש עד רקפת
חזרה למכוניות בסינגל

זה התיאור היבש של הרכיבה
מקס מצא סינגל שעוד לא רכבנו ועליו תפר רכיבה
גולת הכותרת היתה עלייה שכמו שעמוס הגדיר אותה קיר. מאתיים מטר עלייה בדרדרת וזוית מטורפת
הסינגל חזרה היה נחמד
מזג האוויר התחשב בנו מאד
יער שגב אזור מאד יפה
מקס הצליח שוב לאתגר
אחרי מקלחת קרה מי זוכר כמה קשה היה

שבוע שקט לכולנו

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 27 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 750 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:40 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.2 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 55.7 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Yaarot HaCarmel

A great day for riding.
A Ceasefire in Gaza. Clouds in the sky,
And a breeze to keep us cool.
And so many Very Important People came to Israel,
John Kerry himself, Ban ki Moon and Phillip Hammond from the UK,
And so many poeple cancelled, Neil Young, Backstreet Boys, Paul Anka.
Shame really but understandable.

We started in the lowest part of the ride, in the Agam parking lot
Not far from the Yaarot HaCarmel entrance.
Today was a two fold plan. The first, to ride where no trail was shown on the maps,
The second to return where trails were to be found on the map.

We rode around Bet Oren, a technical downhill and then up again,
Amd then North towards Tirat Carmel in search of paths, not to be found.
The idea to descend to Nahal Galim and then climb and climb up to the University.
But even though wild boars had done this, we could not and, forced we were, to return,
to return 3 kms to ride down to Nahal kelach to join the RED trail of Little Switzerland.

We rode and climbed and scrambled over rocks,
passing one of the most beautiful georges in the North of Israel.
We reached the top, parallel to the Univerity road,
Now the plan was to follow a myriad of singles all the way back to the cars,
But plans of mice and men......and Jonathan lost his back brake to an oil leak
And so we found an easier way down, along the Damon to Bet Oren road,
And thus started an exhilerating ride back to the cars.

All in all a great ride, exploring, navigating, some good uphills
And absolutely great weather.

Our hearts and thoughts go to all the families, who have lost their loved ones,
Our thoughts go to all our soldiers doing such a very important job
our thoughts also go to the innocent people, used as pawns by the Hamas
Let this war be finished soon and let our boys return safely.
No more wars, no more bloodshed and no more threats

Statistics:
Total ride: 24 kms
Total ascent: 643 meters
Actual riding time: 2:18 hrs
Avr speed: 11 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 56.8 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית - יערות הכרמל

נפגשנו בחניון אגם ביערות הכרמל.
בוקר נעים .

יצאנו עמוס יונתן מקס ואני לכיוון בית אורן. רכבנו בעלייה מתמשכת שממולנו הים. מסביב שמורת הר הכרמל בדיוק היכן שהיתה השריפה. הגענו לבית אורן מהצד הצפוני כאשר אנחנו מטפטפים זיעה. מכאן התחילה הרפתקאת הדרך.השלב הבא הוא להגיע לאוניברסיטה. מצאנו שביל טכני למדי שאחרי שלושה קילומטר של ירידה הגיע למבוי סתום. בלית ברירה חזרנו כשני קילומטר בעלייה ואז התחברנו לשביל שבעבר היה חלק מרכיבה שעשינו.( שווצריה הקטנה). השביל הוביל אותנו להפסקה מעל נחל כלח. פשוט גן עדן.

תה של יונתן רוח שמקררת את הפנים אנרגיה והכי חשוב שקט. ישבנו שם דקות ארוכות ואז המשכנו במעלה השביל נוף יפה עד הים. בשלב מסוים התברר שליונתן אין בלם אחורי. זה אומר שלרכב בירידה זה מסוכן. המשכנו לעלות ושהגענו לנקודה הגבוהה ביותר ירדנו בכביש חזרה למכוניות. יונתן הצליח לרכב בזהירות והגיע למכונית בשלום.

בסהכ' השלמנו כמעט את כל המסלול למעט שינויים קלים וסינגל בסוף.
לסיכום מקס הצליח לארגן מסלול שעה מהבית רחוק מאיומי הטילים ובחסות הפסקת האש מסלול שניתן לרכב בקייץ כמובן בלי לוותר על העליות!!!!
כמה שעות של ניתוק מהמציאות.
אבל כמובן מהר מאד חוזרים לחדשות.

שיהיה שבוע טוב

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 24 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 643 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:18 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 56.8 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Amikam, Hills & Singles

One hour from bed and we ride in a great place. Forested, hilled and singled. We start with a light technical path out of Amikam, two gates climbed and we start the climb to Horshan.
In Horshan we do 2 circular trails to get warmed up and then a nasty little wall to test our lungs,legs and Latissimus Dorsi (muscles in the back).

The scenery is very pretty, all shades of green and an abundance of water. That is to say, that which can be found in sweat and humidity.
Our first break, we sat in puddles, our shirts cold and clammy. But still here and there a slight breeze and we managed, at this stage not to overheat.
A couple of great singles interspersed with some great downhills and we reached Ehud 2, from the South. We rode fast and furious, small drops here and there but basically a smooth flowing single. The second part of Ehud, required us to climb the first part of it, but this turned out to be OK, not too steep and we did that in quite a good pace and then the last part, a bit more technical but still a great ride down.

Now a gradual uphill until yet another gate and the beginning of the last section of todays ride, but as in all democracies, we decided not to ride the last single and rode a great downhill back to the road just before Amikam.

Now my plan was to cross the road and find a couple of Mayanot (pools) to immerse ourselves and cool down, but tired limbs and closeness to the cars made Jonathan and Amos decide to ride directly back but I and my very good partner went searching.
A couple of kms later and no pools found, we rode back to the car and decided that a bit of off road driving wold allow us the search for the elusive pools.
The map showed us a place called Ein Aviel, and off we drove in clouds of dust along wide whie trails parralel to the road. In the distance we saw a group of youngsters sitting in what appeared to be the middle of the trail and so we stopped. Here was the source of the first pool, cold refreshing water under a cannopy of souf, and very pleasent. A km further, another small group and another pool, larger than the first, and possible to swim 2-3 strokes, again very cool and very refreshing.

Back in the car, we decided to stop for coffee and cake and having done all that decided we could now go home, fully satisfied with our days work.

A great ride witha great ending.

Statistics:
Total ride: 33 kms
Total ascent: 706 meters
Actual riding time: 2:56 hrs
Avr speed: 11 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 35.1 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – עמיקם, הרים וסינגלים

כשהגענו לעמיקם מושב בתוך החורש היתה הרגשה של חול. בדרך היה לי קשה להתנתק מהמציאות למרות שראינו הרבה רוכבי אופניים בכביש עדיין המחשבות נדדו ליום שלפני שישבנו על הדשא עם מיקה נכדתנו בת ששה חודשים. נהננו ממזג אוויר נאה ואז אזעקה פילחה את האוויר. לרגע עברה מחשבה בראשי הנה עוד דור במשפחתנו שרץ למקלטים לא יאומן😅.

התחלנו את הרכיבה מעמיקם לכוון חורשן.
מקס הוביל את יונתן עמוס ואותי בעלייה לחורשן. ואז התחלנו לרכב בתוך חורשן בעליות וירידות וסינגלים למינהם. התחלנו מדרום המשכנו לצפון ומשם למערב כך שראינו את כל הישובים מסביב. בגדול חרשנו את חורשן שהוא שטח יחסית קטן..
כבר בתחילת הרכיבה הזיעה הורגשה בכל חלקי הגוף חולצות רטובות ופנים מזיעות. למרות הלחות הגבוהה החום היה סביר ועננים כיסו את השמיים וביחד עם עצי החורש רכבנו הרבה בצל.

הפסקת התה באדיבות יונתן החזירה אותנו למציאות שוב שיחה על מה שקורה כל אחד מהמבט האישי שלו.
סך הכל 32 קילומטרים ושבע מאות מטרים של עליות.

הפעם בנוסף לכל מה שהרכיבה תמיד מציאה היה אפשרות להתנתק מהמציאות כי ברגע שעולים על האופניים חושבים רק על הדרך.
אחרי שהעמסנו את האופניים, בדרך הביתה מצאנו ניקבת מים בנחל התננים. מים קרים ונקיים. גן עדן באמצע שום מקום.

תודה למקס על מסלול מענין
שיהיה שבוע שקט

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 33 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 706 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:56 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 35.1 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Ramat Hashofet, Gahar & Singles

The days are not so peaceful lately,
Rockets of all sizes, mostly home made,
Are falling from the normally clear blue skies.

Our neighbours down South seem to think,
That they are free to offer us a firework display.
One that they can ill afford to give,
And one that we can ill afford to receive.

Iron Dome, a fitting name,
A roof over all our heads, allowing us to continue
Our lives disrupted, but not too much,
From Beer Sheva in the South to Haifa in the North,
We are truamatized, some more than others.

Our children putting on a brave front, trusting us, the elders,
After all, we know everything, don't we?
How to hide in our protected places, for how long? 10 minutes...not too long.
But the Alarms, Code Red, the heart beats faster, quickly, quickly.
And then carry on as usual, smiling, jokes all is well.

On their side,they have no Dome, not even a small one.
Our rockets destroy, houses...lives...toys....rockets.
Will they ever learn?? Will we??

But life and biking go on. And we rode, climbing hard climbs,
descending adrenalin descents, concentrating on single tracks,
We put the rockets on hold. They will not stop our daily routine. Yet!
The next war will be different, drones and things not yet known.
But in the meantime Brazil has gone, Messi will fight Germany,
And the Tour de France, riders falling all over the place. They have no Dome.
Neil Young will he cancel, Rita did and she lives here...
Ahhh, life is so full....

Statistics:
Total ride: 27 kms
Total ascent: 700 meters
Actual riding time: 2:41 hrs
Avr speed: 10 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 38.1 km/hr

רמת השופט, גחר וסינגלים

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 27 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 700 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:41 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 38.1 ק"מ / שעה

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AND NOW....... a ditty
from the pen of
the famous Jonathan (Seagull) Meisal

It takes so much time
To write down a rhyme
If you don't know enough of the facts
We left from Kfar Saba
Up to Alonei Abba
But I can't tell you much more than that

The place is all dotted
With the singles Max spotted
They crisscross the hills like a kettle
We saw a statued big horse
(Alexander's of course)
Once stolen and sold for its metal

The views were all good
And the trees full of wood
Which is more or less as we'd expected
The sun is now shining
And humidity rising
So summer is nigh, we reflected

We rode round and round
Went up hills and down
I rarely knew which way we headed
We crossed bridges of bars
Then returned to our cars
And Amos could celebrate the day he was wedded!

Blog by Max - Sovev Tivon & Alonei Abba & Singles

Sovev Tivon alone is a great ride, singles ascents and of course minimum descents. So I thought I'd add a bit more, visit a Church, discuss Evangelism against Anglican, add in a Templar, a couple more singles, criss crossing our ways and 31.5 km later we were back in the car park. Thanks go to Shimon, coffee black, hot and for his great desire not to ride on any asphalted areas.
Jonathan for tea, black no sugar, but always brings a bag or two of sucrazit for Nurit, even if they are horribly crumpled.....
Amos for taking the lead here and there, such a weight off my shoulders and always a great joke teller....what will we do without him.....he's going on a cruise...G-d bless him.....but then what will he do without us....????? and Dennis for making sure we took breaks from the harsh sun, which is now telling us that Summer has arrived in a big way.
And then Stas, always a cheerful face, who joined us again after quite a long absence. Now we have an en-suite Doctor again,
Oh yes, Nurit an inspirational driving force behind the scenes, well not so much...,behind the scenes, that is.............

The ride was great, Not too long, not too hard and with plenty of adrenaline filled singles to give Saturday its regular great feeling of being out there and done this.........and that.

Next week we will ride a local trail due to all sorts of restraints........weddings and so on.......

Statistics:
Total ride: 31.5 kms
Total ascent: 650 meters
Actual riding time: 2.51 hrs
Avr speed: 11 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 36.3 km/hr

טבעון סינגל +אלוני אבא

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 31.5 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 650 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:51 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 36.3 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Eshtaol to Ein Rapa

With an average age of 62, 5 of us set out to climb along the railway line, from Eshtaol to Zova. We made very good progress all the way, along a gradual incline until we reached the turn off to Mount Tayasim and then a couple of good healthy climbs brought us to Zova.

The way up along the Sorek river is very beautiful, even knowing that the river is basically purified sewage. The trails are quite shaded in parts and the area stays very green throughout the year.

The next part of the ride found us on a very steep downhill to Ein Rapa, a descent which has been smoothed out considerably but still poses a challenge to stay on the bike. Ein limon, a place for breaks was full with other riders so we rested down below on the paths, and then we started the short climb to the Ein Rapa single.

This is the newest KKL single, still not inaugurated officially but well prepared. We opted to do the Northern part of the single from Ein Limon down to the Western end. I say "down to" but in fact most of the beginning of the single was uphill but then came some sweet descents, some technical, not too much and all rideable.

The end of this part of the single,meets the South View trail and we left the single to start our climb up to the Kisalon village (Moshav?)and then a visit to the Scroll of Fire monument to the period between the end of the Holocaust and the war of Independence of Israel. The sculpture is from Bronze and was made by Nathan Rappaport, himself a Holocaust survivor.

The final part of todays ride was a downhill experience, through a myriad of little singles (Bramim and Green) and paths, stony technical but great fun all the way down to the back of the Flamm Winery and then to the cars.

A great ride, climbs , singles and descents, the weather was great as was the company. Shimon, thanks for the coffee
Amos thanks for letting me fix your chain...again
Ray..thanks for joining us and increasing the average age
Dennis..a welcome addition on every ride
and Nurit, what can I tell you...a mountain lion next to her......she's a climber.....

Statistics:
Total ride: 42 kms
Total ascent: 910 meters
Actual riding time: 3.30 hrs
Avr speed: 11.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 41.7 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – אשתאול לצובה+סינגלים

השעון מצלצל בארבע ארבעים וחמש, הוא נמצא רחוק מהמיטה.
כל שבת במשך שבע שנים מקס קם ראשון. אני אף לא מתרגלת לשעה המוקדמת.
יש סדר. מקס מכין את התה והקפה, את תיקיי הרכיבה. ואני דואגת ליתר. עד שניכנסים למכונית כל אחד בדרך שלו מתעורר .

בדרך רק המשוגעים עם האופניים על המכוניות.
הפעם הדרך קצרה היעד יער קדושים.
כבר הרבה רוכבים מתארגנים לרכיבה. יצאנו לכוון דרום. אחרי חמש דקות לעמוס נקראה השרשרת. התחלה טובה כשארבעים קילומטרים לפננו הידיים המיומנות של מקס ועמוס התגברו על התקלה במהרה. המשכנו בדרכנו עד נחל שורק.
מכאן רכבנו ליד הנחל המתפתל בעלייה מתונה. הקצב היה טוב ובמהרה הגענו לצומת שממנה התחלנו לטפס להר פיתולים ובהמשך להר טייסים. הגענו בסיום הטיפוס לצובה.
מצובה ירדנו בירידה טכנית לעין לימון. המשך המסלול בסינגל עין רפה. בסוף הסינגל עברנו את נחל כיסלון והתחלנו לטפס בדרך נוף דרומית.😅 הגענו לכביש שמוביל לכסלון. היה מאד מפתה לרדת בכביש המהיר למכוניות. אבל מקס דבק במסלול

המשכנו בשביל פאסטוראלי לכיסלון. הגענו לאנדארטת מגילת האש נבנתה על ידי נתן רפפורט ניצול שואה שמטרתה להנציח את השואה ולהדגיש את התקומה. אנדרטה מרשימה מאד שעשויה מברונזה.
מכאן התחלנו בירידה למכוניות בסינגל טכני שהצטרף מדי פעם לשביל טכני. רכיבה באזור מוכר אבל שילוב מענין של עליות סינגלים וירידות טכניות.
היינו

דניס פעם שנייה ברציפות. כן ירבו.
עמוס שהדופק שלו אף פעם לא עולה.
ריי שמכיר כל שביל בהרי ירושליים.
שמעון תודה על הקפה שאתה בשטח אני לא דואג
מקס שמוביל אותנו בביטחה ולא מוותר אל אף שביל ובטח לא עלייה.
ואני שמקווה לבשורות טובות .

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 42 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 910 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3.30 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 41.7 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Dennis - Ein Carmel to Daliat El Carmel

Students of English culture will be familiar with the original of this little ditty (concerning the doings of the Duke of York):

"The grand old Duke of Spokes,
He had four cycle-men (one of whom a lady),
He cycled them up to the top of the hill,
And he cycled them down again.

And when they were up they were up,
And when they were down they were down,

And when they were only half way up

They were neither up nor down."

That sums up the latest Spokes cycling adventure in the northern hills. In the original tale there was a cast of thousands, but the determination to climb every mountain in sight more than compensated for the now reduced number. As for the grand Duke, he had the route carefully planned, and only the cruel reality of unreliable maps led to episodes of paths wrongly taken and nonexistent paths rightly taken, followed by much head-scratching (difficult under the compulsory headgear).

And so, with fair weather, the sleep-starved five set out from Ein Hacarmel and promptly encountered fences and locked gates around banana plantations. After traversing assorted barbed wire obstacles they were on their way up to Ein Hod and Nir Etzion, which were skirted, with some encountering a wild boar that has been adopted by the local community. A desire to avoid getting stuck in the jungle as in an earlier visit to the area (there is a subtle difference between the north and south banks of the Hod Stream, with the former being more user-friendly) resulted in assorted dead-ends that had to be retraced. If the dead end is uphill, well and good, because backtracking is free, but as for the opposite... Then up, up and away to Daliyat El-Carmel on high. Through the southern quarter of the town, with a little fun and games finding the way out, then a fast downhill, until beginning the ascent to Har Sumakh, where it was decided not to visit the local hirbeh (named after Dereg, whoever he or she was).

Downhill to Emek Maharal, where some experienced a premature delusion that the ride was about to end. This was quickly dispelled by a further series of ascents to places unnamed (and a little chain repair), at one of which a dirty old cannon was seen defending the area. Finally, a winding descent with some beautiful ocean views, with the bananas informing us that we were back where we started. Oh what fun!

Statistics:
Total ride: 38.27 kms
Total ascent: 1040 meters
Actual riding time: 3:43 hrs
Avr speed: 10.3 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 43.8 km/hr

עין כרמל לדלית אל כרמל

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 38.27 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1040 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:43 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.3 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 43.8 ק"מ / שעה

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A poem by Jonathan

Some rides are hard and some are not
It changes day by day
But few have been much harder than
The one from Lamed Hey

Max and Nurit, Shimon G
There was Amos and then me
We were joined by a new recruit
Yaron, who we welcomed heartily

For over 30K's we climbed and climbed
With only rare respite
We scaled hills of rocks and stones
Every meter was a fight!

The going was relentless
But we pushed on with no losses
My rear end was getting sore
And Shimon got haloshes

Panting, sweating, out of breath
Like lambs going to their slaughter
We made it down to Ein Kobi
But the pond was out of water!

We climbed back to Mevo Betar
And bought a cold ice cream
From there it was a quick downhill
And back home for all the weary team

A great work out, a tiring day
And as we left Max said
That next week we can have a rest
And spend the day in bed

Blog by Max - Netiv Lamed-Heh to Ein Kobi

A couple of weeks ago we were resting under Gesher Kobi when Nurit said "we've never been to Ein Kobi".....and so an idea was born.

The idea was to find trails we had not ridden on before. I looked at the maps and for some reason chose Netiv HaLamed-Heh as the start. I think it was because it allowed me to plan the end of the ride as a long 14 km downhill, some smooth and some technical but all fast flowing. so the planning stage over, i had a new ride ready, 44 kms long and with an estimated total climb of 1000 meters. As we've learnt before, these planning figures are not totally accurate and often trails marked on the maps do not exactly coincide with reality.

So 04.45 Saturday morning, the alarm chimes brought us out of a deep peaceful sleep, and bikes loaded we sped off towards Netiv Lamed heh, the name memorialising 35 fighters of the Palmach who gave their lives fighting in this are in the war of Independence.
We started the ride at 300 meters Above Sea Level and climbed to 370 meters ASL affording us a great view of the HaEla Valley and the Satellite tracking station. A fast downhill allowed us to cross the the road and from then on it was all up, here and there interspersed with some short but enjoyable downhills. The plan was to ride till Har Yaaran (the Bird Climb - Maale HaTzipor) and then down to Hirbet Hanut .....but sometimes the best plans..........and as we sped down, Amos fearlessly leading the downhill, we sped past our turn off and went way of course all the way down the end of the "Way of the Ceasers", all very nice but meant we now had a long and gruelling climb on asphalt all the way back up to Hirbet Hanut, with Yaron our newcomer for the day, leading. (This added about 6 kms to our ride).

So Hirbet Hanut reached and a welcome break allowed us to feel our muscles relax before we started the next leg.

Now we rode down to meet Nahal Zanuach and then gradually climbed up to Hirbet Bet Etab affording us a panoramic view (and plenty of good fresh air) of Bar Giora, Nes Harim and the Dolev national park.
Another quick break for energy.....(the tiredness factor began kicking in) as we heard from Nurit's personal lawyer, Mr. Shimon Gitlitz how it would be possible to change a 44 km ride into a 20 km one. His suggestions fell on deaf ears......!!!

The next stop would be Ein Kobi, a planned break stop with water for a quick refreshing dip. Lo and behold when we did get there, the water element was missing, as we saw the pool but saw only about 15 cms of green brackish water which did not entice any of us to get our feet wet.

And now the beginning of the last section, but a GPS error and I mistakenly led the group back on the way we had arrived and before realizing it this mistake had added another 2 or 3 kms to this trip.
A bit of map reading and change of direction and we crossed over to Mevo Betar to find the most beautiful petrol station in Israel. Ice cream, choco, water....an oasis....ahhh a Mechaya. Another break and we started the final section to Tzur Hadassa and then a long downhill back to the cars.

All in all 52 kms ridden, an estimated 1,200 meters climbed (maybe more but my GPS turned off at some stage), two punctures fixed and 5 weary travellers returned to the cars for the end of one of the hardest rides we have done.

Well done to all, especially to Nurit who while being tiny rides with 3, 4 and 5 tall strong well built fit riders and still (normally) manages to keep up and remain cheerful.
Shimon thanks for the coffee and for not complaining at all. Jono, the tea as usual was one of the most important parts of the ride. And as for Amos.....If we didn't see the dust, we wouldn't know he was with us...........

Next week there is no organised ride.

Approx Statistics:
Total ride: 52 kms
Total ascent: 1200 meters
Actual riding time: 5 hrs
Avr speed: 11 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 48.1 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – נתיב הל"ה אל עין קובי

יצאנו מנתיב הל'ה. יונתן עמוס שמעון ירון מקס ואני.
אחרי כ7 קילומטר וכ260 מטר עלייה. שמעון הודיע לי שנגמרו העליות. אם ככה צריך לרדת. ירידה קצרה הביאה אותנו לכביש.
ומכאן התחילה עלייה קשה מאד לאורך כ3 קילטמטר.בסוף העלייה הגענו לחירבת חנות. ( העלייה הייתה תוספת למסלול). משם הגענו לעין מטע. ירידה קלה ועלייה מתמשכת עד חירבת עיטב. ומשם עד בר גיורא.
העליות היו קשות מאד. שמעון הודיע שהוא מרגיש חלושש.

מבר גיורא פננו מועדות לעין קובי.
ירון נפרד מאיתנו ואנחנו המשכנו לעין קובי הדרך פשוט לא ניגמרה עליות וירידות ואיפה עין קובי?
הרעב והחלושש נתנו את אותתם. אכלנו את שנישאר בתיקים גם המים מתחילים להיגמר.
ואז עין קובי אין מים מאכזב.
מכאן המשכנו ליעד הבא צור הדסה.
כיברת דרך קצרה עשינו. תקר בגלגל של יונתן וממשיכים. התברברות קלה זחילה מתחת לגדר והגענו למבוא ביתר.
תחנת הדלק היתה יותר מאשר במקומה. גם מיים וגם הרבה סוכר לגופנו העייף.
לא עזרו תחנוניו של שמעון לחזור בכביש . מקס המשיך לנווט שוב זחילה מתחת לגדר עוד כמה עליות. תקר בגלגל של שמעון. ואז התחילה סוף סוף הירידה . ירידה טכנית אבל זורמת. מתחילים לראות מרחוק את הלווינים.☺כיברת דרך קצרה ואנחנו במכוניות.

רכיבה קשה ומאתגרת.

ברוכים הבאים לירון.
תודה לשמעון על הקפה והשמירה האישית. מקווה שהתגברת על החלושש.
תודה ליונתן על התה והדאגה לממתיק.
עמוס שמספר לנו בדיחות וגורם לנו לחייך למרות הכל.
ומקס יושב שעות מתכנן ומוביל אותנו בשבילים, יודע לאטום את אוזניו ולהמשיך בקו שתיכנן.

שבוע טוב לכולם

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 52 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1200 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 5 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 48.1 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Yar Megiddo

The beginning of the ride is a gradual uphill, at some stage running along Nahal Kini, and then turning into a real uphill to get to about 400 meters above sea level. The area is filled with many trails winding through the forests, and although there was no real breeze to begin with, we still managed to keep body temperature at a reasonable level. Some of the ascents were really tough, some of us walked, some rode and some almost rode.

At Ein Sifloul, we stopped in a shady place, we looked for a pool but although the area was very ripe with bushes and tall trees we did not actually find the water.
At this point we turned North and started looking for singles. the ones we found were great fun, smooth with some bumps and jumps, and very fast.

Nobody told ud that there was a 3 day music festival happening in the area but with suitably managed persuasion we still managed to ride our planned trails. We stopped for a break in Givat Koach along with some stragglers from the festival, and then rode over to the next memorial site to the fighters from Mishmar haEmek. From here a couple of steel climbs brought us back up to 375 meters above sea level to begin a series of adrenaline filled hair raising descents down to Nahal Kini where there still was quite a lot of water. from here it was just a short hop skip and a jump and we were back at the cars.

30 kms ridden and 840 meters climbed and as Amos said, this was one of the really good rides.......but then all our rides are really good ones........

Statistics:
Total ride: 30 kms
Total ascent: 840 meters
Actual riding time: 2:55 hrs
Avr speed: 10.1 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 41.5 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 30 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 840 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:55 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 41.5 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Saadim

A last minute decision brought on by one of the heaviest Spring rain downfalls that Israel has ever experienced and not wanting us to experience a mud trail, caused a change in plans. So instead of Megiddo we went South East and arrived in Hirbet Saadim.
I'd promised Nurit a reasonable ride, so it was planned as a 24 km long ride with about 650 meters total climb. A lot of the ride was quite well shaded so if it had have been one of those really hot summer days this ride would have been quite good.

We descended from Saadim all the way down to the railway lines and then climbed to the Kobi bridge to begin the BBC (aptly named by Jonathan, many rides ago) up to a shagy tree for our first break. I remember the BBC as being quite hard but somehow this time it seemed less so.
here and there we met other riders on the trails. The Jerusalem hills are certainly a place to ride again and again and somehow we still managed to find trails we had never ridden on, inclding one which ended nowhere and caused us an uphill walk through the dense forest to regain a lost path. nce the path had been found again it was smooth riding with no great effort exerted until we very soon found ourselved back at the cars, where Nurit surprised us all, including me, with a very welcom watermellon.

See you next week for another reasonable ride.

Statistics:
Total ride: 24 kms
Total ascent: 556 meters
Actual riding time: 1:57 hrs
Avr speed: 11.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 44.7 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 24 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 556 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 1:57 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 44.7 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Bet Keshet single + Tavor

The idea was to find an area and then base a ride around it. So we thought about Poryia and then got to Har Tavor and then Har Dvora and then the Monument to Queen Elisabeth and Prince Philip and so on and so forth.

We've done the Bet Keshet single 2 or three times now so I decided to shorten it and add a couple of hills. I'd actually forgotten that most of the single was uphill as well, but never mind, anything less than 1000 meters climbing is no longer a challenge.

So with a shortened version of the single done and enjoyed we turned our attention to the serious business at hand and started the climb to Mount Dvora. Why Mount Dvora? Well it caught my attention as having a memorial commemorating the 25th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip of England.

God Save the Queen.

Why on earth this was put there, heaven only knows.

So been there and done that we started our descent towards Dabouria in order to begin our next climb up to the top of Mount Tavor. The descent into Dabouria was wild, wild in the sense that we did not really ride on marked tracks but found our own way gingerly down the slopes of Mount Dvora. We ended up on the outskirts of Dabouria, a place we had ridden through in the past (about 5 years ago), nothing had changed......
And then climbed through Dabouria to the beginning of the Serpentine road to Mount Tavor. Steep steep short climbs through the village (town) brought us high up quite quickly and so the serpentine was found and was challenged. Nurit, Itzik and I followed Amos into the clouds as we climbed and climbed, passing the hang glider enthusiasts, waiting to jump off the end of the cliffs and finally reaching our goal of the Church of Transfiguration on the highest point of the mountain. A quick look around the grounds (The Church was closed and shorts were not welcomed) and then a holy break under some shady trees and we were soon ready for the last part of our epic hill climbing adventure.

A fast downhill led us to the off road section of Har Tavor, where the search for the right trail has become an elusive mystery. The actual paths bear no resemblance to the topomaps of the area and planning a GPS route is purely guess work.
Eventually we made our way down to Shibli where we were invited by one of the Bedouin families there to fill up with water.

Then riding alongside the Nahal we found ourselves on the main road leading to Bet Keshet and rode our final stretch for a 43 km, 1200 meter climb.
Well done to all.

Statistics:
Total ride:43 kms
Total ascent: 1180 meters
Actual riding time: 4:07 hrs
Avr speed: 10.3 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 46.1 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – בית קשת סינגל + הר תבור

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 43 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1180 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 4:07 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.3 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 46.1 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Bet HaShita to Kochav HaYarden

So where do we ride this week? Nurit suggested the area, and said add on a pool and add on Shashana's farm and I attached the dots and according to the maps we were set to do 50 kms, and 900 meters total climbing.

By the end of the ride we had done 59 gruelling kms with the last 15 of them against an amazingly strong head wind and had climbed, according to my GPS, 960 meters.
We started the ride in Bet Hashita and although the maps had shown a stiff climb to begin with, we weren't exactly prepared for the slippery gravelly climb in front of us. Maybe on asphalt we would just have managed it but in the terrain conditions we met climbing Givat Kapidan towards Givat Tzvaim, it was nigh on impossible. So a bit of pushing and climbing and we reached our first plateau, Ramat Tzvaim, named after the many deers seen in this area, for our first of many breathing breaks.
Continuing alonng the plateau was very pretty, the views all around spectacular as we gradually descended towards Nahal Issachar to begin our long climb up to Kochav HaYarden. The first part of the climb was too steep to ride and in fact too steep too push the bikes up but somehow we managed until the climbing became more gradual and we rode slowly and surely towards the Belvoir fortress.
We decided not to pay the entrance fee for the castle and made our way to the look out point overlooking the whole of the Jordan valley and it was a beautiful sight.

After the break, we skirted Shashana's farm with their most amazing balcony, overlooking the valley, and tried to find the beginning of our planned kami kazi trail down to Doshen. In the end we didn't find the planned path but we did find another trail so steep that walking was just about impossible but riding with full front brakes on became a challenge which will take a long time to forget.

Eventuall Doshen was reached and then riding along the border towards Maoz haim became quite pleasent if not a tad too hot. Another break under a tree afforded us great shade with a good breeze before we carried on to our invisible unknown to all, pool.

Wonderful cool water and the enormous lake allowed us to swim and cool off, and three guardian angels were camped there, to make us coffee and provide us with water mellon,,,,,,A machaya.......

From here we rode against a strong head wind until the Canyaon basalt, for the beginning of a nice ride along Nahal Herod until Kantara.

From Nahal Kantara with the wind blowing stronger and stronger we battled our weary limbs for another 8 kms back to Bet Hashita.
Tired? Yes! Exhausted?? Yes! Knackered?? Totally!!!! But what a good feeling. 60 kms and 960 meters and a head wind......Perfect!!

Statistics:
Total ride: 59 kms
Total ascent: 960 meters
Actual riding time: 5 hrs
Avr speed: 11.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 42 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – בית השיטה לכוכב הירדן

ארבעה חלקים היו לרכיבה בשבת.
חלק ראשון- מבית השיטה לכוכב הירדן
יצאנו מבית השיטה לכוון רמת צבאים. תחילת הדרך בעליה מתונה אבל די מהר השביל הפך לקיר ונאלצנו לדחוף את האופניים ברגל. בסוף העלייה נהננו מהנוף לעבר הגלבוע. מגבעת קיפוד המשכנו בעלייה מתונה לגבעת צבאים. ובהמשך לדרך נוף יששכר. רכבנו כיברת דרך ברמת צבאים. שטח שטוח עם נוף מענין. מרמת צבאים ירדנו לנחל זיקה בירידה טכנית ואז חיכתה לנו עלייה קשה במיוחד, שוב נאלצנו לדחוף את האופניים. סוף העלייה הגענו לרמת יששכר. מכאן הדרך בעלייה מתונה לכוון מזרח עד כוכב הירדן.
נוף משגע לכוון עמק הירדן. תה של יונתן, חטיפי אנרגיה וממשיכים.

חלק שני- כוכב הירדן לכביש 90
ראינו את הירידה אך לא הצלחנו להגיע לשביל.
מצאנו שביל שהתחיל בירידה נחמדה והמשיך בירידה מטורפת..... גם ברגל היה קשה. המשכנו בירידה כיפית. איילות קיפצו לצידי הפעם ( ראה תמונות).☺☺☺☺ תמיד מדהים וכיף לראות חיות בטבע.
חלק שלישי- כביש 90 בית יוסף לכפר רופין והאגם בנחל אבוקה רכבנו מזרחה עד הכביש ליד הגבול ואז דרומה . כשהגענו למעוז חיים. הגענו ל33 קילומטר, החום עשה את שלו וזו היתה נקודת שבירה. הפסקה בצל החזירה קצת כוח לרגליים. ברוב קולות שניים נגד אחת. המשכנו לאגם............המים החזירו חיוך גדול לפנים. כובדנו בקפה ואבטיח מיושבי המקום. זהו האגם הכי יפה בארץ.

חלק רביעי- מהאגם לבית השיטה
לפי חישוב נשארו לנו כעשרה ק"מטרים
התחלנו את הרכיבה חזרה. החלק הראשון היה ארבעה קילומטר עד הגשר הרומי בצומת של כביש71 ו90. הרוח היתה נגדנו .והרכיבה קשה עד מאד........המשך הדרך בנחל חרוד, היו מים בנחל וקצת צל, כך שהחלק הזה היה יותר קל. מגשר קאנטרה המשכנו לאורך הנחל ולאורך בריכות דגים שמדי פעם אפשר היה לראות חסידות עפות. הדרך נמשכה לנצח בגלל הרוח הנגדית.

יונתן פינטז על גלידה ואני על מקלחת ומיטה.

תודה ליונתן התה היה במקום ( מצאת את הסוכר)?.
תודה למקס שעודד אותי
היה קשה מאד אבל משאיר רושם חזק.

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 59 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 960 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 5 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 41.6 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Almagor

North of the Kinneret is Moshav Almagor. A good place to park our cars before venturing on the Jordan river to the Golan route. A beginning uphill brought us to KarKoom, the beginning of a clean windy 4x4 track parellel to the Jordan river but higher up. The views are spectacular, the area is still very green and is resplendid with many colours of the wild flowers filling the ground all around. We were suprised here and there by storks rising from their discreet resting places and then a chattering of green budgies over our heads to spoil the quiet.

Very quickly we arrived at the Hanassi bridge and looked down at what is now a repaired crossing, allowing us to reach the East side of the Jordan and begin our next climb of the day, a winding serpentine rising about 250 meters into the clouds. We crossed over the turbulant waters and rode up and up on the serpant until we reached some private fish ponds. A locked gate afforded us entry to Ein Almin, one of the three more famous Syrian Officer's Pools. The water crystal clear, not too cold (but still cold enough to stop us from diving in). Campers in place and all seemed a very peaceful place, and a break we had here.

We continued south and instead of riding down towards Brichat haMeshushim we cut across to join a fast downhill road which brought us to the road around the Kinneret. From here it was road riding to the Almagor junction and then a long haul up to Almagor and back to the cars. I'm sorry we missed the trail alongside the Brichat HaMeshushim, but there's always a next time.

Statistics:
Total ride: 39 kms
Total ascent: 611 meters
Actual riding time: 2:44 hrs
Avr speed: 14 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 55.5 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 39 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 611 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:44 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 14 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 55.5 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Massua upto Sartaba

Amos brought up the idea of Sartaba a year or more ago. Riders told us of one of the most difficult rides in Israel. i can now vouch for this indeed being one of Israel's hardest off road trails.

What makes this ride harder than most are the rock stony climbs and then the rock stony downhills.

We started from Massua turning left towards Tel Al Mazar and then turning into a noman's land full of stones and no trails. Eventually we found a 4x4 trail which we then followed for hours all the way up to Sartaba. This now became a tale of the million stones. I personally counted under my bike 400,673 stones of 12 cm diameter and each one of them did it's best to push my bike sideways. Apart from these stones the trails were quite smooth.
We rode up each incline, puffing and breathing at our maximum and in nearly every case managed to reach the top although with a couple of breaks on the way. We walked, some more than others, and often the walking was as difficult as the riding.

After several hours of very hard work, we reached Um Hillel a turning point in this ride and so we turned South towards Ras El Hafira but still climbing terrible inclines. Climbing more we rode towards Ras Kunitra, a junction point for another trail which one day we will no doubt attempt. Now began the roller coaster with steep inclines and very very stony descents, all rideable but very technical. Eventually a stony descent of about 50 meters brought us to the base of Sartaba and a well earned long break.

The views all the way up had been tremendous, the land, well watered was still very green with hundreds of different coloured plants, flowers and shrubbery all in full bloom. For this reason alone it was worth the effort to do this ride.

And now a discussion, to walk up Sartaba or to continue riding. We chose the latter and soon started our decent towards Yafit, another steep and stony but rideable trail down to the Wadi where another trail would have takes us up to El Mustara, the army listening base and then down on the road to Shlomzion, the Matnas Azori and the regional school, but where we decided to continue down to Yafit and then along the road back to Massua.

Nearly 30 kms and 900 meters ridden and walked, definitely a good work out and as Jonathan said, now we can give it back.........

Statistics:
Total ride: 27 kms
Total ascent: 924 meters
Actual riding time: 2:50 hrs
Avr speed: 9.4 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 46.6 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 27 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 920 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:50 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 9.4 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 46.6 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - HaGilboa - Malkishua

It was late Friday night, after midnight (a song by JJ Cale), and a route was born. The idea was the Gilboa Iris, the the idea was a climb and the idea was a nice day out.

I'd told Nurit that the ride would be a hard ride, at least at the beginning but i didn't mention the facts that it was a 40 km ride with an estimated height of 1,400 meters. Some thing you just keep to yourself.!!
Jonathan joined us, and he thought we were going out for a pleasant ride to see some flowers. Partly true but very partly.

We parked between Bet Alpha and Nir David and rode to the beginning of the first serpentine. If you haven't done it then it's difficult to describe but, it's a serpentine, that has no respite, each turn brings you to a steeper ascent and it just went on and on and on.......
We climbed and climbed, getting higher and higher until the serpentine ended but the climbing did not. Up we rode, 200 meter, then 300 meters, 400 and 500 and then 600 meters as we arrived at Har Barkan. Plenty of road bikers, plenty of other visitors, but no Irises, of any sort colour or variety. we did ask around and there was a rumour of one being sighted, but we had no luck.

So far I think we had just managed one of the hardest and longest climbs in our riding history. there are many ways to climb the Gilboa but this is definitely the hardest one.
But more was to come as my plan was to get to Malkishua before descending. So we continued, a bit on the road, a longer bit on the Gilboa single, passing Hat Yitzpor, then Maale Gilboa, then along the Separation fence up to Har Avinadav and Moshav Meirav. then the final climb to Malkishua, our muscles now burning through our riding pants. The going was good firm terrain on most of the trail but some parts were killers.

Malkishua and surrounding areas is known as a refuge for drug addicts trying to kick the habit, but also as a refuge for the last remaining Irises on the Gilboa. We were told that a replantation effort is and has been made over the last several years to make to forests blossom again with the Gilboa Iris, once an abundance in the area, but now unfortunately a disappearing breed.
We found them and saw them and enjoyed them and that was the reason to climb over 1000 meters of hard riding.
The end of the ride, the last 15 kms, saw us descending on trails hardly ridden and very steep but apart from the vibration, a very enjoyable experience was had by all.

Having descended about 600 meters to minus 100 meters the final stretch was reasonably flat and we got back to the cars, knackered, tired, drained etc etc but full of great feelings for having ridden such a tough ride.

Statistics:
Total ride: 40 kms
Total ascent: 1103 meters
Actual riding time: 3.38 hrs
Avr speed: 10.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 46.7 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – הגלבוע ומלכישוע

יש רכיבות שיש בהן הכל.
הריכבה השבת היתה אחת מהן.
קבוצה גדולה של שלושה רוכבים יצאנו. יונתן מקס ואני. רכבנו לכוון בית אלפא ומשם התחלנו את העליה להר הגלבוע. הטיפוס היה קשה מאד אבל עמדנו בו בכבוד . בדרך כמה הפסקות כדי
לנוח וגם להנות מהנוף והציפורים. הגענו להר ברקן שם היתה הפסקה לאגור כוחות תה חם מביתו של יונתן היה מבורך. ירידה הובילה אותנו לשביל האירוסים. מהר מאד הבנו שאירוסים אין. אז המשכנו בסינגל של קקל לכוון דרום מערב. השביל הבא היה במקביל לגדר המערכת. ואז ניגלו לעיננו כמה אירוסים. יופי השגנו את המטרה שלשמה הגענו אפשר לחזור?
כנראה שלא. המשכנו בטיפוס למעלה גלבוע מירב ובסוף מלכישוע.
עד כאן 22 קילומטר בעליייה.

מצאנו עץ להפסקת בוקר צהריים ראויה בהחלט. כבר בשלב הזה הרגשנו את הרגליים.
פקק תנועה הבטיח אירוסים נוספים. הפעם בשיא פריחתם.
השביל הוביל אותנו לצד המזרחי של הגלבוע. מכאן התחילה הירידה. חלק מהשביל היה ויבראטור אבל חלקו היה כיפי וזורם. החלק האחרון היה שביל רחב למרגלות ההר. שביל ארוך שהוביל אותנו חזרה למכוניות.
פריחת האביב היתה בעיצומה. כל הצבעים האפשריים. הגלבוע ירוק. יונתן מצא חורש של אורנים.
גם החיות לא איכזבו משפניי סלע לאיילות מקפצות וכמובן ציפורים בהמוניהן. לקראת הסוף ראינו חסידות ענקיות. גם הזוחלים ככיכבו מלטאות ועד עכבר בר מינן. אז זהו היה הכל.

יונתן חשב שבא לטיול פריחה
אני ידעתי שהחלק הראשון יהיה קשה
ומקס הכין לנו 40 קילומטר עם טיפוס של 1100 מטר.
שלוב מנצח של מזג אוויר ואזור עם נוף מהמם בתקופה היפה של השנה.
היה שווה להתאמץ.

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 40 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1103 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3.38 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 46.7 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Jonathan - Merhavia to Givat HaMoreh

We've ridden in the area many times, but not exactly where we were - Givat HaMoreh. Special prizes for why it's called Givat HaMoreh (Teacher's Hill??).
We met in the historic Kibbutz Merchavia, previously the home of Golda Meir and rode through the kibbutz and through Moshav Merchavia out to open fields.

It was a pity that the day was very hazy - the country side (what we could see of it) is very beautiful. Lots of green fields of wheat (or was it barley) and rolling hills.
We rode a long gradual ascent, through an Arab village called Sulam and then down to where according to he signposts, there is spectacular blooming of lupines.
We were apparently a couple of weeks late for that - just a few small flowers left.
From there we started climbing in earnest. The hills there are really beautiful - lots of green grass and trees, almost empty of people. The path as a 4*4 track and easy riing (technically) but the gradient slowly started to increase. Eventually we found ourselves blocked by an army camp and decided to have a break there.

From that point, it was on foot as the camp blocked our path. Some ruins - some cow patties - and we were riding up the hill again. A long, quite demanding climb over slippery and sometimes rocky ground and we were soon up the top. One fall along the way (a new member - to the group and the country - Jonathan - welcome!) but no serious injuries. More climbing followed up to a lookout at the highest point on Givat HaMoreh. No views due to the heavy haze. A Muslim cemetery up there commemorates the place where someone (name, Max?) was killed several hundreds years ago in Damascus and his body was pulled back home by his faithful dog.

The plan from there was mostly downhill. It would have been, except a false turn that forced us to climb back up. Then we found the right road and sped quickly down through Afula back to our cars. A great area for riding and a very enjoyable ride. Definitely worth a second visit when the visibility is better!

We drove north to Afula to ride Givat HaMoreh
We hadn't been up there before, to us it all was new.
There was Max who drove up with Nurit,
Jonathan-1 and Jonathan-2

It was quite hot but full of haze
They said that it might rain
Through Kibbutz Merchavia we went
To see all the new terrain

Green fields abound and rolling hills
It looked like Tuscany, a bit
Some dogs attacked our little group
Two Jonathans, Max and Nurit

Max found a spot - a special place
Of tons of lupines (so we were all assuming)
We saw tons of lupine stems round there
But the lupines? No longer blooming

From there we climbed to an army base
That stopped us in our ways
We had a break, looked for the view
But it was blocked with all the haze

We walked a bit and found some ruins
And eventually the tracks
Up and up we rode again
The Jonathans, Nurit and Max

A long long climb on grass and rocks
(The views still blocked by fog)
At the very highest point we found
A Shahid that was buried with his dog

We flew down the wrong decent
And had to make back-tracks,
We sweated as we climbed again
Nurit, both Jonos and dear Max

And finally Afula-bound
Was our very merry troupe
We sped back home to rest our bones
So that we could all recoup

Statistics:
Total ride: 30 kms
Total ascent: 772 meters
Actual riding time: 2:44 hrs
Avr speed: 10.8 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 54.7 km/hr

בלוג על ידי – מרחביה לגבעת המורה

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 30 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 772 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:44 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 54.7 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Amatzia, Lachish

We wanted to go to Drom Adom, to see the Calanyot colouring red Ruhama and the surrounding areas but were concerned that we might see other people doing the same.
So Amatzia came up in a discussion I had with myself, and it looked like the Calanyot might be there as well.

Nothing prepared us for the sights that we saw.

We started just outside Amatzia, and rode South doing our best to skirt around the new building site called Bnei Dekalim being built for immigrants from the Gaza strip and then rode down towards the Adoraim river and then the Duma river. The fields as far as we could see were firstly deserted and secondly full of calanyot and other flowerings giving colour and feel to a very green landscape. Everywhere we rode, everywhere we looked, the land was alive and it was an amazing sight.

We climbed a steep hill, one of many to ride a wide single which led us into a deserted Arab village, from the 1948 exodus, a village which had been built using the stones from an earlier Jewish settlement from the second century. The buildings are in very good condition and the area is full of caves and various hiding places from the Bar Kochba era. Well worth the visit.

From here our ride took us adjacent to the Duma river again until Givat Mirsham where we stopped for a windy break.

After the break we rode North to Hirbet Nakik, a place visited on previous rides in this area. Then on through flowering fields seeing more and more Calanyot until we reached the Dam, occupied by more and more visitors. If before we thought we had seen many Calanyot, then now we were seeing galore. From here a confusing myriad of paths took us back to the cars for the end of a very exciting, challenging ride.
Great fun.

The next 2 weekends will find us skiing in the Swiss Alps so see you on the 8th March.

Statistics:
Total ride: 40 kms
Total ascent: 700 meters
Actual riding time: 3:12 hrs
Avr speed: 11.5 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 41 km/hr

אמציה, לכיש

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 40 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 700 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:12 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.6 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 41 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Ein Gev to the Rama

Last time we did this, we walked a lot, scrambled a lot and floundered a lot. We also managed to draw out the ride to a good 7 hours before we go back to the cars.
This time we refined the ride, we hardly walked, hardly scrambled and never floundered. We did however, manage to draw out the ride to 7 hours plus but we did do 51 kms and over a 1000 meters ascents.

We started in Ein Gev 199 meters below sea level and climbed our scenic serpentine over looking the Kinneret, till we reached Susita, an ancient Greek town from the 2nd Century BC, 109 meters above sea level. That was the warm up. We continued through the very deserted Golan, till we passed Neot Golan and then through Givat Yoav and Bnei Yehuda for our second break, having now reached 350 meters above sea level.

From here, we rode towards Eli Ad, situated on top of the El Al river gorge where previously we had attempted to ride a hikers path, unsuccessfully as it turned out.
At this stage a lively discussion ensued with some of us arguing time restraints, tired muscles family problems, financial problems, future marital bliss or lack of....In the end the one wearing the trousers wore the others (also wearing the trousers) down and it was unanimously decided to continue the route as I had planned it. I knew, deep down that they all needed to see the old ruins of the local synagogue.

Phew.....thought I was going to lose that one !!

So we now gently climbed along the flat plateau past Avnei Eitan until we reached Natur, the highest point of our endeavours on this ride, 424 meters above sea level. From Natur we crossed the flat plateau until we reached Um El Kantir (Um HaKshatot) with the ruins of an ancient Synagogue going through a slow process of regeneration.

Continuing from we here we now changed direction and started a long technical ride down via the Samach 4x4 trail to the meeting of the El Al river with the Samach river and to 2 water crossings. We had now reached 15 meters below sea level, a downhill of 450 meters........amazing.
BUT now we began our second or third or maybe fourth main climb back up to 110 meters above sea level and joined the road down to the Corsi junction. From here a short fast 5 km road ride brought us back to the cars.

In conclusion.
Jonathan showed us what a Rocky mountain bike with 26 inch wheels can do. I showed them what a Rocky Mountain with 27.5 inch wheels can do. Shimon showed us what a Giant with 29 inch wheels can do. And Nurit showed us all what a wee girl on a big bike can do so well.
By the way, did I say green? Well green was the colour of the day, and of the land.
Ireland be jealous!!!!

Statistics:
Total ride: 51 kms
Total ascent: 1160 meters
Actual riding time: 4:26 hrs
Avr speed: 11.6 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 53.9 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית - עין גב ורמת הגולן

בפחות משעה וחצי הגענו לעין גב, בדרך כדור פורח לרגלי הגלבוע ממש בוקר אביבי. התחלנו את הרכיבה ארבעה, יונתן שמעון מקס ואני. יצאנו בשביל רחב כשהמבט לעבר הרמה. היעד הראשון היה חורבות סוסיתא. הדרך התפתלה בעלייה כאשר כל סיבוב הרחיק אותנו מהכנרת, והנוף הלך ונהיה יותר ויותר יפה .
משני צידי השביל גבעות ירוקות. בדרך עצרנו מול הנוף המדהים לקפה ומאפה מבית הקפה של שמעון.
עזבנו את היעד הראשון בידיעה שאת העלייה הקשה עשינו.......המשך הדרך היה בכביש פנימי בעלייה מתונה שמשני צידי הכביש רקפות. בשלב מסוים חזרנו לשטח כאשר יונתן מפגין ידע רב בישובי האזור. שם למעלה זה גבעת יואב. הישוב רחוק מצד השני של הואדי. זה אומר שצריך שוב לטפס. בסוף העלייה אחרי שאנחנו כבר שלוש וחצי שעות בדרך והמד מראה רק עשרה קילומטר תהיתי איך נסיים את הרכיבה עוד באותו יום.

בגבעת יואב עשינו הפסקה. משם המשכנו לאלי עד. עשרים קילומטר השעה אחת. בנתיים עלינו ועלינו. מקס החליט לא לוותר והמשכנו בעלייה קלה עד אבני איתן ומשם לכיוון נטור. ואז התחילה הירידה הטכנית לנחל. עברנו את הנחל ואז חיכתה לנו עלייה ארוכה עד הכביש . הירידה בכביש היתה מהירה מאד מאד. שהגענו לחוף כורסי נשארו עוד חמישה קילומטרים עד עין גב.

האמת שלא האמנתי שהגענו לעשרים קילומטרים שאסיים בחמישים קילומטרים.
תודה למקס שדירבן ועזר לי בעלייה לסוסיתא.
תודה לשמעון ששמר ודאג לי בהמשך הדרך.
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סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 51 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 1160 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 4:26 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.6 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 53.9 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Jonathan - Agur & Zaccariah singles

It was a very refreshing day - full of new things. Max's new bike, Jonathan's new car, Nurit learned a new word and we rode KKL's (fairly) new single.

It's called the Zecharia single, though we started it about 13Kms away from Zacharia. It's a circular single, goes by Zecharia and totals 14Kms so I'm not sure how the maths works out, but that is what we were told.

The first part of the ride was an "improvised" adjunct to the single. Planned trails, signposts and geography did not all align very well so there was a little more improvising than usual. Know the part of earth between road 383 and the actual start to the Zecharia trails? Well we all do now - we crossed that 200 meters at least 6 times. We entered and exited Park Brittania about 4 times and eventually started climbing up and up towards Tel Azeka. It's a place we've been before a couple of times - high up overlooking Emek HaElla and the perfect place for a break. Max and Nurit were both pampered by a gastronomic competition that is developing between Shimon and Jonathan - coffee, tea and cakes galore. The jury is still out on that one! The setting was perfect - nice fine weather, clear air and the views are really amazing.

We descended (Nurit blazed ahead of us in a blur of black and red and had to wait for us so long she thought she'd gone the wrong way) and eventually made our way back to the Zecharia single (after exiting Park Brittania and crossing 383 near the sign to Kakadu for the last time).

The single took us near Zecharia (a moshav? a town?) and we began a long, slow gradual ascent of about 6 Kms. Plenty of rocks to go over and virtually no respite; it was hard work! The advantages of Max's greater circumference (I mean his 27.5" wheels) as well as Shimon's 29's were a subject of conversation - definitely an advantage on this sort of riding. After the climb, the trail took us up and down and around the hill-tops until we eventually reached the end. It is truly a beautiful single - quite technical in parts, though pretty much all rideable - very well planned and organized. It's set in a magnificent forest that is now just starting to bloom but it already very green. Parts are technical, parts are free flowing, hard work but plenty of reward - there really is something in it for everyone. All in all I would rank it as one of the top singles that we've done - highly recommended.

From there it was back to the cars through Moshav Agur and back home. A terrific ride on a perfect day!

Statistics:
Total ride: 31 kms
Total ascent: 561 meters
Actual riding time: 2:38 hrs
Avr speed: 11.6 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 29.8 km/hr

עגור וזכריה סינגלים

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 31 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 561 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:38 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.6 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 29.8 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Kedar to Kalya, Midbar Yehuda

6 Spokes went to Kedar. 3 Spokes went to kalya. 3 Spokes stayed in kedar. 3 spokes returned to Kedar. 6 Spokes rode into the desert and then the fun began. The day was glorious. A sunny spring day, perfect for a ride in the desert. The scenery was amazing. The desert is blooming, swathes of green all over the place, and if you look carefully, flowering shoots from every stone.

Our first climb was to Har Monteur, not the usual 4 x 4 route but an off off road, through a Bedouin emcampment, chased by 5 ferocious dogs, snapping at my heels, then a walk/climb up the side of the mountain to join another 4x4 to reach just below the summit, where we began the first of the day long singles experience.
The first part was a scramble as most of the very narrow path had been destroyed. After about 50 meters the goats foot prints turned into a reasonable single (for most of us) and from here on down it was glory. Perfect technical singles to test and challange our balance and fears, scenery not matched by any other area in Israel and weather so perfect it was unreal.

Nahal Ogg under a couple of caves afforded us our rest place. Again Tea was not served as Jonathan was not able to join us. No cake was forthcoming as Shimon also was a non comer. But , to the rescue came Moni, with the best coffee in the area, gratefully drank by us all.

Break over we joined the Sugar route and our next stop was Bir el Maliki, a watering hole built many years ago but now, although very impressive, was very dirty and not very inviting.
So now the fun continued towards Nebi Musa, mostly on free flowing singles, some tchnical bits but great fun. Another break in Nebi Musa and then a sweet single to just before Almog, with a steep ending, atempted by Stas, Amos Moni and Max, and a different way down by others.

So now the questions......."why couldn't we have finished the ride here??......"why go all the way down to the Dead sea"? so impervious to their crying, I led them through 4x4 trails down (and up) to join Nahal Ogg again and then an easy ride down to the Lido and to our cars.

It was a great ride and it was great to ride with such a great group of great riders. great!

Statistics:
Total ride: 34 kms
Total ascent: 477 meters
Actual riding time: 2:56 hrs
Avr speed: 10.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 43.4 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית - קידר לקליה, מדבר יהודה

בשבע הגענו לקדר דרום שם כבר חיכו לנו עמוס מוני וריי המקום המה מרוכבים שהתארגנו גם הם לרכיבה. מוני ואני חיכינו במקום כשמקס ריי ועמוס נסעו להשאיר מכוניות בסוף המסלול. בנתייים הגיע גם סטס. השלושה חזרו מההקפצה. התארגנות ויצאנו לדרך.

תחילת הדרך בירידה ואז עלייה בעיקר ברגל להר מונטאר. הנוף מסביב הדהים.
מהר מונטאר ירדנו לסינגל צר שבצדו האחד תהום. בשלב מסוים הייתי על הברכיים מחזיקה את האופניים ומתפללת. אלוהים בצורת עמוס הגיע לגאול אותי.

מכאן בעיקרון המשכנו בסינגל שעלה וירד פסגות.עד שהגענו לנחל אוג. שם הפסקה בשמש הנעימה. וקפה מהמטבח של מוני.
מנחל אוג עלינו עד הפסגה הבאה. התחברנו לדרך הסוכר. סינגל זורם בנוף מדהים. רגע לפני שהגענו לנבי מוסא ניתקלנו בשיירת גמלים שהוסיפה לחווית המדבר.
מנבי מוסא המשכנו בסינגל מהיר עד מעט לפני אלמוג. שם המשכנו לכוון דרום עוד מספר קילומטרים עד צומת לידו.

הרכיבה במדבר משאירה רושם עז.
מזג האוויר היה אביבי. קר בהתחלה אבל נעים מאד בהמשך.
תודה למקס שתיכנן את הרכיבה המיוחדת.
מהשבוע מקס ואני הצטרפנו למועדון הסבים והסבתות.
לעוז בננו ולמריאנה נולדה הבוקר בת מקסימה.
שבוע טוב לכולם

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 34 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 477 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:56 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 43.4 ק"מ / שעה

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מזל טוב למקס יש אופניים חדשות שיהיו הרבה רכיבות מהנות

Blog by Max - Yar Kedoshim

Got up this morning at a reasonable hour. Not like last week. This week they allowed me to sleep in till 06.00. Wonderful.
The plan was single Agur and Zachariah but the Good Lord had different plans and let the rain fall, just enough to make the trail slippery and wet, a bad combination for a fast flowing single. So Yar Kedoshim I said.

How many riders !!! All sorts all types and we joined them as we climbed 12 kms to get to Givat Yaarim. We rode through the back entrance, a bit muddy, a bit slippery but still good fun. Down to Nahal Kisalon and then up to the Camila trail for an amazingly fast homeward bound race. Adrenalin fuelled we pedaled down as fast as we could. beeeeeeautiful..

Up the top in Givat Yaarim, it was freezing bloody cold but down the bottom the weather was changing for the better all the time.

My bike. Yes, my new bike has now morphed into a 27.5 inch, Rocky Mountain Altitude 770. 2 x 10 gearing, and an 11-38 lowest gear combination kept me at top speed all the way down, and the handlebar controls of the back shock, brakes and hydraulic seat kept my fingers working overtime, but Oh what a ride. A great bike makes the ride so much more enjoyable. 27.5 inch is definitely the way to go, both down and up!!!!

Statistics:
Total ride: 29 kms
Total ascent: 616 meters
Actual riding time: 2:10 hrs
Avr speed: 13.2 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 45.8 km/hr

יער קדושים

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 29 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 616 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:10 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13.2 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 45.8 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - The Negev - Gev Zarchan

04.00 the blasted alarm burps into life,
stagger into the kitchen, put kettle on, prepare cups,
take backpacks, fill with water, add energy bars, dates, nuts and a banana,
stagger back to bathroom, teeth (now where did I put them?), face wash,
brush hair and shave. (Who would do all that in order to ride in a dusty deserted desert)? Nuts,
sorry said that already.

04.45 packed bikes (3 of them) in car. packed backpacks, packed a change of clothing, took bike shoes, helmets, head scarves. The list is endless. Ok so what did we forget. Jesus, what about the cat? Did you take the GPS??, the phone, glasses, wallet, socks? Oh yes, nearly forgot...a good morning kiss, see you later darling.....at about 4.00 (16.00, that is.)

Bloody dark out here, Highway 6 deserted, where is everybody, yeah, yeah, tucked up in their nice warm cozy beds under the downs.....and we..?? Off to the desert in search of water.. Noo Noo!!!

05.30 still black as Africa out here, Now fast forward to 07.15. We meet.Questions are raised...why on earth are we starting at such an unearthly hour......nobody has the answer. Next time we start at 15.00. On the bloody dot.

The ride. 70% amazing. 30% a long endurance slog back to the cars. the Desert? the pics speak for themselves. there is nothing like riding through the desert, on a cold fresh morning. Blue skies with just a whisk of creamy clouds. The sounds of the desert all around us.. Silence abounded. 3 camels and 3 antelopes. The antelopes faster, springing up the hills. What is a GEV. Ok, a Gev is a natural pond carved into the soft rock after millions of flash fllods have left their residue for the desert animals to drink from throuout the winter and most of the spring. But Jeez, cold, bitter cold water. Jono put his lower extremities into the water and lo and behold they turned blue very quickly. We of the saner types just stood around and wowed and ahhhed at the amazing shapes carved into the rocks all around.

One puncture (mine) and 6 very fit 'persons of the bike', 41 kms passed by and all in all a wonderful day out.

And now.....to bed. It's about 5 o'clock now. Yep, 5.00 in the afternoon. 13 hours since we got up. and what for?? A ride in a dusty deserted desert?????

Statistics:
Total ride:42 kms
Total ascent:587 meters
Actual riding time: 3:35 hrs
Avr speed: 11.7 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 37.9 km/hr

הנגב – גב זרחן

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 42 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 587 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:35 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.7 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי:37.9 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Haifa and Wadi Nisnas

Today was "urban day". Urban Haifa from the top to the bottom or in our case vice versa.
The start was Castra, near the spanking new Sammy Ofer football stadium with its chrome mascot delicately balancing on her pedestal.

We rode down to the beach front, the sea calm as satin, and then North until "Rosh HaCarmel, the Northern most tip of the Haifa bay. We passed various old Arab houses, left to preserve the authentic nature of the place. We also passed the old Hospital building, one of Haifa's real majestic "old" preserved buildings.
We continued through the small streets until the Wadi street, the beginning of Wadi Nisnas. here the preparations were taking place for the hordes that come to visit this area every Saturday in December, to enjoy the picturesque village with its Christmas feel and to see the sculptures and paintings that adorn the village walls and balconies.

Now we climbed to reach Stella Maris, maybe a little bit easier than last time. Amos stopped along the way to repair his chain, snapped by powering legs.
A break for tea, dates, almonds, energy bars and then we continue the climb to Denia. through the middle Carmel until we reach nearly to the University.

Downhill through the streets of Denia, we rode at full speed, cold air in our faces but a welcome "rush". And then the last part.

OK so the maps had shown a "what was" path, from the lowest part of Denia towards Tirat HaCarmel, but when we got there the path really was a "has been". But Jonathan took the lead and led us down through the Wadi climbing over rocks, bikes on our shoulders, fortunately just a short walk until we met with the "still remaining" path to ride to Tirat HaCarmel and then back to the cars.

Statistics:
Total ride: 33 kms
Total ascent: 642 meters
Actual riding time: 2:42 hrs
Avr speed: 12.1 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 51.4 km/hr

חיפה ווועדי ניסנס

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 33 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 642 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:42 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.1 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 51.4 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by max - Yar Kedoshim in the snow

SNOW
They said a storm
Our response: a waste of riding time!
They said snow: we said: been there, done that.
they said:heavy
we replied: by tomorrow it's gone.......

So Tuesday arrived and Horshim was out, totally water logged, new ponds and rivers, a mud bath by any other name.
So where to ride.......???
I said lets go back to the wide, white paths of Yar Kedoshim. Should be OK.

Our start at 10.00, was warm, shorts and tee shirts the order of the day. The 6 km climb began, all good all ok, a bit of mud but no problem. So up we climbed (a great day for UP) (who said that??). Then a smattering of snow, so pics taken, then a wee bit more snow. More pics taken. Then more and then MORE and then EVEN MORE SNOW........The views just amazing. All around whitness engulfed us. Clean white fresh virgin snow. Such a pretty sight. The paths had been driven on by 4 x 4's so we were able to ride in their tracks. Wet yes, slippery..a bit, cold..a little. Ah yes the cold. By this time and by this height we had put jackets on and long gloves and still our toes were freezing.
But when the views are so stupendous, the cold just morphed away

A break on a snow covered bench and then our normal route......but oh oh, blocked. No one had been here so a new way down had to be found.
We went into Givat Yarim and found their back end. A closed gate onto a snowed in trail from here all the way down to the Kisalon river.
Funny thing..the Kisalon was empty, no flowing water, well hardly any. We thought a bubbly stream, frothing it's way down the mountain......but nada..did someone forget to open the sluice gates??
So the pics express our feelings quite well. But soon the hordes will come with their 4x4's. The trails will turn into mud baths, the snow will melt and all will return to the old ways. With a difference. The flowering has started. Go there and be part of this awakening. And now to bed.

Statistics:
Total ride: 25 kms
Total ascent: 580 meters
Actual riding time: 2:29 hrs
Avr speed: 10.3 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 40.9 km/hr

יר קדושים בשלג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 25 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 580 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:29 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 40.9 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Dennis - Zanuach to Nes Harim

Promises, promises...
Promise (1): "The ride starts with a very healthy climb of about 3km, different from previous times, mostly rideable and the remainder pushable."
Reality: After huffing and puffing for the first hour, we had progressed nearly 6km and climbed 300m. Time for a break.

Promise (2): "When (and if) we reach the top we will be riding between Nahal Dolev and Nahal Mechasia towards Har Yaala and Nes Harim towards Bar Giora."
Reality: We did indeed reach the top, but little did we know that this was the first of several "top"s. Between Har Yaala and Nes Harim we rode along the South Balcony of Nahal Soreq (not to be confused with a similarly named path below Mt. Blanc), with a most inspiring vista spanning the sea to the west and Hadassah hospital to the east (always useful to know where it is), and the serpentine railway track deep in the valley below.
Three hours into the ride we passed Bar Giora, full of roadies on carbon in iridescent spandex; do they know what they are missing by sticking to the highways?
At some point management decided we were on the wrong contour line, so we did a nearly vertical scramble (that even the deer we saw earlier would have avoided) up to the highest point of the day at 730m; that meant no more uphills, with the odd exception.

Promise (3): "Then we turn west before Zur Hadassa towards Mateh before joining Nahal Zanuah for a roller coaster ride back to the cars."
Reality: A half hour of real fast rolling and coasting, tough on the hands but fun.

Promise (4): "Estimated total climb is 550 meters."
Reality: More like 750m, but who's counting? Thanks to management for a perfect ride, and to the meteorological bureau for equally perfect weather.

Statistics:
Total ride: 27.4 kms
Total ascent: 690 meters
Actual riding time: 2:28 hrs
Avr speed: 11 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 48.8 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שימעון – זנוח לנס הרים

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 27.4 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 690 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:28 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 48.8 ק"מ / שעה

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ינתן כתב

התיישבתי אתמול לכתוב כמה מילים על צביקה והיה לי קשה להתחיל. מה אני יכול לספר לבני משפחתו שהם כבר לא יודעים עליו? שהוא אהב את הארץ ולטייל בה? הרי לא היה כמעט טיול אחד שעשינו ומקום אחד שביקרנו שצביקה לא הכיר. לא רק הכיר אבל באמת אהב.

שאני אספר שעברית נכונה היתה חשובה לו? ממנו למדתי לומר לרכוב ולא לרכב ואופניים חדשים ולא חדשות. אני מקפיד עד היום לדבר כך (אולי המוהיקן האחרון בקבוצה עדיין מתעקש). לקסדות, אבל, פחות התחברתי - אני מודה.

או שצביקה אהב לרכוב? הוא לא היה המהיר בקבוצה אבל תמיד התמיד. עלה את העליות בהילוך מאוד נמוך ובקצב איטי אבל לא היה מוותר. וכשהתרסק – עשה את זה בגדול.

היו גם אהבות אחרות – לגלידה, למוזיקה קלאסית (אני זוכר בוקר אחד קר במיוחד שנסענו יחד למוצא לצלילי הסימפוניה התשעית של בייטובן) – אבל את כל זה אתם וודאי יודעים.

אז חשבתי לספר לכם קצת עלינו – קבוצת אנשים שאיתם צביקה בילה לא מעט שבתות וערבים.

האמת - לא תמיד קל לנו לקום ב-4:30, 5 בבוקר ולצאת לרכיבות האלה. הרבה פעמים אני שואל את עצמי בערב לפני אם באמת יש חשק לרכוב מחר. שישי בערב, אוכלים ושותים – מי אוהב לקום כה מוקדם? וכשהרכיבה נהית קשה (ויש תמיד קטעים קשים מאוד במסלולים שלנו) גם אז אנחנו שואלים את עצמינו למה לעזאזל אני צריך את זה? אנחנו לא ספורטאים מקצועניים, לא מתכוננים למשחקים אולימפיים – אבל בכל זאת שבוע אחר שבוע יוצאים שוב ושוב. באמת למה?

חלק זה רצון לשמור על כושר גופני. אצל צביקה אני לא בטוח שזה היה דווקא השיקול המכריע. אבל בכל זאת אמר לי בגאווה מספר פעמים שאין קצובות אחרות בארץ בגילינו שעושים את מה שאנו עושים. אז אולי.

חלק אחר זה הטיול. הניתוק לכמה שעות מהלחץ והמתח של החיים היומיומיים יחד עם המאמץ הפיזי הקשה גורמים לסוג של רגיעה ונקיון של הגוף והראש. אולי אספקיזם – אני חושב שזה יותר דומה סוג של מדיטציה.

ויש גם את הרצון להשטתות – לדבר שטיות, לספר בדיחות גרועות או אפילו גסות – לעשות דברים שאנחנו לא עושים ביומיום. גם זה אולי סוג של בריחה.

אבל מעל הכל, אנחנו יוצאים בגלל החברה. אנחנו חברים קצת מוזרים – לא יוצאים לבילויים יחד ולא מכירים טוב את בני המשפחה. ברוב המקרים אפילו לא יודעים את שם המשפחה. אבל בכל זאת חברים טובים. מוולים הרבה זמן יחד, מקשקשים, עוזרים כשצריך ועוברים חוויות מדהימות אך קשות יחד. וזה יוצר חברויות מאות חזקות ואמיתיות – גם אם הן רק למספר שעות בשבוע.

כזה נזכור את צביקה. פשוט כחבר. ונדמה לי – מעל הארץ, השפה, הרכיבות ואפילו הגלידה – זה מה שחשוב באמת לכולנו – מפשחה וחברים. אז אני רוצה לאחל לכם בעיקר הרבה זכרונות נעימים ומקוה שנמצא הזדמנויות נוספות (בנסיבות יותר משמחות) לשמור ולו טיפה על הקשר.

Blog by Max - In Memory of Zvika Nov 2013

I think the first time I met Zvika was on one of the first rides I led to Amazia Lachish in Feb 2008. Then we were still one big group, before we started ISRAELSPOKES and before we began to ride more challenging rides.

It didn't take too long for me to become friendly with Zvika, we always had plenty to talk about, our love of Israel, of the scenery, of the very different areas that we rode in. He was always asking me about how I chose the areas and how we did the mapping. He also took it upon himself to become my mentor....in Hebrew.....and never gave up until he stopped riding with us. I think in all that time I learnt a lot but remembered one word in particular....לירכוב and not לירכב.

He began his riding career with us on a hard back, Giant if I remember, a bright yellow contraption with V brakes, a creaky plush seat but very capably managed all the rides we rode with speed and stamina which was not expected from such very spindly (thin) legs. he also had Parkinson's disease but when he was on the bike he was the healthiest person on the ride.

We all love riding, it gives us all something very special and i always knew from Zvika how he always looked forward to our rides together. He would never miss a ride, except when he went abroad, and we managed to get to places where we would never have seen if we hadn't been on our mountain bikes.

In May 2010, I eventually persuaded Zvika to but a new bike, a second hand Specialised, with all mod cons, disc brakes, full suspension, a proper seat, which we managed to pick up at a very good price. Fully adjusted to fit Zvika, he took it out on its first ride on May 29th when we did a ride in Horshan, by this time Zvika was now fully equipped with a good bike, a proper back pack, bike pants with padding but still no gloves. the only gloves I remember Zvika wearing were his black wooly ones in the very cold days of Winter.

i think by September 2010 Zvika was finding the rides harder and harder and it was about that time that we began to suggest to him that he went for a checkup. From here on, the rest, as they say,is history and all I can say is that it was my pleasure to have met and to have ridden for just a few years, with Zvika but to have enjoyed his company so much.

Which brings us to November 16th 2013.

22 riders rode our local ride, a ride that Zvika often enjoyed with us in one form or another. We met, together with Zvika's family, in Horshim and remembered him, with great affection, with great camaraderie and with great sadness that he is no longer with us.

יהי זכרון ברוך

Statistics:
Total ride: 35 kms

בלוג על ידי נורית – רכיבה לזכר צביקה

הפעם התאספנו עשרים ושניים רוכבים לרכיבה מיוחדת.
הרכיבה היתה למלות שלושים יום לפטירתו של צביקה חברנו לרכיבה .
יצאנו - איציק אירנה גבי גידי David דיאנה דניס הילטון טד יונתן מרטין מרל מוני סטס Stuart עמוס עופר פרנסס שמעון רענן מקס ואני. מעתיר ידע כפר סבא לאלישמע משם לאורך הקנה עד לעדנים. המשכנו לירקון ומשם לעינת. הגענו לעלייה למגדל צדק ואז רכבנו באתר הבניה של ראש העין. משם עלינו לאורנית ונכנסנו ליער חורשים.

רכיבה שצביקה רכב איתנו פעמים רבות.
בחורשים חיכתה לנו משפחתו המקסימה .
אין צורך להוסיף הרבה מילים על הרכיבה.
רק בכל זאת מילת תודה למקס שאירגן והוביל.
שבוע טוב לכולם.


נורית כתבה
לפני חודש בהפסקת אוכל ברכיבה ישבנו בתצפית לעבר מדבר יהודה. כרגיל נהנים מהנוף ומקשקשים. ואז פתאם מקס קיבל מרזיה אשתו של צביקה מסרון שצביקה נפטר ממחלה קשה. כמה אירוני שנקבל את הידיעה ביום שבת בזמן רכיבה.

כולנו היינו המומים אף אחד לא ידע שהיית חולה. זמן ארוך ניסינו אנחנו ואחרים ליצור איתך קשר אבל אתה בחרת לא לענות. כיבדנו והפסקנו לנדנד. לא חשבנו לרגע שאתה חולה חשבנו שהפרקינסון החליש אותך.

היית תקופה ארוכה חלק מגלגלי ספוקס. רכבנו מדי שבת בשבילי ישראל נהנו מהנופים המדהימים.
אופניך היו פשוטות אבל זה לא עצר מבעדך לדהור בירידות התלולות. כששני בקבוקים על גבך.
שתי רכיבות ארוכות במיוחד רכבנו ביחד האחת מהוד השרון לירושליים והשניה מערד לים המלח.
בשתיהן סבלת מכיווצי שרירים אבל לא ויתרת. העלת חיוך והמשכת.

אתה ומקס חגגתם את יום ההולדת השישים כל אחד בתורו. אנחנו הצלחנו להפתיע אותך ולחגוג עם משפחתך בסוף המסלול של נחל ציפורי ואתה ברכת אותו בסוף המסלול ביער קדושים. ריגשת אותו מאד.
בזמן הרכיבה שוחחנו לפעמים על החיים. היינו מדברים על זוגיות. היתה לך נפש רומנטית. אהבת והערכת מאד את רזיה. דיברת על בנותיך כמה הן יפות וחכמות היית מאד גאה בהן.
תקופה ארוכה חיפשת עבודה. עבדת בכל מיני עבודות ואז הציעו לך לעבוד עם הלומי קרב. כשסיפרת לי מה אתה עושה ראיתי את הברק בעיניים. היית למעשה מאמן אישי ללא הסמכה.
היית המורה לעברית שלנו. מאז שהפסקת לרכוב איתנו העברית של מקס הידרדרה מאד. בכל אופן אנחנו מאד משתדלים לרכוב ולא לרכב.....

היום רכבנו כשאתה בליבנו ואתה שם במרומים בטח בצניעות שלך משתהה ומתחבא לא רוצה להיות במרכז הענינים.
תמיד נזכור אותך תמיד תהיה לך פינה בליבנו. מצטערים שלא היינו איתך ברגעים הקשים אבל שמחים שהיית חלק מחיינו ושאנחנו היינו חלק שגרם לך שמחה והנאה.

אוהבים

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 35 ק"מ

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Blog by Stuart - Lahavim to Sansana

Seven of us met, about 7am, just outside Lahavim (not too far from Be’er Sheva), with the promise of desert scenery, trails and singles, with a sprinkle of history thrown in for good balance; all packaged into a neat 33km experience.

As we confidently setoff on tarmac, in search of more challenging terrain, my first 10 minutes on challenging terrain made me fantasize about tarmac. I don’t know if it was the tough working week or a small snack in the car an hour before, (I should have known better), but if I had any doubt I wasn’t enjoying myself, the fall as the surface changed from rocks to leaves to sort of sand, (but with a landing on jagged rocks) convinced me.

Still, with a mental note to push on for another 10 minutes, before deciding to “take an early bath”, 9 minutes later I’d forgotten about my “teething problems of the day”, and the real adventure began.

Over the next few hours, we literally, covered a lot of ground; some at a snail’s pace, maneuvering through and over unstable, jagged rocky surfaces, in the direction of the sky, and other times, “flying” down long, wide, desert paths.

The scenery throughout the ride was breathtaking, the silence deafening. On the rare occasions we crossed a real tarmac road (with the earlier desire to ride on them now forgotten), I was reminded of Yom Kippur.

With my earlier puffing and falling, it just didn’t seem fair when I, and only I, got a puncture. Not a disastrous one, and the wonderful “jiffa” solution inside the tire soon sealed it. I made a mental note to have a sip of the same later, to see if it would heal the cuts from my earlier fall.

I would never normally wish a puncture on anyway else, but when half an hour or so later, Amos got a nasty-ish puncture, well, I was somehow relieved, (but not pleased), that all the problems of the ride were no longer about me. Still, Amos had precisely everything needed to fix a puncture in a tubeless tire, and fixed it with the skills of an experienced surgeon. It was just ironic that we were blessed with a break at a time I absolutely didn’t need to “steal” one!

Ah, yes, let’s not forget, we were promised a little history. In the middle of the desert, the ruins we stumbled upon turned out to be a very old synagogue. A group photo, on a Saturday, with our heads covered with cycling helmets just somehow seemed like a modern day appropriate memory of what was, hundreds of years ago.

Part of the fun of cycling off road, is looking at the recorded route online, after the ride, via my good friend Endomondo. You can see a copy in the event album. What’s noticeable is the dotted line on the map, showing we crossed the 1949 “Green Line”. I just don’t remember seeing the dotted lines on the ground … must have been looking at the beautiful scenery at the time.

Oh, and I nearly forgot, we had a session of bike swapping half way through the ride. It’s a bit like musical chairs, but without the music, and without the chairs. Or a bit like wife swapping, but without the wives, and, err, more socially acceptable. It was all about “try my 29er and you’ll never go back” …. Max clearly still needs some convincing to “See the light”. I learned from it I’d nearly forgotten to ride a 26er, and for the first time I appreciated the button that lowers the seat during steep downhills, that I’d never understood before, and unfortunately didn’t use on the swapped, temporary 26er, today.

As we arrived close to the cars, whilst 4 of the team continued homebound, Max, Nurit and I headed towards the promised Halmaniot yellow flowers. A picture speaks more than a thousand words, so have a look at what we found in the photo album.

Max found the bumpiest, most prickly, least friendly “path” for the small journey from yellow flowers to tarmac. As we arrived back to our cars, with my tires having picked up a good quantity of pricklies, ready again to test if there’s any jiffa sealant left inside, an “argument” pursued in the car park between my Hebrew accent and Max & Nurit’s. They laughed at my pronunciation of Kotsiym, and said it should be Kotsiym. Sounds the same to me.

One fall, one puncture, 2 arms, 2 legs, great company and views, lots of fun, and finally, “no pain, no gain” !

Statistics:
Total ride: 34 kms
Total ascent: 600 meters
Actual riding time: 2:45 hrs
Avr speed: 11.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 42.5 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – להבים לסנסנה

הפעם ירדנו דרומה.
נפגשנו בלהבים ויצאנו לדרך כשני קילומטר בתוך הישוב המטופח.
חצינו את כביש31 לכיוון יער להב.
מכאן הרכיבה היתה בעלייה וירידה. סינגלים זורמים והעיקר הרבה דיבורים על אופני שטח. מקס מנסה את האופניים של רמי, סטויארט את האופניים של גדעון. סטס בוחן את יכולתיו לנווט, עמוס כרגיל דוהר ואני בעיקר מצלמת.
הדרך לסנסנה היתה מענינת הנוף השתנה לנוף מדברי.
בכניסה לסנסנה אנחנו מתמהמהים. מקס מברר אם אפשר לרכוב בישוב.
סנסנה היא ישוב קהילתי דתי המונה כ50 משפחות וכ150 ילדים. הישוב הוקם ב1999. הישוב ממוקם בצפון הנגב ממזרח לקו הירוק אך ממערב לגדר ההפרדה.
בישוב קארונים ומספר בתי קבע.
סוף העולם ימינה.
הישוב ממוקם בגובה של כ500 מטר והנוף מדהים משני צדדיו.

משם ירדנו בסינגל נחמד וזורם. ובהמשך עוד עלייה אתגרית לכוון חירבת רימון. שם יש בית כנסת מהמאה ה4 לספירה עם במב הפונה לירושלים.
הדרך חזרה היתה בעיקר בירידה מהירה.
בתקופה הזו של השנה פורחות החלמוניות. בדרך לא ראינו אפילו אחת. אבל ליד להבים בואדי הן פורחות כעת בהמוניהן. מראה מרהיב.
שווה היה לטפס על הגבעה בשביל לראותן.
תודה רבה רבה למקס שמצא לנו מסלול מענין .

שבוע טוב לכולם

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 34 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 600 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:45 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 42.5 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Ein carmel & Nahal Maarot

This weeks blog is a combination of 2 rides, the first was last weeks ride which was cut short by a broken derailleur hanger and then by a deformed and broken derailleur, mine unfortunately.

We had started OK, Dennis had rejoined the spokes, Itzik was there, Shimon arrived Monny back from a holiday abroad and then a short flu interval and together with the familiar four we made for 8 riders, starting from Ein Carmel and battling the millions of stones in Nahal Maarot. The first hill arrived and it was a killer and a destroyer of derailleurs and so after a vain attempt to repair broken aluminium, we managed to create a single speed which enabled us all to get back to the cars, after 7 kms, and just in time to sit in the local coffee shop and hear jokes about Australians, yemenites, English, Argentines but none about Israeli's.....strange..

AND now the 2nd of November and we met again, depleted in numbers but still raring to go and the familiar four started what appeared to be stoney uphills in every twist and turn of the trails, some causing our breathing to rocket up while we stayed rooted to the spot. Most climbs were juct about doable and as usual we did get to some great lookout places, with amazing scenery, colours and even a lone narcist to show us that the flowers are a coming.

Our discussions ranged from 27.5 inch to long cage derailleurs, to all mountain vs agressive XC, to Ibis vs Rocky mountain vs LaPierre. Which all goes to show that it's bike change season with lots of new parts, 1 x 11, 2 x 10, 3 x 9, 2 x 9, 1 x 10.........so complicated.......

The next few rides will bring us some specials so be prepared.

Statistics:
Total ride: 30 kms
Total ascent: 605 meters
Actual riding time: 2:41 hrs
Avr speed: 11.0 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 38.6 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 30 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 605 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:41 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.0 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 38.6 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Gesher

10 minutes into the ride, bleeding profusely from 4 nano millimetre deep scratches, my rear derailler hanger broke. The bleeding just would not stop. this, thanks to the multiple blood thinners I now take to prevent any clot build up in my arteries. Stupid. So now I bleed to death. A slow torturous way of going. Well actually eventually the blood does clot and the hanger does get replaced and so off we went on our epic adventure to climb from minus - 247 meters (below sea level) to plus +345 meters above sea level. Basically a 14 km climb of 700 meters height difference. Stupid.

Actually not so stupid, the views are magnificent, the scenery, even still very brown, is still beautiful, the views over the Jordan valley and the Southern tip of the Kinneret, just wonderful. For lovers of our very special country, this was really a special ride.

The climb, by the way, is long but not too difficult. It's mostly on the old by pass road between Gesher and MeNachamia and while not perfectly paved , still makes the climb reasonable.

Our break was on the top of the World, Mitzpe Alot, and then we rode down a very technical descent, coming down 300 meters height difference in about 2-3 kms. We rode down carefully and slowly but we rode it all. Experience finally pays off.

Then a fast ride to Yavniel, Good Shabbas to you all, and then continuing downhill we arrived at the beginning of Nahal Yavniel. From here we rode mostly down towards the Jordan river, having to navigate between hordes of kids out on a Saturday walk, (well done). This trail was parallel to the river and great fun to ride down.

Eventually we got to the Jordan river, having ridden about 34 kms and knowing that we still had 10 kms to go, but mostly flat so no problem. Well, actually with a 60 km/hr head wind, we battled the trails (yes, I am exaggerating), and rode along side the wide and full bodied Jordan river, passing bridges, storks, and having a second break to build up some energy for the last flight back to the cars.

We arrived at Naharaim, the site of the bloody massacre of our school girls by a lone Jordan soldier and also the site of part of the Hydroelectric power plant built by Mr. Rutenberg to supply the first electricity to Israel.

From here it was just a short ride back to the cars but someone had mapped in a last ascent for us, which was totally unnecessary and very tiring.

But all good things must come to an end and proudly and full of well being, we arrived at the cars, Amos, myself and our great lady of the day, Nurit.

Not an easy ride but well worth the effort.

Statistics:
Total ride: 45 kms
Total ascent: 867 meters
Actual riding time: 3:48 hrs
Avr speed: 11.5 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 48.6 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית - גשר

הירח עוד האיר הבוקר שיצאנו לדרך
העננים איימו מאד
ובדרך רק מכונית אחת עם אופניים נחשו של מי
התאספנו בגשר הישנה......
קבוצה קטנה ואיכותית.......
מזל שהגבול מנע ממקס להתחיל במקום נמוך יותר.......
אז התחלנו לטפססססססססס
אופס האוזן של מקס נשברה
ככה סתם ללא התראה
שני הגברים בחבורה הוציאו כלים
יש אוזן חדשה
איזה כיף אפשר להמשיך לטפס

השביל בתחילתו עפר בהמשך כביש משובש ובסופו כביש
טיפסנו כ15 קילומטר עד תצפית מדהימה על כל האזור וכמובן הפסקה איפה הקפה תה ועוגה.....
הירידה ליבנאל היתה טכנית וכמו שעמוס אמר לא יותר קלה מהעלייה
השלב הבא ברכיבה היה נחל יבנאל
שביל רחב ללא מהמורות בירידה כיפית
הנוף מדהים ועמוס גם הצליח לאתר שתי איילות שקיפצו להם בשטח
נחל יבנאל התחבר לנחל הירדן ואנחנו המשכנו לאורך הנחל דרומה
שביל יפה במישור רק חבל שהרוח היתה נגדנו
מקס מודיע שיש עוד עשרה קילומטר........

אז התישבנו לנוח קצת לצידי הנחל ציפור מהממת ישבה לה בצידו השני של הנחל ומעל ריחפו חסידות הרוח נשבה וקיררה אותנו אפילו למקס לא היה חשק להמשיך
עצירה קצרה בנהריים והמשך ליד הגבול
פתאם משום מקום עוד עלייה באסה המחוג מראה 43 קילומטר לא נראה שיש סוף לסיפור. מקס רואה שאני צריכה עידוד ומנחם אותי שנשאר רק עוד קילומטר אחד......
בדרך פגשנו קבוצת רוכבים אחרי שטיפסנו כבר כ500 מטר הם אמרו שאנחנו גיבורים באותו רגע לא ידעתי שבסוף ארכוב 44 קילומטר ואטפס 860 מטר מענין מה הם היו אומרים על זה .......

מקס אירגן לנו שוב רכיבה מענינת מאתגרת שבסופה הגוף כואב אבל הנשמה שמחה

שבוע טוב לכולם

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 45 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 867 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:48 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 11.5 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 48.6 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Jerusalem - Zvika's ride

The Jerusalem ride is always a special ride. This time we rode the climb from Motza to Yad Vashem through the Jerusalem forest but mostly on asphalt. Its still a climb and a half but with the right cadence and good weather its not too bad.........for some!!!

From Yad Vashem we rode down toward Share Tzedek Hospital and then the idea was to go through the Deer Park, but that now seems to be fenced off. Shame. So we continued to the Patt junction, down to Teddy, the football stadium, then along the old railway lines, now a Jerusalem walking/biking trail, and then up and over the Bridge to view the Bet Tsafafa neighbourhood. We then passed one of the first British Pill boxes, built in 1936 during the times of the Arab revolt.

From here a quick visit to Ramat Rachel and the Olive peace park, with its 3 massive towers supporting three olive trees sculptured and planned by Ran Morin. Then down to the look out over the South and over Bet Lechem (Bethlehem).

For a detailed account of the Egyptian attack on Jerusalem click on the link
The Egyptian Attack

Stories over, we now went down to South Talpyot, managing to reach unprecedented speeds of 68 km/hr.......a wonderful adrenalin rush.
From here a climb to the Hass Promenade (Armon Hanatziv) for a welcome break and wonderful views over Southern Jerusalem.

Break over, we rode through the Armon Hanatziv park to Abu Tor, then in between the walls of the Old City to get to Dung Gate and down towards Absaloms monument. A short climb brought us to the Church of All Nations, always a busy place and then the winding serpentine brought us up to the Mount of Olives for another spectacular view point over Eastern Jerusalem. From here we climbed, again to the most eastern point of our ride overlooking Midbar Yehuda, another good place for a break and here we received the very sad news of the passing away of a very good friend/rider, Zvika Frenkel.

From now on this ride will be called, in his memory,"Tzvika's ride".

The rest of the ride was very quiet and we rode back to the cars, all of us deep in our own thoughts...

May Tzvika rest in peace.

Statistics:
Total ride: 44 kms
Total ascent: 912 meters
Actual riding time: 3:17 hrs
Avr speed: 13.0 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 68.5 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? – ירושליים - מסביב

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 44 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 912 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:17 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 13.0 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 68.5 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Canim Single (Park Adolam)

As singles go, this has to be one of the better ones. It has everything, uphills, downhills, good technical parts and rocky gardens galore. What was surprising was that we hardly met any other riders on the trail. maybe too technical......

So, the beginning was a climb, on the single, with many switchbacks to help us make the summit but by the time we got there we were pretty much out of breath. I think this was the second hardest climbing bit of the whole trail but it warmed us up very well for the next parts.

By the way, the temperature at the meeting point was below zero, or at least it seemed so. it was bloody cold.

The rest of the ride was up and down dale all on the single and interspersed here and there with some great rock gardens which required all our concentration to keep in the upright position.
Here and there a fall but nothing more serious than a graze and so although my trail was actually 30 kms long, we ended the ride by doing the single only (23 Kms) and not with the extras I had planned.

The ride is great and we will be doing this again.

Statistics:
Total ride: 24 kms
Total ascent: 400 meters
Actual riding time: 2.5 hrs
Avr speed: km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: km/hr

בלוג על ידי שימעון ג' – סינגל כנים (פארק אדולם)

הפעם מקס מצא לנו סינגל טכני בעלייה.
תודה לקקל שהכשירו סינגל חדש ביערות עדולם.

בדרך כלל שמכשירים סינגל התוצאה היא סינגל זורם וקל. נראה לי שהפעם הקטע היה להוסיף סלעים ואבנים לשביל ולא ההפך. את הסינגל התחלנו בשביל רחב ונחמד. הבוקר היה צונן במיוחד. שני הפרמטרים האלו השתנו במהרה. הסינגל הפך לצר ובעלייה ובהתאם הקור הפך לחום .

אחרי כשעה וחצי של טיפוס בסינגל המתפתל סיימנו רק ששה קילומטר. כמובן שקפה ועוגה היו במקום. המשכנו בסינגל שהיה טכני מאד סלעים ואבנים שדרשו מלוא תשומת לב.

את הנוף המדהים אפשר לראות היטב בתמונות.
אין ספק שהסינגל היה אחד הקשים בגלל העליות. דווקא הירידות הטכניות היו סבירות ורובנו הרגשנו שיפור רב בטכניקה. עכשיו נשאר להוסיף לי קצת כוח בעלייה ואני אולי אפסיק לקטר.

בתור השליחה היחידה מהמין החזק בכל היער. אני מודה לכל מי שבדק שאני עדיין חייה וסליחה למקס שרצה לטפס על עוד כמה גבעות אבל ברוב קולות הוחלט לקצר.

את הסינגל סיימנו בכבוד וגם המכוניות חייכו כשראו אותנו חוזרים .......מה קרה לא הרגו אותכם היום?
הפעם לא המרחק עייף אלא הטיפוס האין סופי.
לא פלא שלא ראינו יותר מדי רוכבים. סינגל קנים שמו הולך לפניו.......
תודה שמעון אין כמו קפה ומאפה באמצע הרכיבה.
ותודה למקס שתמיד מצליח לאתגר ואיכשהוא מוצא לנו רכיבות חדשות,

וכמובן תתחדש על בגדי הרכיבה החדשים.

שיהיה שבוע טוב
בשבת הבאה בירושלים הבנויה

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 24 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 400 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2.5 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Max - Kfar Uriah to the Kfar HaNassi Forest

I was asked, what do I mean by medium. As any good chef will tell you, medium is when the meat is browned on the outside and still retains the redness on the inside but is cooked........medium!! Having experienced many restaurants in my time, both here and abroad, I can safely say that medium in one restaurant bears no resemblance to another, and so it is with biking. Medium for some (Groopy for example) can range from a ride along the yarkon to Tel Aviv with some even classifying it as advanced. So what do I mean by medium? Medium is when we (the average rider in our group) can ride (not push or carry) our bikes for 95% of the ride, including ascents and descents. Hard is when the carrying time goes into the 5-15% range (or more) which can make the ride very tiring. If you see a ride advertised as including 650 meters ascent, this may indicate a hard ride but may also indicate gradual climbs over the whole ride, in which case the ride can no longer be classified as Hard. So how was today's ride?? Well a good question! We rode most of the ride except for a ridiculous ascent of about 60 meters at a 60 degree angle on a powdered stoney gravely surface, not fit for mankind or beast. That in itself should classify this ride as hard , but apart from this we managed to ride most of the trail. This ride was based on a shorter easier ride starting from the same point but bearing no resemblance to todays one. We managed to get in a bit of everything, ascents, descents and one very nice single. The scenery was magnificent, the shady forest riding was a cooling experience and the sight of the cars at the end was a sobering one. As Amos said..."It was like a day's work". I think I will classify this ride as medium to Hard.

Statistics:
Total ride: 34 kms
Total ascent: 870 meters
Actual riding time: 3:21 hrs
Avr speed: 9.4 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 46.8 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – כפר אוריה ליער הנשיא

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 34 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 870 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:21 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 9.4 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 46.8 ק"מ / שעה

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Blog by Stuart - The Megiddo Forest

Fractions, decimals, Pythagoras, Fibonacci Series, ‘A’ Level Maths and Further Maths. Tried them all. Didn’t help. So I looked up the word “about” in Dictionary.com. “Nearly”, or “almost”. Predictable. So, I remain bamboozled how a ride billed with a total climb of “about 650 meters” ended up at 860 meters on Max’s GPS and 930 meters on my inefficient iOS7 device.

But this is just (attempted) humour, disguised as a complaint. Six of us; Max, Nurit, Jonathon, Shimon, Megan and I, started pedaling near Megiddo junction at 6:45am, for an estimated 35km ride, with the early morning silence being broken only by the multi-coloured, plastic go-faster beads on Megan’s spokes.

One of the things I like about a ride, however challenging, is a reasonably gentle start. A bit of light chit-chat with good friends (“We must be nuts getting up at 4:30am for this, ha-ha”, etc); an opportunity for the muscles to gently warm up; a slow introduction for the heart and lungs, giving them a taste of what’s to come, but without frightening them. Not today. Today, as we soon picked up speed, generating the centrifugal forces that drove Megan’s beads into silence, we rapidly entered a not insignificant climb, shown as about 100m on my iPhone’s Endomondo, and surely something significantly less on Max’s pessimistic GPS. So, just 10 minutes into the ride, with my heart rate accelerating faster than a Porsche, and lungs already thinking I was at 15,000ft, my brain passed the time by reviewing what I should or should not have eaten over the last 2 hours, that would have made this initial ascent less extreme.

Anyway, “what goes up, must go down”, eh? We did go down a bit. With a 70m rapid decent followed by a 150m climb, I remember thinking if the enjoyment of every meter we descend is equal to the pain of every meter we climb. You decide!

“Why always me?”, I thought, as the bliss of fast pedaling on the first flat stretch was broken by a sudden hissing sounds and white “Joe’s no flats” sealant spraying me from my front wheel. (Made a note to read up “no flats” on dictionary.com, later.) Yet, in my world, the glass is always half full. As I played plastic surgeon fixing the gash in my tire, I was comforted knowing I’d given everyone else the opportunity to eat, drink and rest.

With the puncture plugged, half a minute after we were rolling again, I was reminded I’m never too old to learn. It seems that looking at the front tire to check the puncture is history whilst pedaling isn’t conducive to spotting ditches on the side of the trail. My ribs will remember that lesson for a short while to come.

Anyway, at least I’d hopefully used my bad luck for the day. But with the bicycle “unrepairs” from yesterday causing gears to slip, not change, and the chain to get locked in the cassettes, blessing my friends with yet another unplanned stop, I understood that the slate wiped clean recently at Yom Kippur was already notching up some future requests for forgiveness. Max, you were right. Never take a bike to be repaired the day before a ride!

With the mishaps behind us, and the weather being extremely kind, we enjoyed some excellent riding, crossing countryside and with breathtaking views, that most people never see.
Personally, I found the ‘singles’ a real treat. (For those not into cycling, I’m referring to very narrow cycling paths, not a dating club). With confidence and self-belief fuelled by following Nurit down the long, narrow, rocky, winding paths, I learned a lot more about what both my bike and I could do. It was only later on that she admitted she was praying, too! All will be revealed soon, as we await Megan’s “singles video from the handlebars”. (No jokes, please).

At about the 25km mark, we were challenged with a hill that many jeeps would shy away from. Whether I managed half of it, or more, and with the air as blue as the sky, (do I really need to explain?), I take my hat off to Max, for being the only one who made it to the top on 2 wheels, without stopping, especially given his widely reported stent addition of just a few weeks ago.

Another 5km, and we all stood in the middle of a silent field, discussing the best route back to our cars, now confirmed as only 6km away. The choices were (a) another adventure over the “fields” (read “big hills”), or (b) reduced pain via tarmac. It turns out, Moshav Midrach Oz was very close, meaning paved roads, meaning Waze can get us “home”. A few button clicks later, Waze took control as group leader, as we sprinted back to our starting point for some well earned refreshments.

Whether it was an 860m ascent or 930m, we all started, and 35km later, we all finished. A great way to spend a Saturday morning, and looking forward to the next “adventure”.

Statistics:
Total ride: 36 kms
Total ascent: 860 meters
Actual riding time: 3:16 hrs
Avr speed: 10.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 35 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – יער מגידו

בחוץ חושך העיניים עיפות ממעט שינה. יונתן מצטרף אלינו גם הוא לא נראה ער במיוחד. ואז גם טיפות גשם מתחילות לרדת ולי עובר בראש שכל מה שבא לי זה לחזור למיטה! בדרך יונתן ואני ממשיכים לפהק מקס יותר ער מה שהיה בדיוק הפוך בדרך חזרה. בתחנת הדלק במגידו פגשנו את מגן וסטיורט במצב רוח עליז. ואז גם שמעון הצטרף.

תחילת המסלול היה ביער מגידו התחלה קשה בעלייה שכן שום חלק בגוף שלי עוד לא היה ער מספיק. ההמשך היה בעליות וירידות בתוך היער. עליות תלולות אבל גם ירידות כפיות וזורמות. פנצר של סטיורט נתן לנו הזדמנות לקפה ומאפה מביתו של שמעון.
המשכנו בדרכנו כאשר הנוף השתנה למרחבים פתוחים ויפים. וכך גם התחילו הסינגלים שמקס מצא באזור. סינגלים טכנים אבל בהחלט זורמים ומהנים מאד. באופק ניגלו שתי אנדרטות. אחת מהם היתה מקום נהדר להפסקה. נוף מדהים לעמק יזרעאל ובריזה מכל הכיוונים.
הפעם התכבדנו בתה של יונתן. המשך הדרך היו בשתי עליות קשות במיוחד. הכוח הנשי צעק וצעק ולמרות שנשארו רק עוד שמונה קילומטר ביקש קיצור דרך. למזלנו היינו בקרבת הישוב מדרך עוז. ברוב קולות הצלחנו לשכנע את מקס לחזור בכביש. הדרך חזרה היתה מהירה וקלה יחסית.

מסלול קשה אבל הירידות והסינגלים השאירו טעם נפלא. גם מזג האוויר והנוף הוסיפו לענין.

וכמובן הרוכבים.
סוף כל סוך עוד רוכבת. מגן אלופת הירידות.
סטיורט למרות שהאופניים בגדו בו המשיך לחייך כמעט עד הסוף.
שמעון תודה על הקפה והעוגה הייית חסר ולא רק בגלל הקפה!
יונתן חזק כתמיד וכמובן תודה על התה.
ומקס. תודה על מסלול מהנה בגבעות האלה עוד לא היינו. וכמובן הכי חשוב שוב מטפס על הגבעות כמו עז.

אחר הצהרים בעודי מכורבלת שמעתי שוב את הגשם יורד. סוכריה מתוקה והשלמת שעות שינה.
שיהיה חג סוכות שמח

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 36 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 860 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 3:16 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 10.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 35 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Kfar Saba to Einat for Coffee

Ok, so today we rode the first ride in the New year of "tough, shin, Ayin (fried egg), da led.!!
Itzik said he would come ..but didn't. Yoram, back aches...but came. Amos, look ..new gears... came. Monnie, I am now moved, came. Jonathan, my bike is making a heck of a noise....came. Avraham, a lovely surprise, came. Nurit, don't let him ride too fast, came. and of course yours truly and raring to go...myself...came.

A nice quiet leisurely ride, along the Kane river, by Eli Shemer, then crossing the Yarkon, over towards the pastoral Kfar Baptistim, Migdal Tzedek and then coffee in Einat.

Dennis our long lost, but never forgotten, mate, arrived and joined us.
Break over, which way home?
Well if we're here we might as well do one uphill, or two, so Park Afek we ascended, mostly ruined by the immense road works going on for the new part of Rosh Haayin.
Why on earth they couldn't build this new part of Rosh Haayin in the Negev and leave this small but lovely area in pristine condition......

Well, never mind....such is progress.
So we crested the hill and found our way around the water tower and down into Rosh Haayin (the old) and then someone made the decision that another hill was in order, so we all followed him (???) and rode up the Rosh Haayin hill just so we could enjoy the long and winding road (song here) down to the new Haayin river, now being compared to the Mississippi by some and to pipi by others.
Still, a good work in progress.

The rest was a good work out and we all got home safely.
And now a personal note.
A heart event has been and gone and I, none the worse and probably even better am glad to be back and riding at nearly full strength. The coming week will see me doing a stress test and then an Echo Lev test and then hopefully it will be enough of this heart talk.

Shana Tova to one and all, well over the Fast and in 2 weeks time we will be riding in Megiddo.

Statistics:
Total ride: 40 kms
Total ascent: 200 meters
Actual riding time: 2:40 hrs
Avr speed: 14.8 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 45.8 km/hr

בלוג על ידי נורית – כפר סבא לעינת

לכבוד השנה החדשה נפגשנו כמה מוותיקי ספוקס . זו היתה הרכיבה הקבוצתית הראשונה מאז שמקס התחדש בסטנט.
עמוס עם המהלכים החדשים. באמת שאני לא מבינה למה אתה צריך מהלכים....... אחד מספיק.
יורם בבגדים חדשים כיאה לילד יום הולדת.
אברהם עם שרוכים חדשים בנעליים.
יונתן ומקס חולמים על אופניים חדשות ומוני התחדש בבית חדש.
רכבנו בשבילים שמזמן לא ביקרנו, עד עינת. הפסקת קפה בבית קפה גם לא זכורה לי......
דניס הצטרף לחבורה וקרא לנו חבורת המשופצים ואכן עברנו לאחרונה אי אלו שיפוצים גופניים.
התכבדנו בעוגת יום הולדת טעימה והמשכנו בדרכנו. בדרך חזרה רכבנו לכוון מגדל צדק וראש העין החדשה ובסוף בדרך חזרה ליד פסי הרכבת.

היה כיף להפגש עם כולם.
יורם שהתהיה שנה מקסימה ומקווים לראות אותך. המון מזל טוב.
אתמול מקס ואני רכבנו בחורשים. בדקנו את הסטנט .
אז בן זוגי היקר הכי כיף לראות אותך על אופנייך. עולה בעליות כמו תמיד נהנה והכי חשוב מרגיש טוב.

שתהיה שנה בריאה עם הרבה רכיבות בשבילי ישראל.

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 40 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 200 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:40 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת:14.8 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 45.8 ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

נורית כותבת:
הערה קטנה להשתלשלות הענינים
מקס ביקש שאזמין אמבולנס........... יותר נכון,..... "הסכים" .
לחכות לאמבולנס היה כמו נצח.
לנסוע באמבולנס כשמקס מטופל היה הדבר הכי לא נתפס.
להיות במיון כשהוא מחובר לכל מיני חוטים היה הזוי.
וכמובן כל מה שהיה חשוב לו זה איפה האופניים

המשך יבוא

אופניים
מה עם האופניים
הם מחכים בחורשים למשיח...........?
לא דודה חברנו הטוב לקח אותם למזכירות בקיבוץ חורשים וביקש מקום בטוח לאיכסון האופניים. הוא הופנה לקבט הביטחון של הקיבוץ ואיחסו אותם במה שהיה פעם הנשקייה של הקיבוץ. יותר בטוח מזה לא יכול להיות,,,,,,,!

אומרים שאחרי צינתור מרגישים יותר טוב ויש יותר אנרגיה. אנחנו בצרות צרורות........

Blog by Max - Horshim to Assuta, Day 1

Tuesday 10 days ago, Nurit and I set off nice and early on our weekly Horshim ride. Everything very normal, hot sweaty, dusty slightly overcast and not too hot.........yet.

We ride to Horshim as normal and there on the slight incline I felt a strange, uncomfortable feeling in my chest. I stopped, waited for Nurit (as usual) and whatever it was quite quickly calmed down. Nurit (the sensible one) said let's go back. I the less sensible one said let's go on. So we went on.
Another 300 or so meters and the feeling came back again. A feeling of tightness in the chest, maybe something I'd eaten....maybe. Again the feeling calmed down quite fast and again we continued, again against Nurit's better judgement.

The next part was the beginning of the uphill around the outside perimeter of Kibbutz Horshim. Feeling like a mountain lion, I climbed and no breathing problems detected, muscles working well i got nearly to the top when again this strange tightness returned but this time a bit harder.
A joint decision made (by Nurit..as she turned my bike homewards) and we started a downhill back home. 200 meters into the descent and the tightness returned but this time I felt pressure building up in my chest and had to stop. i tried asking the little man in my chest to stop squeezing my heart but to no avail. he was jumping and pummeling my heart with abandon by this time so I had to stop, get off my bike and sit down and I thought he would calm down....but no..he pressed and pressed until I could not take it anymore and told (asked) Nurit to phone the ambulance........(sound of sirens)....

in the meantime she had phoned a very good friend of ours, Dude Tal, and had asked him to come and collect us, thinking that we would still be able to get home alone. Anyway 25 minutes later (a bit long???) the 4x4 ambulance made its way up the stony path and Dr's to the rescue, they began to stabilise my condition. "Put this under your tongue, don't swallow...suck, then a spray under my tongue, then an injection in my side, then ECG and all the time asking does it hurt?? What do you feel? Are you dizzy? Are you dead......????
Within about 20 minutes of feeling bad and feeling sick I was being jolted carefully down the Stoney Horshim path in the Mada 4x4 ambulance to the road where a second "normal" ambulance awaited me. Transferred, we sped off to Meir Hospital (Kfar Saba) and to the hands of the Emergency room crew (ER to you fans). ECG beeping happily away, aspirined, and blood tested, things began to calm down and time began to move slowly and normally again.

Nurit, I love you and I thank you for being so cool, calm and collected all this time. (I would have said that to anyone who had been there at this time.....).. No, Seriously.....she was amazing. So calm and so in control. Just the BEST.

Once in the very capable hands of the Kfar Saba ER room, they told me that my vital signs were all OK, the ECG was normal but they would do a blood heart enzyme test to check my Tropinin levels.
At this stage all I was told was that all the tests were normal and I was getting nice and relaxed and thinking...Oh good probably soon be released..........

Then the on duty Cardiologist said I would be staying in for 24 hours for observation which at the time seemed reasonably sensible so I accepted that. After about 2 hours in the ER room and having been frozen to 2 rider cubes of ice (the temp in the ER is -34 degrees C), they collected us and we moved up to Department G. Now this was really a hospital. Lots of green people in green outfits, shuffling around with infusions, plasters, pills and other attachments......

They gave me a room, no view, crowded, no TV so I asked for a room with a view.........well really!!!
Surprise surprise, they offered me another room, bed by the window, and 3 other gentlemen with ages ranging from 70-94.......Now what the f..k am i doing here???????

During the day, still Tuesday, what a long day this was turning out to be, the ECG was monitoring, the blood pressure was tested, temperature was taken, pills were taken and all was calm and there I was thinking.... a night in the Hospital and Home.......BUT there were others who had different plans.
At about 4.00 in the afternoon,a lady Doctor, a nice, lady Doctor came to me and asked me to go into my room, she wanted to talk to me.......

Sir, she said....."You have just had a Heart ATTACK". On the spot my blood pressure rocked sky high, my heart beat....boomed up to what seemed like 200 bpm...... a more gentle way of telling me, she could not have found..........

When the blood pressure pill had brought me down to floor level, she explained that the blood enzyme test given to me when i arrived in the ER was only a base line. They check this a second time about 6 hours after the attack and then see if it has increased. Mine had, about 10 times more than the base line. this for them was a true indication of a heart attack.

So what now..???
OK, so now you must not leave the bed, you must not leave the room, you must not......and you will be on a fast from midnight and tomorrow morning you will be taken for a Tzintur

Wow.

The rest of the day was spent with my support team, Nurit, of course, my daughters, Rona and Maya, and my sister Clare.

The national Institute of health describes a heart Attack as follows"
Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the centre or left side of the chest. The discomfort usually lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It also can feel like heartburn or indigestion".

Comments welcome and more below.

בלוג על ידי מקס – חורשים לאסותא

ביום שלישי, לפני עשרה ימים, יצאנו נורית ואני מוקדם בבוקר לרכיבה השבועית שלנו לחורשים. הכל היה כרגיל, חם ומיוזע, מאובק מעט ועדיין לא חם מדי...
רכבנו כרגיל לחורשים ושם, ברכיבה במעלה שיפוע קל, הרגשתי בחזה הרגשה מוזרה, של אי נוחות. עצרתי, חיכיתי (כמו תמיד) שנורית תגיע ובינתיים הכל נרגע די מהר. נורית (השפויה בין שנינו) אמרה, בוא נחזור. אני, הפחות שפוי, אמרתי, לא, בואי נמשיך לרכוב. המשכנו ברכיבה. לאחר כ-300 מטר נוספים חזרה שוב התחושה הלא נעימה, הרגשה של תעוקה בחזה, משהו לא טוב שאכלתי אולי... התחושה חלפה די מהר ושוב המשכנו ברכיבה, גם הפעם בניגוד לשיקול הצודק של נורית לחזור.

החלק הבא של הרכיבה היה תחילתה של העליה המקיפה את קיבוץ חורשים. מרגיש כמו אריה הרים, טיפסתי במעלה, בלי שום בעיות נשימה, השרירים עבדו היטב וכמעט הגעתי לראש הגבעה כאשר שוב חזרה פתאום ההרגשה המוזרה של המועקה, אבל הפעם היתה קשה וחזקה יותר.
בהחלטה משותפת של נורית ושלי (למעשה של נורית, שסובבה את האופניים שלי לכיוון חזרה) התחלנו לחזור בירידה לכיוון הביתה.
רכבנו כ-200 מטר בחזרה ואז הרגשתי לחץ בחזה, שהולך ומתגבר ונאלצתי לעצור. ביקשתי מהגמד שבתוך החזה שלי להפסיק לסחוט לי את הלב, אך ללא הועיל. הוא המשיך לקפוץ בתוך החזה שלי, מטלטל את הלב שלי ומסרב לנטוש, כך שנאלצתי הפעם לעצור, לרדת מהאופנים ולשבת בתקוה שהוא ירגע והלחץ יעלם... אבל לא.. הוא לחץ ולחץ עד שלא יכולתי יותר לסבול את ההרגשה ואמרתי, (ביקשתי) לנורית, להזעיק אמבולנס (קולות של סירנה...)...

בינתיים, נורית כבר התקשרה לחבר טוב שלנו, דודה טל, וביקשה שיבוא לאסוף אותנו מהשטח במחשבה שנוכל להגיע הביתה בכוחות עצמנו.
בכל אופן, 25 דקות לאחר מכן (לא זמן ארוך מדי?), עשה אמבולנס 4x4 את דרכו אלינו, מטפס במעלה השביל המסולע וצוות ההצלה החל לפעול לייצב את מצבי. "שים את זה תחת הלשון שלך...אל תבלע.. תמצוץ את זה..." ואז התיזו ספריי מתחת ללשון שלי, אחר כך זריקה בצד הגוף, ואז א.ק.ג וכל הזמן שואלים אותי: "זה כואב?.. מה אתה מרגיש? האם יש לך סחרחורת? האם.. אתה מת?....
במשך 20 דקות בהן הרגשתי רע, סובל מבחילה, נלקחתי בזהירות למטה באמבולנס ה-4x4 במורד השביל המסולע אל הכביש שם חיכה לי אמבולנס שני, "רגיל". הועברתי לבית חולים מאיר בכפר סבא לידי צוות חדר מיון (E.R לכם המעריצים), ציפצופי א.ק.ג, אספירין, בדיקת דם. הדברים החלו להרגע, הזמן חזר לזחול באיטיות שוב כרגיל.

נורית, אני אוהב אותך ומודה לך על שהיית "קולית", רגועה ובשליטה כל הזמן הזה (טוב, הייתי אומר זאת לכל מי שהיה שם במצב הזה..). אבל ברצינות, היא היתה מדהימה. כל כך חזקה וכל כך בשליטה. הכי טובה.
ואז, בידיו האמונות של צוות חדר המיון של ביה"ח כפר סבא, נאמר לי שכל הבדיקות החיוניות יצאו תקינות, שהא.ק.ג בסדר, ושהם עושים בדיקת דם לבדוק את רמות האנזים של הלב שנקרא טרופינין. בשלב זה נאמר לי שכל הבדיקות תקינות, נרגעתי וחשבתי שהנה, עוד מעט אשוחרר הביתה...

ואז, הקרדיולוג התורן בא ואמר לי שאשאר 24 שעות להשגחה, מה שבאותו זמן נראה לי הגיוני והסכמתי עם ההחלטה.
לאחר כשעתיים בחדר המיון, בהן קפאנו לשתי קוביות רוכבים מקרח (הטמפרטורה בחדר המיון היא מינוס 34 מעלות צלסיוס) אספו אותנו והעבירו אותי למחלקה ג'. עכשיו זה כבר היה ממש בית חולים. הרבה אנשים ירוקים במדים ירוקים, מתרוצצים מסביב עם אינפוזיות, פלסטרים, כדורים ודברים נוספים.

שמו אותי בחדר צפוף, בלי נוף, בלי טלוויזיה... לכן ביקשתי מיד חדר עם נוף.. (זה באמת נכון !!). הפתעה! הם הציעו לי חדר אחר, מיטה ליד החלון, ורבותי, גם עם שלושה ג'נטלמנים בגילאי 70-94...
בעצם, מה לעזאזל אני עושה כאן????

עדיין ביום שלישי, יום שהפך לארוך מאד, נעשה לי א.ק.ג, נלקח לחץ דם, נמדד לי החום, נתנו לי לבלוע תרופות, הכל היה רגוע וחשבתי לי.. לילה בבית חולים והביתה... אבל הדברים התגלגלו אחרת...
בערך בשעה ארבע אחר הצהריים, ניגשה אלי רופאה וביקשה שאגש איתה לחדר שלי, אמרה שהיא רוצה לשוחח איתי.... "אדוני", היא קבעה, "מה שהיה לך זה התקף לב". באותה שניה קפץ לחץ הדם שלי לשמיים, הלב התחיל לפעום בטירוף כמו מה שנראה 200 פעימות לדקה... דרך עדינה יותר לומר לי את הדברים הגברת לא מצאה....

כאשר התרופה פעלה ולחץ הדם שלי ירד לריצפה, הסבירה לי הרופאה כי אנזים הדם שנבדק כאשר הגעתי לחדר המיון היה רק מדד לקו בסיס. פעם נוספת, 6 שעות אחרי ההתקף בודקים שוב רמת האנזים בדם לבדוק אם יש עליה. אצלי היתה עליה פי עשר ברמת האנזים בין שתי הבדיקות וזה מהווה אינדיקציה שאכן היה לי התקף לב.

אז מה עכשיו??.... אוקי.. עכשיו אסור לך לצאת המיטה, אסור לעזוב את החדר, אסור לך ואסור לך... ועליך להיות בצום מחצות ולמחרת יקחו אותך לצינתור. וואוו.

את שאר היום ביליתי עם הצוות התומך שלי, נורית כמובן, הבנות שלי רונה ומיה ואחותי קלייר.

המכון הלאומי לבריאות מגדיר התקף לב כך: "כאבים או חוסר נוחות בחזה. רוב התקפי הלב כרוכים בחוסר נוחות במרכז החזה או בצד שמאל של החזה. הרגשת חוסר הנוחות בדרך כלל נמשכת מעל מספר דקות או נעלמת וחוזרת. ההרגשה היא של לחץ, כיווץ וכאב נלווה. כמו כן לעתים יש הרגשה של שריפה בחזה בדומה לתחושה של צרבת או קלקול קיבה".

תגובות יתקבלו בשמחה והמשך יבוא...

Comments  תגובות

Blog by Max - Meir Hospital to Assuta, day 2,3 and 4

So where were we?? Ah yes, morning came, nice and early, no coffee, no water nothing........just waiting for the Tzintur.
Nurit and Clare arrived, my girls came and we sat around waiting........and waiting.........and waiting......
and nothing was happening. So the support team went to work, questions were asked, tables were banged on, department heads were called in and eventually at about 11.00 the head of the Tzintur department..Dr. Rosenbaum came to visit me.
In answer to our question as to why am I not being Tzintured, he replied .."coz I haven't seen you yet". It seems that all the overnight fast, and an early morning Tzintur were the figment of some person's (maybe a Dr) too fertile imagination.

So to cut a long story short, Dr. Rosenbaum said he could fit me in on Sunday....maybe !!

No way...we said.....and the support team put their heads together and private medicine was the answer.
Dr. Rosenbaum obliged with an offer of arranging a Tzintur for the morrow (Thursday afternoon) at 15.00 through Maccabi Zahav,in Assuta and we jumped at the offer. I didn't jump but the others did.

So Maya ordered the ambulance, Rona dealt with the Insurance, Nurit dealt with me and Clare dealt with Nurit and off we sped after another day and night in Kfar Saba, Meir hospital, to arrive at 12.00 noon in Assuta Hospital, Ramat Hahayal.
To be honest, the time spent in Meir hospital with the family and the friends who came to visit, was actually quite pleasant. Oz and Marianna and Lyron came and Oz's special brand of humour kept us all laughing. Marianna was the resident nurse, fielding all the medical questions with suitable aplomb, Kfir rounded up the family with more good cheer and then Food was brought in, alcohol not, but a good time was had by all.

So now a quick forward to Thursday and i am lying in a nice bed in Assuta Hotel receiving an explanation of what a Tzintur is all about. Yana, a delightful nurse, in all ways told us all, what to expect, what to feel, when to feel it, when to complain, how to complain, how to say ouch without disturbing the Doctors.......a really nice explanation of the Tzintur procedure.

And then I was being led into the operating theatre, I was introduced to Professor Moseri, who would be attending the procedure together with Dr. Rosenbaum, and with care and love, I was placed on the table and 25 minutes later, I was whisked out, having been Tzintured and stented.......wow.....truly amazing.
A 75-90% blockage in the Left main artery.......ouch!!! The rest is recovery, or the recovery is rest, but on Dr.'s orders I was walking around the block, 3 days after the procedure, then a first easy ride 2 days later and then a longer, 30 km ride a couple of days after and all is well, thanks to the good Lord.....and of course Dr. Rosenbaum and Professor Moseri.

Should I be scared, should I change my habits........absolutely NOT. Get back on your bike they said and RIDE........and this ladies and gentlemen is what I intend to do.........

Thank you for your patience and thank you all for your care and good wishes and thank you to all my family for being the best support group anyone could ever wish for.

Anyone planning on a Tzintur and wishes to get my experiences is welcome to phone me. I now have on my smartphone, an app, to remind me to take the thousands of pills, I now will have to take every day for up to a year and then hopefully, a wee aspirin will be all that's left to remind me of one day in the life of rider ruthen.

בלוג על ידי מקס – בית חולים מאיר לאסותא

אז איפה היינו?

אה, כן, בוקר חדש הגיע, מוקדם בבוקר, אין קפה, אין מים, אין כלום.. אני בהמתנה לצינתור. נורית וקליר הגיעו, הבנות שלי באו, כולנו יושבים מחכים.. ומחכים.. ומחכים.. עוז, מרי ולירון הגיעו ועדיין אנחנו בהמתנה ושום דבר לא קורה.

לבסוף צוות התמיכה שלי החליט להיכנס לפעולה.. התחילו לשאול שאלות, לדפוק על השולחנות, לפנות לראשי המחלקה, ולבסוף, בסביבות השעה 11:00 ראש מחלקת הצינתור, דר' רוזנבאום, הגיע לבקר אותי. לשאלתנו מדוע אינני נלקח לצינתור, השיב: "כי לא ראיתי אותך עדיין". נראה כי הצום מהלילה והכוונה לצנתר בבוקר, היו פרי דמיון של מישהו שם, אולי של איזה רופא הזוי...
כדי לקצר, אספר כי דר' רוזנבאום אמר לבסוף שיתכן שהוא יכול לתאם לי צינתור ליום ראשון.. אולי !!
בשום אופן.. אמרנו... צוות התמיכה איחד כוחות והחליט: רפואה פרטית היא הפתרון.
דר' רוזנבאום בא עם הצעה לצנתר למחרת בבוקר (חמישי בצהריים), באמצעות מכבי זהב, בבית חולים אסותא, ואנחנו כמובן קפצנו על ההצעה. טוב, אני לא קפצתי אבל האחרים קפצו....

מיה הזמינה אמבולנס, רונה התעסקה עם הביטוח, נורית דיברה איתי, קלייר דיברה עם נורית, וכולנו, אחרי בילוי לילה נוסף בבי"ח מאיר בכפר סבא, הגענו ב-12 בצהריים לבית חולים אסותא, רמת החייל.
לומר את האמת, השעות שביליתי בבית חולים מאיר, עם המשפחה לצידי והחברים שבאו לבקר, היו די מהנים.
עוז, מריאנה ולירון הגיעו וחוש ההומור המיוחד של עוז גרם לנו לצחוק בלי הפסקה. מריאנה בתור האחות המקומית, ענתה בביטחון רב לכל השאלות הרפואיות, כפיר שמר על מצב הרוח הטוב של המשפחה, הביאו אוכל טוב, אמנם ללא אלכוהול.. ולכולנו נעם מאד הזמן ביחד.

קפיצה קדימה ליום חמישי. אני שוכב במיטה חביבה ב"מלון" אסותא, מקבל הסבר מה זה צינתור. יאנה, אחות מקסימה מכל הבחינות, הסבירה לכולנו למה לצפות, מה אני ארגיש, מתי ארגיש, מתי מותר לי להתלונן, איך להתלונן, איך לומר "אאוץ" בלי להפריע לרופאים... הסבר ממש נחמד על הליך הצינתור. לאחר מכן הובלתי לחדר הניתוח, התוודעתי לפרופסור מוסרי שישתתף גם הוא בצינתור יחד עם דר' רוזנבאום, וכך בדאגה ואיכפתיות הניחו אותי על שולחן הצינתור.
25 דקות לאחר מכן כבר הוציאו אותי מהחדר אחרי צינתור והכנסת סטנט.. וואוו, ממש מדהים. גילו חסימה של 75%-90% בעורק הראשי. אאוץ....

לאחר מכן החלמה, או נכון יותר מנוחה, כאשר על פי הוראת הרופא לאחר שלושה ימים הלכתי רגלית סביב הבלוק, יומיים אחרי כן רכבתי קלות, ולאחר מספר ימים כבר רכבתי 30 ק"מ והכל בסדר תודה לאל וכמובן הודות לדוקטור רוזנבאום ופרופסור מוסרי.

האם עלי לחשוש? האם עלי לשנות את אורח החיים שלי? ממש לא! "חזור לאופניים ולרכיבה!" אמרו הרופאים. וזה גבירותי ורבותי מה שאני מתכוון בהחלט לעשות.

תודה לכם על הסבלנות, האיכפתיות והאיחולים הטובים, תודה לכל בני משפחתי שהם בשבילי קבוצת התמיכה הטובה ביותר שכל אחד רק יכול לאחל לעצמו.

כל מי שעומד לפני צינתור ומעונין לשמוע מנסיוני, מוזמן להתקשר אלי.
יש לי עכשיו בסמארטפון אפליקציה שמזכירה לי לקחת את "אלפי" הכדורים שעלי לקחת, ושמעתה עלי לקחת מידי יום למשך שנה, בתקוה שבבוא הזמן ישאר רק האספירין להזכיר לי יום מסויים בחיי הרוכב רוטן.

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CYCLING, NUROFEN AND MEIR HOSPITAL

– It started off as a normal, challenging, fun ride. Until it happened. A selfish, stubborn, inflexible, camouflaged (yeah!) rock, coincided with a momentary lapse of concentration, repositioned me from vertical to horizontal in milliseconds.
My pride recalibrated, my brain reminded humans don’t bounce well, and my afternoon relegated to a date with Nurofen Plus. But the glass is always half full. On the positive side, at least I’d earned a good mention in Max Ruthen's ride report!.

But it wasn’t long until Steve (not his real name; just protecting Tony from his wife) decided to take the limelight. Falling when ascending a curb can be forgiven, but the glass he fell onto was less forgiving.
We’re a friendly bunch, and now had the opportunity to welcome Steve to our group by trying to curtail the “red stuff”, spurting from his arm.

“So, Steve, let’s hope you don’t have HIV?”, quipped a maybe too helpful group member, trying to disguise his slight concern with attempted humor, whilst now sporting Steve’s internal colours.
“No”, replied Steve
“You sure?”
“Positive”
“Steve, ‘POSITIVE’ is not the right reply, given the nature of the question”
Several hours in hospital, an undisclosed number of stitches for Steve, lots of photos that could be mistaken for police evidence for a murder scene, and finally, a smiling patient, boasting a heavily bandaged arm.

I had my date with Nurofen Plus today, and Steve can look forward to a well earned mention in Max’s ride report.
No photos this week. I'm sure you understand!

What did you do today?

Blog by Max - Local Ride - Kfar Saba

Short and simple I said.......
Just a coupla mates meeting for a ride, Horshim, Rosh Haayin.......you know....the local stuff.

it was I, (max) and then Shimon, no Nurit.....she was out with a heavy cold.....Bless her,
And then Amos, jet lagged from the States but still raring to go.
And then Itzik......more later.
And then Stuart, miraculously recovered from a ham string injury...last week!!
And then Andy, sometimes known as Tony or Steve......a man of many names.
So the six of us set out for our short and simple.....

Jaljulia, Horshim, Oranit, Kfar Kassem and then......Boom, Itzik met the tarmac,
well not so much tarmac, more gravel. No damage done, a couple of scratches at the most.......
And then Boom.......Stuart.....fly me to the moon..........., well he tried but shoulder to trail and bouncing humans hurt !!!

So the posse now limping along and Rosh Haayin with its free flowing downhill, brought back a smile on everyone's face....

Then a break, coffee served by Shimon and drank by all and sundry......
Then a short and simple ride back........

And then Boom.....

Where the 444 meets the 5. Where the rider meets the curb,
Where the curb tips the rider off his bike.
Where glass or whatever decides that too much blood in ones body is excessive......

So medic max to the rescue....sirens blazing, a good soul in a passing car supplied the bandage and thinking that Tony, Steve or Andy (or whatever his name was) needed a tourniquet.......I applied all my skills to stop his pulsating bleeding.

Eventually the bleeding stopped but why were his fingers blue?????????
Dmax came, ushered from Kfar Saba driven at full speed by the intrepid Nurit, arrived and whisked our Tony, Steve or Andy to Meir Hospital, where Doctors and Nurses managed to save his arm.......a few stitches.... and with suitable rouge applied his fingers now returned to their true colours.

So an uneventful ride, good company........

Oh Shit......

Statistics:
Total ride: 34 kms
Total ascent: 300 meters
Actual riding time: 1:58 hrs
Avr speed: 17.3 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 44.7 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

נורית כותבת

זה מה שקורה ששולחים ששה גברים לרכב לבד כנראה שהיו יותר מדי בחורות בדרך אחרת איך תסבירו את הנפילות האלו ......

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: ק"מ / שעה

Comments  תגובות

Stuart wrote: "BEN-GURION! – Why is it that getting up at 4:45am to drive past Ben-Gurion airport en-route to 5 hours of challenging cycling in the Jerusalem hills, is so much easier than getting up at 4:45am to drive to Ben-Gurion airport, to fly for 5 hours on business? 800m vertical climb (if it means nothing to you, try it!), nearly 40km riding and maximum speed of 61kph. Great group of 12 riders. What a lot of fun. What did you do today?"

Blog by Max - Saadim Jul 2013

A group of 12 set out one Summer's morn, 6.30 am, from Motza.
The bet Zeit reservoir, what a difference, not a drop of water, green yes...but oh so dry...
Ein Hendak, always a place to visit, always a place to meet people. Not much water but still wet.
Even Sapir, up a hill, the first climb, then down to visit Jonathan's Church, a quiet reflective place.
Another climb, on asphalt, pushing, puffing but persevering, to get to the top, then through the Aminadav forest until Hirbet Saadim and a second break.

Har Salmon ridden around, passing Ein salmon, then down towards the railway lines, opposite Batir.
Now climbing, now technical, now freewheeling downhill at great speed, something for everyone.
Some slower, some faster but the scenery......just amazing.

And then Ein Levan......the pool filled with clean, green water, no invitation needed here.
A quick undress and splash, in the water.....so so refreshing.

Break over and now the uphill...!!! Technical, stoney but doable. Some did, some not so did!!!
Ora reached, and Gila left, a brave soul, on her way up and home. then down, and down and down to Hadassa where we slithered under gates, closed for the Sabbath to continue down the single to Ein miriam and the beginning of Ein Karem.

Ice cream waiting and boy, was it good.
Nearly lost Roni to a gorgeous girl, but managed to pull him away at the last moment.
Lost Shimon and Ganor to family committments.
Through Yar Yerushalayim down to the dam and back along the bike path to motza our starting point

. Welcome to Dimitry, lev and Valerie, to Shai,Roni and Ganor, to Stuart and to our oldies (not in age of course.) And of course a word about my "after Operated on" partner.......So good to see you back in the saddle and riding so well ...so quickly" Thank you Dr.Oz from Assuta Rishon.

Statistics:
Total ride: 37.43 kms
Total ascent: 800 meters
Actual riding time: 2:54 hrs
Avr speed: 12.9 km/hr
Fastest speed on my GPS: 49.6 km/hr

בלוג על ידי שם?? - מקום??

בלוג

סטטיסטיקה
סה"כ הרכיבה: 37.43 ק"מ
סה"כ העלייה: 800 מטר
זמן רכיבה בפועל: 2:54 שעות
מהירות ממוצעת: 12.9 ק"מ/שעה
מהירות הכי מהירה ב GPS שלי: 49.6 ק"מ / שעה