Ride Report - Sat. Sept. 14, 2019 - Home Patch Ride -  By Frances

And the star is.....

We (17 of us) set off under the able leadership of Talia F. She, like Don Quixote, took off on her trusty steed Rocinante, and kept us wheeling along on a lovely 32 km ride that took in familiar and a few new ways. I (and some others) took on the role of Sancho Panza (who's donkey has no name....) and pointed out the direction. Well amazingly, nobody got lost despite us being strung out over a long distance. Talia was overheard using her schoolmarm voice to keep a few dalliers in check....David was our sweep - and kept going up and down to make sure we were all there.

We went via Rishopon, Shefaim, Ga'ash, Yakum to our most northerly point, Udim. At Yakum a sharp-eyed person spotted Yair Lapid and that sent a couple of hearts aflutter (in the political sense). Yochi was determined to be photographed with him - and she was....

We opted out of doing the singles at Udim - but we did stop by the lovely lake with its bird watching hut. Very peaceful. Shaike had a severe attack of leg cramp on the way home and thanks to David and Ariyeh for their help.

We stopped off at Arcaffe for refreshments and despite Yair Lapid, our star is MOST definitely Talia. Lovely ride!

Ride Report - Sat. Sept. 7, 2019 - Home Patch Ride -  By Anna

The organizers decided on another "Home Patch" ride as a very hot day was predicted. Actually it wasn't as bad as the previous two-three weeks and I stayed for the whole ride.The group started off with 16 participants from the parking lot and I joined in from Moshe Dayan street seeing the bikers coming up.

We did more or less the usual route to Yakum and back.

Coming down next to the railway station Arieh surprised us, after several attempts, with an irreparable puncture so he was forced to make his way back to his car. By the time we got to Bnei Zion Yochi gave up and rode back home. On the way back from Yakum Alex left us for Kfar Saba and on John rode back to ArCafe in solo. The rest of us did the whole "show" and settled for refreshment at ArCafe, with Michal, who didn't ride, joining us too.

We did about 28 km.

Ride Report - Sat. Aug. 31, 2019 - Home Patch Ride -  By

Ride Report - Sat. Aug. 24, 2019 - Home Patch Ride -  By

Ride Report - Sat. Aug. 17, 2019 - Yarkon Ride -  By Frances

17 gathered at the park in Hod Hasharon to set off on a shady, relaxed ride through the bamboo, ably led by Uri. The big advantage of this route is the shade - we hardly felt the heat...

The route is a lot "cleaner" than when I did it a couple of months ago. We passed the Baptist's village and along the way towards rosh Hayn, we bumped into a group. One asked me where we were going. Well, I hardly ever know where I am so I said I don't know - I am just following. I think he had a hard time believing me...

We covered 26 km on a partially circular route with enough sand to make us walk a bit (and for the enthusiasts to show their muscle power by wheeling through), whizzing through shady bamboo tunnels, and on to coffee etc. Oh, and welcome back Ingride!

Ride Report - Sat. Aug. 10, 2019 - Local Ride -  By Michal

As usual after updating David, i arrived a couple minutes late so i didn’t get a head count as to how many cyclenixers pitched up to my party... i mean todays home patch ride.

We weren’t a few or neither too many.

Via Herzelia airport and park we headed towards the beach. The ride had a nice flow to it and felt light and breezy. The fact that the weather gave us a break from typical August and its usual boiling point with 99% humidity, added to the breezy factor. It could be the extra early starting time which we all have adapted to.

Some of us followed David and rode along the beach. Others took a detour to avoid the sand, salt and the need to wash their bike when they got home.

Talia F. and I were especially happy about the beach part since David had in mind my request for a dip in water.

It was a perfect birthday dip! Regardless the black flags. The water was amazing! I was missing Ingride at this point since she is always my trust worthy partner in crime when it comes to a quick dip during our cycling adventures. Talia cooperated very nicely and I believe when Ingride returns there is great potential for a water threeo.

On the ramp leaving the beach we all enjoyed the shade and some birthday cake which was gobbled all up very fast and leaving no crumbs for Merrill.

On the way back we took the road less traveled for a change. I think it should be the road more traveled since it made the way back shorter with less of an incline or at least a friendlier one.

We then happily wined and dined at arcaffe.

Our ride covered 27 km’s

It was mentioned today that i joined the group just before my 30th birthday.

Thank you all for putting up and cooperating with my shenanigans for the past six years!

Special thanks to David for the perfect birthday ride and to John my beloved breakfast buddy

Ride Report - Sat. Aug. 3, 2019 - Yarkon Circle Away Ride -  By David

Participants: 21 riders, which validates loud and clear our decision to start our rides at (for some) the unearthly hour of 6.30 am –we could even start earlier but that might be pushing it a bit ☺.

Route: We started “near” Hod HaSharon Park parking area - the gate was still closed at 6.30 – maybe the guy who opens up overslept! But very inconvenient for those of us trying to find a place to park! Then down to the Yarkon, east for a short distance until the steel bridge and then onto the southern bank westwards to the Maccabi Bridge at the Ramat Gan stadium. Then back east on the northern side of the river. Total distance about 27 km.

Riding Conditions: Some cloudiness helped to keep temperatures down to reasonable levels. The route westwards was almost completely sand free, but the same cannot be said for the return route with some “heavy” patches – kol hakavod to some of our rides who made it/almost made it through the sand!!

Bottom Line: This is always an enjoyable ride and the early “beat the heat” start contributed greatly. Although this route isn’t exactly a test of one’s climbing skills (the total ascent on my GPS registered a mere 92 meters!) nevertheless what may be an absence of “challenge” is more than compensated for by the natural beauty of the area (river bank riding is, for me, always special). And no room for boredom on this ride - the winding paths along the river demand 100% concentration. All in all, a super ride, super company!

Ride Report - Sat. July 27, 2019 - Local Ride Report -  By

Ride Report - Sat. July 20, 2019 - Nahal Alexander Away Ride -  By Talia S.

At the unearthly hour of 6:30 am, fourteen of us met in the parking lot at the mouth of Nahal Alexander (the Alexander River). The group included Michal with her impressive new tattoo, as well as guest of honor Stuart! Nahal Alexander is a favorite amongst some of us Cyclenixers and, as Talia F. pointed out, the drive there is special too. This is because, as you leave Route 2 and cross the bridge towards Mikhmoret, the shimmering blue ocean suddenly comes into view in all its glory.

Uri was the lead and he took us along the river through the nature reserve. Some of the route was paved, and the rest consisted of gravel, sand, and a couple of rocky challenges. We stopped at an observation point to have a snack and admire the view. At the turning-back point, a few of us went ahead in the direction we came, not realizing that a detour had been planned. So, unfortunately, we missed the second observation point, situated in a very beautiful spot for the purpose of birdwatching. Later I understood that a lot of cranes had been about, but not (as David pointed out) of the type currently seen in the Herzliya building sites. Furthermore, Ingride told me she’d had the scary experience of a snake crossing her path so swiftly that Ingride couldn’t stop in time and rode over it. Luckily neither Ingride nor the snake were hurt.

A highlight later in the ride was the appearance of an ice-cream van, which is one of the perks of riding in a more civilized area. This was followed by a group recording of “Happy Birthday to You” for Stuart’s mum, who is in Manchester and who has a birthday today. We got back to the cars at around 10 am, which was just a well as it started getting very hot indeed. Some of the group continued from there to Landwer in the Kfar Vitkin Mall, for breakfast and beer.

To summarize, it was a lovely ride of a 32 km average, with good company, beautiful scenery, and ice-cream.

Ride Report - Sat. July 13, 2019 - Local Ride -  By רפי לנדסמן

בשבת זו נאספנו חמישה עשר רוכבים לרכיבה מקומית בהובלתה של טליה (כולם יודעים איזו מהשתיים). זו השכילה להוביל אותנו בקטעים של קרקע מוצקה ויחסית מעט קטעים של חול טובעני (תובעני). המסע התחיל בתנאים נסבלים יחסית לעונה זו של השנה, והסתיים כאשר הטמפרטורה נסקה מעלה מעלה למרות שהקיץ רק התחיל. היו רגעים שחשבתי שאני מתחיל להבין את המושג Inferno של דנטה אלגיירי.

תוך כדי הרכיבה פרשו חלק מהרוכבים בגלל סיבות גופניות או בגלל סיבות מכניות. רכבנו צפונה לכיוון אגמון אודים, שם לקחנו פסק זמן למנוחה ולתצפית. ומשם דרך פארק אודים ... למטרה הסופית, ארוחת בוקר להתרעננות, החלפת חוויות, ואיחוד מחדש עם אלו שפרשו בדרך. בסופו של דבר הגענו למסקנה שאת הרכיבות הבאות נתחיל בשעה 06:30 כי כדור הארץ משתגע.