Ride Report - Sat. Nov. 26, 2016 - Home Patch -  By John

Despite the colder weather 17 of us met at the usual spot to ride a route often traversed by us but this time in reverse! The photos tell the story.

We encountered not too much sand and the fruit trees were well on the way to "picking season". A distance of 30 kms was covered and we finished up at our favourite "watering hole", Landwers in the industrial area of Ra’anana where they lived up to their good reputation of good food and drink and good service with a smile. Another enjoyable ride with great company had come to an end.

Ride Report - Sat. Nov 19, 2016 - Eshtaol - Kisalon - Ein Limon -  By Arik

Ride Report - Sat. Nov. 12, 2016 - Home Patch Ride Report -  By Anna

Saturday 7:30 am. 21 of us are ready at our meeting point for our next challenge, and by 7:45 we are on our way for our weekly 30-40 km ride.

It turned out that David planned a pleasure ride "the bamboo ride" up to the Baptist village with a bit of Meril's help as at one point one can take a wrong turn. It went quite smooth till we got to water crossings; one was simple all of us did it getting wet and muddy, the next was more challenging full of stones covered by the water. So we decided to walk through except two brave men, Michael, a new comer, and Ted. Michael almost did it falling just before getting to the other side but Ted put on a better show, OUCH, falling in the water in the middle face down. The first question of "the good souls": Is your cellular phone OK? He put on a brave face but he did manage to hurt himself and felt pain when we stopped riding. Take care yourself Ted!

Half way back David announced that he found a new route for a change which to our surprise led us to Elishema. So we decided to have our feast at Lula & Kuba.

By this time the group dwindled down to 12. With a good rest and full belly we were ready to head back to Raanana. I usually take this route when we do the Elishema ride. Even the locals joined me to find their way to Hod Hasharon. At Kfar Malal the group split, some rode toward the junction and back on Ahuza. Six of us carried straight on through Ramat Hashavim and Givat Hen, complaining that the other route would have been shorter. Well, I don't know if it is longer or not but for me it is the best way to get home.

Barbara left us early probably for dancing. The others were eager to get home. We missed our regular members: Ingrid, Rafi, Yochi, Frances. Hope to see you all next week.

Ride Report - Sat. Nov. 5, 2016 - Sovev Tel Gezer (Latrun Area) -  By Tracy

I was asked to accompany a group of Cyclenixers on a ride in the Hulda area. We rode near the base of the Judean hills, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

After getting hold of a map and emphasizing my uncertainty about the route, we set off. 18 people in all braved the changing terrain. Starting at Beit Hertzel, in the Hulda forest we rode passed vineyards, fields and scrub, towards Tel Gezer.

Tel Gezer is an archaeological park, there are remnants from the Middle Bronze Age and the early Kingdom of Israel. One of the most impressive examples is the Gezer waterworks, established either during the Canaanite period or the Israelite period.

From Tel Gezer we made our way towards and through Kfar Bin Nun, from there heading towards Ya'ar Ha'meginim. Missing our turn off, we ended up adding a bit more climbing to the route, than was planned but reach the rest stop in good time. Some people made the most of the stop and even managed to catch a few winks, other sufficed with climbing on a horse and having a bite to eat. The grove we sat in had a memorial site dedicated the holocaust survivors, with no families, who served in the Gaha"l and were killed in the line of duty - an olive tree surrounded by stone with the names of the 436 people killed.

After riding along the edge of the forest, enjoying a longish downhill segment, we reached the first of two special POI's. The anchored armored car was place in memory of the infantry unit that served in the area and the 2nd point of interest is a complete Nord airplane that was placed there in memory of the Paratroopers 317 Unit.

There happened to be an event for people with horses so the whole area was full of horse carts, mobile homes and equipment - therefore not very peaceful or quiet. We moved on passing parsley fields and scrub, I can't wait for the rain to paint everything green again.

At the Nachshon junction we missed the turn and went up road 44, instead of going back into the field and up to the combat engineering memorial. It was unanimously decided to get back to the cars by the short route - the road.

I must note - it is always a pleasure to ride with you and I enjoyed the time spent together. Next time will be better and I know we will go back to the area as there is a lot more to see.

Shavua Tov.

(Footnote: Thanks Tracy for leading us on this most interesting and enjoyable ride and introducing many of us to a new biking area. We will certainly be doing this ride again, and hope that you will join us once more - David)

Ride Report - Sat. Oct. 29, 2016 - The Hills are Alive... -  By Francis

21 of us gathered to set off in the light of day - the clocks have now gone back an hour which means lighter earlier from next week.

I think we climbed what seemed to me to be all the possible hills on a home-patch ride!

Beth, visiting from Nottingham, came back again this week - she is leaving on Sunday - and if she came back for more, it means she must have enjoyed it! So, Bon Voyage to Beth and we hope you will bring your cycling enthusiast friends to visit too. We meandered along through Batzra and Rishpon, enjoying the mild morning. All was well until Uri had a puncture on the way back. Well, I think history was made in Cyclenix - the longest time ever to fix a puncture. Some of us set off home - me included as my energy was seeping away just about at the pace of the air from my tube (I think a valve problem) - so I decided it was prudent to head off before another tube had to be fixed...

Eventually, the group enjoyed a well-earned break and refueling at Landwer. Thanks to David for leading us up and down and through the sand....

Now, imagine Julie Andrews singing:
The hills are alive
with the sound of panting
With sighs they have heard for many years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of beating
My heart wants to beat with every pant it hears
My heart want to beat
like the wings of the birds that rise from the path to the trees.

Ride Report - Sat. Oct. 22, 2016 - Coming soon -  By Ted

The Yarkon river ride is for me a recurring traumatic experience because it was my first bike 18 years ago after 40 years of abstaining from that wonderous opiate of biking. I eventually finished that ride, a Ronny Green Wheeler event (the only one I ever paid for) and even Magen Davids efforts to resuscitate me barley succeeded. But the next week I shrugged it all off and Dina and I both bought our first bikes, the infamous Raleigh. My recollection of that first Yarkon bike ride is dust, wheezing and more dust and more wheezing, gasping for air, dodging ruts and toppling over into the cane face forward, still clad in my regular sloppy shorts and oversized helmet and then being rescued with my face red not only from the burning sun. So when David suggested on Sat that we head for the Yarkon I broke out in rashes, flipped over and frothed at the mouth and even the presence of 25 other riders did little to reassure me and return my composure. David's calming voice and explanation of a recently discovered route finally brought down my 220 pulse to a normal 130 and off we went.

Shaul's presence and our visiting rider Beth together with Prodigal Denis who popped over to see whose still alive inspired me to focus on the task ahead. Herding the riders from the rear with my two alternating Sweepers, Uri and Sasha. The latter always updates me on his latest cooking journeys into the culinary so my grumbling stomach ignited by his detailed description of the delightful dishes is a wonderful distracter and very soon I started to enjoy the ride. I also rode alongside Beth briefly and gave her a run down on the citrus grove and our past illustrious history as the Citrus capital of Europe and the origins of the Jaffa Brand,( the Jaffa port in Mandate times) now disgracefully sold to some outfit whose real owners are probably some Sheiks in the Gulf. Munching on barely ripe souring Grapefruit was indeed an embarrassing reminder of our past glory as leaders in Agriculture and one wonders why the Govt is systematically destroying Ag., this vital part of our economy.

The route was amazingly clear of the post winter ruts (soon to come upon us) and were in no time on the return portion via the southern bank of the Yarkon which also enabled us to ride thru some cane tunnels. Weather was autumn perfect and in no time we were in Hod Hasharon where we stopped over at CafeCafe for a great breakfast. The beer swill mob were in full form while others opted for the mundane but delicious fare the place offers. A place worth recommending!!!

Thanks David... and I won't be needing my Prozac after the Yarkon ride (at least not this Time)... but why am I breaking out in sweat every time I type "YYYYAAAARRRRRKKKOONNN"
Incidentally Dina who also dislikes that ride send her love and Shana Tova to all!!!

Ride Report - Sat. Oct. 15, 2016 - Home Patch Ride -  By Talia

This morning we enjoyed the later and far more agreeable start time of 7:30 am, in anticipation of winter. There were twenty-one of us, including a few who had participated in the Sweet Future ride for diabetes just the day before, which was impressive. Ingride and David arrived with the exciting news that their daughter Simone had just given birth to a baby boy, so congratulations and enjoy! Furthermore, a warm welcome to Lester who joined us for the first time.

The route was a circular one through fields, villages and nature reserves. With David in the lead, we set off along Weitzman street, cycling downhill past the cemetery and out of Ra’anana. We headed north-west, passing Kfar Nachman and Yakum, and crossing the Poleg river near Udim. From there we turned south-east, continuing through the nature reserve to Tel Itzhak. After Tel Itzhak we rode south past Haruzim and Batzra, and back into Ra'anana.

The scenery was varied and picturesque. There were a few challenges, including a fair amount sand, some dips and bumps, and a water crossing. The group also experienced various "splits and mergers", with subgroups of Cyclenixers coming and going and getting lost all over the place. Nobody was particularly perturbed, however, because we know that all roads inevitably lead to Landver Ra'anana, which is where people met at the end for coffee.

To summarize, it was a very enjoyable ride of approximately 30 kilometers, in good company and with lots of laughs.

Ride Report - Sat. Oct 8, 2016 - Horshim Forest -  By Michal

After three years of riding with Cyclenix I finally succeeded in doing the Horshim ride! I don't know why, but every time it was in the planning, it just didn't fit with me... Together with another 18 brave riders we all met up just near the kibbutz. Relatively a nice turn up for an away ride; I guess it helps that the away ride is not more than a 15 minute drive.

While we were about to take on the challenge, the majority of chickens, I mean women of Cyclenix, decided to do a more familiar route through the shady bamboo near the Yarkon.

Abraham was our leader for the day and camera man as usual. It was supposed to be a climbing route, however we did just less than 300 meter of total climbing, which isn't too shabby for only 14 kilometers of pedaling.

Leisure was the vibe of the day as we stopped numerous times and for quite long periods. Our stops included, view points, recovery from the climbs, historical knowledge and singing happy birthday to a 4 year old in Hebrew and in cat tongue. Don't ask it was a "you had to be there" moment.

The terrain was quite rocky just like the Zichron Yaakov area. Climbing was a fun challenge of the correct gear, steering, persistence and not getting stuck behind someone who just happens to stop. A huge KUDOS to Ingride on staying on her bike, for the long stretch, that got almost all of us, off our bikes.

And then came the single!
"It’s a flowing single" he said... so he said!
From my experience never trust the leader on:
1. how long you still have to go.
2. How hard it's going to be.

The small rocks that decorated the climb covered the single like white on rice! Except for a couple of braved men (including Abraham) all of us got off our bikes. I waited at a small, relatively clear path; I got a few Cyclenixers back on their bike for an awesome photo opp. Indeed as someone mumbled the single only flows when it rains there.

Just before the last climb a bunch of us ladies decided to take the chicken line. They hated me calling it that but sorry that is the technical term and I am the reigning Queen of the chicken line!

We got back to our cars to look for Ingride who had wandered off. Eventually she returned. We discussed our breakfast options and while the majority went home, 7 of us went to landwer at the new oshi oshi land mall.

It was a great day for riding with great company!

Ride Report - Sat. Oct. 1, 2016 - L'Chaim to the New Year -  By Anna

On 1st of October 20 of us turned up to our usual Saturday ride. It was the last Saturday of תשע"ו.

We did more or less our usual home patch route, about 30 km, Raanana- Hertzelia-Rishpon- Arsuf - Gaash-Bnei Zion-Bazra- Raanana. We started in excellent weather that became rather hot by the end. However this spectacle never breaks our spirit. We welcomed our "lost lamb", Zachi, who joined us again after a long time of absence. Hope to see you more during the next year.

At Rishpon, Shaul showed up with his friend Shlomo (both at one time regular Cyclenix riders) and joined us for a short ride on their way back to Hertzelia.

At Arsuf we toasted the New Year, תשע"ז, with tirosh, and cake. After the toast we managed to ride straight on. Our compliments to Michal who thinks of everything and carried on her back the bottle, the cake and the accessories, cups and knife for most of us surprise. Hip-hip hurray!

On our way back to Raanana we couldn't miss picking up some samples in the avocado groves.

Only 15 of us reached Landwers as the rest were eager getting home.

Shana Tova to all members of Cyclenix, hope to see you in the New Year.

Ride Report - Sat. Sept. 24, 2016 - Zichron Area Away Ride -  By Michal

Three cyclenixers too many to call this ride Joseph and his brothers... you do the math. We all gathered on this lovely morning to follow Joseph's tracks. For him this is basically his home patch ride, for us it was a new and exciting away ride.

We started at Ramat Hanadiv where very fast we started climbing. Though we were warned that the area is not level plains like the Sharon area the climb were not too steep and at the end of the ride we discovered that we had less than 300 meters of elevation gain.

Though no too bad in climbing terms, it was quite a challenge due to the rockiness of the trails. Very soon we got to our first stop where we all got off our bikes to see the vultures. Wild vultures can come and go as they please to this huge cage on the mountain cliff. Three vultures were happily resting while we were observing and discussing the topic. Funnily enough, I was not the only one that had the Jungle book pop to mind.

Watch the link and maybe the whole movie if you have time... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZDo-udXmgQ

We continued on riding still going in the general up direction on rocks of different shapes and sizes. Some succeeding, some not so much, and some getting stuck behind the not so much. It was a constant fun challenge of skill rhythm and correct choices.

At our second stop, we reached ruins from the second temple period or in David's words "from before my time". According to the signs it was what I summed up as the old school life styles of the rich and famous. It seems that the area that was built by the Baron Rothschild and his family was a wealthy area way before his and David's time.

We stood on a view point which looks over the sea, from Hadera on our south and stretching all the way up north to the Carmel.

Dina and Abraham danced on the benches while my bike and I climbed a tree. On our way again this time enjoying soaring downwards, all letting go of our inhibitions.

We arrived at another stop. This stop didn't seem to have any intentions except for a nice sweet resting spot under some trees and a place to sit. A few people got there before us but we didn't mind. We all stood and watched the strangers while they were rock climbing. Two men, a woman and a child who were all enjoying their Shabbat recreation.

Abraham swung from one of the ropes, the strapping stranger asked if anyone would like to try... my name was thrown around and I think it might have brought upon his enquiring.

It was an offer that I couldn't refuse! He quickly climbed up the side of the wall without being secured with any means except for his hands, feet and skills. He attached me to a harness and held the rope that secured me. While he constantly gave me advice and encouragement, from down below I succeeded in reaching the top! It was an amazing, fun and random experience! It also gave me answers about how much weight can my recently healed collar bone carry... as I got down my arm muscle started to cramp up but that was solved with some of Raffi's nuts and a salt capsule.

We got back on our bikes to start the last two climbs for the day, I was quite drained from the wall climbing and the rocky terrain was not helping anyone at this part.

When we finally reached Zichron Yaacov we decide to have our breakfast stop at a nice coffee shop on the boardwalk there. It was a lovely idea and was welcomed by all who decided to stay for breakfast. We covered about 20 kilometres with just less than 300 meters of total ascent but the stats in this ride were besides the point...

the company, the vibe, the views, the experiences and even the challenges were what made this ride great!

A big thank you to Joseph for taking on the lead today!