According to the weekly bulletin, we were supposed to meet at 08:00 am at Ruhama.
A simple task one would say...
I set my clock for 06:00 but somehow woke up a bit later than that... (no need for specifics) since I have never done this route I decided to try and get there without being too late. I phoned David to tell him I was running a "bit" late, got on Kvish 6, and floored it.
Just arriving at Beit Kama I phoned David to discover that the link was incorrect and we are starting at Dorot. So another couple minutes delay... what's the difference.
So I pitched up half an hour late... surprisingly no one was waiting with a pitchfork or noose.
We hopped on our bikes and started riding.
Luckily the weather was in our favor, not hot nor cold and rainy even though the forecast predicted some rain.
The mud from previous rainfalls had cleared up and the single was superb!
There still are quite a bit of anemone coronaria (calaniot) and we just could not go home without the famous red south photos.
Some rode faster, some slower, and others depending on where and when they were behind the first or the latter.
Surprisingly, though it was not a difficult ride a few felt a bit winded. We stopped for a small snack break in hope to recover. Personally my legs felt the ride so I was very happy to stop for some of "Raffi's nuts", from Uri, Raffi, Frances and whoever opened a packet for the general public. {Sorry Uri but it has become a brand name ;-)}
We continued...
Uri had some chain problems and it seemed the group had split into three smaller groups. The faster riders continued riding ahead till they got to the cars, while some of us waited at a turning point for the last group to catch up.
Singing through the single all the way back to our cars we can sum it up as a great ride with fun company.
We covered just about 30 kilometers, which after, 8 of us dined at Aroma, Beit Kama.
A little suggestion for our leaders "shlom bait": when your wife asks you a question, whether you find it just or not, interpretive dance is better than cynicism.
Participants - 19 bikes assembled at the start, among which we welcome a shiny new blue Giant Anthem. Good to have you riding with us New Blue Anthem, and we hope this will be the first of many more rides with
Cyclenix (just by the way, New Blue Anthem’s rider is Sami - enjoy Sami).
With the recent spate of high quality "newcomer" bikes the Cyclenix stable has upgraded out of all recognition to the early days. Proof is that compared to years past, the number of mechanical failures in the course of our rides has reduced to almost zero. Long may this continue!
Route - From Ra'anana up to Udim and back home. This sounds like our regular route, and so it would have been but for the fact that our leader today was Merrill, whose variations on a well-worn route made all the difference. Thanks Merrill for a most enjoyable ride.
Riding Conditions - Ideal weather (warmer than usual as the weatherman would say) and very little mud. A few rather daunting water crossings for the more adventurous and for those less, detour and avoidance was the better option.
Bottom Line - A fun ride, ideal conditions, great company!
16 of us set off on a 23 km ride with a bit of everything: sun, sand, sea, mud, uphills, downhills, people jumping out of aeroplanes, greenery...
We rode from Ein Carmel mostly along the coast - Nachsholim, Dror and on. Each bay was tranquil and inspired a kind of Mexican wave with lifting our bikes against the backdrop of the sea. Merrill attempted an obstacle but flew off and has a lovely purple bruise for her troubles...
The weather was perfect and the inlets remind me of the Clifton beaches in Cape Town - one lovely bay after another. David led us along mud puddles and into a bit of mud too - I guess I will be cleaning my bike with a toothbrush again this week.
So, in the spirit of Wordsworth and his daffodils (with a LOT of poetic licence):
We cycled happy and with glee
And whizzed over mud and sand
When all at once we saw the sea
Stopped and were so glad
We lifted up high our bikes
Fluttering and dancing with many likes
Statistically this ride...
20 riders pitched up for the home patch ride on this chilly winter morning.
We welcomed my friend Nitsa for the ride and hopefully for others as well.
The aim of the day was a nice easygoing home patch with a couple of fun surprises planned by David for Ingrides 20 th Birthday. So we started pedaling up Ahuza towards Herzelia where we hit an unplanned turd (sorry I have a cold). Holy MUD! And we were deep in it! Trying to push our way through, while constantly cleaning off our wheels and derailers to
prevent any costly damage.
At last we found clear grounds! Still cleaning off our bikes we were happy with every puddle that would wash away the mud. The mud detour had David shorten his original plans due to surprises that would be later throughout the ride. it was quite amusing listening to David brush off THE question of the day: where are we going to have breakfast? I happened to be in the loop of things because of my interfering on the previous day in the
ride plans. We headed to the Herzelia beach cliff on the cleanest way that we could to enjoy a nice birthday celebration for Ingrides birthday. Ingride had brought a couple cakes and Haim brought his infamous Limoncello. We sang, had cake and got a nice buzz going on for the rest of our ride.
Continuing back the way we came and alongside the 531 leaving everyone wondering where
we were going. Still with the repetitive question in the background like a mediation mantra: where are we going for breakfast? David nonchalantly brushed them off with the simple answer that we haven't decided yet.
At this point we were very close to our destination and I could hear Ingride telling Frances about how their daughter lives near by. Surprisingly we just happen to ride right past the entrance to her house as David remembered that he missed a turn. A maneuver that could only afterwards be seen as a small decoy. Entering Simonas garden it still seemed as if Ingride Innocently hadn't picked up on the surprise! waiting there was a lovely spread organized by her loving husband, daughter, son in law and grandchild.
I have to mention the small details... David made two infamous traditional birthday cakes. A cheese cake and a chocolate cake they were both yummy! Simona prepared a lovely book with photos of precious times for all of us to write in it for Ingride. Haim prepared birthday hats because it ain't a B-day without party hats! Last but not least little Eden brought down the house with the cutest little smile and confidence that one can expect from a toddler.
P.S no tell Simona but I'm sure he had more strawberries than he was allowed to have
Happy Birthday Ingride and many more to come! Love from all Cyclenix members!
coming soon
It was grey winter morning when at our usual gathering place, the multicolored Cyclenix Flying Phalanx gathered for its year end foray into the wilds of the Sharon. The weather was perfect for cycling: overcast and with a little nip in the air (just like the forecast before the attack on Pearl Harbor) that invites you to pedal long and hard without breaking into a sweat. (Kindly note: ladies do not sweat, they glow).
Leaving the rear outskirts of Raanana and proceeding along the orchards, we soon reached Bnei Zion where turning right, we went through a tunnel to emerge in Sde Warburg, a most prosperous looking moshav whose homes would do any residential area proud. Soon we were once more in the fields and thankful that the kindly rains had damped down the earth to make it passable, an otherwise impossible task in summer where we would have had to drearily trudge through the sand!
Reaching Moshav Tsufit, we passed through it to finally arrive at Kibbutz Nir Eliyahu. Personally, the kibbutz was a bit of a disappointment as I didn't encounter any of its members wearing shorts, sandals and "kova tembels" making the most of their Saturday morning by dancing the "hora" in the main square to the accompaniment of an accordion. It seems that our country's pioneering spirit is now well and truly deceased!
Our phalanx then rode along the kibbutz's perimeter path, exiting and returning via the fields to the northern suburbs of Kfar Saba where, turning right at the junction, we returned to Raanana. Our homing instincts were well honed and David faithfully and swiftly led us to Cyclenix's favourite watering hole the Café Landwer. There, suitably ensconced, fed and watered, the jolly company engaged in light bantering, jocularity and exchanging of wisdoms before wending our way homewards full of goodwill towards our fellow beings.
All in all, a good ride, a great morning and an excellent way to see the old year out. May we enjoy many more such year endings and all in the best of health
A large group - at least 20 of us - breathing in the fresh... oh not so fresh early morning air as we set off. Dust still lingered in the morning air, but this did not put us off to ride around 30 km backwards. Well, the route was familiar but we did it backwards...
Suffice to say, it was a great ride with some old and new faces. Of course, refreshments were also enjoyed by part of the group at the end. Some enjoyed their refreshment along the way by liberating some of the rather delicious oranges....
With a lot of lyrical licence - apropos the dust:
They said some day you'll find
Loving cycling is blind
When cycling is your fire
You must realize
Dust gets in your eyes
They asked me how I knew
My true love was true
I of course replied
Something here inside
Can not be denied
They, said some day you'll find
All who love are blind
When your heart's on fire
You must realize
Smoke gets in your eyes
Away ride Sat. Sept. 21, 2019
Circular Route Around the Yarkon Area:
Click HERE for details
To All Cyclenix Members May 28, 2019
An Important Message:
All of us are aware of the devastating fires that swept across many areas of Israel over the past week. Amongst the areas damaged or destroyed are are...
CLICK HERE for the whole story
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If you have any questions or want to get in touch for any reason, feel free to get in touch with David or John:
Email: jcandy@inter.net.il
David: 054-474-1424
John: 050-942-2788
New riders always welcome to join us.
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