Ride Three-November 10

Ride Three-November 10

Start in Tel Aviv and Finish in Beit Hashanti in the Desert
Totals:  180 KM
             1000+ Meters of Climbing

As for rides, this one was the longest I had taken since the 1980’s.  I am not suggesting that this was a race, for it was in fact a benefit ride, however, there was a group of us who decided that for each 40KM section (180 KM in total) we would push the pace, at least to the degree that the safety vehicle in front would allow.  Thus, a good number of stronger riders hung around the front and used this as an opportunity to get in a solid day of training.  I bought into this right from the start and attempted to do the same.

When I awoke, it was raining.  I considered, though just for a moment, staying home and staying dry.  I think if I were not part of a group who expected me to show up, I might in fact have done this.  Yet, being part of a group has an intrinsic motivating factor that gets one out of bed, dressed in raingear, and off before sunrise.  Also, this was a ride in which the proceeds were going to an organization called Beit Hashanti which cares for young adults who have been living on the streets.  It is a great organization.

The rain began to fall in earnest right after what I believe was over 400 people, began the ride that started in Tel Aviv.  Police cars and a myriad of motorcycles with video and photographic personnel, who seemed to be recording each heartbeat of this event, surround us. 

As the rain fell, I worked my way up to the pace vehicle and hung back with some of the stronger riders.  There was one character that rode in his triathlon garb (skimpy bathing suit and aero helmet), and to me did not fit in with the rest of the crew who, like myself, were in raingear.  However, he persisted like this throughout the ride and was in fact a very strong rider on the flats. 

After a series of flat tires (one must always check the tire carefully for even the smallest piece of metal missed can perforate a sensitive new tube!), we stopped.  There were tables laden with bananas, water and energy bars.  We were being very well treated. 

Midway into the ride, we stop once again, eat, and drink.  The stop this time is at Kibbutz Be’eri which abuts Gaza.  Later in the afternoon that day, a good number of rockets would land in the area that we were riding and mark the beginning of a major flare-up between Israeli’s and Palestinians.  The police kept us grouped tightly as we left this area and we headed into the open space of the Negev.

The human body is a remarkable piece of equipment.  I rode next to a man who had lost much of his right leg and rode with a prosthetic leg the clipped into this pedal.  He maintained a very strong pace and was incredibly impressive.  What is the motivation to do this I wondered, but dared not ask how he lost his leg?  Yet, there many people who have overcome medical conditions and did not allow them to get in the way of what they loved most.  I would like to think that I would be this way as well, of G-d forbid something ever happened to me, but I am not sure and could never be sure unless I was put in such a position. 

Towards the end of the ride, I began to feel a great deal of fatigue.  The pace was a bit too much for me, and when the riders started taking pulls at about 42KPH, I could not hold on no matter how gallantly I attempted to draft.  So I gave in to my own limitations and found a pace that I could handle, and at times, others who were at my level.  A good deal of the last part of the ride in the Negev I did on my own, battling a side wind that blew me around the road, but reveling in the solitude that I had found by being stronger or more motivated than so many riders, but not strong enough for the group in front of me. 

During our final stop a group of young adults who receive services from Beit Hashanti, joined us.  They had been given mountain bikes and would ride with us over the final seven kilometers.  As we rode, some of them found it difficult and a number of fellow riders took them under their wings I suppose, and rode next them encouraging them as well as gently pushing them with a hand on some of their backs.  It was beautiful to see.

One final comment that must be included, is that when we arrived at the facility of Beit Hashanti, there was a spread of food that the organizers had out for us.  As much as I ate during the ride, I was still almost ravenous.  I ended up feeling as if I had done more than just engage in a ride, I had met some joyous young men and women who were trying to get on with their lives, and hopefully the contributions of the group that I was part of will in some measure help them in the future.  We all deserve a chance, and we all deserve help when help is needed.  Our bike groups utilize a support vehicle just for that purpose.  In some ways, we all need to feel confident that a support vehicle is following us as it gives one a sense of ease, a sense of calm.