The day is short, and the work is great,
and the laborers are lazy, and the reward
is great, and the Master of the house is
impatient. - Ethics Of The Fathers Ch. 2
I had an first thing in the morning meeting with a prospect yesterday, so I missed my big ride. After some navel-gazing, I decided to stay with the plan, so I did my regular 1 hour ride from Modiin thru Ben Shemen forest up the hill towards Neot Kdumim. It's pleasant and not challenging, mostly white trails and suitable for interval training.
I'm signed up for the road ride, but I'm training off-road. People tell me it's good and bad - good for stamina but bad because you cant do focussed interval and hill-climbing training. After a lot of shopping around, I found a second-hand, almost brand-new Merida 904 road bike for a price that won't (I hope...) get me divorced, I'm supposed to get it tomorrow, the LBS is gonna put on SPD clipless pedals that will fit my MTB shoes and a compact crank with a 50/34 gear ratio that should help out with climbing. Stay posted!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Man is it hot today..
This Sunday I have an early morning meeting and I won't be able to do my planned 5 hour ride. Shucks. So, I left this morning at 6:00 and climbed the hill thru Mevo Horon to the beginning of the big climb to Neve Ilan, down to Shaar Hagai and thru Derech Nof Dromit thru Park Canada to Latrun - took about 2 1/2 hours. The sunrise is at 5:20 and it was stunning riding thru the fields of Mevo Horon and seeing flocks of birds just take off as soon as I rode by. Almost got stopped by a cow going up the hill. At 8:30, I stopped for a coffee break at the Latrun gas station by the Armored Corps Memorial.
I was drinking my coffee, eating raisins, walnuts and generally minding my own business when a guy in a riding shirt and shorts asks if he can sit down, looking at my bike (a Scott Racing Elite) and commenting that "he never did get into that". I asked what was "that" and he said mountain biking.
Well, did we have a lot to talk about, road and mountain biking, hiking the Israel Trail and how Israelis need to be a lot more modest. Hmm - that's a thought isn't it!
Turns out his name is Gadi Doron, he's the Internal Audit manager at the Israeli Police which sparked another round of conversation about operational risk and audit.
Almost an hour later, we exchanged phone numbers, emails and I went back to work but by 9:30 it was so hot, I abandoned my original plan to ride out to Tel Gezer and back and set out to return to Modiin cross-country. Took 1 1/2 hours and it was sweltering hot; I had to stop every so often just to wipe of the sweat.
I dunno - the weatherman said it was gonna be cooler today - maybe in his office, but not out in the fields between Shaalavim and Modiin!
I was drinking my coffee, eating raisins, walnuts and generally minding my own business when a guy in a riding shirt and shorts asks if he can sit down, looking at my bike (a Scott Racing Elite) and commenting that "he never did get into that". I asked what was "that" and he said mountain biking.
Well, did we have a lot to talk about, road and mountain biking, hiking the Israel Trail and how Israelis need to be a lot more modest. Hmm - that's a thought isn't it!
Turns out his name is Gadi Doron, he's the Internal Audit manager at the Israeli Police which sparked another round of conversation about operational risk and audit.
Almost an hour later, we exchanged phone numbers, emails and I went back to work but by 9:30 it was so hot, I abandoned my original plan to ride out to Tel Gezer and back and set out to return to Modiin cross-country. Took 1 1/2 hours and it was sweltering hot; I had to stop every so often just to wipe of the sweat.
I dunno - the weatherman said it was gonna be cooler today - maybe in his office, but not out in the fields between Shaalavim and Modiin!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
No news is great news or "Cross Dressing in Lebanon"
One of the best things of riding (road OR off-road) is being out of touch with radio/TV/Web. I listened to the news Sunday afternoon and then again today; every time I here something about our Prime Minister - Ehud Olmert, my first thought is "Hey, hasn't this guy resigned yet?"
Climbing from Modiin to Neve Ilan
Two weeks ago, Bob called me up and invited me to a night ride from Park Canada (aka Park Ayalon) to Neve Ilan - I pleaded busy with other things (like preparing the torah reading for Shabat) but I was actually unsure I could hack it.
This Sunday (Aug 20, 2006) I rode from Modiin to Neve Ilan - left at 5:00AM towards Moshav Mevo Horon, by 5:20 I was climbing up a slightly rocky but not difficult incline, labelled "black trail" and before 6:00 I was climbing towards Neve Ilan - 5.5km, and a grade of 5-8%. Well - let's just say that less than half-way up, I started running out of gas and walked a couple of the tougher stretches.
Just before Neve Ilan, I got a flat tire, my spare had a hole and the original had a broken nipple. Took a plastic bag and wrapped it around the tire, between the plastic bag and the goo, and frequent stops to pump in air - I made to Neve Ilan by 8:00. Tried riding back down the first big hill and the tire was obviously in no shape to take me home - well maybe to the Neve Ilan gas station - about 3 km in the other direction.
No point tempting fate... fast forward to the end - I called up my son Shlomi, got him out of bed and ordered a pickup at the Neve Ilan gas station. It's great having drivers on tap like that...
This Sunday (Aug 20, 2006) I rode from Modiin to Neve Ilan - left at 5:00AM towards Moshav Mevo Horon, by 5:20 I was climbing up a slightly rocky but not difficult incline, labelled "black trail" and before 6:00 I was climbing towards Neve Ilan - 5.5km, and a grade of 5-8%. Well - let's just say that less than half-way up, I started running out of gas and walked a couple of the tougher stretches.
Just before Neve Ilan, I got a flat tire, my spare had a hole and the original had a broken nipple. Took a plastic bag and wrapped it around the tire, between the plastic bag and the goo, and frequent stops to pump in air - I made to Neve Ilan by 8:00. Tried riding back down the first big hill and the tire was obviously in no shape to take me home - well maybe to the Neve Ilan gas station - about 3 km in the other direction.
No point tempting fate... fast forward to the end - I called up my son Shlomi, got him out of bed and ordered a pickup at the Neve Ilan gas station. It's great having drivers on tap like that...
Wheels of Love 2006 - Training
October 29 to Nov 2, 450 km on a mountain bike. Hmmm...
I got roped into riding from Jerusalem to Eilat on a bike for the annual Wheels of Love fund raiser for the Alyn Children's Hospital in Jerusalem.
My partner in saxophone playing, Bob Trachtenberg kept after me for 2 years until I finally signed up for the ride this year.
I am already into my 5th week of training - 4 days a week, I'll continue documenting the travails of training and when we go on the ride, I intend to post pictures and keep a daily diary.
I got roped into riding from Jerusalem to Eilat on a bike for the annual Wheels of Love fund raiser for the Alyn Children's Hospital in Jerusalem.
My partner in saxophone playing, Bob Trachtenberg kept after me for 2 years until I finally signed up for the ride this year.
I am already into my 5th week of training - 4 days a week, I'll continue documenting the travails of training and when we go on the ride, I intend to post pictures and keep a daily diary.
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