Wheels of Love 2019

20 years riding for the children of ALYN

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179 RIDERS

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DAYSHOURSMINUTESSECS

November 10, 2019

$193,628

Money Raised*

6% raised of $3,000,000

Routes

Details

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The 20th-Anniversary Ride: November 10-14, 2019

For 20 years, riders from around the world have been coming to Israel to participate in ALYN’s Wheels of Love. In 2000, 9 riders raised $60,000 to help the children of ALYN. Last year, 554 riders raised $3,756,000 while spending a week riding the best routes — both road and trail — in Israel. It has become one of the top charity bike rides in the world, and we invite you to come on a special ride for a special cause.

ALYN is the only place in Israel that specializes in treating children who have been severely injured in accidents or acts of terror, suffer from degenerative disease, or were born with significant physical challenges. The remarkable team of dedicated doctors and therapists at ALYN work tirelessly with these children. Our goal is to return them to their families, empowered to live as independently as possible.

Won’t you play a role in these miracles?

The Routes

Road Group Daily Avg: 70km (45 miles) — Climbing: 900m (2,700 ft) — Pace 18kph (11 mph) — Pit stops: 3

If you are not sure which route to choose, check out our training guide

The ALYN Wheels of Love Road route officially begins under the shaded trees of the Biriya Forest. Riders will ride 70km on an impressive tour crossing the Upper Galilee, with views of Tsfat and Mount Meron, one of the highest peaks in Israel. Well-stocked pit stops allow riders to refresh and relax throughout the day. Roads will be closed by the Israeli police as the ride comes through. Mechanical and medical support accompany the ride, along with a SAG bus for riders who need a break. While there are some gentle climbs, most of the day’s ride is either gradual descent or flat roads helping riders get accustomed to the week of riding that awaits.

The day’s ride ends at the Hacienda Resort in Ma’alot, where all the roads groups will stay for the first 3 nights.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,213 m/4,000 ft

Open route in STRAVA

Today will feature a tough but spectacular climb right up to Israel’s Northern border with Lebanon. The routes winds through a serious of sharp switch-backs while gaining significant elevation. At the top will be a pit stop where riders can relax from the strenuous climbing. the rest of the day has many thrilling descents.

While there is over 1,500 meters of climbing, the total distance is only 62 kilometers. The ride begins along a special “scenic route” built by the Israel National Fund with beautiful views of the Galilee.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,538 m/5,054 ft

Open route in STRAVA

On Tuesday, riders will travel west all the way to Acre, Neharia, and the Mediterranean coast. There is less climbing today which will be a welcome respite from the climbs of the last two days. The highlight of the day will be the stop at the famous cliffs of Rosh Hanikra which sit atop the northwestern border between Isreal and Lebanon.

Riders return for the last night at the Hacienda Resort. On Wednesday, all the routes turn south toward Jerusalem.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,108 m/3,635 ft

Open route in STRAVA

After three days in the Galilee, riders had south. The route winds along green hills and through lush valleys as riders travel from the Upper to the Lower Galilee and then on to the Mount Carmel National Park. The only significant climb of the day is the challenging but rewarding climb into up Mount Carmel.

When the ride finishes for the day, riders will board coach buses for Jerusalem’s Yearim Hotel. Wednesday night all riders — road and trail — will come together for our awards dinner.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,011 m/3,316 ft

Open route in STRAVA

The final day of the 2019 ALYN Wheels of Love ride begins in the hills around Jerusalem and will end at the incredible finish line at ALYN Hospital.

The toughest challenge of the day is the ascent of Nes Harim. This is a steep, winding road that Wheels of love has ridden almost every year. After a ten kilometer climb, riders will enjoy their last pit stop. Hundreds of riders from all the road groups will gather together and ride the final segment to ALYN Hospital together.

At ALYN, riders will be warmly embraced and presented with commemorative medallions by hundreds of children being treated at ALYN and their families.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,549 m/5,082 ft

Open route in STRAVA

Road PLUS Group Daily Average: 90km (56 miles) — Climbing: 1,100m (3,300 ft) — Pace 25kph (16 mph)

If you are not sure which route to choose, check out our training guide

Today, the Road Plus will be riding the first part of the day along the same route as the other road groups. The ride features a tough but spectacular climb right up to Israel’s Northern border with Lebanon. The routes winds through a serious of sharp switch-backs while gaining significant elevation. At the top will be a pit stop where riders can relax from the strenuous climbing. the rest of the day has many thrilling descents.

While there is over 1,500 meters of climbing, the total distance is only 62 kilometers. The ride begins along a special “scenic route” built by the Israel National Fund with beautiful views of the Galilee.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,213 m/4,000 ft

Open Route in STRAVA

Today, the Road Plus will be riding the first part of the day along the same route as the other road groups. The ride features a tough but spectacular climb right up to Israel’s Northern border with Lebanon. The routes winds through a serious of sharp switch-backs while gaining significant elevation. At the top will be a pit stop where riders can relax from the strenuous climbing. the rest of the day has many thrilling descents.

While the main road group turns south back toward the hotel in Ma’alot, Road Plus has more riding to do. The group will first ride another 10 kilometers east to the town of Sasa. Then, Road Plus riders will climb Mount Meron, the highest peak in the Galilee. After reaching the summit in a national park, the group will return back to the main road to finish the day’s ride.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 2,191 m/7,188 ft

Open route in STRAVA

On Tuesday, riders will travel west all the way to Acre, Neharia, and the Mediterranean coast. There is less climbing today which will be a welcome respite from the climbs of the last two days. Road Plus riders travel further south than the main group. Both groups will have a stop at the famous cliffs of Rosh Hanikra, which sit atop the northwestern border between Isreal and Lebanon.

Riders return for the last night at the Hacienda Resort. On Wednesday, all the routes turn south toward Jerusalem.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,197 m/3,927 ft

Open route in STRAVA

After three days in the Galilee, riders head south. The route winds along green hills and through lush valleys as riders travel from the Upper to the Lower Galilee and then on to the Mount Carmel National Park. The only significant climb of the day is the challenging but rewarding climb into up Mount Carmel.

Road Plus will continue after the park until the marina at Zichron Yaakov.

When the ride finishes for the day, riders will board coach buses for Jerusalem’s Yearim Hotel. Wednesday night all riders — road and trail — will come together for our awards dinner.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,155 m/3,790 ft

Open route in STRAVA

The final day of the 2019 ALYN Wheels of Love ride begins in the hills around Jerusalem and will end at the incredible finish line at ALYN Hospital.

The toughest challenge of the day is the ascent of Nes Harim. This is a steep, winding road that Wheels of love has ridden almost every year. After a ten kilometer climb, riders will enjoy their last pit stop. Hundreds of riders from all the road groups will gather together and ride the final segment to ALYN Hospital together.

At ALYN, riders will be warmly embraced and presented with commemorative medallions by hundreds of children being treated at ALYN and their families.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,549 m/5,082 ft

Open route in STRAVA

Challenge Group Daily Average: 120km (75 miles) — Climbing: 1,600m (4,800 ft) — Pace 30kph (19 mph)

If you are not sure which route to choose, check out our training guide

The Challenge route will kick off the 20th anniversary Wheels of Love ride in Biriya Forest. For the first 30 kilometers, the route winds down to the Kinneret and then turns south along the coast. At the Old Testament village of Capernaum, a twisting and sometimes steep climb begins.

After the challenging climb, the route heads west and traverses the Galilee.

The ride finishes in Ma’alot at the Hacienda Resort, where all road riders will be staying.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,795 m/5,890 ft

Open route in STRAVA

Today, the Challenge group will be riding the first part of the day along the same route as the other road groups. The ride features a tough but spectacular climb right up to Israel’s Northern border with Lebanon. The routes winds through a serious of sharp switch-backs while gaining significant elevation. At the top will be a pit stop where riders can relax from the strenuous climbing. the rest of the day has many thrilling descents.

While the main road group and the Road Plus riders turn south back toward the hotel in Ma’alot, Challange has more riding to do. The group will first ride east toward Tsfat and then along a long east-west route that traverses the lower Galilee.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 2,644 m/8,675 ft

Open route in STRAVA

On Tuesday, riders will travel west all the way to Acre, Neharia, and the Mediterranean coast. There is less climbing today which will be a welcome respite from the climbs of the last two days. Challenge riders travel further south than the main group. Riders will have a stop at the famous cliffs of Rosh Hanikra, which sit atop the northwestern border between Isreal and Lebanon.

Riders return for the last night at the Hacienda Resort. On Wednesday, the Challenge group will have the longest day of the week: A 100 mile endurance ride to the summit of Israel’s highest mountain.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,860 m/6,102 ft

Open route in STRAVA

Today is the day Challenge riders have been waiting for. Just as we did two years ago, we will climb the Hermon and complete a full 100 mile century ride. The ride heads off to the East across the Galilee and then heading North through the Golan Heights all the way until we reach the summit of the Hermon. Because of the length of the route today, we will have to enforce strict cut-off times so that we can ride back down to the Kinneret and board the buses that will take us back to Jerusalem to join the other riders at the awards evening.

161 km +2,767 m/-3,523 m — 100 mi +9,080 ft/-11,558 ft

The Final Day for the Challenge group includes several impressive climbs in the Judean Hills as we head to ALYN, the children you have been riding for, and the final finish line.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: THE NES HARIM CLIMB AND THE ALYN FINISH

Distance: 80.2 km (50 mi)

Overall climb: 1,569 m (5,150 ft)

Overall Descent: 1,633 (5,357 ft)

The Climbs

For one final day, the Challenge Route returns to Nes Harim, a favorite climb among local cyclist. The views on both sides of the climb are stunning.

Another highlight of the day is a long, steep, and winding descent down Ramat Raziel. The road clings to the side of a mountain as it heads towards Jerusalem. While the police will close the road for ALYN, normally it is a hard-to-believe 2-lane road.

The final climb is from the Ein Karem junction to ALYN Hospital. Riders will climb from the valley and pass through the picturesque Ein Karem neighborhood filled with trendy coffee shops and art galleries.

The Finish Line

The scene is extraordinary as hundreds of cyclists wearing ALYN jerseys make the final climb from Ein Kerem to the hospital. Crowds of families and friends are cheering for the riders who have covered hundreds of kilometers and climbed some of Israel’s highest peaks. An escort of ALYN children lead all the riders to the finish line on hand-bikes.

It is an emotional ending to an amazing five days as the children whose lives are directly affected by Wheels of Love drape medallions around riders’ necks. As riders say goodbye to each other and depart to homes in countries around the world, from everyone’s lips can be heard: “See you on next year’s ride.”

Touring Group Daily Average: 32km (20 miles) — Climbing: 400m (1,300 ft) — Pace 18kph (11 mph)

If you are not sure which route to choose, check out our training guide

After riding through the shaded Biriya Forest and westward through the growing city of Karmiel, the Touring group will leave their bicycles and take a tour of the fascinating village of Piki’in. This is currently a Druse village with a history of Jewish habitation dating from thousands of years. However, today there is only one Jewish inhabitant of the city remains. She maintains the city’s ancient Jewish sites.

The ancient synagogue of Piki’in has a wall that includes two stones that were taken from the original Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The 100 shekel currency used to feature former Israeli president Yitzhak Ben-Zvi with the Peki’in synagogue on the reverse side. Thousands of years ago, Piki’in was an important Jewish center of learning in the heart of the Galilee.

The Touring Group will begin the day riding mostly along the beautiful Galilee Scenic Route built by the Jewish National Fund. We will accompany the main Road Group until the big climb to the Lebanese border. Instead of going up this 10 km mountain, we will take two tours. The first will be to the famous sea-cliff of Rosh Hanikra. The cliffs sit on Israel’s North-Western corner. Thousands of years of Mediterranean waves pounding against the rocks have hollowed out the grottos underground where we will tour.

After Touring Rosh Hanikra, the plan is to visit the Israeli Army unit that is stationed along a border road where tunnels from Lebanon were recently discovered and destroyed.

After spending the morning riding with the main Road group, we will arrive at the ancient city of Acre (Acco.) Acre is a world UNESCO Heritage site and dates back thousands of years. In fact, it is considered among the oldest inhabited places on Earth. Visitors can see various buildings and artifacts from the Early Bronze Age (3000 BCE) to sites that played a significant role in the history of modern Israel. The city played a prominent role during the Crusader period. It was also home to the prison where Jewish leaders fighting for Israel’s independence during the British mandate were sent and some of them executed.

We spend out last day in Israel’s North riding South through the Lower Galilee, which has a distinctive look and feel from the Upper Galilee. After riding a few hours with the Road group, we dismount and board our bus for a tour of the Carmel Mountain and the Hai-Bar Animal Sanctuary. The Hai Bar is devoted to the raising of endangered and extinct animals of the region and possible re-introduction to the wild.

Main Trail Group Daily Avg: 40km (25 miles) — Technical Level: Moderate with some single tracks. Bikes can be walked around obstacles.

Stronger riders who reach specified time-check points have the option to ride Enduro segments of 10-15 km extra riding with more technical terrain.

GPX Files

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

The 2019 Wheels of Love Trail and Enduro groups start on the slopes of the shaded Biriya Forest. Biriya Forest is the largest planted forest in the Galilee, and is situated on the slopes descending east from Tzfat to Rosh Pina. Biriya boasts a variety of fascinating sites – groves, springs, an ancient synagogue, a lime pit, revered tombs, diverse flora, hiking trails and scenic lookouts.

It also is home to an exciting single that we will ride in 2 sections — one today and the second on Monday. The single is flat and fast, not so technical, and offers beautiful views on the Hula Valley. After descending, we cross the Dishon dry riverbed and climb to Bar’am where we will pass the ruins of an ancient synagogue. After a long, refreshing descent, we finish at the Yarden Estates Boutique Hotel, our home for the next three days.

44 km +525 m/-1,284 m — 27 mi +1,725 ft/-4,212 ft

We start the day by climbing towards the foothills of the Golan Heights. Along the way, we will ride the second part of the Biriya Forest Single. While yesterday’s segment was mostly flat, today’s will be a tough but manageable climb. At the top, there is a very steep descent in which we will drop 400 meters in just over 2 kilometers (15 % grade!) But it is along switchbacks and not so technical. Riders should give space to others and stay on the brakes for a safe descent. We finish the descent by Rosh Pina and then continue back to the Hula Valley.

42.7 km +858 m/-858 m — 26.5 mi +2,815 ft/-2,815 ft

Tuesday will be a long day for the Trail and Enduro routes. We leave early and head North, all the way to Kiryat Shemona, one of Israel’s Northernmost towns. The first part of the trail will be flat as we cross the plains of the Upper Galilee. Then the path turns upward as we climb until we hit the Ramot Naftali Single, high above Kiryat Shemona. We then descend to the foothills of the Golan Heights.

62 km +682 m/-682 m — 38.5 mi +2,237 ft/-2,237 ft

We ride almost continuously South on the final day of our time in the North. The path follows the Jordan River, along the line that divides the Galilee from the Golan Heights. The trail is mostly flat or gradually downhill with just a couple small ascents. We finish by the “Park Yarden,” one of Israel largest national parks.

We are currently planning Thursday’s route. We will soon have more details. Check back soon!

The Hiking Group walks for 6-8 hours along beautiful but moderately difficult trails in the same region where the riders will be. Hikers stay in the same hotels as all the road groups (road, road plus, challenge, touring) enabling non-riding partners to participate in Wheels of Love.

Hikers need to bring suitable shoes and small-medium backpacks. Food and water are provided. The Hiking Group is part of Wheels of Love and should not be confused with ALYN’s Winter “Heels of Love” desert treks.

The Summit Trail

The Mt. Meron Nature Reserve is the largest and highest nature reserve in the Galilee. After seeing all the riding groups start at the Beriya Forest, we will take a short bus ride to Mount Meron. Our guide will pick from several options depending on weather and trail conditions. Since we will be at a high altitide, it is important tow ear warm clothing.

A walk along the summit trail will take us along the highest path in the Galilee. The path encircles the peak of Mt. Meron (1,208 meters above sea level) and affords a birds-eye view of the Upper Galilee, South Lebanon and the Golan. The trail passes through rich Mediterranean woodland and undergrowth, where we are likely to see hundreds of birds during their migration south.

A “Nachal” is Hebrew for a stream and the Nachal Amud hike is one of the most pleasant in all of Israel. A wooden path goes alongside and sometimes through a shallow stream. Depending on if there has been recent rains, it can be either dry or full of water. We will walk past numerous ancient water-mills, pools and wild-flowers.

On our return loop, we will climb the short “Mizpe Hayamim” mountain where we can see both the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) & the Mediterranean.

Nahal Betzet is a stream in the Upper Galilee in Israel. The stream runs through the Betzet nature reserve. The Betzet stream is the northernmost stream in Israel which empties into the Mediterranean Sea within Israel borders.

The Betzet Stream runs through limestone, and is fed by the Karkara springs. Many caves have been formed in the limestone by the stream. These include the Keshet Cave and the Namir stalactite cave, both within the Betzet nature reserve. A few ancient sites can also be found within the nature reserve. We hope to explore the caves, but it will depend on the weather and other factors.

While those who have visited Switzerland will find the nickname of this inspiring hike in the Carmel Mountain range a bit of a stretch, it is one of Israel’s most popular “mountain” hikes. The route is at times rugged, but it is nice to walk for so long under a dense canopy of trees with interesting geological formations that we will learn about.

We will meet up with the riders who will be finishing their day in the same area and then we will take a bus to Jerusalem for the final night and the exciting finish on Thursday at ALYN.

Important Details

Challenge, Road, Road Plus, Touring

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Nights

The Hacienda Forest View

The Hacienda is set on 17 acres of natural forest and is designed to resemble a Spanish Estate. Wheels of Love has reserved the entire hotel for our stay. Come meet up and swap stories with riders from all the road groups in this pleasant retreat where we will rest and relax to prepare for the next day’s ride.

Wednesday Night

Yearim (Maale Chahamisha) Hotel

For the final night of the ride, we will return to the Maale Chahamisha Hotel where we stayed in 2018. Conveniently located on the outskirts of Jerusalem, we will begin our final day of the ride here. The hotel will also be the scene of our special evening awards ceremony where we will distribute the fund-raising awards and loyalty jackets.

Trail and Enduro

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Nights

The Yarden Village Hotel

This lovely boutique hotel will be home to all the trail riders for three nights. Wheels of Love has reserved the entire hotel four our stay. Meet up with fellow riders where you can relax and swap stories of the ride. Of course, the grassy gardens are the perfect place for the legendary off-road “Happy Hour” parties. With many trails starting from the hotel’s location by the Yarden River, it is the perfect place for our group to stay.

Wednesday Night

Neve Illan Hotel

On the final night of the ride, we will return to the Neve Illan Hotel. As riders from 2018 can attest, the newly-renovated hotel is clean, comfortable and the food is sensational.

The 20% UP Club

Join the new 20% UP Club! All you need to do is raise 20% more than you did last year. Club members will receive a special club jersey with a unique design honoring those who made the extra effort to “raise their game” for the children of ALYN.

If you raised $3,000 last year, just raise an extra $600 to join the club. If you raised $10,000 — raise an additional $2,000.

Wear your 20% UP Club jersey with pride on the Wheels of Love and wherever you ride during the year.

Not sure how much you raised last year? Send us an email and we will let you know.

$5,000: ALYN Gloves & Socks

Show your support for ALYN on your hands and your feet!

Our special padded riding gloves will reduce road and trail vibrations while the ALYN dry-fit socks keep your feet comfortable after many hours of pedaling.

It’s our way of saying thanks for making an extra effort for the children of ALYN.

$7,500: Summer Bib

From the same supplier who is providing us with elite quality riding jerseys, we will have a limited number of summer bid shorts.

The shorts are made with high quality chamois for hours of comfort. The shorts are lightweight and flexible, designed for when the weather gets hot.

Best of all, these premium bibs will sport the ALYN logo so everyone can see how much you care.

$10,000: ALYN Winter Jersey

Our winter jersey is a true cold weather jersey. With ALYN branded design, this premium jersey is ONLY available for those who raise more than $10,000! It’s not for sale.

For those who like to ride year round, it will keep you warm even when the weather is frigid.

When you wear it, you are part of a very special group: The lead Wheels of Love fundraisers.

$15,000: Wheels of Love Wind Vest

Keep warm on windy days with the ALYN Wheels of Love Wind Vest.

This will be a premium, branded, sleeveless vest. Picture to the right is for illustrative purposes only. As soon as we get the vests in we will update the picture!

Wheels of Love encourages the formation of teams. Team fundraising can be a useful and effective tool to maximize fundraising efforts and it creates a healthy sense of camaraderie among team members as well as good-natured competition with other teams.

We will set up a team fundraising page, which will be in addition to a rider’s personal fundraising page. Riders can choose to send either page to their donors.

When a donor makes a team gift, the donation is split evenly among all team members registered to the team at the time the gift is given. Each team member must still satisfy the individual fundraising minimum. Individual fundraising might be required if the team fundraising is not sufficient to meet the minimum, once team gifts are divided among all riders. (The only case where this does not apply is when the team is made up of immediate family members.)

To form a team or for questions about teams, please email us.

While we highly recommend that you bring your own bike on Wheels of Love, we understand that some prefer to rent a bike for the duration of the ride. The decision is entirely yours and we stand ready to help get you on the road whether you ship or rent your bike.

Shipping Your Bike

You should have your bike packed carefully. Most bike shops provide this service. Packing usually involves removing wheels, pedals, handlebars, and saddle, which are wrapped in foam and packed separately.

When you come to check-in at ALYN, our team of mechanics will unbox your bike and assemble it. (If you prefer, you can do this yourself.) During the ride, all bike boxes are stored at ALYN. After the ride, the mechanics will repack your bike for the flight home.

Most airlines will charge a separate fee for bringing a bike. El Al has a special deal for ALYN Wheels of Love riders. They will waive their usual fee ($150) for the trip to Israel. (The fee will be charged for the return flight.) To take advantage of this deal, riders must be departing from New York, Newark, Boston, LA, or Chicago. You must fly between October 20 and November 25.

Send an email to WheelsofLove@ELALusa.com Hand send a copy to FRIENDS@alynus.org

Include the following information:

Your name as it appears on your passport
The date, time and number of your flight
Your cell phone number

The fee waiver is entered into your flight record and activated when you check-in for your flight. (Note: They do NOT send out confirmations of the fee waiver.)

Renting a Bike

While it is preferable to bring your own bike, you can also rent either a road or a mountain bike from our supplier. We have carefully selected our supplier for providing exceptional service and pricing. If you rent a bike, your are responsible for returning the bike and for negotiating payment, insurance and repair issues directly from the provider.

Wheels of Love will treat your rental bike with the exact same policy as all bikes that are privately owned and brought on the ride by individual riders. In other words, we will handle your rental with great care.

To rent a bike, get in touch with our supplier below. You must come to ALYN during rider check-in the week before the ride. You will pick up your rental bike at ALYN and then go through the same check-in procedures as all riders.

A team of mechanics will be available to make adjustments to your rental bike. You also have the same access to our mechanics during the ride as any other rider. Often riders who rent bikes bring their own pedals and even their own seat. The mechanics will help you install these on the rental bike. Just remember to return the rental pedals and seat to the rental company when you return your bike. Asaf Rockman, rent@bikejerusalem.com, Mobile phone: (972) 052-3201273

Days could be hot and sunny or cold and rainy. Take gear that you can ride in no matter what the weather.

Cycling shorts, shoes, gloves, socks
We are providing a 2019 cycling jersey. At check-in, you will be able to purchase jerseys from previous years for a heavily discounted price – -while supplies last. Please wear the ALYN 2019 cycling jersey on the first and last day of the ride.
Bicycle helmet – PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON IT
Knee and elbow protectors (For off-road, only if you ride with them regularly.)
Spare inner tube, a simple set of tools and derailleur hanger suitable for your bike. Off-Road: spare brake disc pads.
Sunscreen
Vaseline, talcum powder, or other type of chamois cream.
Touring riders: Small bag with comfortable clothes and shoes for touring.
OVERSEAS Participants need to have their passport and insurance information on them at all times
ISRAELIS need their identity card and kupat cholim card
Sunglasses
Lip balm
Insect repellent
Band-Aid and medications
Toilet paper, wet wipes
Casual Clothes for relaxing in the evenings
Money/Credit Card- Take into account that while the mechanics service is free, parts are extra. All meals/hotel rooms are included.
Ear plugs (for those noisy roommates)
Bathing suit
Laundry detergent, Rope to put up clothes line

How much do I need to raise to participate?
What happens if a rider does not meet the minimum fundraising requirements?
What is included on the ride?
Is ALYN’s Wheels of Love safe?
Do I need spending money?
What is the difference between the routes and how difficult are they?
Is the food kosher? Can I pray with a minyan?
What are the Terms & Conditions of the ride? What if I need to cancel?

1. How much do I need to raise to participate?

The minimum fundraising requirements depend on which route you choose.

For the 2019 Wheels of Love ride, the amounts are:

Trail & Enduro: $3,000
On Road & Touring: $3,500
Challenge: $4,000
Single day ride, both on road and off: 750 shekels ($200)

Self-funding: Our hope is that your fundraising efforts will raise visibility for the hospital and introduce your donors to the amazing work that happens at ALYN. Many who will give to ALYN for the first time through your fundraising efforts will become repeat donors to the hospital. It is a long-term plan of support. If you are choosing to self-fund your ride, the suggested donation level is $4,000.

2. What happens if a rider does not meet the minimum fundraising requirements?

The goal of Wheels of Love, in addition to producing a world-class riding experience for our riders, is to raise as much money as possible for the children of ALYN Hospital. Participation in Wheels of Love involves making a binding commitment to raise the minimum amount of funds required by the Ride Organizing Committee. All riders who have not met their obligations at check-in must give credit card details before taking part in Wheels of Love.

Any rider who has not raised the required amount by December 31, 2019 will be charged the shortfall. The credit card will not be charged prior to December 31, 2019, two months after the ride, so there is plenty of time to continue additional fundraising in order make up the deficit. We strongly encourage you to satisfy (and hopefully far exceed) your fundraising obligation prior to the ride.

3. What is included on the ride?

On each of the four nights of Wheels of Love (Sunday through Wednesday night), riders stay in three or four-star hotels. Accommodations are clean, comfortable and convenient. We eat breakfast and dinner in the hotels.

During the day, there are numerous rest-stops which will have a variety of food such as fresh fruit, energy bars, and snacks. Each day, there will also be an extended pit stop for lunch. At the end of the riding day, you can relax with a cold beer and some protein and carbs at our après-ride party. All food is certified kosher (see below.) Riders can also reserve vegetarian, vegan, and glutton free food.

Every rider receives a deluxe ALYN riding jersey.

During the ride, we provide complete support. That means that we have mechanics, medics and a sweep bus to pick up riders who are having a hard time keeping up or just need a break. We also have escort vehicles and staff ready to help if any need arises. All routes have lead and trailing vehicles. We will transport your luggage between hotels. You can also pack a small day bag that will accompany the Road and Touring routes and which will be brought to each rest-stop.

Every night the mechanics will be available at the hotel to make any repairs needed. Should you need a part (i.e. a tire or derailleurs), most things are available for purchase. Please check our packing list.

4. Is ALYN's Wheels of Love safe?

Rider safety is our top priority. We work very closely with the Israeli police and military in planning our routes. We are also in constant contact with governmental authorities in the event of a security issue. Israeli police escorts stop traffic, keep intersections clear and ensure that oncoming traffic stays in the proper lane.

Many of the roads we ride on will be completely closed to traffic while we are riding through. In addition to police escorts, each route has a professional route manager who is responsible for the safety of all riders on the route. In the event of an accident, we have experienced medics accompanying each route who can provide immediate medical assistance.

While we make every attempt to keep you safe, riders are also largely responsible for the safety of the ride. Please read over our Rider Safety page so that you can do your part in keeping the ride safe for all our riders.

5. Do I need spending money?

On the ride itself, you don’t need to bring substantial spending money. We provide everything you need over these five days, including hotels, meals and all logistics. You may want to bring a little extra for souvenirs, but once you step on the bus on Saturday night or Sunday morning, you can leave your wallet at home.

6. What's the difference between the routes and how difficult are they?

We have designed the routes to appeal to a wide range of cyclists. The Road routes are often hilly and include multiple climbs that can be both steep and long, but the ride moves at a comfortable pace. Our largest group is the Road route and it includes cyclists of varying levels.

Competitive riders who are interested in riding hard and fast will love our Challenge group. Those who want a challenge but at a less-intense pace can join our new Road Plus route.

Riders who prefer a relaxed pace and don’t want to spend more than half the day in the saddle can join our Touring group which rides in the morning and spends the afternoon enjoying unique tours.

Most of the Trail riding is done along rugged jeep and hiking trails that can be muddy and dusty. Don’t expect to be clean at the end of the day! Some parts of the trail are technical and require advanced riding skills. There is always the option of getting off your bike, walking through the technical part and then getting back on once the trail levels out again.

We have Trail riders of all different abilities. Stronger riders can opt to ride on the more advanced Enduro sections, which are extensions of the regular trail routes.

All routes have a sweeper vehicle should you need or want to take a break from cycling at any point.

Each route (other than Touring), will ride every day from approximately 8:15 AM to 4:15 PM. While every route has pit-stops and lunch breaks, you should be able to ride for 6-7 hours each day.

We encourage you to train regularly in the months leading up to the ride. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy this incredible experience. Check out our routes, including the mileage and elevation and see which is right for you.

7. Is the food kosher? Can I pray with a minyan?

Kashrut policy All food provided on the ride is kosher and has valid kashrut certification. This includes fruit, all of which is purchased from suppliers who certify that their products adhere to kashrut requirements for מצוות התלויות בארץ (mitzvot teluyot b’aretz).

During the ride, kashrut certificates for items that are not prepared under the supervision of the kitchen are available from the staff upon request. This includes fruit and nuts served at rest stops.

Soups served at lunch are prepared in a kitchen with kashrut certification. They are cooked, heated and served from pots belonging to the kitchen involved. Dishes and spoons are disposable.

Glatt kosher food for the five-day ride is available for an extra cost. Please let us know ahead of time so that we can best accommodate you.

Minyanim

Daily minyanim are held at the hotels and at lunch stops. The hotels have synagogues on premises.

8. What are the Terms & Conditions of the ride? What if I need to cancel?

As a condition of participation, you must have read and accepted the event Terms and Conditions, which includes the cancellation policy. In general, registration fees are not refundable if you need to cancel. You can switch the fees you paid to a tax deductible donation. Alternatively, you may choose to have credit for the registration fee so you can participate in the next year’s ride. Click below for details.

Terms and Conditions

Why Ride for ALYN?

ALYN is the only children’s rehab hospital in Israel

ALYN treats more than 3,000 children annually

ALYN’s Schachar school serves children from 6 months to 21 years

ALYN treats all children regardless of ethnicity or religion

ALYN treats children — not patients

ALYN teaches that nothing is impossible

ALYN riders and children are all true heroes

2018 Wheels of Love Photo Gallery

179 RIDERS

See full list >

DAYSHOURSMINUTESSECS

November 10, 2019

$193,628

Money Raised*

6% raised of $3,000,000

179 RIDERS

See full list >

DAYSHOURSMINUTESSECS

November 10, 2019

$193,628

Money Raised*

6% raised of $3,000,000

Wheels of Love 2019

REGISTER

Raising Funds for the ALYN Children

The vast majority of riders raise more than the required minimums. In fact, last year the average rider raised more than $7,500. All riders who make the extra effort for the children of ALYN will receive special gifts as our way of saying thanks.

ONLINE

Next to each rider’s name on the rider list on our website is a “sponsor” button. Clicking this button will open up a personal fundraising page for that rider, hosted by either the American/Canadian Friends of ALYN or JGIVE, depending on where the rider lives. Online donations can be made in multiple currencies. Teams also have separate fundraising pages.

Online donations will receive digital receipts that cannot be altered once issued. Before donating, you will be asked what name you want on the receipt (such as a company name.) Please make sure the name is correct because we cannot change these receipts.

To receive an Israeli receipt for a donation in any currency other than shekels, please email donations@alyn.org.

Click below to see how to donate by check, telephone, or bank transfer as well as how to donate in other currencies.

Donations by check

Israeli shekel checks:

Checks should be payable to ALYN and sent to:

ALYN Hospital
84 Shmaryahu Levin Street
Kiryat Yovel, P.O.B. 9117
Jerusalem, 91090

American or Canadian dollar checks please mail to:

American Friends of ALYN or Canadian Friends of ALYN
122 East 42nd Street,
#1519 New York, NY 10168

If you have a number of checks that you wish to bring or mail to ALYN Hospital, then print out the form at this link. Please print a separate page for different currencies. If your donor is giving in foreign currency and wishes to receive an Israeli receipt (non tax-deductible), then indicate this on the form. You can bring the form and checks to check-in for Wheels of Love.

By telephone

To phone in a credit- card donation, please call our Israeli office:

Israel – 02-6494235
U.S. 1-866-629-0025
UK: 0330-828-0808

Bank transfer (Israeli receipts)

First International Bank, Main Jerusalem Branch #012 10 Hillel Street, Jerusalem, Israel ALYN Foreign Currency account # 009997 ALYN Israeli Shekels account # 409-009997 swift code: FIRBILIT XXX JERUSALEM 012 IBAN # IL 900310120000000009997

Please be kind enough to send an email to donations@alynactive.org informing us of the bank transfer that you have made so that we can trace and acknowledge it correctly.

British Pounds

To accept online donations in British Pounds or Euros, you can easily set up a personal fundraising page on Just Giving. Donations will automatically be sent to our office in London. Just follow these instructions:

As soon as the funds are transferred to the hospital, your donation information will be added to our website.

You can also mail checks to:
Friends of ALYN London
c/o Mrs. Maureen Lowry
88 Ossulton Way
London N2 0LB

You can also send an email to alynuk@ip3.co.uk

Donating in Euros and other currencies

Donors can receive tax receipts in Holland, France, and Switzerland

Holland: Stichting Vrienden van Het ALYN Hospital, c/o Shulamit Klarenbeek-Joosten (Treasurer), penningmeester.alyn@gmail.com

Amis D’Alyn France
C/O Dr. Richard Sion
9 Boulevard Magenta, Paris, 75010 France
331-424-92362

Switzerland: Schweizer Freunde von ALYN- Jerusalem, St. Jakobs-Strasse 108, 4052 Base, Phone 061 313 46 45 margie@balcab.ch

Every year, hundreds of riders from all over the world successfully raise money for the children treated at ALYN Hospital. In fact, the majority of our riders raise far more than the minimum requirements. If the challenge of raising funds for ALYN makes you nervous, don’t worry.

Fundraising for ALYN can be incredibly rewarding. When you ask friends and family to sponsor you, you are asking them to help thousands of children, each one with a moving story.

Kids come to ALYN after car accidents, terrorist attacks, spinal cord and muscular injuries caused by sickness or side-effects from treatments like chemo. Others are born with serious physical challenges. They are very different but all share one thing in common: The desire to live life with their families as independently as possible.

The money you raise can make this happen.

Here’s what 13 year old Zina said when, after 14 months of intensive rehabilitation at ALYN after a devastating car accident, she was finally able to return home:

“After my accident, I never thought I would be myself again but ALYN made it possible. They never gave up on me even when I gave up on myself. ALYN gave me the strength, the tools and the desire to face the future. They loved me and believed in me and showed me how to overcome every obstacle. Thank you ALYN, from the bottom of my heart.”

ALYN treats thousands of children like Zina each year. These are children, not statistics. Every dollar you raise is used by ALYN to provide state of the art treatment to the children who seek our help every day.

The four steps to successful fund-raising

Step #1 — Aim high: Set an ambitious and inspiring fundraising goal for yourself. Although the minimum you need to raise is between $3,000 and $4,000, we KNOW that you can raise more. If you can ride for 5 days straight, up and down hills, through all types of weather, you can certainly go the extra mile for the children of ALYN. Pick $5,000, $10,000 or more. You will be making a world of difference.

Step #2 — Make a personal donation. Your registration payments pays for your hotel rooms and other expenses of the ride. But it is not a donation. To convince others to make a contribution, it is always helpful to lead by example.

Step #3 — Ask Friends and Family. It’s always best to start with the easiest sell so start with family and close friends. It’s helpful to ask for a specific amount. Sometimes people want to help but are unsure what is appropriate. If you suggest an amount, they will be more likely to give. Some people who would gladly give $500 give $50 because they weren’t asked for a higher amount.

Step #4 — Ask Everyone! Write that email, send the WhatsAPP, post on Facebook. Most importantly — make personal phone calls. There is a basic rule in ALL fundraising: The main reason people give is that they have been asked by someone they know and trust. That person is YOU!

Make sure to send your sponsors a personal thank you letter. Show your appreciation and let them know what a difference their gift makes for the children of ALYN.

Don’t forget about businesses and corporations that may earmark allocations to charitable causes and/or for public and community relations. Wheels of Love offers outstanding public relations opportunities in exchange for Corporate Sponsorships (If you have a lead that might result in a corporate sponsorship opportunity, please contact Chaim Wizman at cwizman@alyn.org).

Get to know the incredible children of ALYN

The more you get to know about the children at ALYN and the miracles they accomplish each day, the better an ambassador you will be.

If you are in Israel, take a tour of ALYN and experience the magic firsthand. ALYN help children recover from severe injuries sustained in terrorist attacks, road accidents, head and spinal trauma, cancer treatment, and other conditions requiring extensive rehabilitation. Many children here also have been born with congenital disabilities.

Write those LETTERS, Make those PHONE CALLS, Keep up your TRAINING, Make a DIFFERENCE! See you in October.

The best way to raise fund sis by personally asking your friends and family. You can use these letters. Just make sure to personalize them with your name and the link to your fundraising page. If you forget the link, just look up your name here and click on “Sponsor.”

Sample letter for first time riders

Dear (Fill in the Blank),

I am taking on a new challenge and I want to share it with you.

You know I love kids, Israel and my bike. I found the perfect way to celebrate these loves….WHEELS OF LOVE! This is an amazing 5 day charity bike ride in Israel held every fall to benefit the physically disabled children of ALYN HOSPITAL in Jerusalem.

I am going to ride my bike for 5 days, 300 miles and too many hills to even contemplate. Every turn of the wheel will help the physically disabled children of ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem come closer to achieving their ambitious goal of leading a maximally independent life.

It’s an honor to have one of the coveted 350 spots since WHEELS OF LOVE is the original and definitive gold standard for charity bike rides in Israel and I’ve discovered that ALYN Hospital is the gold standard IN THE WORLD for pediatric rehabilitation. You can learn all about ALYN here.

Children come to ALYN from all over Israel seeking their very special brand of love-compassion-hope-expertise. It’s a failsafe recipe for success. ALYN knows exactly how to help every single child reach his or her highest level of mobility – no matter how dire the circumstances.

All they lack is the money to insure this life changing care. WHEELS OF LOVE is the Hospital’s largest annual fundraiser. I’ve been told I am going to meet incredible people, make lifelong friends and see places in Israel one can only see from the seat of the bike.

But I’ve been told it is the children’s smiles and their parents’ thanks of gratitude that makes this experience so exceptional. I am paying my own airfare, my own hotels and a registration fee. All gifts are 100% tax-deductible and the money raised goes directly towards treating the children.

I am very excited to be going to Israel to do a mitzvah. YOU can help me double the mitzvah by being as generous as you possibly can be to these kids. I am doing my small part in helping these young heroes. It’s so easy to become a hero to them – just click here (insert the link to your fundraising page. If you forget it, just look up your name here). Thank you for helping me help these very deserving children.

The ride is October 29th to November 2nd – look for pictures that I will send from Israel!

In gratitude,

PS: To donate by check please make it payable to American Friends of ALYN and mail it to 122 E. 42nd St., Suite 1519, NY, NY 10168 and make sure to put my name in the memo line! If your company matches your gift or you wish to donate stocks, please call the office at 212-869-8085 for more info.

Sample letter for veteran riders

Dear (Fill in the Blank),

Once again, I am challenging myself for an incredible cause and I want to share it with you.

You know I love kids, Israel and my bike. I have found the perfect way to celebrate these loves….WHEELS OF LOVE! This is an amazing 5 day charity bike ride in Israel held every fall to benefit the physically disabled children of ALYN HOSPITAL in Jerusalem.

So once again, I am going to ride my bike for 5 days, 300 miles and way too many hills to even contemplate. Every turn of the wheel will help the physically disabled children of ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem come closer to achieving their ambitious goal of leading a maximally independent life.

It’s an honor to have one of the coveted 350 spots since WHEELS OF LOVE is the original and definitive gold standard for charity bike rides in Israel and I’ve discovered that ALYN Hospital is the gold standard IN THE WORLD for pediatric rehabilitation. You can learn all about ALYN here.

Children come to ALYN from all over Israel seeking their very special brand of love-compassion-hope-expertise. It’s a failsafe recipe for success. ALYN knows exactly how to help every single child reach his or her highest level of mobility – no matter how dire the circumstances.

All they lack is the money to insure this life changing care. WHEELS OF LOVE is the Hospital’s largest annual fundraiser. I’ve been told I am going to meet incredible people, make lifelong friends and see places in Israel one can only see from the seat of the bike.

But I’ve been told it is the children’s smiles and their parents’ thanks of gratitude that makes this experience so exceptional. I am paying my own airfare, my own hotels and a registration fee. All gifts are 100% tax-deductible and the money raised goes directly towards treating the children.

I am very excited to be going to Israel to do a mitzvah. YOU can help me so this mitzvah by being as generous as you possibly can be to these kids. I am doing my small part in helping these young heroes. It’s so easy to become a hero to them – just click here (insert the link to your fundraising page. If you forget it, just look up your name here). Thank you for helping me help these very deserving children.

The ride is October 29th to November 2nd – look for pictures that I will send from Israel!

In gratitude,

PS: To donate by check please make it payable to American Friends of ALYN and mail it to 122 E. 42nd St., Suite 1519, NY, NY 10168 and make sure to put my name in the memo line! If your company matches your gift or you wish to donate stocks, please call the office at 212-869-8085 for more info.

Wheels of Love welcomes the formation of teams. Team fundraising can be a useful and effective tool to maximize fundraising efforts and create a healthy sense of camaraderie among team members and good-natured competition with other teams.

Teams should be formed when a group of riders plan to be soliciting donations from the same donor. We can set up a team fund raising page which will be in addition to a riders personal fundraising page. Riders can send either page to their donors.

When a donor makes a team gift, the donation is split evenly among all team members registered to the team at the time the gift is given. However, each Team Rider still has an individual fundraising obligation which remains even if the Team has satisfied or surpassed its overall Team fundraising obligation.

In other words, even if one member of a team is raising far more than the minimum, other members of the team must still meet their obligations. The only cases where this does not apply is teams made up of immediate family members.

Suggestions For Small Gift Items For Which Our Children And Our Staff Are Always Grateful

NO CANDY/SWEETS PLEASE!

For our younger children:

Small educational toys (especially “cause and effect” ones i.e. the child does something like pushing a button or opening a door or a top of a toy and it has an effect like a “Jack in the Box” popping up or music starts to play etc.)
Baking set
Carpentry set
Tool kit
Doctor set
Kitchen set
Puzzles (wooden with large attractively colored pieces)
Simple card games
Costume jewelry
Decorative hair items e.g. pony tail holders, slides etc.
Playdough
Small toy cars
Dolls and doll accessories
Stickers: any and all kinds but especially stickers of well known cartoon characters and children’s TV programs like Sesame Street!
Large crayons/thick and thin markers of all colors
Musical toys with/without moving pictures
Magnifying glasses
Plastic sun glasses for “dressing up”
And while on the subject of “dressing up” funny hats are always appreciated too especially in the Day Care Center!
Little torches/flashlights
Soap bubble containers and blowers
Kaleidoscope
Beanie Babies
Notebooks
Medals
Springs
Key-Rings
Rubber Stamps

Small items listed above like stickers, toy cars, costume jewelry, decorative hair items etc. are excellent for our therapists to have to give out as motivation prizes to young patients in physiotherapy, occupational therapy etc. sessions in order to encourage a child to do an exercise which demands an extra effort

For our older children i.e. teenaged hospitalized patients in our Active Rehabilitation Ward:

Anything which is “the craze” in the USA, if language is not involved, will certainly be appreciated by our teenage patients.

Also since we have a number of computer stations (in therapy units and also for leisure) in various areas of the Hospital any of the latest DVD/CD computer games, where knowledge of the English language is not a necessity, are also very welcome and appreciated.