For over 20 years, cyclists have been coming to Israel for ALYN Hospital’s Wheels of Love Ride, one of the world’s premier charity bike rides.
Want to come for one day? Check out GalgALYN.
Planning for next year? The 2020 ALYN Wheels of Love Ride will take place from October 25-29th, 2020 in the South of Israel
This year, the single day ALYN ride, “GalgALYN”, will take place on Thursday, November 14 – the final day of Wheels of Love 2019.
Register for the SINGLE DAY RIDE ONLY at this link.
We understand that many people would love to participate in the full week-long ride, but are simply not able to take so many days off. That’s why we offer GalgALYN, a taste of the magic of ALYN’s Wheels of Love Ride. Riders choose either the on-road course that climbs and descends through the historic Judean hills or the challenging off-road course that takes riders on special paths for unique perspectives that many who live here never get to see.
All routes will finish with an extraordinary challenging climb up to Jerusalem and ALYN Hospital where the children of ALYN greet the riders in an emotional finish to the world’s top charity bike ride. Single day riders pay a 300 NIS registration fee and undertake to raise 750 NIS in tax deductible donations. Besides participating in a fully supported ride with lunch and pit stops, riders receive an ALYN riding jersey.
Click here to see maps of the routes/Strava links.
The Trail route starts here, near the Neve Illan Hotel. Riders must arrive by 6:30 AM. The Road route starts just inside the entrance of Mesilat Tzion at 8:00 AM. You can either park at the start and take our shuttle back to your car after the ride or you can park near the finish at ALYN and take our early morning shuttle to the start.
Road Group STRAVA Links: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
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 a portion along the rarely traveled road that hugs the Lebanese border. 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.
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘Road Day 1’
Today will feature a tour of another section of Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. The routes winds through a counter-clockwise tour of the Upper Galilee culiinating with a thrilling descent along a series of sharp switch-backs.
With over 1,500 meters of climbing and a total distance of 73 kilometers, it will be a challenging day full of beautiful views of the Galilee.
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘2019 Road Day 2’
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.
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘2019 Road Day 3’
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: 1,538 m/5,045 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘Alyn Road/Road Plus Day #5’
Road Plus STRAVA Links: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
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 a portion along the rarely traveled road that hugs the Lebanese border. 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.
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘2019 Road Plus Day 1’
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: 1,985 m/6,512 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘2019 Road Plus Day 2’
On Tuesday, riders will travel west all the way to Acre, Neharia, and the Mediterranean coast. After riding along the Mediterranean Coats, we will have a stop at the famous cliffs of Rosh Hanikra, which sit atop the northwestern border between Isreal and Lebanon. There are no major climbs for most of the day, allowing us to enjoy the stunning views of the coast and the Galilee.
However, the last 10k of Road Plus includes a challenging climb back to Ma’alot. The climb is tough but includes spectacular views and occasional plateaus to catch your breath. Have no fear, cold beer and refreshments are only a few kilometers ahead back at the hotel.
Riders return for the last night at the Hacienda Resort. On Wednesday, all the routes turn south toward Jerusalem.
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘2019 Road Plus’
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 through the center of Israel. After the tough climbs of the week, today the terrain is much more gentle.
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.
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘2019 Road Plus Day 4’
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: 1,678 m/5,505 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘Alyn Road/Road Plus Day #5’
Road Group STRAVA Links: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
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. We start with a long, challenging, yet spectacular ride. From the heart of the Galilee, we head north. We ride all the way to Israel’s northern tip at Kiryat Shemona, a peninsula of Israel surrounded on three sides by Lebanon. We then hug the border and head south and west. This is a sparsely populated area, and we will take in impressive views as we ride along the mountain ridge that separates Israel from Lebanon.
The day’s ride finishes in Ma’alot at the Hacienda Resort, where all road riders will be staying.
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘2019 Challenge Day 1’
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: 2,544 m/8,350 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Tuesday is the day Challenge riders have been most looking forward to — the climb up to the ski lodge on the top of Mount Hermon, Israel’s highest mountain. The day starts early, the route is 130 kilometers with more than 2,800 meters of climbing, most of it along the steep approach to the Hermon. Riders should be prepared for extreme temperature changes as they ride along the Golan Heights.
Because the route takes riders to the most northern point of Israel, we will stay in the Ein Zivan kibbutz rather than return to the Hacienda. This small, intimate hotel will be the perfect venue to relax and bond with other Challenge riders who have ridden Israel’s toughest climb.
Riders should get a good night’s sleep because Wednesday ride will be even longer — a full 100 mile century.
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘2019 Challenge Day 3’
The Challenge century ride has become a Wheels of Love tradition. It’s a long, spectacular route. After Tuesday’s ascent of the Golan and Mount Hermon, the long descent will be a welcome treat for tired Challenge riders. After the descent rider will form pace-lines to tackle the long flat stretches of central Israel.
After the day’s ride finishes, buses will take the riders to Jerusalem for the final evening awards ceremony.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 750 m/2,460 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
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: 1,663 m/5,456 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
Relive ‘Alyn Road/Road Plus Day #5’
If you are not sure which route to choose, check out our training guide
After riding through the shaded Biriya Forest and north to the Naftali Kibbutz, 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 Margalit Zinati at 87 is the only Jewish inhabitant of the city. Riders will get to meet her and she will give us a guided tour of 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.
Open route in STRAVA
The day starts off with riders off their bikes. After breakfast, the Touring Group will visit the famous sea-cliffs of Rosh Hanikra, where we will experience the force of nature as we see the grottoes formed by the pounding waves of the seas. By the grottoes we learn the folly of Man as we observe the train tracks leading through the mountain. We rejoin the Road group in the afternoon for a pleasant Galilee ride back to the Hacienda Resort.
Open route in STRAVA
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.
Open route in STRAVA
On day 4, we will visit the Industrial Park in Tefen created by Ze’ev Stef Wertheimer and backed now by the Oracle of Omaha, Mr.Warren Buffet. In addition to seeing a short film about the vision of this Israeli industrialist we will visit the “Open Museum” onsite which includes a rather extensive car collection , a museum of the Art of Industry dedicated to the development of cutting tools and machinery, from prehistoric times up until the latest word in machining and turning.
We will also visit Savta Gamila’s “Wonder Soaps”, which connects to the visit to the village of Pekiin on Sunday where Savta Gamila began to manufacture soap according to formulas passed down through the generations, to which many ascribe healing powers.
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.
We will ascend to the site of Tel Azeka and tell the story of the encounter between the young shepherd David and the gigantic Goliath and its impact on Jewish history. We will also visit the Ha Ela Winery to wine and dine before joining the rest of the ride at the Kerem Junction and ride to the finish line in ALYN.
At ALYN, riders will be warmly embraced and presented with commemorative medallions by hundreds of children being treated at the hospital and their families.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 515 m/1,690 ft
Open route in STRAVA
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.
Trail STRAVA Links: 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. The single has rolling hills although is mostly descending. Since it is not a technical single, riders can keep a strong pace with beautiful views on the Hula Valley. All riders will experience several kilometers of this exceptional biking trail. Those who meet the Enduro time cut off will get to ride an extended segment before rejoining the rest of the riders. After the single, riders will ride through the flowing stream of Ein Yarden where they will see the unique geology of the area as hard basalt rock covers layers of soft limestone. We finish the ride along the Yarden river and conclude the ride at the Village Hotel, our home for the next three days.
Relive ‘2019 Trail Day 1’
Riders begin the day riding alongside the Hatzbani River, one of three rivers that feed the Yarden. Before too long the route curves and enters a bamboo forest where the overhead bamboo forms a tunnel through which the path travels. The route circles Tel Dan, and ancient site by the Dan River. After that, riders close in on the Lebanese border with an impressive view of snow-capped Mount Hermon.
Now the serious climbing begins as the route takes us up the Golan by Tel Azzizyat, scene of a major battle in the Six Day War. Today, the area hosts a monument to the brave fighters who fell protecting the State. Riders continue to the TAP line, an old pipeline that carried oil from Iraq to Haifa many years ago. Enduro riders will climb and ride a route alongside the TAP line while the rest of the group take a parallel path at a slightly lower elevation. Prepare the get wet as all riders will cross the Yardenit on our way back to Sde Nechamia and the Village Hotel.
The ride heads South along the Yarden on Tuesday through beautiful fruit orchards and agricultural fields. Our first climb is above the Ein Avazim, the “Goose” spring. After about 25 kilometers we reach the Ramin Single, a fun — sometimes challenging ride that ascends to Tel Hai in the northern “finger” of Israel. By Nachal Iyun, we will have a short hike-bike section as we cross the stream with our bikes.
Within 5 minutes we will be riding again, crossing one more stream as we continue to make our way to the Manara Cliffs, on Israel’s border with Lebanon. While we will stick to cross-country trails, this area is known for downhill riding and there are many races that takes places down the cliff side. After a long day, we complete our circle and return to our hotel at Sde Nechamia.
On Wednesday we say good-bye to the Village hotel for the last time and head south. We ride through the beautiful Hula Valley, known as one of the world’s best bird-watching points as birds from 3 continents converge here during their Winter and Summer migrations.
We start a gradual climb to Ramat Naftali which will include a short section (100 meters) where we will have to dismount and hike with our bikes up the slope. After the climb we will enjoy a beautiful descent to Sde Eliazer where we will take the buses to Neve Illan for our final evening together.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 498 m/1,633 ft
We leave from the Neve Ilan hotel on the final day of the ride and ride through a few of the Judean forests, including the Martyr’s Forest (Yar HaKidushin.) This forest was created by the Jewish National Fund, who began planting six million trees in memory of the victims of the Holocaust in 1951. The trail runs by the Kesalon River in the Jerusalem Hills.
Riders emerge from the forests by Ein Kerem and begin the final climb to ALYN Hospital.
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: 1,041 m/3,415 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
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 comfortable hiking shoes, a small-medium backpack, and a hat. Rain gear, a flashlight, and trekking poles can also come in handy. We will provide food and water for hikers to carry.
The Hiking Group is part of Wheels of Love and should not be confused with ALYN’s winter “Heels of Love” desert trek.
A “nachal” is Hebrew for a stream. 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. If there has been recent rainfall, 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 visit the Sekhvi Pools – the place where the Sekhvi and Amud streams come together, forming small, shallow pools of clear water, shaded by tall plane trees.
Read more from Israel by Foot.
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’s 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.
The Montfort/ Nahal Kziv loop in the Galilee takes hikers to one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Israel, at the top of an ancient Crusader Castle.
The path leads down into the Kziv stream, where we will walk next to the river along the green trail. This path twists and winds its way under a thick canopy of trees in a valley. Along the hike there are many wonders including a crumbling Crusader fortress, waterfalls, and a secret cave.
Read the description of the hike from Hiking the Holyland.
History and nature combine on this thrilling off-the-beaten-track trail. Ancient Yodfat (Jotapata) is mentioned in the Mishna as a fortified Jewish village dating from the time of Joshua, corresponding with the Iron Age. It was here that Josephus, who was a general in the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans (66-70 CE) before he was its chronicler, was captured by Romans. From the top of the mound, Josephus’ rich description of the site and the battle comes alive.
The trail follows a long, narrow ridge with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
Read more from Bible Walks.
We start at the top of a ridge that overlooks the beautiful Dolev valley. As we start hiking down the ridge, the foliage is lush and the views spectacular. There are many places where we will help each other scramble over the boulder piles that can be found throughout the trail.
There are two fun attractions near the bottom of the trail. One is a natural rock slide where the surface is so smooth, you can slide down on an old piece of cardboard or plastic bottle. Since so many people come to slide here, there are always examples available.
The real attraction is the bat cave. Steps lead down into this completely dark and cool cave. You can guess how it got its name and observe thousands of bats hanging from the ceiling. Thankfully, they will be sleeping at the time of our visit.
Read more from Hiking in the Holyland. (Note, the article describes a short hike to the rock slide and bat cave. We will be taking a much longer route.)
After the hike, our bus will take us to ALYN for the closing ceremony.
Wheels of Love officially begins on Sunday, November 10, 2019. All riders need to come to ALYN for check-in at the following times:
Wednesday, November 6: 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, November 7: 9:00 AM to 10 PM
Friday, November 8: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Our address in Jerusalem is: 84 Shmaryahu Levin St., Kiryat Yovel
To start the check-in process, bring your bike to the rack outside the ALYN entrance. (Those coming from the airport can drop off boxed-up bikes in the garage.)
When you enter ALYN, we will go over your information and check you in. You then pick up your jersey, fundraising incentive gifts, drop off donations, and meet other riders. You can have your name printed on your jersey as well. Light refreshments will be served.
We highly recommend that all riders take a guided tour of ALYN during check-in, even if you have done so previously. ALYN is constantly innovating and it is amazing to see what the donations you have raised have made possible.
Once you finish upstairs, you can proceed to the garage where our team of mechanics will be on hand to unbox and assemble bikes and also make any needed mechanical adjustments.
Riders should stay with their bikes until after all work is done. The mechanics will have a variety of bike components that will be available for purchase (tires, pedals, chains, derailleurs, etc.)
When you are satisfied that your bike is “ready to ride”, place it in one of the racks designated for your route. The bikes will be waiting for you at the start at Biriya Forest.
Buses to start are free of charge
Sign up for buses here.
Saturday Night (Buses Depart at 8:00 PM):
Sunday Morning
Please be at stop 10 minutes in advance.
| Time | City | Bus Stop Link on Google Maps | Bus Stop Link in WAZE (Open on phone) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:30 | Jerusalem | Liberty Bell/Train Theater parking – next to Sonol | Jerusalem Liberty Bell |
| 5:30 | Efrat | Efrat – Hamacher parking by Medical Center | Efrat |
| 5:45 | Tel Aviv | Al Parashat Drachim – 2000 Terminal/Savidor Central Station | Tel Aviv |
| 6:00 | Jerusalem | Har Hertzl parking lot | Jerusalem |
| 6:10 | Modiin | Modiin/Chashmonaim-bus station past police station | Modiin |
| 6:10 | Raanana | Southern Raanana Junction (on Route #4) | Raanana |
| 6:15 | Latrun | Latrun Gas Station | Latrun |
| 6:30 | Beit Lid | Hasharon Junction – Beit Lid | Beit Lid |
For riders who will make their own way to the start, it is at the Biriya Fortress in Biriya Forest.
Mornings
Mornings start with breakfast at the hotels, usually between 6:30 and 7:30. (You can check the signs in the lobby for exact times). We try to get all the groups on the road between 8 and 8:30. Mechanics are available for any last minute adjustments or repairs. (If your bike needs a repair, see the mechanic in the evening before dinner.) For those who want to pray with a minyan, each hotel has a synagogue where we will host davening before breakfast. (Usually around 6:00 AM).
During the Ride
Every route has ride leaders and vehicles with staff, mechanics, paramedics, and a bus for those who feel they cannot continue the day’s route. The Road routes will also have a police escort. Due to police rules, no rider can ride ahead of the ride leaders or behind the follow-vehicles. While the routes will spread out at times, the police may require us to take short breaks to regroup.
Three times every day we will have pit stops where riders can take a break, refuel, and use a bathroom. We also have plenty of short water breaks if you need to fill your bottles.
Evenings
All routes will reach the hotels by 4:00 PM. Riders put their bikes into the racks, step into the hotel, and can grab a cold beer (or a variety of beverages) and salads. Afterwards, riders can relax in their rooms until dinner, usually around 6:30 PM. Staff will be available throughout the hotel to answer any questions. After dinner, we will have short briefings for those who are interested in learning about the next day’s route.
Wednesday
Rather than returning to the hotels, after the ride on Wednesday we will bus all riders to Jerusalem. Riders will stay in Neve Illan (Trail) or Maale Hahamisha (Road) Wednesday night. After dinner at the hotels, we will have a special ceremony for all riders to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the ride.
The Finish
All routes finish at ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem around 3:00 PM. At ALYN, riders will be warmly embraced and presented with commemorative medallions by hundreds of children being treated at ALYN and their families. A short ceremony will conclude Wheels of Love. Riders will be able to get food and a finisher t-shirt at ALYN.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Nights
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 Hahamisha) Hotel
For the final night of the ride, we will return to the Maale Hahamisha 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.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Nights
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Erez & Tamar Levin, info.rentabike@gmail.com, Mobile phone: (972) 054-314-8409
Days could be hot and sunny or cold and rainy. Take gear that you can ride in no matter what the weather.
For Hikers:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We have partnered with Israel Way, a premier travel agency, to handle all your additional travel needs. Contact them for any of the following services:
10% of the cost of all bookings will benefit ALYN Hospital.
For more details email alyn@israelway.com.
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
