Wheels of Love 2022

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82 RIDERS

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DAYSHOURSMINUTESSECS

November 07, 2022

$194,412

Money Raised

6% raised of $3,000,000

Wheels of Love 2022

This November, we welcome the world to come back and explore brand new routes for our Wheels of Love cycling event.

After two long years of the pandemic keeping us apart, we are so excited to bring our awesome community of cyclists together again in Israel, as one ride.

B’yachad K’echad. ביחד כאחד.

A range of all new routes, all spectacular.

Road routes will take in the dazzling scenery of Israel’s Carmel Mountain National Park, where tough climbs and thrilling descents make for some of the best riding in Israel.

Challenge and Road Plus will have the additional challenge of climbing Mount Hermon, Israel’s highest peak.

Enduro and Trail routes will ride along the paths of Israel’s Northwest corner, including the fun singles of Shlomi and Chanita – designed by ALYN rider Hovav Landau who was also involved in the design of the magnificent Dead Sea single that we rode on the final day of Wheels of Love 2021.

Count on kosher meals, full-course support, and ride security – just what you’d expect from an event with a more than 20-year reputation for exceptional management. All routes will come together for a closing ceremony celebration on the Mediterranean shore, and riders will receive a Wheels of Love 2022 jersey and other exciting riding gear and swag featuring our new logo.

As ever, you’ll be supporting the vital work of ALYN Hospital, Israel’s leading hospital for children with physical disabilities.

For an event sure to be unforgettable for all and life-changing for the children in our care, plan now to join us.

We can’t wait to see everyone in Israel this November….

B’yachad – Together!

How it works

Register for the ride.
You can choose from 5 routes based on terrain and different levels of difficulty.
Come alone or with friends.
Start training! Check out our training tips below and look for our Wheels of Love clubs on Strava.

Raise funds
When registering for Wheels of Love, you commit to raising funds for ALYN Hospital. See your Fundraising Toolkit below for ideas on being a great fundraiser! Don’t worry, you can fundraise until 31.12.22

Ride!
Four days of riding along the amazing trails and roads that cross the mountains and valleys of Northern Israel. The trip includes accommodations, all meals, pit stops, a full support team, and everything for an incredible riding experience.

Route Details

Road Group Daily Avg: 75 km – Climbing: 888 m – Pace 16kph (10 mph)

Map Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Routes are subject to change at any time.

The Road Route start Wheels of Love with a beautiful route taking us from the flat planes of Central Israel to the hills of the Galilee. Well-stocked pit stops (water, energy drinks, fresh fruit, energy bars, nuts, pretzels, etc) 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.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 895 m/2,936 ft

Open Map

Road Plus Daily Average: 90 km — Climbing: 1,600 m — Pace 25kph

Route Strava Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

All routes need approval of the Israeli police and are subject to change at any time.

Challenge Daily Average: 112 km — Climbing: 2,120 — Pace 30kph

Route Strava Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday All routes need approval of the Israeli police and are subject to change at any time.

Challenge will start Wheels of Love with a fast, beautiful route taking us from the flat planes of Central Israel to the hills of the Galilee. Well-stocked pit stops (water, energy drinks, fresh fruit, energy bars, nuts, pretzels, etc) 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.

Monday Cumulative Climbing: 1,400m/4,600 ft

On Tuesday, the Challenge and Road plus groups will ride a long circular route that includes riding to the ski resort on the slopes of the Hermon Mountain, Israel’s highest elevation. The route ends back at the starting point in Sde Nechemia.

Tuesday Cumulative Climbing: 2,117m/6,945 ft

A long, hilly route along the Northern Border ends by the sea.

Wednesday Cumulative Climbing: 2,269m/7,444 ft

Once more we ride east and circle the Lower Galilee before heading for an emotional finish on the beach with all the other riding groups.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 2,249m/7,378 ft

Touring Daily Average: 25 km — Climbing: 234 — Pace 16kph (10mph)

Route Strava Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

All routes need approval of the Israeli police and are subject to change at any time.

Touring will spend half the day riding and half the day touring special sites. The touring group rides with the Road group.

Trail Group Daily Average: 36 km/22 miles — Climbing: 722 meters/3,168 ft.

Map Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday All routes are subject to change at any time.

The Trail and Enduro routes two fun singles – Rish Lakish and Misgav. Rish Lakish is moderately challenging and presents riders with a good stretch of rocks, drops, twists, and turns. The Eduro route will ride more of the course while the Trail route takes on a shorter, less technical stretch. The Misgav Single is found in the heart of one of the best areas in the country for mountain biking and contains many highlights in the form of technical singles, downhill routes, and short steep climbs.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 966m/3,170 ft

The highlight of the day if the Cabri Single. Fast, rolling hills without sustained climbs makes for a fun day of moderately technical riding.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 625m/2,050 ft

Today we ride the first part of the famous Hanita Single. The trail passes through amazing vistas, sea views and natural bush forest. The ride is flowing and fun.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 720 m/2,362 ft

Because the Hanita Single is so long, we split it into two days of riding. We begin the day on the second section and conclude with amazing riding near the sea cliffs of Rosh Hanikra, concluding with a grand beach party.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 484 m/1,587 ft

Enduro Group Daily Average: 56 km — Climbing: 1,030 meters

Map Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

All routes are subject to change at any time.

The Enduro route starts with two fun singles – Rish Lakish and Misgav. Enduro will ride a larger section to both these singles than the Trail route with more technical sections..

Rish Lakish is moderately challenging and presents riders with a good stretch of rocks, drops, twists, and turns. The Misgav Single is found in the heart of one of the best areas in the country for mountain biking and contains many highlights in the form of technical singles, downhill routes, and short steep climbs.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,402 m

The highlight of the day if the Cabri Single. Fast, rolling hills without sustained climbs makes for a fun day of moderately technical riding.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 971 m

Today we ride the first part of the famous Hanita Single. The trail passes through amazing vistas, sea views and natural bush forest. The ride is flowing and fun.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 936 m

Because the Hanita Single is so long, we split it into two days of riding. We begin the day on the second section and conclude with amazing riding near the sea cliffs of Rosh Hanikra, concluding with a grand beach party.

Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 812 m

Ride Info

Mornings:

Mornings start with breakfast at the hotels, usually between 6:30 and 7:30am. All groups hit the road between 8 :00 and 8:30am. Mechanics are always available for any last-minute adjustments or repairs. (If you know your bike needs a repair, please 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.

All schedules will be posted in the hotel lobby.

During the Ride:

Every route has ride leaders and vehicles with staff, mechanics, paramedics, and a bus for those who need to take a break. There are a number of pit-stops programmed into each ride where riders can take a break and refuel.

Evenings:

All routes finish by 4:00 PM. The bikes are racked and riders can unwind at the hotel with a cold beer (or a variety of beverages) and salads. Dinner is usually around 6:30 PM. Throughout the evening, staff is available to answer any questions. After dinner, we will have short briefings for those who are interested in learning about the next day’s route.

The Finish:

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we are unable to have our traditional closing ceremony at ALYN Hospital. Instead, we will celebrate the finish together with a beachside BBQ.

All cyclists and bikes will be bussed back to ALYN Hospital, from which transportation to the airport will be available.

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 2022 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 2022 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

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

If you decide to form a team, we will set up a team fundraising page, which will be in addition to each 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 then registered to the team.

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, in which case we do not require the minimum fund raising amount from each team member.) 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. If you rent a bike, you are responsible for returning the bike and for negotiating payment, insurance and repair issues directly from the provider. To rent a bike, get in touch with one of our suppliers below. Amir Rockman, rent@bikejerusalem.com, Mobile phone: 054-426-2187 Erez & Tamar Levin, info.rentabike@gmail.com, Mobile phone: (972) 054-314-8409

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?

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

The minimum fundraising requirements depend on which route you choose. For the 2022 Wheels of Love ride, the amounts are:

Trail & Enduro: $4,000
Road & Touring: $5,000
Challenge: $5,500

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.

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, 2022 will be charged the shortfall. The credit card will not be charged prior to December 31, 2022, 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. All food is certified kosher.

Riders can also reserve vegetarian, vegan, and gluten 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. 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 the 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.

Stronger riders can opt to ride on the more advanced Enduro route, which has longer daily distances, more singles, and more technical sections.

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.

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. Dishes and spoons are disposable. Glatt kosher food for the five-day ride is available. 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.

What's Included?

Your ALYN Fundraising Toolkit

Wondering what the money you raise by participating in Wheels of Love is used for? Below are a few stories of remarkable children whose progress depended on the work of ALYN Hospital, which in turn depends on Wheels of Love to make these treatments possible. Tell these stories to your friends and family and ask them to make a donation to help children like the ones described below

A BOY, A BIKE RIDE AND BESHERT

As a point of true beshert, Meori’s family was connected to ALYN Hospital in a special way – Meori’s father, Hovav, had been participating in the Wheels of Love bike ride, raising funds for ALYN Hospital, since 2005. For Hovav, ALYN was already a place he considered his second home. Combining bike riding with the mitzvah of tzedakah is something he looks forward to year after year. So, without thinking twice, he contacted Dr. Maurit Beeri, Director General of ALYN Hospital, and asked if Meori could be admitted there for the duration of his rehabilitation process, to which Dr. Beeri agreed. In Hovav’s words: “To us, it was clear we were going home.”

See the whole story…

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR FOR ETAI

Etai shares, as is typical of a boy his age, that he is happy that he does not have to go to school, but later in the conversation admits that the thought of being able to return to the classroom with his friends motivates him to continue rehabilitation and invest every day despite the difficulties and pain. “Knowing that I’ll be joining my friends later makes me optimistic. I work as hard I can. It’s not fun that I still cannot be one of the gang in the simple way I used to be. Friends do come to visit when possible, but it’s not the same as meeting in the morning, going to school and then meeting up again in the afternoon.”

See the whole story…

GERMANA BASSO, FROM PATIENT TO ROLE MODEL

Germana Basso is a volunteer at ALYN Hospital. At 22-years-old, she has completed her service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and will soon be entering medical school at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Another piece of her life story is that she spent much of her first six years of life receiving rehabilitation at ALYN Hospital.

See the whole story…

We know that for many of you, the thought of asking friends for money to fundraise for the ride is uncomfortable and might be uncharted territory.

Don’t worry – fundraising is much easier and more rewarding than you might expect, especially when you are raising money for such an incredible cause. ALYN Hospital is such a unique and special place, that once you share with others about the hospital and the children receiving rehabilitation there, people will be willing to support you. How do we know?

We have over 20 years of experience and thousands of riders who have successfully raised money for ALYN as proof.

WHERE TO START

Remember, the people who will sponsor you will do so because of your relationship with them. They are YOUR friends and YOUR family! They trust what you have to say. The more personal you can make the request, the better. Start by personalizing your fundraising page. You can login to your page and personalize the text and upload a special picture of yourself. Once you have your page set up the way you like it, send the link with an email to your contacts. You can post it on Facebook or other social media. Again, the more personal you can make the request, the more likely you are to receive a favorable response. Remember the four basic rules:

Aim high. Set an ambitious fundraising goal for yourself. The minimum you need to raise is between $4,000 and $5,500, but we hope you will aim for more. If you can ride for four days straight, up and down hills, through all types of weather, you can certainly go the extra mile for the children of ALYN. Over 50% of riders raise over $6,000. That’s a great goal.
Make a personal donation. Lead by example. To convince others to make a contribution, it helps to show that you are equally committed to the cause. Your registration fee helps pay for the ride logistics; donations are sent directly to the hospital.
Ask friends and family. It’s easiest to start with those closest to you. Once you convey your excitement about participating in Wheels of Love and they learn about ALYN, they will be happy to support you. Suggest an amount with which they would be comfortable.
Expand your asking circle. If you think beyond closest family and friends, there are endless possibilities: neighbors, work colleagues and business associates, acquaintances from school, college, synagogue/church, the health club and your biking club. If you work for a company with a matching gifts program, you may be able to multiply the effect of your gift. A basic rule of fundraising is that the main reason people give is because they have been asked by someone they know and trust. That someone is you!

Thank you letters. Make sure to send a short, personal thank you to each sponsor. Your sponsors will also receive an official thank you and receipt from ALYN, but they will appreciate the personal outreach and the sincere gratitude. OTHER FUNDRAISING IDEAS Corporate sponsorships. Wheels of Love offers public relations opportunities in exchange for corporate sponsorships. There are a number of underwriting opportunities. Please contact the office with questions. Fundraising events. Fundraising doesn’t only have to include sending emails and letters. A number of our riders have come up with creative ways to engage their friends, family members and community to help raise funds for their ride. Things that have been done in the past:

Spin class held at a local gym
Bowl-a-thon
Trampoline park outing
Team gear (hats, training jerseys) created with corporate sponsorships
Wine and cheese reception

If there is an event you would like to hold, the office would be happy to help in any way we can, including sending ALYN swag. We are here to support you in your fundraising. Please contact us at any time for ideas or to edit your fundraising page online. Good luck with this important task and we can’t wait to see you!

New to fundraising? Looking for a few tips to help you collect sponsorships? A few Wheels of Love veteran riders explain how they have raised way beyond the minimum for ALYN.

Barry & Jill Levenfeld

Home: Jerusalem, Israel Years Riding Wheels of Love: 22 (Barry), 21 (Jill)
Lifetime Fundraising: $731,275

Click here or on picture to hear Barry & Jill’s tips

Jay Bailey

Home: Efrat, Israel Years Riding Wheels of Love: 9
Lifetime Fundraising: $42,212

Click here or on picture to hear Jay’s tips

Rocky Brody

Home: Alon Shevut, Israel Years Riding Wheels of Love: 11
Lifetime Fundraising: $32,827

Click here or on picture to hear Rocky’s tips

Robert Feldman

Home: Chicago, IL USA Years Riding Wheels of Love: 21
Lifetime Fundraising: $139,370

Click here or on picture to hear Robert’s tips

Steven Nachman

Home: Plainview, NY USA Years Riding Wheels of Love: 13
Lifetime Fundraising: $274,338

Click here or on picture to hear Steven’s tips

If you use the letters below, make sure to personalize it with your name and the link to your fundraising page. To send these letters automatically, just go to your funraising page, log in, and select the sponsors you wish to send the letter to.

Sample letter

Dear

This November, I will be participating in the Wheels of Love charity bike ride to benefit ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel’s premier rehabilitation facility for children with disabilities. Every year, over 3,000 children come to ALYN to receive best-in-class care. Money raised through Wheels of Love is critical to ensuring that ALYN can continue to provide life-changing therapies. You can learn more about ALYN at www.alyn.org.

This year’s fundraising goal for Wheels of Love is to raise $3 million, to bridge the shortfall gap between reimbursements received and the actual costs of the high-level services provided to the children. My personal fundraising goal is $XXXX. The financial toll of the global pandemic means that we need your support now more than ever.

There are two easy ways to donate:

Donate online with a credit card at (INSERT YOUR FUNDRAISING LINK).
You can also send a check:

United States American Friends of ALYN Hospital 122 E. 42nd Street, Suite 1519, New York, NY The American Friends of ALYN is a qualifying 501(c)(3) organization, and your contribution is tax deductible in the US. If you work for a company with a matching gifts program, you may be able to multiply the effect of your gift.
Canada Canadian Friends of ALYN Hospital 11 Townsgate Drive Suite 103 Thornhill, Ontario, L4J 8G4 Donations to Canadian Friends of ALYN Hospital are tax-deductible in Canada.
Israel ALYN Hospital 84 Shmaryahu Levin Street Kiryat Yovel, P.O.B. 9117 Jerusalem, 91090 Friends of ALYN Hospital has a contribution certificate from the tax authorities according to section #46 of the Income Tax regulation. Donations are tax deductible under Israeli law.

If you live elsewhere, please email the office for options to donate in other currencies.

Thank you, in advance, for being as generous as you can be.

Corporate Sponsorship

Wheels of Love is deeply appreciative of all our corporate partners who choose to sponsor the ride.

Wheels of Love sponsors’ logos are featured prominently throughout the ride and in media coverage of the event. Most importantly, sponsors brands are associated with Israel’s only facility dedicated to helping rehabilitated physically-disabled children.

See all the benefits of Corporate Sponsorship here.

Wheels of Love Incentive Gifts

$8,000: Summer Gloves

$10,000: Summer Sleeves

$15,000 Winter riding hat

$18,000: Wheels of Love Ride Duffle

$25,000 Down Vest

Training Tips

Riding for 4 days straight requires training. The more you can train, the more fun you will have on Wheels of Love.

We have collected a few videos from the Global Cycling Network and other professional groups that give you training tips so you will be in great shape when you cross the starting line this Fall.

Riding Long Distances

Whichever route you choose, every day on Wheels of Love will most likely be longer than you usually ride. Here are a few tips to increase your endurance when you do not have a lot of time to train.

Survive the Climbs

Climbs can make or break the ride. Whether in the North or the South, Israel’s hills are challenging for any cyclist. Here are a few tips to get you ready to tackle the climbs.

Prepare to Ride Every Day

Wheels of Love lasts for five days. Few of us can ride every day. Here are a few ways to prepare for a ride of five back to back days.

Avoid Common Mistakes

We’ve all done some of these. Good idea to review a few of the most common mistakes that cyclists make that can turn a great training ride into misery.