October 23-26, 2023

Wheels of Love 2023

0% raised of $3,000,000

Wheels of Love 2023

Wheels of Love 2023 takes place October 23-26 in Southern Israel!

In 2023, you can look forward to:

4 Great Road Routes — Challenge, Road Plus, Road, and Touring
2 Great Off Road Routes – Enduro and Trail
A hiking route

All the routes will conclude at ALYN Hospital with the return of the medallion ceremony! Many of the children who benefit from the ride will be on hand to welcome riders to the finish and award them special commemorative medallions.

Registration will be opening in the early Spring! We hope you will join us.

Route Details

Below you will find preliminary routes. These routes will change before they are finalized. However, the general areas where we will be riding and the average distances and elevation will be very close to what is written.

Road Group Daily Avg: 65 km/40 miles – Climbing: 800 m/2,400 feet – Pace 16kph (10 mph)

Strava Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

The Road group starts Wheels of Love 2023 with a beautiful route taking us from the forest and plains of south-west Israel to the semi-desert around Ber -Sheva. Climbs will be gentle as we make our way through the changing scenery with wooden forests giving way to the open landscapes that mark the start of Israel’s drier region.

All days include well-stocked pit stops. mechanical and medical support, an escort by the Israeli police and a SAG bus for riders who need a break.

Check out Monday’s route on Strava

Today we ride out of our hotel in Ber Sheva and have a spectacular desert ride finishing at the Dead Sea. It may look like a long distance day, but the last 25 km/15 miles in an amazing downhill ride to the lowest place on Earth. Cold beer awaits at our hotel, the Leonardo Ain Bokek.

Check out Tuesday’s route on Strava

Today, we head north along the unique coast of the Dead Sea, stopping for pit stops at Masada and Ein Gedi.

Check out Wednesday’s route on Strava

On the last day of Wheels of Love 2022, we will have a short bus ride to a town close to Jerusalem and from there ride to ALYN Hospital. The route includes the traditional climb of Nes Harim for all road groups. For those who find the climb beyond their abilities, there will be plenty of bike shuttles to our lunch at the top.

Check out Thursday’s route on Strava

Below you will find preliminary routes. These routes will change before they are finalized. However, the general areas where we will be riding and the average distances and elevation will be very close to what is written.

Road Plus Daily Average: 90 km/ 55 miles — Climbing: 1,200 m, 3,800 feet — Pace 25kph

Strava Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

The Road Plus group starts Wheels of Love 2023 with a beautiful route taking us from the forest and plains of south-west Israel to the semi-desert around Ber -Sheva. We will ride by Israel’s southern towns of Sederot, Kfar Azza, and Netivot. Climbs will be gentle as we make our way through the changing scenery with wooden forests giving way to the open landscapes that mark the start of Israel’s drier region.

All days include well-stocked pit stops. mechanical and medical support, an escort by the Israeli police and a SAG bus for riders who need a break.

Check out Monday’s route on Strava

On Tuesday, the Plus and Challenge groups will take buses to the bottom of the famous Maale Akribim (The Scorpion’s Ascent.) This is Israel’s steepest paved road and is permanently closed to vehicle traffic. After riding through high desert, we descend all the way to the Dead Sea. Don’t be intimidated by the distance, the last 25 kilometers (15 miles) is a beautiful descent with spectacular views to the lowest place on Earth. Cold beers will await as we ride to our hotel.

NOTE- The climb up Maale Akribim must be approved by a number of Israeli government authorities and we will not know until shortly before the ride if it will be possible to ride it.

Check out Tuesday’s route on Strava

We start and finish Wednesday’s ride at our hotel. It will be a day of challenging climbs and thrilling descents. This morning we will be riding up the road we enjoyed coasting down on Tuesday. But at least that will get the major climbing out of the way with the rest of the day to enjoy some of the best desert riding that Israel has to offer.

Check out Wednesday’s route on Strava

On the final day of the 2023 Wheels of Love ride, we will begin riding along one of most popular back roads for Israeli cyclists. The road has a series of short but steep hills leading to a magnificent 10 kilometer stretch through the vineyards of Lachish.

For the first time in three years, all the road routes will climb the daunting Nes Harim mountain and regroup over lunch at Bar B’Har. (The bar on the mountain.)

The finishing stretch includes a long downhill and then a short climb to ALYN Hospital for the finish and medallion ceremony.

Check out Thursday’s route on Strava

Below you will find preliminary routes. These routes will change before they are finalized. However, the general areas where we will be riding and the average distances and elevation will be very close to what is written.

Challenge Daily Average: 115 km/70 miles — Climbing: 1,600 meters, 5,000 feet — Pace 30kph

Strava Links: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

The Challenge group starts Wheels of Love 2023 with a beautiful route taking us from the forest and plains of south-west Israel to the semi-desert around Ber -Sheva. We will ride by Israel’s southern towns of Sederot, Re’im, Kfar Azza, and Netivot. Climbs will be gentle as we make our way through the changing scenery with wooden forests giving way to the open landscapes that mark the start of Israel’s drier region.

All days include well-stocked pit stops. mechanical and medical support, an escort by the Israeli police and a SAG bus for riders who need a break.

Check out Monday’s route on Strava

On Tuesday, the Plus and Challenge groups will take buses to the bottom of the famous Maale Akribim (The Scorpion’s Ascent.) This is Israel’s steepest paved road and is permanently closed to vehicle traffic. After riding through high desert, Challenge will continue on to Yerucham and then Kfar Nokdim. By the time we descend the last 25 kilometers (15 miles) to the lwoest place on Earth, we will have acomplete 100 miles!. We will deserve the cold beers waiting for us at our hotel.

NOTE- The climb up Maale Akribim must be approved by a number of Israeli government authorities and we will not know until shortly before the ride if it will be possible to ride it.

Check out Tuesday’s route on Strava

Check out Wednesday’s route on Strava

For the first time in three years, all the road routes will climb the daunting Nes Harim mountain and regroup over lunch at Bar B’Har. (The bar on the mountain.)

The finishing stretch includes a long downhill and then a short climb to ALYN Hospital for the finish and medallion ceremony.

Check out Thursday’s route on Strava

We are still finalizing the details of the Enduro routes. In general, each day we will ride close to 50 km, the majority of the riding will be on singles. All Enduro riders should feel comfortable riding through technical segments and strong enough to ride long distances on the trails.

Below you will find the areas and trails we are considering riding. Exact routes will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Gvar’am is an amazing trail. The single is fast and flowing with sharp curves, raised berms, and some short drops. The whole single is included in the Gvar’am Nature Preserve which provides lots of shade and spots to take a break.
The Dorot single starts in a forest and then breaks into the open on the way to the Ruhama trail. A short climb emerges on top of a hill with a beautiful view of the region, then it’s back into the woods as the trail follows the course of the Ruhama stream.

On Tuesday we have a short bus ride to a trail that many consider the most fun in Israel. People come from all over to ride the Be’eri single – which was the first marked bike path in Israel. While there are many steep descents, it is not over technical – just fun.

For a bit more excitement, we will continue on the Shokeda single. This short single is full of thrilling steep descents which help power you up the adjacent rises. After the experience of riding both Be’eri and Shokeda, there will be many stories to tell back at the hotel at Happy Hour.

If Tuesday’s ride was not enough, today the trail has something for everyone. The first half, around the Grar stream is a roller-coaster ride of plunges and lifts. Then, we cross under route #25 and ride the Netivot Forest, a stunning single that winds though a magnificent forest that even most Israel’s are unaware of. Not technical but fast and flowing and full of excitement.

All the details

Wheels of Love begins on Monday, October 23, 2023. All riders need to check-in before the ride. For those coming from abroad, mechanics will be available during all three check-in times to unpack and build bikes.

We have three options for check-in:

Thursday, October 19: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM — ALYN
Friday, October 20: 8:30 AM to 1 PM — ALYN
Sunday, October 22: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Leonardo Ber Sheva Hotel

Our address in Jerusalem is: 84 Shmaryahu Levin St., Kiryat Yovel

How to get to ALYN

While we are still finalizing the exact starting location, it will be in Israel’s south-west, about an hour from the airport and Tel Aviv and a little longer from Jerusalem.

For those coming Sunday night, we provide buses to the hotel from the airport, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem on Sunday afternoon. Only bikes that are in boxes can go on these buses. The mechanics at the hotel will unpack and build them for those checking-in Sunday night at the hotel. For those who checked-in at ALYN, your bikes will be transported to the start.

In the past, we have had buses from the following locations:

Jerusalem (Liberty Bell park)
Tel Aviv (Reading Station)
Raanana
Latrun
Modiin
Elyakim

Wheels of Love is a fully supported ride. That means that the on-road groups are accompanied by a police escort who will close the roads to traffic when the ride comes through. Every group has ride leaders, mechanics, and paramedics. Every day, there will be two pit-stops plus a lunch break with fresh and nutritious food.

Show your Wheels of Love pride wherever you ride. The Wheels of Love store will be open during check-in. All items have the ALYN Wheels of Love logo and will be available for purchase while supplies last.

**Special Fundraising Incentive:
For every $6,000 you raise by check-in, you will get a gift certificate for one item of your choice. (Specially marked items require more than one certificate.)

Road Gloves: $20/₪70 or 1 gift certificate
Off-Road Gloves (long finger): $40/₪140 or 2 gift certificates
Summer Sleeves: $20/₪70 or 1 gift certificate
Winter Riding Cap: $20/₪70 or 1 gift certificate
Winter Riding Socks: $20/₪70 or 1 gift certificate
Summer Riding Socks: $10/₪35 or 1 gift certificate
Wheels of Love Water Bottles: $20/₪70 or 1 gift certificate
Bib Shorts: $60/₪200 or 3 gift certificates

Daily Schedule (We will update riders of changes through Whatsapp)

6:30-7:30 Breakfast
8:00 Start of day’s riding
3:00 Estimated daily finish
4:00-6:00 After ride party
6:00 Yoga Sessions
6:30-8:00 Dinner
8:30 Next Day’s Ride Briefing

There will be minyanim at the starting area on Monday (with sefer Torah) and at all hotels during the ride. Typically Schaharit is at 6:00 (5:45 on Thursday), Mincha is before dinner, and Maariv is at 8:00.

Every rider receives an official Wheels of Love jersey, and we ask that it be worn on the first and last days of the ride.

Corporate sponsors can have their logo placed on the jersey ($10,000 and above minimum commitment.)

To have logos on the jersey, we need confirmation of sponsorship by the end of April.

Road Groups:

Sunday Night (Optional) and Monday: Leonardo Beer-Sheva
Tuesday and Wednesday: Leonardo Plaza Dead Sea

Off-Road Groups:

Sunday Night (Optional): Leonardo Beer Sheva
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Eretz Tzeelim

Every day, there will be two pit stops plus a lunch. We try to have the lunch in the early afternoon, especially after heavy climbing if the route allows.

Pit-stop food in the past has included:

Gatorade
Water
Nuts
Bananas and other fruit
Energy bars
Dates
Pickles
Pretzels or other salty snacks

Lunches in the past have included:

Soup
Sandwiches (tuna, egg, cheese, peanut butter, etc.)
Salads
Yogurt
Granola

After the ride

After the ride, we have a small party back at the hotel (or at the end of the day’s riding if we are taking a bus back to the hotel) which includes cold beer, soft drinks, and snacks

Most of the food for the ride is donated by companies that support ALYN so we often don’t have the full menu until right before the ride, but we try to ensure there is protein, carbs, something salty, and something sweet.

All Wheels of Love meals and pit stops are kosher at the Israeli Rabbinate level. Valid certificates will be on display at all hotels and at the lunch breaks.

Riders can request individually wrapped Mehadrin meals for an additional fee. You must let us know three weeks before the ride if you would like to order Mehadrin meals.

The ride will finish at ALYN Hospital around 3:00 P.M.

At ALYN, riders will be welcomed by hundreds of children who have been treated at ALYN and their families. Every rider will receive a special commemorative medallion from one of the children. There will be a short ceremony with light refreshments.

Mechanics will be on hand to pack bikes that are going overseas and buses will take riders to a few specific places in the country.

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

The minimum fundraising requirements depend on which route you choose.

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

FIRST TIME RIDERS: 50% of the above

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, 2023 will be charged the shortfall.

The credit card will not be charged prior to December 31, 2023, two months after the ride, so there is plenty of time to continue additional fundraising in order make up the deficit.

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 October I will be participating in the Wheels of Love Israel bike ride for my XX year. Wheels of Love is a 4-day ride to benefits ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem. ALYN is Israel’s only pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation hospital and a global leader in pediatric rehabilitation. Every year, thousands of children come to ALYN for multidisciplinary, innovative – medical and therapeutic care.

Money raised through Wheels of Love is critical to ensuring that ALYN can continue to do amazing work – turning disabilities into abilities!

This year, I am hoping to raise XXX to help these deserving children.

Please contribute generously using a credit card on my rider’s page at xxxxx.

You can also donate through one of the ways listed on this page.

Pictures from Wheels of Love 2022

0% raised of $3,000,000

Wheels of Love 2023