Join us on Israel’s premier charity bike ride. Enjoy five days of cycling and taking in Israel’s most magnificent views and routes. Ride to benefit the children working towards rehabilitation at ALYN Hospital.
Wheels of Love 2020
October 25-29
226 RIDERS
See full list >DAYSHOURSMINUTESSECS
October 25, 2020
$363,931
Money Raised*
12% raised of $3,000,000
Ride a Bike, Change a Life
If you are on Strava, go to “Explore-Clubs” and request to join the club for your route. If you are not yet on Strava, go to Strava.com and open a free account. When you upload your rides, they will appear here. (You will need a GPS device to record your activity.)
The Routes
Road Group Daily Avg: 80km (50 miles) — Climbing: 661m (2,168 ft) — Pace 16kph (10 mph)
Road Group STRAVA Links: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
The Road Group will spend Sunday on a mostly flat beautiful route that crosses from forest to semi arid land on the border of the desert. 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. After the ride, we will be staying at the new Kedma Hotel in Sde Boker, a breathtaking desert oasis where all roads groups will stay for the first 3 nights.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 342 m/1,122 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
The main Road group will spend Monday on a pleasant desert circular route that will start and finish at the Kedma Hotel in Sde Boker.
Distance and climbing will be similar to Day One as we ride by the Mashabei Sade National Park and the growing Negev City of Yeruham.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 495 m/1,624 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
On Tuesday, riders will traverse the spectacular Great Crater, a unique geological formation in Israel. The route includes the steep but short switchbacks up to the rim of the crater.
After the climb, riders will enjoy one of the best scenic views in all of Israel before heading back to the Kedma hotel in Sde Boker.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 640 m/2,100 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
On the Road Group’s final day riding in the South, riders will complete a metric century (100 km/62 mi) through the beautiful desert scenery. Through a large portion of the ride, riders will see areas set aside for training of the Israeli Army’s Armored Corp and we may even see battle tanks on maneuver.
Along the way, the route passes by the Tzelim Urban Warfare Center. In 2005, the IDF, with American assistance, built this replica Middle East city complete with mosques, Arab style buildings, and factories. Elite units of the IDF and the American Army train here to prepare for fighting in this type of area.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 294 m/965 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
The final day of the 2020 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.
Road Plus Group Daily Avg: 89 km ( 55 miles) — Climbing: 770 m ( 2,526 ft) — Pace 20kph (12 mph)
Road Group STRAVA Links: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Road Plus will start Wheels of Love with a fast, beautiful route around the forests of Central Israel. 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. After the ride, we will be staying at the new Kedma Hotel in Sde Boker, a breathtaking desert oasis where all roads groups will stay for the first 3 nights.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 351 m/1,150 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
Road Plus takes a long route in the shape of a figure eight on the second day. Since we will pass through Sde Boker before starting the Southern loop, riders will have the option to shorten the day.
A highlight of the ride will be a visit to the desert grave of David Ben Gurian, Israel’s first Prime Minister.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 796 m/2,611 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
On Tuesday, riders will traverse the spectacular Great Crater, a unique geological formation in Israel. The route includes the steep but short switchbacks up to the rim of the crater.
After the climb, riders will enjoy one of the best scenic views in all of Israel before heading back to the Kedma hotel in Sde Boker.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 640 m/2,100 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
On the Road Plus Group’s final day riding in the South, riders will complete our longest day yet — 120 kilometers through the beautiful desert scenery. We will ride through areas set aside for training of the Israeli Army’s Armored Corp and we may even see battle tanks on maneuver.
Along the way, the route passes by the Tzelim Urban Warfare Center. In 2005, the IDF, with American assistance, built this replica Middle East city complete with mosques, Arab style buildings, and factories. Elite units of the IDF and the American Army train here to prepare for fighting in this type of area.
We will finish in Ber Sheva where riders will be staying for the final night of Wheels of Love.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 315 m/1,033 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
The final day of the 2020 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.
Challenge Group Daily Average: 110km (68 miles) — Climbing: 964 m (3,163 ft) — Pace 30kph (19 mph)
Road Group STRAVA Links: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
If you are not sure which route to choose, check out our training guide
Challenge will start Wheels of Love with a fast, beautiful circular route around the forests of Central Israel. 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. After the ride, we will be staying at the new Kedma Hotel in Sde Boker, a breathtaking desert oasis where all roads groups will stay for the first 3 nights.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 610 m/2,001 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
Monday takes the Challenge Group on a magnificent desert tour, starting and finishing at Sde Boker. We will traverse the Great Crater, including the short but incredible steep switchback road to Yeruham on the rim of the crater.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 871 m/2,857 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
Challenge Riders will leave early on Tuesday for our 138 kilometer tour through the Negev Desert. We will ride along Route #40, one of the most picturesque roads in Israel, through the Ramon Crater all the way until the Egyptian border.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 1,354 m/4,442 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF.
The Challenge century ride has become a Wheels of Love tradition. It’s a long, spectacular route. This year’s century route is fast and flat and treats riders to spectaculat scenary. Riders will form pace-lines to tackle the long flat stretches along the Egyptian border. After the day’s ride finishes, buses will take the riders to Ber Sheva for the final evening awards ceremony.
Today’s Cumulative Climbing: 375 m/1,230 ft
Right-click here to download map as PDF
The final day of the 2020 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.
Touring Group Daily Average: 32km (20 miles) — Climbing: 400m (1,300 ft) — Pace 18kph (11 mph)
If you are not sure which route to choose, check out our training guide
Touring Description Coming Soon
Main Trail Group Daily Avg: 45 km (28 miles) — Technical Level: Moderate with some single tracks. Bikes can be walked around obstacles.
Makhtesh Ramon is the largest of the four makhteshim in Israel (The three are Small Makhtesh, the Great Makhtesh, and Mount Arif). These crater-like formations are a phenomenon unique to Israel, created as a result of water erosion undercutting the rock. Because of its physical configuration, riding through Makhtesh Ramon (or above it) will enable you to observe interesting geological formations and spectacular views to the crater.
Today’s route takes us north of Mitzpe Ramon on a beautiful desert path which include some singles with moderate technical features. The first half of the day will be mostly downhill giving us time to stretch our legs. After lunch we will have some climbing to return to our Mitzpe Ramon home.
While today’s route will be in the same area as yesterday, it is a completely different path. The route is more challenging with more climbing and descending and a few more challenging technical segments.
We return for a final night in our Mitzpe Ramon hotel. After we finish riding tomorrow, we will take a bus to Be’er Sheva for the final ALYN Wheels of Love evening.
Today’s trail, about 40 km long, passes along the edge of the makhtesh, through wadi beds and along a section of an ancient Nabatean trade route, known as the ‘Spice Route’. This trail that begins in far-off Oman and ends on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, near the Gaza Strip, was recognized in 2005 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We start riding along a comfortable, volunteer-built single track.
After about 3 km, the trail moves away from the edge of the makhtesh cliff and enters the bed of Wadi Hava. The section is known as Single Track Nahal Hava, which twists back and forth across the wadi banks. The bed of Wadi Hava expands and deepens, at which point the trail leaves the wadi and climbs back up along a single track to the jeep path that follows the edge of the makhtesh.
The continuation of the trail from here is a combination of single tracks and dirt roads, until the start of the ‘Noakh Ascent’, which we will be taking downhill. About 300 m down the slope, that path will turn to most enjoyable Single Track, all the down to the floor of the makhtesh.
On our final day of the 2020 Wheels of Love ride we start along the wooden trails around Sde Micha and Park Britannia. Our routes takes us on some of the nicest paths in the Judean Hills.
From Nativ Lamed Hey, we will follow the course of the Israel National Trail all the way through Park Begin. We emerge by the Kennedy Memorial and ride the final kilometer on road to the finish line.
This year’s Enduro will be mostly separate from the regular trail ride. There will be more climbing, longer routes, and more technical singles.
Sunday’s ride starts off with the regular Trail group. Along the way we will pick up more singles with more climbing and technical descents, adding around 10K to the day’s route.
Makhtesh Ramon is the largest of the four makhteshim in Israel (The three are Small Makhtesh, the Great Makhtesh, and Mount Arif). These crater-like formations are a phenomenon unique to Israel, created as a result of water erosion undercutting the rock. Because of its physical configuration, riding through Makhtesh Ramon (or above it) will enable you to observe interesting geological formations and spectacular views to the crater.
Today’s route takes us north of Mitzpe Ramon on a beautiful desert path. Most of today’s ride is the same as the main trail group but we add 9 kilometers of single track with some challenging technical segments. The first half of the day will be mostly downhill giving us time to stretch our legs. After lunch we will have some climbing to return to our Mitzpe Ramon home.
Today’s route will be the longest off-road route in the history of Wheels of Love! A full 75 kilometers of desert trails that includes challenging singles, tough climbs, and thrilling descents.
We return for a final night in our Mitzpe Ramon hotel. After we finish riding tomorrow, we will take a bus to Be’er Sheva for the final ALYN Wheels of Love evening.
On our final day of the 2020 Wheels of Love ride we start along the wooden trails around Sde Micha and Park Britannia. We will get to enjoy some of the popular singles found in this area, some with challenging technical sections. (Not shown on map below.)
From Nativ Lamed Hey, we will follow the course of the Israel National Trail all the way through Park Begin. We emerge by the Kennedy Memorial and ride the final kilometer on road to the finish line.
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.
On the first day of the Wheels of Love Hiking Route, we take a trek along one of the most popular walks in the Jerusalem region. We start on the summit of one of the highest hills that surround Jerusalem and descend along a trail that is at times heavily wooden and at other times open to the sun, displaying amazing views of the surrounding countryside.
The hike is named from the many caves that can be found along the lower sections of the trail. Some of them are quite large and home to thousands of sleeping bats. (During October, the bat caves are gated off to prevent people from disturbing the bats.)
Read this description from Hiking the Holyland
Kilometers: 8
Approximate time: 6 hours
Climbing 160 meters
On Monday, we move to the Negev Desert where we will be for the majority of Wheels of Love.
In the Negev it is not easy to find water that flows all year round, so the cold and fresh water of Ein Akev is a focus of life in the desert, and after climbing it is even more fun to bathe in its cold cold water.
The trail begins with a steep ascent that showcases impressive views on the entire region. After climbing, the trail flattens out and we walk along a rocky desert trail Along the way we will go by the waterfall Nahal Davshon. The bottom of this desert oasis is encircled by palm trees that present a stark contrast to the surrounding desert scenery.
After about 4 km on the plateau, the trail descends to a water pool that holds cool water all year round. This is the Ekev Spring, which has been called “The most beautiful nature spot in Israel.” From the spring, the trail continues north through a blue-marked jeep trail in a stream, where you can sometimes see eagles nesting in the western streams.
Kilometers: 12
Approximate time: 12 hours
Climbing: 350 meters
Read this description from Hiking the Holyland
On our third day of hiking, we will journey along one of the most beautiful sections of the Israel National Trail, an 800 kilometer series of trails that go from one end of Israel to the other.
This trail has it all: A cold water desert pool, the ruins of an ancient fortress, rock climbing, and an amazing view of the Ramon Crater, the largest of Israel’s Craters — unique geological formations that are the result of thousands of years of subsurface erosion. Many refer to the Ramon Crater as Israel’s Grand Canyon and the absolute best way to experience it is on this trail.
Read this description from Hiking the Holyland
Kilometers: 12
Approximate time: 7 hours
Climbing 200 meters
Today’s hike follows a section of the ancient Nabatean Spice Road. The Spice Road followed the water sources through the Negev. This spring is one of the stations. It is named after the Saharon plant which grows abundantly in the Negev. This is the deepest point in the Ramon Crater containing the only natural, all-season water source in the region.
The Spice Road carried the hugely profitable trade in frankincense and myrrh from south Arabia to the Mediterranean, during the 3rd century BC until the 2nd century AD. Saharonim Spring is only 100 meters from the Saharonim Fortress.
It is obvious that the Fortress was built next to the only available water source in the area – the spring with the same name. The ruins of the ancient fortress are beautifully preserved in the dry desert air.
Kilometers: 11
Approximate time: 6 hours
Climbing 180 meters
Ride Info
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.
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.
Road, Road Plus, Challenge, Touring, Hiking
Sunday-Monday-Tuesday
Kedma Hotel, Sde Boker
We are excited that Wheels of Love riders will be among the first guests at this brand new hotel. For the first three nights of the ride, Wheels of Love will take over all of the hotel’s warm and welcoming rooms, the expansive open-air courtyard, and the serene pool surrounded by luscious fruit trees and beautiful plants.
The Kedma Hotel blends seamlessly with the surrounding desert scenery. After a long day in the saddle, riders can relax in this oasis, ready to start the next day refreshed and rejuvenated.
Trail and Enduro Groups
Sunday-Monday-Tuesday
Ramon Suites Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon
All Off-Road riders will stay for three days at the Ramon Suites hotel, perched on the rim of the Ramon Crater. The Ramon Suites Hotel offers luxury and comfort in a relaxed setting. Top notch Israeli cuisine, a new heated swimming pool, and a nice grassy area for the traditional trail riders “Happy Hour” will be waiting after we finish each day’s ride.
Days could be hot and sunny or cold and rainy. Take gear that you can ride in no matter what the weather.
- Cycling shorts, shoes, gloves, socks
- We are providing a 2019 cycling jersey. At check-in, you will be able to purchase jerseys from previous years for a heavily discounted price – -while supplies last. Please wear the ALYN 2019 cycling jersey on the first and last day of the ride.
- Bicycle helmet – PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON IT
- Knee and elbow protectors (For off-road, only if you ride with them regularly.)
- Spare inner tube, a simple set of tools and derailleur hanger suitable for your bike. Off-Road: spare brake disc pads.
- Sunscreen
- Vaseline, talcum powder, or other type of chamois cream.
- Touring riders: Small bag with comfortable clothes and shoes for touring.
- OVERSEAS Participants need to have their passport and insurance information on them at all times
- ISRAELIS need their identity card and kupat cholim card
- Sunglasses
- Lip balm
- Insect repellent
- Band-Aid and medications
- Toilet paper, wet wipes
- Casual Clothes for relaxing in the evenings
- Money/Credit Card- Take into account that while the mechanics service is free, parts are extra. All meals/hotel rooms are included.
- Ear plugs (for those noisy roommates)
- Bathing suit
- Laundry detergent, Rope to put up clothes line
For Hikers:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Medium size backpack
- Hat
- Rain Gear
- Flashlight
- Trekking poles (optional)
Wheels of Love encourages the formation of teams. Team fundraising can be a useful and effective tool to maximize fundraising efforts and it creates a healthy sense of camaraderie among team members as well as good-natured competition with other teams. We will set up a team fundraising page, which will be in addition to a rider’s personal fundraising page. Riders can choose to send either page to their donors. When a donor makes a team gift, the donation is split evenly among all team members registered to the team at the time the gift is given. Each team member must still satisfy the individual fundraising minimum. Individual fundraising might be required if the team fundraising is not sufficient to meet the minimum, once team gifts are divided among all riders. (The only case where this does not apply is when the team is made up of immediate family members.) To form a team or for questions about teams, please email us.
While we highly recommend that you bring your own bike on Wheels of Love, we understand that some prefer to rent a bike for the duration of the ride. The decision is entirely yours and we stand ready to help get you on the road whether you ship or rent your bike.
Shipping Your Bike
You should have your bike packed carefully. Most bike shops provide this service. Packing usually involves removing wheels, pedals, handlebars, and saddle, which are wrapped in foam and packed separately. When you come to check-in at ALYN, our team of mechanics will unbox your bike and assemble it. (If you prefer, you can do this yourself.) During the ride, all bike boxes are stored at ALYN. After the ride, the mechanics will repack your bike for the flight home.
Renting a Bike
While it is preferable to bring your own bike, you can also rent either a road or a mountain bike from our supplier. We have carefully selected our supplier for providing exceptional service and pricing. If you rent a bike, your are responsible for returning the bike and for negotiating payment, insurance and repair issues directly from the provider. Wheels of Love will treat your rental bike with the exact same policy as all bikes that are privately owned and brought on the ride by individual riders. In other words, we will handle your rental with great care.
To rent a bike, get in touch with our supplier below. You must come to ALYN during rider check-in the week before the ride. You will pick up your rental bike at ALYN and then go through the same check-in procedures as all riders. A team of mechanics will be available to make adjustments to your rental bike. You also have the same access to our mechanics during the ride as any other rider. Often riders who rent bikes bring their own pedals and even their own seat. The mechanics will help you install these on the rental bike. Just remember to return the rental pedals and seat to the rental company when you return your bike. Asaf Rockman, rent@bikejerusalem.com, Mobile phone: (972) 052-3201273 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?
- What are the Terms & Conditions of the ride? What if I need to cancel?
1. How much do I need to raise to participate?
The minimum fundraising requirements depend on which route you choose. For the 2020 Wheels of Love ride, the amounts are: Trail & Enduro: $3,000 On Road & Touring: $3,500 Challenge: $4,000 Single day ride, both on road and off: 750 shekels ($200) Self-funding: Our hope is that your fundraising efforts will raise visibility for the hospital and introduce your donors to the amazing work that happens at ALYN. Many who will give to ALYN for the first time through your fundraising efforts will become repeat donors to the hospital. It is a long-term plan of support. If you are choosing to self-fund your ride, the suggested donation level is $4,000.
2. What happens if a rider does not meet the minimum fundraising requirements?
The goal of Wheels of Love, in addition to producing a world-class riding experience for our riders, is to raise as much money as possible for the children of ALYN Hospital. Participation in Wheels of Love involves making a binding commitment to raise the minimum amount of funds required by the Ride Organizing Committee. All riders who have not met their obligations at check-in must give credit card details before taking part in Wheels of Love. Any rider who has not raised the required amount by December 31, 2020 will be charged the shortfall. The credit card will not be charged prior to December 31, 2020, two months after the ride, so there is plenty of time to continue additional fundraising in order make up the deficit. We strongly encourage you to satisfy (and hopefully far exceed) your fundraising obligation prior to the ride.
3. What is included on the ride?
On each of the four nights of Wheels of Love (Sunday through Wednesday night), riders stay in three or four-star hotels. Accommodations are clean, comfortable and convenient. We eat breakfast and dinner in the hotels. During the day, there are numerous rest-stops which will have a variety of food such as fresh fruit, energy bars, and snacks. Each day, there will also be an extended pit stop for lunch. At the end of the riding day, you can relax with a cold beer and some protein and carbs at our après-ride party. All food is certified kosher (see below.) Riders can also reserve vegetarian, vegan, and glutton free food. Every rider receives a deluxe ALYN riding jersey. During the ride, we provide complete support. That means that we have mechanics, medics and a sweep bus to pick up riders who are having a hard time keeping up or just need a break. We also have escort vehicles and staff ready to help if any need arises. All routes have lead and trailing vehicles. We will transport your luggage between hotels. You can also pack a small day bag that will accompany the Road and Touring routes and which will be brought to each rest-stop. Every night the mechanics will be available at the hotel to make any repairs needed. Should you need a part (i.e. a tire or derailleurs), most things are available for purchase. Please check our packing list.
4. Is ALYN's Wheels of Love safe?
Rider safety is our top priority. We work very closely with the Israeli police and military in planning our routes. We are also in constant contact with governmental authorities in the event of a security issue. Israeli police escorts stop traffic, keep intersections clear and ensure that oncoming traffic stays in the proper lane. Many of the roads we ride on will be completely closed to traffic while we are riding through. In addition to police escorts, each route has a professional route manager who is responsible for the safety of all riders on the route. In the event of an accident, we have experienced medics accompanying each route who can provide immediate medical assistance. While we make every attempt to keep you safe, riders are also largely responsible for the safety of the ride. Please read over our Rider Safety page so that you can do your part in keeping the ride safe for all our riders.
5. Do I need spending money?
On the ride itself, you don’t need to bring substantial spending money. We provide everything you need over these five days, including hotels, meals and all logistics. You may want to bring a little extra for souvenirs, but once you step on the bus on Saturday night or Sunday morning, you can leave your wallet at home.
6. What's the difference between the routes and how difficult are they?
We have designed the routes to appeal to a wide range of cyclists. The Road routes are often hilly and include multiple climbs that can be both steep and long, but the ride moves at a comfortable pace. Our largest group is the Road route and it includes cyclists of varying levels. Competitive riders who are interested in riding hard and fast will love our Challenge group. Those who want a challenge but at a less-intense pace can join our new Road Plus route. Riders who prefer a relaxed pace and don’t want to spend more than half the day in the saddle can join our Touring group which rides in the morning and spends the afternoon enjoying unique tours. Most of the Trail riding is done along rugged jeep and hiking trails that can be muddy and dusty. Don’t expect to be clean at the end of the day! Some parts of the trail are technical and require advanced riding skills. There is always the option of getting off your bike, walking through the technical part and then getting back on once the trail levels out again. We have Trail riders of all different abilities. Stronger riders can opt to ride on the more advanced Enduro sections, which are extensions of the regular trail routes. All routes have a sweeper vehicle should you need or want to take a break from cycling at any point. Each route (other than Touring), will ride every day from approximately 8:15 AM to 4:15 PM. While every route has pit-stops and lunch breaks, you should be able to ride for 6-7 hours each day. We encourage you to train regularly in the months leading up to the ride. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy this incredible experience. Check out our routes, including the mileage and elevation and see which is right for you.
7. Is the food kosher? Can I pray with a minyan?
Kashrut policy All food provided on the ride is kosher and has valid kashrut certification. This includes fruit, all of which is purchased from suppliers who certify that their products adhere to kashrut requirements for מצוות התלויות בארץ (mitzvot teluyot b’aretz). During the ride, kashrut certificates for items that are not prepared under the supervision of the kitchen are available from the staff upon request. This includes fruit and nuts served at rest stops. Soups served at lunch are prepared in a kitchen with kashrut certification. They are cooked, heated and served from pots belonging to the kitchen involved. Dishes and spoons are disposable. Glatt kosher food for the five-day ride is available for an extra cost. Please let us know ahead of time so that we can best accommodate you. Minyanim Daily minyanim are held at the hotels and at lunch stops. The hotels have synagogues on premises.
8. What are the Terms & Conditions of the ride? What if I need to cancel?
As a condition of participation, you must have read and accepted the event Terms and Conditions, which includes the cancellation policy. In general, registration fees are not refundable if you need to cancel. You can switch the fees you paid to a tax deductible donation. Alternatively, you may choose to have credit for the registration fee so you can participate in the next year’s ride. Click below for details. Terms and Conditions
Your ALYN Fundraising Tool Kit
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 nearly 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. Send us a picture of yourself and a few sentences about why you are riding (90 words or less.) It does not have to be long, what’s more important is that it comes from you. If you want to write a lot more — great! Write your story in an email that you send with your link. Let us know if you need any help. 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 lto receive a favorable response. We have a sample letter you can use (Fundraising Tool #2). Make sure to tweak it and make it personal, so that the people you are asking know it is a genuine ask from you. Then follow these four steps:
- Aim high. Set an ambitious fundraising goal for yourself. The minimum you need to raise is between $3,000 and $4,000, but we hope you will aim for more. If you can ride for five 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 $5,000. 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 in November!
If you use the letters below, make sure to personalize it with your name and the link to your fundraising page.
Sample letter
Dear
This October I will be participating in the Wheels of Love Israel 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 do amazing work – turning disabilities into abilities! 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 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. Thank you, in advance, for being as generous as you can be.
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 10168.
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.
The work that ALYN does is inspiring. The more you can relate to your friends and family about the impact ALYN has on children, the more effective your fundraising will be. Here are three stories that demonstrate how important ALYN has been to so many families.
Roi: Coping with Cancer
Roi is 9 ½ years old from Jerusalem, the second of four children. He likes to play games like Legos, marbles, chess, checkers and to draw. He is an excellent student and particularly good at math.
Roi was diagnosed in January 2017 with brain cancer and came to ALYN Hospital after beginning his treatment. From the Channel 2 news broadcast: Roi started his treatment at ALYN Hospital as an inpatient in our Rehabilitation Department and is now a patient in the Day Hospitalization Department, coming for intensive therapeutic treatments four days a week. After the removal of the cancerous growth from the back of his head, he experienced serious developmental decline and didn’t talk or move for a long time.
Roi now is still too weak to walk alone or without the assistance of a walker, and uses a wheelchair for longer distances. At ALYN Hospital, Roi benefits from hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and emotional support therapies such as music & art therapy.
Since Roi has been missing regular school for many months, he also learns in our Learning Center so that he can keep up with his studies. “Hebrew and math are important to me” he says in the interview. His mother Gina says, “It wasn’t obvious that he would have his . . . anything. We had no idea what he would gain back, what he wouldn’t gain back. He loves math, so for me that’s amazing.” Later in the interview she says, “Every stage that he reaches, it’s simply a miracle.”
At the end of the interview, Roi says about his treatment at ALYN Hospital, “It helps me be myself and it helps me return to who I was before the surgery. A regular kid.”
Adina: Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury
Please help me help the kids at ALYN walk, talk, and go home to their families. I know what it’s like to be one of those kids. Because their story is my story”
Adina Elbaz was 16 years old when she was involved in a horrific accident. She was crossing the street on her way to school when a minibus hit her. She suffered a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and multiple injuries and traumas.
After her life was stabilized at another hospital, she was brought to ALYN for rehabilitation. She was unable to walk, talk, or do any activities independently. In the beginning of her treatment, she lived at ALYN 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.
Her mother was with her every morning, her father every evening, and family friends around the clock so that she was never alone. ALYN provided her with hydrotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychological treatment, and a range of other therapies. A team of around ten doctors, therapists, and specialists worked with her every day.
Gradually she was able to go home for a few days every week. Then after 7 months, she was able to go home and continued treatment as an ALYN outpatient. Under the care of ALYN, her progress was dramatic and exceeded all expectations. Seven years ago, she rode a tricycle at the finish line of Wheels of Love to welcome the hundreds of riders who had ridden all week in support of ALYN.
Six years ago, she rode a portion of one day of the ride as a member of the “Swift and the Bold” a team of riders made up of kids who have received treatment at ALYN. The next year, she rode a full day on a tandem bike with veteran ALYN rider Rocky Brody. Every year, she has ridden more. For the past few years, she has been training on her own mountain bike, riding more and more on her own -something that would have been unthinkable just a short time ago.
Yusef's miraculous journey to rehabilitation
This article is a summary translation to English by ALYN Hospital staff of extracts of the original article, which was written by Dana Ben Shimon. Photo credit: Yoav Dodkevich.
“It was a rainy and stormy evening, Yusef fell down an elevator shaft in the dark, like in a movie,” recalls his father, Kazem. “A neighbor said that there was a child from the Jardat family who fell in a lift,” says the father. “I went down quickly and realised that it was Yusef.
The doctors told me that they couldn’t believe that he was alive after what happened.” Yusef was taken by ambulance to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, with a large fracture that split his face in two. At Hadassah, they performed the unbelievable – they were able to put his skull back together during a complicated operation. He was later transferred to ALYN Hospital for rehabilitation, with his family accompanying him throughout the process.
“When Yusef came to ALYN Hospital, he was not able to get up,” says his father. “Twice a day he underwent physiotherapy. He also received emotional care and a lot of encouragement from the staff.
Yusef underwent rehabilitation treatment, during which he got back on his feet and began walking again. “We had to teach him how to walk again because he had a very complicated leg fracture. He also had difficulty speaking because of the fracture in his jaw and we helped him with that as well, in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and he was helped to eat independently”, explains Yusef’s accompanying physician in the rehabilitation department of ALYN Hospital. “His head injury was significant, but he was lucky that there was no brain damage. He also had fractures in his skull, and it’s very rare for someone who has experienced such an event to recover relatively quickly.
Recently, as the rehabilitation process progressed and his condition improved, Yusef began to go to the school that was established inside ALYN Hospital and learned Hebrew and English there.
Of course we’re happy,” says the father. “In recent months I have barely left Yusef’s side, I have been with him all along, and his situation has improved slowly, but now he will be able to return to his family. Lately, he was able to come home on weekends, but now he will finally be able to sleep at home every day. This is the biggest relief.”
Aviel's Victory Run
This article has been summarized and translated to English by ALYN Hospital staff. The original article, written by Lior El Hai, appeared in Yediot Ahronoth on 13 March 2019. Photo credit: Alex Kolomoisky.
Tomorrow, three years after Aviel Avrahamoff’s leg was nearly amputated due to an accident, he will participate in the Jerusalem 5-K Run. The accident happened in Haifa during a fun day which he spent with his family when he was six years old. A driver who accidentally accelerated instead of braking, slid into a field near the road where Aviel was walking with his family and hit him.
Aviel was seriously injured. He was transferred to Rambam Medical Center and was rushed into the operating room. “The doctor told me that the situation was complicated, and it could be possible that in the middle of the operation he would ask me to sign an agreement to amputate Aviel’s entire leg. It was shocking to me that Aviel could return home with only one leg,” recalls Aviel’s mother, Vered.
Fortunately, the operation was successful. From that point on, Aviel began a long and difficult rehabilitation process at ALYN Hospital, in his home town of Jerusalem, which is a facility designed for rehabilitation especially for children and youth.
In the beginning, Aviel couldn’t even stand on the injured leg and found it difficult to move it. Thanks to the intensive and devoted care of the team, slowly but surely he made progress. He was eventually able to stand on both legs and even joined the running group of hospitalized children.
Nurit Stern, a senior physiotherapist at ALYN Hospital, said: “We are not satisfied with the fact that the children will only learn to walk again, therefore we are instilling in them the value of sport, training and overcoming difficulties.” At the end of the rehabilitation period, Aviel returned home, but continued to train with the running team.
Update: Aviel completed the Jerusalem 5-K last year!
Your friends can donate by check. Please make sure that your name is written in the memo field with Wheels of Love.
ALYN Hospital 84 Shmaryahu Street Jerusalem, 91090
Israel Bank Transfers (From Israel) First International Bank 31 Main Jerusalem Branch # 012 Account # 009997 בית חולים אלי”ן From Abroad: Swift code: FIRBILIT XXX JERUSALEM 012 Alyn Hospital account # 009997 Iban# IL900310120000000009997 NIS Transfer 409 – 009997
Check Address for US receipt:
American Friends of Alyn Hospital
122 East 42nd Street, #1519 New York, NY 10168
Check for UK receipt
Friends of ALYN London
88 Ossulton Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb
London, UK N2 0LB
Last year, over 40 companies sponsored Wheels of Love. Depending on sponsorship level, corporations can have their logos featured prominently on the rider jerseys, the escort vehicles, the starting gate, and in many places throughout the ride.
Do you know of any companies who would want to gain from the positive exposure of being a Wheels of Love partner?
Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
More than 40 companies chose to partner with ALYN in 2019 as corporate sponsors of Wheels of Love.
Sponsors’ logos are featured prominently throughout the ride and in media coverage of the event. Most importantly, the corporate sponsors’ brands are recognized as supporting Israel’s premier rehabilitation facility for children with physical disabilities.
Download our corporate brochure here.
The benefits below are currently planned but subject to change depending on the situation at the time of the ride.
Logo featured prominently on:
- 4 Ride Segments
- The Gala Awards Reception
- Across front or back of main rider jersey
- All sponsorships include the lower level sponsorship packages
Logo featured prominently on:
- 3 Ride Segments
- Arm Warmers
- Shoulder on main rider jersey
- All sponsorships include the lower level sponsorship packages
Logo featured promonently on:
- 2 Ride Segments
- 40 Escort (SAG) Vehicles
- 1/4 front center of main rider jersey
- All sponsorships include the lower level sponsorship packages
Logo featured prominently on:
- 1 Ride Segment
- 40 Escort (SAG) Vehicles
- 1/4 back center (or pocket) of main rider jersey
- All sponsorships include the lower level sponsorship packages
Logo featured prominently on:
- Wheels of Love Website
- Event Signage
- Staff/Volunteer Shirts
- 20 Escort (SAG) Vehicles
- 1/4 front bottom of main rider jersey
- Starting Gate
- All sponsorships include the lower level sponsorship packages
2019 Wheels of Love Photo Gallery
Rider Videos
Trail and Road Riders
Jay Bailey: Trail
Phil Pelzman: Road Plus
Victor Beletskiy: Road Plus
Zvi Levran: Enduro