Yom Kippur ride in Israel
In Israel on Yom Kippur, the country shuts down to observe this holiest of days on the Jewish calendar. The airports close. The borders close. And it's taboo to drive your car on the roads. However, people like me who are just visiting or not observant take to the roads and highways with our bikes.
Today two friends and I rode from Jerusalem on Highway 1 for 15 miles before turning around. 30 miles and 3700ft of total climbing (and descending). https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b4ac2f935.jpeg You definitely get a different perspective on the bike. Below is a section of bike path that I normally frequent. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c636582e3.jpeg Riding through one of the tunnels. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0f4dacf12.jpeg One more hill to go after this tunnel and we start our 6 mile descent. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...47e0c75ab.jpeg I reached 45mph at the bottom of the hill. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...75c3d5e41.jpeg Finally back in Jerusalem. This intersection by the String Bridge is normally a frenzy of buses, taxis, cars, and pedestrians. Paul |
Thanks for posting! We were in Israel for a wedding in 2017 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/848578...57670643376561) and I wondered about bicycling there. I thought it would be a great way to see a little more of the countryside. It's a wonderful country with great food, plus warm and friendly people. Some photos -> https://www.flickr.com/photos/848578...57669928203663
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Originally Posted by ultrarider7
(Post 21156395)
Thanks for posting! We were in Israel for a wedding in 2017 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/848578...57670643376561) and I wondered about bicycling there. I thought it would be a great way to see a little more of the countryside. It's a wonderful country with great food, plus warm and friendly people. Some photos -> https://www.flickr.com/photos/848578...57669928203663
This morning we rode past the hotel where you stayed. I can see my apartment building in this picture (https://www.flickr.com/photos/848578...7669928203663/) I used to live in Maryland in the DC Metro area, and compared to there, Israel seems more bike friendly. That statement is even a little nuts to me since driving here can be very aggravating, but once you leave the city, the roads are in good shape and motorists are generally well behaved around cyclists which is opposite of my experience in MD. |
Thanks for the compliments! I took a lot of photos in Israel, but broke them into small albums. I really need to put all together in one Flickr album to share. My friends live in Ramat Beit, I believe it's just West of Jerusalem. We stayed by the Old City and enjoyed walking around much of Jerusalem. I felt very safe during my stay. It's no different than Minneapolis, you just don't look for trouble and stay out of those potential hot spots. Heck, I'd love to live in Israel! Stay in touch and next time we go, I'll contact you for a ride around!
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The big descent:
Heading back: |
Mountain Bike Action had an article a little while ago on riding (trails) in Israel. Looked pretty interesting.
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Looks like a good day! Glad you could enjoy it.
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That's pretty neat to be on empty highways like that
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As someone that has been to Israel many times and driven the highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, I can imagine how great that would be to be able to ride it without traffic. Just being able to ride around the city on empty streets would be a real treat.
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My son lived in Israel for a year between his under graduate and getting his masters. He bought a Riddley alloy bike with Campy Chorus. He lived in between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and did extensive riding learning quickly heading west took him into the West Bank in just a few miles, so most of his riding was north / south.
As part of a fund raiser, he along with 2 others rode the entire length from Nahariyya to Eilat. With temps in the Negev well over 110*F, they rode early in the morning and late in the afternoon. |
Is cycling on Yom Kippur frowned-upon for the faithful?
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I rode all around Israel way back in 1986, including a slog from the dead sea up to Jerusalem that about whooped me. A great time, miss those falafel stands, amazing how much crap you can stuff into a pita
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Originally Posted by Ogsarg
(Post 21158007)
Just being able to ride around the city on empty streets would be a real treat.
Originally Posted by GlennR
(Post 21158252)
He lived in between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and did extensive riding learning quickly heading west took him into the West Bank in just a few miles, so most of his riding was north / south.
As part of a fund raiser, he along with 2 others rode the entire length from Nahariyya to Eilat. With temps in the Negev well over 110*F, they rode early in the morning and late in the afternoon. That's great your son got to do that. With a friend I rode through the Negev to Eilat--100 miles--but we did it in February so it was actually a little chilly at the start. I haven't ridden in the north and I have a ride planned from Nahariyya to the Galilee (sea to sea, I would call it), but since we're leaving in a little over 2 months, that doesn't seem like it will happen. |
Originally Posted by General Geoff
(Post 21158982)
Is cycling on Yom Kippur frowned-upon for the faithful?
To the OP - I don’t think I would, but have you ridden the Shomron? |
My Mt. Olivet LC trained butt will last 45 minutes max! I know from growing up, the reform services are closer in style and length to my Lutheran background. Conservative about 2-3 hours and the Orthodox Bar Mitzvah we attended went all morning...and I came in late! We loved Israel, our friends who made Aliya and the people. Frankly I found the food, the people and the scenery the best of anywhere we've traveled.
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You mean occupied Palestine....
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Originally Posted by Digger Goreman
(Post 21159263)
You mean occupied Palastine....
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Originally Posted by pennpaul
(Post 21159016)
All the crossings into the West Bank I can think of have checkpoints, but the soldiers don't really bat an eye if you're going in. Coming out is a different story.
He thanked them and turned around. This was 7 years ago.. .around the same time 2 boys were murdered while hiking. |
:popcorn
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Kol Hakavod! I have driven on that highway a few times and it is steep! Too steep for the 993cc Ford Fiesta I tried up it in 1983. Since my last visit over 10 years ago, there has been a big increase in bicycle infrastructure (especially in Tel-Aviv).
I have never ridden there, but would like to. There are some nice touring entries on crazyguyonabike.org, (with minimal political content). "L'Shana haba b'(ike)-rushalayim." |
Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 21159288)
:popcorn
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Originally Posted by Digger Goreman
(Post 21159263)
You mean occupied Palestine....
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Looks like fun to be able to ride roads you normally couldn't/wouldn't because of traffic.
During a tour back in June I rode two stretches of I-90 in Montana that were closed to motor vehicles in preparation for construction work. Westbound traffic was routed in one of the two eastbound lanes. From what I could see, it would have been deadly for me to try to ride the open stretches due to shoulder width. While riding all Interstate Highways in Montana is 100% legal, it was cool to have the entire road to myself. There were not even construction crews on that Sunday and early Monday morning. |
Nothing political. And I have been a professional historian. Had the opportunity to interview a delightful man, here in Atlanta, that would like to bicycle back to the home he left in Palestine (he still has the key), located nowhere near Jordan (totally different country) and now occupied by strangers.... Mythology aside, a very perplexing situation....
Thank you for the pictures, though, his country is every bit as beautiful as he said! :thumb: |
Originally Posted by Digger Goreman
(Post 21160033)
And I have been a professional historian.
Not political... just adding some facts. But everyone should live in peace and equality. |
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