TRIPS: Ride where Jesus would’ve, if he had a bike

There's no better way to start the new year than with the resolution to ride places you may have never before considered, so here you go.

First, let me say how much I dislike Bicycling magazine as a whole. However, you really should check out this article on riding through Israel on the 530-mile Israel National Trail. Writer and rider Todd Balf put together a piece that not only gives tips on orchestrating the ride, but also makes you “feel it.” It’s long, but easy and entertaining reading. From the article:

"After Moses fixed his bike, our man hooked up with the mysterious network of mud builders. Then he spent his birthday going thirsty so he could cool his shoes with water. That's when his ride through Israel got really strange."

The photos here are Balf’s, and he’s got lots more in the December 2006 hardcopy edition.

Wikipedia’s got a pretty detailed entry covering the different segments of the Israel National Trail as well if you want to check it out.

Been a long time

Can’t really account for the past couple of months, since they’ve gone by so fast. I know they’ve involved FINALLY getting my bike back (minus a few essential missing parts and an ungreased head tube), a trip to NY and N. Cal with no riding thanks to some terrific germ passed to me on the plane from Okinawa, and a wonderful holiday stint that included a trip to the Philippines to hand out toys and a visit from my parents on their first trip to Okinawa.

Anyway, back in the game now, so look for stuff soon that actually covers MTB instead of my pointless excuses and whining.