Ride from Netanya, with Oren, Slavik, Rotem (for a part of the ride), and two other riders: Uri and Serge. It was cold enough at the start for my fingers to be painfully cold but not dangerously so. We rode, starting at a modest pace, for about 5 miles before Uri had to turn back due to a mechanical gear-shifting problem. Met up with Rotem later. Standard route over to Hwy 4 and then north to Zichron Yaakov. I felt pretty good and pulled out ahead of the group a couple of times, riding toward the back at others. At the ZY turnoff, I didn't see Oren and Rotem turn, so I kept riding with Serge for another 1.5 miles before getting a call from Oren. The wind was working more against us on the way out, coming mainly from the east but with a quartering effect that seemed to be more beneficial on the way back. Stopped in ZY for a coffee and a rest. The ride back seemed longer, particularly the stretch on Hwy 4 before we headed west back toward Netanya. My legs felt fine, maybe I was just getting bored of riding. When I packed my bike into the car after the ride, I forgot to put my front wheel in, and luckily Oren found it in the parking lot later and saved it for me to pick up. Maybe I was more tired at the end than I thought.
Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 45.6 mi
Total elevation gain = 1070'
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/2611056292
