April 2, 2008 – I have just returned from two weeks in Israel where I had an amazing adventure. I had been brought over to conduct a series of clinics, workshops, and seminars regarding the Sprockids Program. They have been using Sprockids for a number of years, but now they want to take it nationally as well as get it into the schools. Israel has just announced a $25 million dollar budget to promote cycling throughout Israel.

There are numerous reasons why I believe my visit would make an interesting article, but the primary one has to be the kids I worked with. Most of the young riders did not speak English and I had to use a Hebrew translator. But despite the language and cultural differences it was amazing how the common bond of the bicycle totally broke down this barrier.

I worked with both Hebrew and Muslem kids, sometimes separate and sometimes together. I worked with teenagers who were the first generation born in Israel of parents that were smuggled out of Ethiopia some 25 years ago by way of boats, planes, and submarines. These young riders could trace their ancestry back to King Solomon. Their story is what Hollywood movies are made of.

I worked with some of the best young xc racers in Israel as well as young kids that had only been on a bike five times. I also become good friends with the father and son who built the first single track in Israel back in 1991. We rode this trail in 39 degree C, (in the shade) the hottest weather recorded on this date in 100 years. Over the course of the two weeks I trained 74 new Sprockids Leaders, and met with the Ministry of Sport, members of the Israeli Cycling Associations, and many other movers and shakers in the cycling community.

Then there is the historical side of the visit. I visited Jerusalem on Good Friday, went to Masada, and the Dead Sea, and many other very cool places. I become very good friends with my hosts and really got to know what the culture is like in Israel.

Israel Visit Report

Saturday 15 March 2008
Collected from airport and taken to Hertzilia marina for a meal and Israel orientation in preparation for the next 10 days activities. Training Schedule Undertaken By Doug.

Sunday 16 March 2008 – 3pm – 8pm
Six local MTB enthusiasts and Children’s riding group leaders attended the Sprockids field demonstration followed by a lecture and slide presentation at the Soleus Bicycle Club delivered by Doug with translation assistance by Lior Ben Menachem.

For the field work Avinoam Yanai the leader of the Netanya Sprockids club bussed in 19 of the kids and their bicycles. This is one of 10 Sprockids clubs supported by the One to One British based charity organization represent by Hedi Wax in Israel.

At the conclusion of the course attendees were presented with Sprockids Leader course certificates and the participating kids all received a Sprockids Awesome Riding certificate.

Monday 17 March 2008 – 3pm – 8pm
22 local MTB enthusiasts and Children’s riding group leaders from across Israel, from as far afield as the Port of Haifa in the North to the City of Sederot under continuous siege from rockets fired by terrorist groups in the Gaza strip in the South, attended the Sprockids field demonstration followed by a lecture and slide presentation at the Soleus Bicycle Club delivered by Doug with translation assistance by Mor Marmary, Sprockids program coordinator in Israel.

For the field work Mor Marmary the leader of the Benyamina Sprockids club bussed in 5 of the kids and their bicycles. This is one of the Sprockids clubs founded and led by Mor in Israel. At the conclusion of the course attendees were presented with Sprockids Leader course certificates and the participating kids all received a Sprockids Awesome Riding certificate.

Tuesday 18 March 2008 – 3pm – 8pm
28 Israel Cycling Federation certified Children’s bicycle trainers, from across Israel, attended the Sprockids field demonstration followed by a lecture and slide presentation at the Soleus Bicycle Club delivered by Doug with translation assistance by Lior Ben Menachem.

For the field work Nimrod Dubinsky the leader of the competitive Tel Aviv kids cycling club brought in 6 of his kids and their bicycles. Emilio Roitman CEO of the ICF and Eyal Herstig their MTB division head and Nimrod Cohen [Netserim], and Dan Basner of Simoech, national events organizers, attended the field work session and were very impressed at the enthusiasm with which the kids embraced the challenges provided by the Sprockids portable playground. At the conclusion of the course attendees were presented with Sprockids Leader course certificates and the participating kids all received a Sprockids Awesome Riding certificate.

Wednesday 19 March 2008 – 3pm – 8pm
18 Israel Cycling Federation and Wingate XCool certified Children’s bicycle trainers, from across Israel, attended the Sprockids field demonstration followed by a lecture and slide presentation at the Soleus Bicycle Club delivered by Doug with translation assistance by Lior Ben Menachem.

For the field work Nimrod Dubinsky the leader of the competitive Tel Aviv kids cycling club brought in 6 of his kids and their bicycles. At the conclusion of the course attendees were presented with Sprockids Leader course certificates and the participating kids all received a Sprockids Awesome Riding certificate.

Thursday 20 March 2008
Doug visited the Universal House of Justice, the seat of the governing body of the Bahai faith in the Port City of Haifa followed by a visit to the site of the ancient port city of Caesarea.

Friday 21 March 2008 [Good Friday & Purim]
Early start, 6am drive to Jerusalem, tour the old city , visit the Wailing Wall [Kottel] Jewish place of worship followed by a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcur. On the way back to Tel Aviv we broke our journey to visit Emery and Zelda on their Moshav near Modai’n. A social BBQ followed at Hertzilia marina.

Saturday 22 March 2008
Chill on Kandenza followed by an evening meal with Ted & Dina at their home in Ra anana.

Sunday 23 March 2008-03-24
Ride with Daniel Ben Menachem.

Monday 24 March 2008
9 Sports teachers, from Tel Aviv schools, attended the Sprockids field demonstration followed by a lecture and slide presentation at the Soleus Bicycle Club delivered by Doug with translation assistance by Lior Ben Menachem.

For the field work Nimrod Dubinsky the leader of the competitive Tel Aviv kids cycling club brought in 6 of his kids and their bicycles. At the conclusion of the course attendees were presented with Sprockids Leader course certificates and the participating kids all received a Sprockids Awesome Riding certificate.

Tuesday 25 March 2008
Members of the SRBC Sprockids club in Bet Shemesh attended the Sprockids field demonstration followed by a lecture and slide presentation at the Soleus Bicycle Club delivered by Doug with translation assistance by Lior Ben Menachem.

For the field work Eitan Hevroni the leader of the SRBC cycling club brought in 15 of his kids and their bicycles.

At the conclusion of the course attendees were presented with Sprockids Leader course certificates and the participating kids all received a Sprockids Awesome Riding certificate.

Wednesday 26 March 2008
Visit to Masada and the Dead Sea. Return to Tel Aviv for a final meeting reflecting on the success of the visit. Farewell dinner.

Summary
74 Kids bicycle Sprockids Leaders were trained and certified The following organizations were exposed to the benefits to be derived from the introduction of the Sprockids programs: Israel Cycling Federation, Karen Kayemet Le Israel [KKL]- the largest land management organization in Israel, Wingate/XCool sports college