New Omaha Bike Lane Eases Coast-to-Coast Ride
Some of the first riders to use Omaha’s new bike lane started their trek at the Pacific Ocean — and will end it in the Atlantic.
“I’ve been doing crazy things most of my life,” said Martin Gordon, 66, a semiretired engineering consultant. “I heard about this trip in Israel and checked it out with my doctor, who said, ‘If you want to do it, you’d better do it now.’ My wife said, ‘You’re crazy, but go ahead.’ ”
With that double go-ahead, Marty went ahead from Jerusalem to Los Angeles for the start of the trip on July 1. It’s scheduled to end near New York City on Aug. 17, a distance of 3,279 miles.
The group of nine cross-country riders, all Jewish, spent the weekend resting in Omaha at the Chabad House, 1866 S. 120th St., as guests of Rabbi Mendel Katzman and his family.
It was mere coincidence that their departure eastward Monday came on the day that Omaha dedicated a new bike lane — on Leavenworth Street between 31st and 13th Streets. So the bikers took that route, escorted to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri River by the pedaling rabbi, and others.
Most of us are not Olympians, Katzman noted, but many people can push themselves for good causes. The bike trip is raising money for autism research on www.bike4friendship.com, part of the Friendship Circle International.
“You watch the Olympics and realize that is not you — they are the chosen few,” the rabbi said. “This trip celebrates regular people doing extraordinary things.”
The trip leader is Shmuly Lazaroff, 24, of Houston, who has performed “urban-warfare counterterrorism” work in the Israeli Special Forces. He is a cousin of the rabbi’s wife, Shani.
“Shmuly has done some great work for Israel and the world,” Rabbi Katzman said, “some of which he won’t tell me and some I happen to know.”
The riders are keeping a blog, which includes the number of road-kill animals they have seen and the number of flat tires that have needed repairs. A truck and a van accompany them.
They have enjoyed vistas and endured temperatures up to 107. Some days, to avoid the worst heat and humidity, they have risen at 3 a.m., started at 4 a.m. and finished at noon. Monday, they left around 9 a.m.
In Nebraska they stayed overnight in McCook, Minden and Crete before arriving in Omaha on Friday. They planned to stay Monday night in Atlantic, Iowa — a town with the same name as the ocean they hope to reach.
Marty Gordon, who was born in Boston and has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Israel, said that as an engineer, he likes “absolute careful precision.” But on the trip, he said, riders need to adjust on the fly.
“These young fellows are very special,” he said. “There has been almost no grumbling.”
Still, out on the road fighting exhaust fumes and exhaustion, it’s no picnic. At the end, Marty plans to meet with two of his brothers “if I get to New York in one piece.”
chaim
Lets face the facts, what is Jewish about this bike ride? So we are raising funds period….lahvadil AIDS have walks and whatever….what has this got to do with yiddishkeit??
Jewish It Is
When you make a dinner for a Jewish institution, what is Jewish about eating chicken, rice and sushi? A bike ride is more Jewish because you are at least doing something healthy.
@#1
You cynical fool. If you cant ride than shut up and give credit to those who are putting in the effort to raise money for an amazing cause not to mention a cause run by your brothers and sisters.
Crawl back your hole. Or get your fat behind on a bike and join them.
chaim
#3 sorry to inform you the basic of being a chosid. Learning torah, chitas ramabam, and as a lubavitcher for over 20 years learning the above, bike riding has nothing to do with chabad chassidus. We are losing chassidim due to the fact we aren’t focused onto learning torah. Bochurim who aren’t learning torah should go get themselves a job. Vedall
To Chaim
Wow, chaim, such cynicism! These boys are raising funds for Friendship Circle – a JEWISH organization. And while they are on their way, they are putting tefillin on people, as has been posted in several pictures, and inspiring others that religious boys can do such an amazing feat. Its the summertime, and most bochurim aren’t learning right now anyways!
chaim
This is not mivztiom, this is more like a P.R. Public relations between friendship circle and the donors. By the way a tefillin here or there doesn’t count for the bititel torah for what!! What makes Friendship Circle merkos shlichus? The primary reason for Friendship Circle is fundraising….hameyvnim yovin….
Accomplishment is Jewish
It’s time a few of our youngsters grow with a sense of huge accomplishment, this is great!