I was taken by surprise as to how naturally technical and varied the downhill riding is here, combined with just how many miles of sweet flowing singletrack there is available on the doorstep of Eilat. 

I set off from my dads flat around 8.00am and met Eyal at his cool mtb bike shop http://www.eilatbike.com/and got to the central bus station only 5 mins away. You can throw your bikes in the luggage under the bus for half the fair of yourself (only about £2.50 extra!). Then after a 30 minute bus ride winding it's way up the beautiful and awesome Eilat mountains  you arrive at the top in pure desolation.

This ride consists of 3 mountain peaks traversing the Wadi Racham and the Wadi Sachoret trails (meaning pretty much empty rivers... kinda apt in a desert). To summarise the terrain there are lots of natural drops, wall runs, small jumps, steps, switchbacks and corners. It's dusty and sandy (it's a desert!). Be it a drop, jump or turn what gets you is the focus on choosing your line. You may  land into sand that will sink you or onto loose rocks. Either way speed, focus and being smooth are all your friends.

So to start you pump up speed on the road-to hit the entrance of the downhill trail at speed (see top of ridge below). Cool hey!. Then you ride down steeply to start with over rocks, rocks, rocks, on windy trails.

 

And down we go again. Whey!!! All the same type of riding terrain but the second of the three descents is the longest. It goes on for miles and miles of steep descents. The switchbacks are natural and so not unsurprisingly herald a drop in elevation. They are therefore super tight and in line with the natural lines of the land as you turn and descend each corner there are steep drops to navigate in the turn all strewn with rocks. Some of the tightest and toughest I have come across. 

The route naturally increases technically as you warm up and move on. This is serious arm pump time so to avoid lactic acid build up and the ache go easy on the brakes and train beforehand like I did (yeah right!!) I had to stop once;). As I said at the start you have to be fully engaged with line choice as they are less obvious here (everything is alien, exactly the same colour, not man made, unpredictable and you are moving at speed)   

Finally you climb more steeply for the final descent. Not unsurprisingly this is the toughest but it is short and you are fully alert by now. Some steep slabs to flat, followed immediately by lots of drops with rocks and turns everywhere. I took my first and thankfully only (injury free) wipe out on this section.

So we then travel back across on the flat along dusty single track back to the city in around 20 mins from the end. I did my first downhill run in Israel. It was my first downhill run actually actually since I broke my arm break around 6 months back. I was nervous as hell, rustier even, but it was great.  I rode a light Mongoose and apart from getting my head around the brakes being the other way around was a sweet steed. I liked the shorter stem giving much more cornering control. We did the easier of the 4 or 5 natural downhill routes and it scared me senseless. The others are quite extreme so I think there is enough for the serious and experienced downhillers.

I personally think is the the playground that would make champions. It is certainly no wonder Eyals 15 year old brother Aviv Yanowski, who's bike I borrowed (see below) is a junior Israeli downhill champ already and entering.the International scene next year (watch this space). 

 
In conclusion it is important to note the land is protected land and riding is only just permitted or more a blind eye is turned to responsible riders by the authorities and so there is no insurance for the land as a bike park so you come at your own risk. It is territory where GPS's and compasses are not much use and you are on the border between Egypt and Israel and you want a friendly guide. Do not navigate on your own with mates. This is not trail centre riding! This feeling of awesome isolation in natural terrain is to me what makes it unique and special. Eyal can definitely point you in the right direction so give him  a buzz. Also IMBA members and affiliates can take their bikes free of charge on El Al. British Airways / Easy Jet/ Ryan Air are you listening!!!! In retrospect I would have liked a bit more travel and familiar brake set up and will bring my own bike next time.

 

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