iBikeRide.com

Got my daughter staying with me this weekend and whilst she went shopping with her mate, I had a sneaky bash around my local Queens Wood. Bit of fun practicing pedal assisted front wheel lifts off the edge into the dog pool and then same again to get up. Plus got to do a few bunnyhops with some logs out. Manuals need some work at the mo... As always muddy as mud can be.

Great little dusty trail in the Negev desert for a few hours on saturday on me hols followed by a dodgy stomach for a day then great downhill ride today with lovely rocky switchbacks, steep rocky descents, natural drops, wall rides and stupidly sheer cliff like drops the size of skyskapers to each side. I did the easiest of the 5 or 6 natural downhill runs and it was scarier than anything I have done to date ..in either the UK or the Alps so I think the opportunity for this as a winter downhill destination is high. First downhill ride since I broke the arm and I was nervous and cautious (sh@@ing meself actually) at first and took me about 45 mins of the 3 hours we rode in total to get into the zone and stop looking at the cliff drops to your side but although I am still shaking I am on a high for having done it. Best thing is it is all 100% natural trails in glorious sunshine with the most awesome views.

You ride up in a normal bus with your bike (UK take a lesson) and then your ride the sweetest natural downhill trails for 2 - 3 hours. Sweet. Cedric Garcia rode here with these guys and raves about it on his website. I now know why! It is also no wonder that Eyal 15 year old brother Aviv Yanowski is Israels junior downhill champ growing up with terrain like this.

Oh one big wipe out. Luckily not into a canyon. And I can now formally confirm that titanium is stronger than bone.

check out the videos and gallery of this website of the guide Eyal I went with to get a feel http://www.eilatbike.com/. Much better than any of mine but I will be posting in the next few weeks of course.

This will be a regular winter destination going forward.

Just done my first proper single track in cwm carn apart from the fact my hands are still aching i loved every minute of it (if the ppl i was with didn't have to go i would of done a second lap) not quite got the confidence to do the free ride section yet but took a look and am going to defo try it out.

not sure where my next destination is going to be but really looking forward to it.

Only a cheeky blast on the Malvern Hills for me...but looking forwards to a weekend in the Quantocks in Feb!
Any ride is a good ride though...beats sitting on the sofa in the dry!
Steve

hey matt! cwm-carn is one of my top rides. dont know if you have been to afan? but its only about 20 miles further down the m4 and has 4 top trails, whites level, and the wall, are the best of them, if you like cwm-carn you will love afan.....