Ah, a bicycle park! Hundreds of kilometers of “singles” – fun and well-kept, cable-cars, jump-off points, splendid views, “whistlers,” "lazies," "low gangs..." There is no question about it: the combined words “park” and “bicycles” immediately cause a glazed look in dreamy eyes, longing for the streaming air and adrenaline coursing through our bodies.

Some of us are quite jealous of the amazing bicycle parks in foreign countries; parks where you can arrive in the morning and experience those intoxicating sensations throughout the entire day. You return home from them with renewed energy for another week at the office.    It is true that there are a number of cycling routes in the United States but that is a gigantic country and the truth is that for most foreigners the nearest cycling route could be hundreds if not thousands of kilometers away. So, they only cycle during summer vacations and it becomes quite expensive. Even for those who live near a bicycle park, the charge for cycling in the park is high and they don't cycle too often.

In Israel, a travelogue of bicycle parks has not yet been published, but we have nothing to be ashamed of – we have several such parks even without a travelogue. There are several areas crowded with singles where you can spend many fun hours of cycling. The big advantage here is that for most of Israel’s residents - we beg the pardon of those on the periphery, and even they aren’t that far – a bicycle park is just a short car ride away and for some of us, it’s just around the corner from home.   

Perhaps we don’t have cable-cars in our parks and perhaps the scenery isn’t exactly like the Alps or the Rockies but the diversity in Israel is tremendous. So, anyone who loves to pound the singles will find in these articles ten different parks where they can satisfy their needs. They can cycle for a long time before they go over the same single for a second time and another important advantage they have over institutionalized parks is that they are free!

The British Park

The British Park spreads over 40,000 dunam (10,000 acres) in the middle of the Judean Lowlands and is a forest of both planted trees and chaparral.

The Judean Lowlands is an area of low hills that separates the coastal plain from the Judean Mountains. It has a unique ground structure that allows for the comparatively easy carving out of caves. This, as well as its strategic location overlooking the coastal plain, caused it to be widely settled from early times. The impressive scenery, varied scrub and bountiful antiquities caused KKL-JNF to invest in hiking trails in the park. These trails are the main base for singles cyclists with the area’s youthful cyclists also investing in building additional singles along with constructed elements. Most of the singles in British Park are characterized by their technical but easy level – along with many rocky terraces. There are sharp turns and grades along the rocky terraces with curves on the steep incline.

Starting Point is the parking lot at the entrance to Moshav Li-On.  From Highway 1 turn South at Sha'ar Hagai and continue southwards on Highway 38, pass Bet Shemesh, Zacharia and the Eilah Junction. Turn right on Road 353 and right again at Moshav Li-On. There's a large parking lot at the commercial center right after the village gate. You can also get to the area from Road 383, from the Re'em Junction or, when coming from Kiryat Gat, from Highway 35 and from there to Highway 38.

Information Resources:  A new map by ShvilNet (Judean Lowlands) recently published and available in the stores, also covers this sector. The article “Singles in the British Park” at the cycling forum on the Tapuz site (www.tapuz.co.il) gives an excellent basic first acquaintance with the park's singles.

Singles are based upon the Trans-Israel Trail that passes through the park along with KKL-JNF's established trails, which means that the Trail map or KKL-JNF's British Park map are sufficient for you to go to the park and enjoy yourself.

The Classical:  The Eilot Trail (that's how it appears on KKL-JNF maps) flows, not too technical and lots of fun.

 The Hidden Jewel:  The Western Tel Azaka single is a long, enjoyable single that descends from Tel Azaka down to the wadi below. An additional pearl is not actually in the park but the detour is worthwhile, especially in the spring: the Givat Isaiah Single – a four kilometer flowing single that begins near Moshav Aderet. Its description appears at the conclusion of this route.

Additional Attractions:   It is recommended to climb to the summit of Tel-Azaka, which overlooks a wide vista of the coastal plain to the west, the Judean Mountains to the east, while underground is a whole system of caves to go into hiding. A great view awaits you from the Massua Outlook.  Towards the south, at Tel Goded, is an additional cave system. From the west you can reach the impressive "Bell Caves" at Luzit via a blue-marked but technical singles trail.

Beer and Coffee afterwards:   The situation is really harsh … you have to bring your own coffee-making kit from home!

Guy Greenfield: “It all began some four years ago. C. and I went cycling in British Park near home. It was one of our first rides on this terrain. So, as two 14 year-old beginners, we barely knew the forest and each single was new to us. After half an hour of cycling, after a long climb to Tel Azaka, we arrived panting at the G.N.Sh. single, which is a KKL-JNF marked trail and an especially flowing one. So you can ride quite fast there - and that's just what we did. So here we were, beginners with not the greatest bikes, with cross-country helmets and half-gloves, jetting along on the single having a great time.   That is, until we got to a certain curve with a certain tree. Let's say that from that day onwards, C and I made a very close acquaintance with that tree! And not only us, but all the cyclist in the region got to know this tree at close range - and did so at least once. Even now, we still meet up with that tree occasionally. Apparently, something in our subconscious longs for it a bit too much!” 

The Defenders’ Forest -Carmei Yosef

The Defenders’ Forest brushes alongside Carmei Yosef, a relatively small forest, planted by the KKL-JNF in memory the IDF soldiers who fell in various wars and containing many memorials. The first to discover the place were the motorcyclists who created the forest’s first single. Afterwards the cyclists arrived, who took over and added some of singles of their own. This was the first place in Israel where wooden bridges and spring-boards were installed – North Shore style. Even the road cyclists discovered the place and a ring road was built for practice and singles contests  The characteristic single here is good and even flowing on the pleasant forest floor, on stone flats - dangerous when wet - with a variety of technical levels, from the basic to the very advanced.

Starting Point: park near Carmei Yosef entrance gate. You reach it via Highway 44 between Ramle and Nachshon Junction, and travel in the direction of Carmei Yosef village. The gate is manned so park nearby unless you can enter Carmei Yosef, then park shortly after the gate, near the pool.

Information Resources: ShvilNet’s new map of the Judean Lowlands has an enlargement for the Carmei Yosef area. You can also get assistance in the article “Carmei Yosef Singles” in the hiking forum on the Tapuz site. There are many more singles in the forest that do not appear on the map, but it should be enough for quite a good first-hand acquaintance with the forest and its singles.

The Classical:  The blue marked single on the map provides the optimal pleasure. The drop at the end separates the boys from the men. Legend tells of one superb cyclist, a foreigner, who made the uphill climb of that drop to the astonishment of the locals.

The Hidden Pearl:  The cemetery single begins with a stiff climb at the northeast corner of the cemetery and continues up and down right to the anaerobic edge… really, a gourmet ride!

Additional Attractions:  Tel Gezer is nearby to the northwest. It had already been settled by the fourth millennium BCE and the remaining antiquities are from a range of different periods. The trail, hardly a single, circles the top of the Tel and passes through different sites with appropriate informative signs - well worth a visit. From the hilltop north of the cemetery is a splendid vista of the Ayalon Valley and the Jerusalem Hills. If you cycle down northwestwards, you arrive at the Ein Yared spring.

Beer and Coffee Afterwards:   Food, hot and cold drinks are available at the Meta shop in the gas station at the Nachshon Junction. It’s a central meeting place to meet for both road and all-terrain cyclists.

Yossi Rejwan:  “For someone like me, who doesn't do to well with map-reading and navigating but just likes to ride – Carmei Yosef is idyllic – a small area with a charming forest, wonderful vista and plenty of singles of every type. Some of them are fast and more technical; some that keep to the contour and most of them can be ridden in either direction without exhausting rises. It is relatively close to the central district and not as crowded as Ben Shemen. In fact, it's so idyllic that about half a year ago I decided to actually live there! It is better to live a few yards from a forest single than a few yards from a city kiosk.”

Canada Park [Ayalon]

Park Canada was established in 1976 by KKL-JNF with donations from Canadian Jewry in an area that was known to have been widely settled in the past along and to have seen many historic battles. Unlike other bicycle parks in this article, Canada Park is characterized by un-forested open areas, which means that in summer time you can ride only in early morning or late afternoon. The park is characterized by long stony singles for those who love that genre.

Starting Point is the Robber’s parking lot. Drive along Highway No.1 and at the Latrun interchange, turn north towards Modi’in. After a few hundred meters, with the park entrance on the right, turn left into the nearby parking lot. Usually there’s a robber there – hence the name.

Information Resources:  ShvilNet’s “Canada Park” map is the best source of information, including most of the singles as well as a lot of additional information. The article “Pleased to Meet You – Canada Park” at the hiking forum on the Tapuz site is enough for an acquainting ride around the place.

The Classical:  The Springs Trail is the trail that started the singles craze in Canada Park and rightfully so. The single can be ridden along most of its length even by beginners, but it is especially enjoyable for advanced riders. Be sure to begin riding from the very beginning, from the very top.

The Hidden Jewel:  The “Upper Reservoir” and “Lower Reservoir” singles provide terrifying warm-ups. They can certainly be cycled uphill, but they are pure pleasure going down. The “Parte” single, the pink single, number 8 on Tapuz, may be well known but anybody who does not know it, owes it to himself.

Additional Attractions:  The House of Arches on the Date Trail follows a charming spring that flows out of an old arched building, passing through a very impressive orchard. The Spring Trail includes the remains of an ancient waterworks, a winepress and even a burial cave. At Tel Ayalon you'll find the ruins of a Crusader fortress with an amazing vista.

Beer and Coffee Afterwards:   Decent coffee is served at Alonit at the gas station in Latrun and at the nearby Asa eaterie, you can also chomp down on a bit of meat. Whoever prefers to take home a bottle of wine is invited to visit the nearby monastery, well known for its excellent wines.

Ido Peleg: “I especially love Canada Park. The place has something to offer everybody - beautiful wide trails, flowing and challenging singles and nutty drops. You'll find excellent singles of various levels concentrated into a small area. With a map and with knowledge of the area, you can create a whole continuity of singles for cycling up to two or three hours. This place is ideal for a morning run. After all that, if you just go a little bit of off the main track, the place is simply beautiful, with many lovely spots - all this just five minutes away from Latrun."

The Ben-Shemen Forest – Tel Hadid

This is one of KKL-JNF’s oldest forests in our country, and one of the biggest and oldest of the bicycle parks. You can find a wide selection of singles here, created by motorcyclists, cattle, illegal squatters and cyclists. There is a large assortment of surface types - smooth dirt forest trails and stony forest trails to the south of Highway 443 with stonier challenging paths to the north of it at Tel-Hadid. The proximity of the forest to Gush Dan and most of Israel's population, has turned it into one of the most crowded forests for cyclists. On Saturdays you'll meet hundreds of cyclists here.

Starting Point is at Mitzpeh Modi'in. Drive along Highway number 1 turning at the Ben Shemen interchange to Highway 443 in the direction of Modi'in. After a long uphill climb, turn right off the road, into the forest and park. Another, less crowded point is the Ligad Center just outside of Modi'in. Continue along 443 towards Modi’in, turn right at the traffic light near the Tombs of the Maccabees. Make the first right turn, pass the Paz gas station -also a good place to start out and continue straight until the Ligad buildings.

Information Resources:  ShvilNet’s Ben Shemen Forest map contains an enormous area with more than 70 singles - enough for many rides and warmly recommended. On the Tapuz site, under "Singles in Ben Shemen Forest" you can find maybe the first singles map in Israel, but it is less readable and up-to-date than ShilNet’s map.

The Classical:  There is no true king of the mountain here but there are many excellent possibilities. Originally, Tel Hadid single, around Hadid, two kilometers long, was a breakthrough, attracting many cyclists from afar but today, Tel-Hadid has lost first place in favor of the continuity of “Expresso-Bathtub-Red Spots- Deep Well” single (search for them on the ShvilNet map). The modern classical today is the Tu-Bishvat single and its continuation parallel to the main road until the Gimzo River. This single flows and is madly fast; appropriate for every body.

The Hidden Jewel:  The “Upper Green Line” single is the fast “pump track” and wondrously enjoyable. The Shalat single is located on the east ofS hvilNet's map - this single is technical and challenging and in season is just drowned in flowering anemones. The “Land of the Singles” single starts at Hirbet Regev, south of Ben Shemen Forest, on the Trans Israel Route. It flows and challenges and seemingly does not end.

Additional Attractions:  The Valley of the Monks has caves that served as monks' habitations during the Byzantine period with a large water cistern which they used. At the top of Tel-Hadid is a splendid point for a coffee break with an impressive observation point overlooking Gush Dan. There is also a Thai temple in the environs of the forest, which is outstanding with its gold and red colors. It was given to KKL-JNF by the king of Thailand for Israel's 50th Independence Day.

Beer and Coffee Afterwards:  Those leaving the Ligad Center can go to the Duet for coffee and atmosphere after the ride. At the gas station by the Shilat Junction at the entrance to Modi'in, you'll find Grill 443, reasonably priced; a little coffee shop opposite the tire repair with pleasant seating outside and at the Paz gas station there’s a Yellow which also has pleasant seating outside.

“During one of our last rides, with the increased flow of adrenaline, my friend Menahem said to me: ‘This is unbelievable. Ben-Shemen has grown with us.’ And I so identify with that sentence.  I've been riding for about four years now. As a resident of Modi’in, Ben Shemen Forest was the first area with which I became familiar. Since then "a lot of water has passed under the bridge" and apparently, a lot of motorcycles in Ben Shemen Forest too. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain how many singles have opened up over the past few years in such a relatively small area. One of the first singles that I cycled on was the very same one that I cycled on last week with Menahem.  Since then bicycles and cycling styles have changed, having become more technical.  Nevertheless, the single, just like that wonderful book, The Generous Tree, has continued to supply us with our needs.  As beginners we rode slowly and learned the body language of how to descend a rockery with our butts behind us. But last week we just flew by like a storm, more in the air than on the ground, using every drop or rock bench along the course just to remain in the air. This is substantially the story of the Ben Shemen Forest.”