We are delighted to share with you couple of news regarding the future of the HLC - http://www.holylandmtbchallenge.com/

As of 2019, HLC will shift to October instead of April - next HLC grand depart is on Thu. Oct.17th 2019, 7am.

From now on, to make it simple and easy, the HLC will start on the 3rd Thursday of each October. No need to wait for the announcement date.

As always you are free to start ITT, any time, northbound or southbound.

Make sure you have a GPS tracking device set on ‘record’ for the entire event, you might need to provide evidence, especially if you are planning to break the record or arriving in first places!

Follow the simple rules and have fun!

We would love to see you,
HLC

HI,
For those interested reading...Paul Errington posted couple of days ago his last and third piece on his experience at Salsa website.
Here is a link to part one.
http://salsacycles.com/culture/holyland_bikepacking_challenge_part_one_finding_our_way
Enjoy the reading!
Zohar

Hi bikepack riders,
So the time is right to publish the date for the next HLC 2015.
If you are starting to plan or day dreaming what is next....April 9th might be a good option!
More information http://holylandmtbchallenge.com/gallery/...clips, pictures and blog entires from 2014.
Max Moriss is the star!!!
Hope to see new faces,

Hi,
Can you kindly add - Holyland MTB Challenge 2014, 17th of April
http://holylandmtbchallenge.com/
Thanks

Hi Guys,

Just an update...we have already 64 riders listed!
http://holylandmtbchallenge.com/registration/
April is coming fast so hope to see more of you coming over!
Feel free ask any question or to send me a PM.

Zohar

Hi James,
That's great news - we're looking forward seeing you and your friends here!
I'm sharing below a link to many pictures.
Several of them were pictures taken from couple of rides we have done north to south (Eilat) though via a shorter route and different.
Other were taken by a close friend Yoav Lavi - "Septaa" and you can see many different views and landscapes of the country. Not exactly the route but views you'll see while riding...
In the upcoming days I'll make a share folders from pictures taken from the route but I guess this will give some taste for now.
Again, lovely you're making plans to come over, as we said, any help needed shot us an email.
Zohar

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3adzpcQKADvUHlRZFV2emstZDA&usp=sharing

Hi Guys, thanks for the feedback.
Not sure as to the exact percentage but I would say its mainly off road, paved section are minimal.
There are some nice sections of single tracks here and there but clearly, more dirt roads.
Not sure when the "formal" will be open and if we'll switch...we may just select some sections of it as we already did where possible.
FYI, we have 46 riders listed already...its going to be fun!

Hi Michael,

Just came back from a family vacation in schwarzwald. I regret not taking the bike with me though it would have been less of a family vacation...

I'm always speechless when it comes to answering or at least addressing your point regarding safety - and I admit, it's makes sense from your side. As I am travelling a lot overseas for business and watching TV in hotels and lounges..., it always surprises me how Israel appears from the news and how far it is from reality. Let hope that the situation will remain as it has been for a long time and there shouldn't be any issue.

FS has it's advantages...I will be riding hardtail and I am quite confident the majority will also do so.

Michael, you are invited to come over!

Best, Zohar

Hi Emily,

In fact the route follows 30%ish of the INT. Though in many case the route pass by or crosses the INT.
Through the center of Israel we mainly ride the INT but in the north and south less.

BTW, you are right the INT is not regarded as 100% MTB friendly. There is another initiative to make a similar INT MTB route but its in the making.
We feel that we have managed to create a nice blend of the majority of landscapes of Israel, ride classical places such as the sea of Galilee ride through Jerusalem as well as to add cool places like Tel Aviv for a nice beer...

The route is not technical, though some section do require attention   

FYI we have at present above 30 local riders attending and we hope for more...overseas 

Hi Guys....
Just a quick update for those considering ....interested...thinking...
We have updated the site with additional info and we have currently 27 local riders listed!
Zohar

We have a new url if it helps...
hlcmtb.com
Some info on site with route and more.
We will update the site with more information.
Zohar

Hi Jerry,
I've checked again, it seems to work at my end.
I have written the site url below try to cut-and-paste it in your browser - hope it works.
Bye, Z

http://holylandmtbchallenge.com/

Hi friends,

I'm excited to share with you the first self supported MTB race across the holyland. More information http://holylandmtbchallenge.com/. We crafted a very challenging track across our country from North to South ending on the beach of the red sea.

If you are free on the 17th of April 2014 and having nothing to do….join us.
The MTB local community is honored to host overseas riders, so in case you’re considering or interested drop me a line and we have already volunteered hosts just waiting for guests…

It will be a memorable experience – I promise you!

Hope to see many familiar faces from TD2012 coming along…..

You're all invited!  

Bye Zohar Kantor

Hi,
Spoke to Yair's wife, would like to inform that Yair_Nahmias is driving all the way from Whitefish to NY to catch his flight back home.
Unfortunately, he had to give up this year promising to come back some time...
If he could be added to the scratched list.
Good luck to all the riders out there...watching from home!
Miss the divide, Zohar Kantor TD2012

A clip I've made from cuts of movie clips I took while riding this year.
With Nathan Mawkes, Tom Thomas, Joshua Smith, Rudi Nadler, John Philips and John Cox.

http://youtu.be/AyHzLe519EA?hd=1

Thank you both Eric and John. I need the pictures for a presentation I am holding...

Unfortunately, I did the stupid mistake and tackled Richmond Peak at mid-night while it was massively raining and I was so miserable....

The "snow death march" was the worst section since my light was giving up on me and I nearly run out of batteries. Couple of years ago I had an "all most" accident while trekking a very snowy slope in the Pyreneans - Spain, those memories were giving me hard time while as was walking that section in a very dark night and seeing that slope "again"....

Thanks to Erik Goedhart I recovered in a warm room after getting to Seeley Lake past 2:30am...and this is another story!

Hi,
Thought some one out there might help me, I am looking for pictures from TD2012 Richmond Peak...
If you have any please send me a note I need them for a presentation... Thanks
Zohar

Hi all TD2012 riders,
I met so many great guys while riding the tour and would love to keep in touch and share pictures...
Not every body is on Facebook so I find it difficult to trace some people.
Would be nice if a dynamic google doc, even the original of the LOI, would be filled with email addresses.
In any event, if;
-Phillips, John
-Andrews, Scott
-Tom Thomas
Could send me an email to zohakantor@gmail.com I'd like to share pictures and say hi...
Bye, Zohar

How are you Crossmark fans getting on with the non-UST version?  ...

I can tell you that the LUST Crossmark is holding great flawlessly, though there is a weight penalty associated with this tyre. I agree that the non-LUST tends to get sliced, I had many issues with the delicate sidewalls of the tyre. My regular setup is therefore, LUST in the back and non-LUST in the front.

In all my experience with Crossmark during the last years I never had issues with the sealant. I'm using Joe's no-flat.

Hope it helps.

My two cent on the subject, after playing with my etrex 30 noticed that the wireless cyclometer went bust. In fact there is an interference with the wireless signal of the cyclometer, best as mikepro noted to go wired or to move them apart if possible. I just moved it couple of cm and it works just fine.

On another point, instead of buying Garmin topo maps I downloaded from here http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/state/all free topo maps and loaded to the external card.

PS - this is my first post in the forum (listed for the TD2012...)

Cheers, Zohar