Scary Desert Ride (Dead Sea)

[TOM_EMTB]

Shares riding in the Israeli desert near the Dead Sea from last weekend.
44.5 km on 900 meters uphill,
I was able to finish it with a single 504W battery
I rode on Merida E160 and a friend on his Levo SL.

Enjoy : )

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Looks incredible, and the scenery is phenomenal

But those narrow tracks with a long drop and dry skittery gravel.

 

[Bobbobby]

That's superb and your commentary is very lifting, even better if I could understand a word of it, but I can guess what you are saying

 

[steve_sordy]

That "was scary shit!"

The scenery was a head f##k for me.

I loved the vocal impressions of Bruce Lee!

 

[lightning]

Fabulous

 

[Bomble]

Wow, what an incredible place.

 

[The Hodge]

That's superb and your commentary is very lifting, even better if I could understand a word of it, but I can guess what you are saying

Got the bit where he said "crazy shit "..& " Mutha Fuka" ..but didn't get the rest..and I think someone tried to swap their camel for his bike ..but he quite rightly told them to swivel ..fantastic riding !
Saying that my knees & elbows came out in a cold sweat with what damage that terrain could do if they were unprotected ( not forgetting the prospect of snuffing it completely on the sheer drops )..I always assumed a desert would be soft sand ..

 

[Doug Stampfer]

I showed that video to my tyres & warned them that's where they'd be headed if they don't start behaving themselves!

 

[TOM_EMTB]

Hi, I have added a translation for you

 

[B1rdie]

Please, add some water too! ... just kidding.
Nice vídeo!

 

[TOM_EMTB]

Please, add some water too! ... just kidding.
Nice vídeo!

Lol, the truth is that just a few kilometers away there is the Dead Sea, it is the lowest place in the world and all the water without animals in general is the huge amount of salt

 

[apac]

Amazing to watch. I'd love to ride through the desert like that.

 

[apac]

I went in the Dead Sea once. Without thinking I splashed water in my eyes! I couldn't open my eyes or see for about 10 minutes. There should be warning signs!

 

[steve_sordy]

The water is so salty* that it is much denser than water and therefore is a lot better at floating the human body. Many years ago, I saw a photo of a guy sat upright in the sea, reading a newspaper.

Note* It's not just salt, but all sorts of other stuff that dissolves in water too.

https://i2.wp.com/www.visit50.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Floating-in-the-Dead-Sea-Jordan.jpg?resize=1038%2C576&ssl=1

 

[Pacific Ryder]

Absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing. I hope you guys run downhill casings on your front and rear tires.....

 

[TOM_EMTB]

Absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing. I hope you guys run downhill casings on your front and rear tires.....

I run with maxxis Asgai exo + front tire 2.5
And behind Vitoria E- Maza 2.6 +

We must ride with relatively high tire pressure
30 PSI + -
Otherwise the stones skewer the tires

Last month I snatched 5 punctures in one tire.

You are welcome to talk to me if you come to Israel, I will be happy to lead you on the routes.

 

[VWsurfbum]

Now that looks great fun, and scary. not a fan on loose grip gully's, i think i would have chickened out on those.

 

[Pacific Ryder]

I run with maxxis Asgai exo + front tire 2.5
And behind Vitoria E- Maza 2.6 +

We must ride with relatively high tire pressure
30 PSI + -
Otherwise the stones skewer the tires

Last month I snatched 5 punctures in one tire.

You are welcome to talk to me if you come to Israel, I will be happy to lead you on the routes.

Very kind!!

 

[Tim1023]

The water is so salty* that it is much denser than water and therefore is a lot better at floating the human body. Many years ago, I saw a photo of a guy sat upright in the sea, reading a newspaper.

Did that many, many years ago. It's pretty bizarre. Swimming is weird as your arms are too high. Should you have the slightest scratch or abrasion, though, it stings like fuck.

 

[TOM_EMTB]

This is true
I come to the area from time to time but the main experience is these bike trails in the area, there are also shuttles to the top of the mountains

 

[RustyIron]

Hey, Tom. Thanks for posting the video. Looks like a fun place to ride, but I also appreciate the cultural implications. Like so many people around the world, all we know about anyone else is what the media and governments tell us. So all I've learned is about cities, scary neighbors over the border, Tavor, and krav maga. It's cool to see some riding going on.

 

[yomoe]

Shares riding in the Israeli desert near the Dead Sea from last weekend.
44.5 km on 900 meters uphill,
I was able to finish it with a single 504W battery
I rode on Merida E160 and a friend on his Levo SL.

Enjoy : )

Looks like So Cal most of the year

 

[Tim69]

Hey, Tom. Thanks for posting the video. Looks like a fun place to ride, but I also appreciate the cultural implications. Like so many people around the world, all we know about anyone else is what the media and governments tell us. So all I've learned is about cities, scary neighbors over the border, Tavor, and krav maga. It's cool to see some riding going on.

Not to hijack the thread or anything...
But yes! There is quite a large MTB scene in Israel, it's a popular hobby here, mostly "weekend warriors" but many that ride several times a week too. It's a great way to unwind in a verry stressful country
There are dozens of well planed and we'll marked official trails built by the forestry agency, and hundreds of unofficial trails, all over the country. And many bikers pack the national parks and other natural areas on almost every weekend, as we have a long summer. And on the couple of months of rain, that we get in the winter, you can always drive an hour or so away, and be in the desert! Where riding conditions are perfect! In the winter..
Just last weekend we took a visiting Canadian with us, gave him a bike, and took him on a great desert ride! That I'm sure he will remember!
So yes! Come visit Israel! And I or any other Israeli mtb'er or emtb'er will be more than happy to show you around!
Tim

 

[TOM_EMTB]

Hey, Tom. Thanks for posting the video. Looks like a fun place to ride, but I also appreciate the cultural implications. Like so many people around the world, all we know about anyone else is what the media and governments tell us. So all I've learned is about cities, scary neighbors over the border, Tavor, and krav maga. It's cool to see some riding going on.

All you hear in the news is drama
As a person you experience almost none of these things
What is not yet talked about is that there is a lot of cooperation between Arabs and Jews
For example, those who carry out the bounces to the mayor are Arabs.

 

[Tim69]

All you hear in the news is drama
As a person you experience almost none of these things
What is not yet talked about is that there is a lot of cooperation between Arabs and Jews
For example, those who carry out the bounces to the mayor are Arabs.

Short explanation here if Tom doesn't mind!?
He's referring to the "shuttles"... Quite a flurishing business has developed at the Dead Sea, near Jericho, where most of the trails end, namely the know "sugar trail", several restaurants have opened there to serve the mtb'ers and mx'ers that ride the trails, also a convinience store, camel rides and other amenities, most notably, the shuttles back up the mountains! And most of these services are localy Arab owned. This provides the riders with a great service! And the locals with a needed income!
Win win situation!
And this is the norm in Israel...
In our multicultural society.
Tim.

 

[RustyIron]

And most of these services are localy Arab owned. This provides the riders with a great service! And the locals with a needed income!
Win win situation!

Right on, Tim. We're very multicultural in this area, and I gotta tell you, I much prefer it to regions where everyone looks like me. So anyway, let me tell you of a shuttle ride I once took. Just like everywhere, the shuttle drivers aren't doctors, lawyers, or CEO's of multinational corporations. Our driver is a nice guy. His van is ok, and it seats quite a few riders. His trailer holds about a dozen bikes, and there are other racks on the bumper, roof, etc. He picked us up at the bottom of the mountain, and it was about a 40 minute ride up a winding mountain road to the drop off point. As we were standing around waiting for people to grab their bikes, my buddy looked down at the hitch, and noticed that the tow ball didn't have a nut holding it on. It was only there as a result of gravity and tongue weight! Bwahahahaha! Our driver was a resourceful sort of bloke, and he managed to get his rig off the mountain and to the closest parts store.

 

[EnduroDad2k]

Stunning area to ride, thanks for the vid!

 

[Sapientiea]

so cool, never ridden in a desert myself.

 

[Hobo Mikey]

Looks awesome, would love to ride them trails one day.