PLANNING · GLOSSARY

Speak Bikepacking

The glossary for anyone who wants to follow the talk around the campfire

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76 of 76 terms

General and spirit

13 terms
Bikepacking Tap for the meaning
Bikepacking A bike trip where you carry the gear you need on the bike itself, usually including nights out along the way.
Bike Touring Tap for the meaning
Bike Touring A long bike trip, usually with racks and larger panniers, and mostly on roads.
Gravel Tap for the meaning
Gravel Riding on dirt roads, crushed rock and sometimes tarmac, and also the name of bikes built for it: drop bars and fairly wide tires.
Multi-day riding Tap for the meaning
Multi-day riding Riding that lasts more than one day, with a night or a long stop between days.
Solo riding Tap for the meaning
Solo riding Riding on your own.
Self-paced riding Tap for the meaning
Self-paced riding Each rider chooses their own speed, when to stop and how far to go.
Ultra-endurance Tap for the meaning
Ultra-endurance Riding very long distances, where managing time, sleep and gear is part of the challenge.
Self-supported Tap for the meaning
Self-supported The rider takes care of their own navigation, food, sleep and repairs, according to the event rules.
Point to Point Tap for the meaning
Point to Point A route that starts in one place and ends somewhere else. It was also the site’s previous name, which is why most events from before Discover are called P2P.
Resupply Tap for the meaning
Resupply A stop in a town, shop or gas station to refill water and food.
Trail angel Tap for the meaning
Trail angel A local who helps riders on the way: water, a lift, a place to sleep, a shower or a coffee. Read more →
Zula Tap for the meaning
Zula An event’s shared overnight spot, where everyone meets in the evening around a campfire.
Shuttle driver Tap for the meaning
Shuttle driver Someone who drives riders and bikes to the start of a route, or back from it when something goes wrong.

Events

15 terms
Discover Israel Race Tap for the meaning
Discover Israel Race The community’s flagship event: an annual unsupported race across the whole country, in MTB and gravel categories. Read more →
Bikepacking for Beginners Tap for the meaning
Bikepacking for Beginners A free bikepacking weekend for riders who haven’t tried it yet. Leave from a Trek store, ride about 50 km with gear, sleep together at the zula and ride back the next day. Read more →
Holyland Challenge Tap for the meaning
Holyland Challenge An unsupported mountain bike race from the Hermon to Eilat. Read more →
NonStop 700 Tap for the meaning
NonStop 700 An event of about 700 km from the north to Eilat. Read more →
Sluggers 400 Tap for the meaning
Sluggers 400 A 400 km event from Ashkelon, through the Lachish region and the Jerusalem hills, to the lighthouse in Tel Aviv. Read more →
Longest Day Tap for the meaning
Longest Day Short, social summer bikepacking: leave in the afternoon, meet at the zula in the evening and ride back the next morning. Read more →
Special Tap for the meaning
Special Non-competitive events where everyone meets at the same overnight spot each night. Read more →
QuickSilver Tap for the meaning
QuickSilver A challenge you set off on whenever you like: 15 hours of riding south from Nahariya on a flat, fast route, trying to get as far as you can. Reach Rosh HaAyin and you get Slow Silver, Mazkeret Batya earns Silver, and Ashkelon earns Quick Silver. Read more →
Grand Départ Tap for the meaning
Grand Départ All participants setting off together, at the same time and from the same place.
Cut-off Tap for the meaning
Cut-off The maximum time to finish an event or to reach a certain point.
Scratch / DNF Tap for the meaning
Scratch / DNF Leaving an event before the finish. DNF stands for Did Not Finish.
Individual Time Trial Tap for the meaning
Individual Time Trial Riding a race route outside the official date, on your own, with your time recorded.
Fastest Known Time Tap for the meaning
Fastest Known Time The fastest known time to complete a particular route.
Tracker Tap for the meaning
Tracker A satellite device that sends your location online, so family and organisers can follow you. Some devices can also send an emergency call.
Dot watching Tap for the meaning
Dot watching Following the moving dots on a website map, meaning the riders in a race. The hobby of whoever stayed at home.

Bikes

14 terms
Hardtail Tap for the meaning
Hardtail A mountain bike with front suspension only. Simple and reliable, with lots of room for a frame bag. Read more →
Full suspension Tap for the meaning
Full suspension A mountain bike with front and rear suspension. More comfortable on technical terrain, but it limits bag size. Read more →
Tubeless Tap for the meaning
Tubeless A tire without an inner tube, with sealant inside that closes small holes on its own. Almost a must in Israel because of thorns. Read more →
Sealant Tap for the meaning
Sealant The liquid inside a tubeless tire. It dries out over time, so refresh it before a trip.
Plug Tap for the meaning
Plug A sticky strip you push into a large hole in a tubeless tire to close it.
Tire boot Tap for the meaning
Tire boot A patch you stick on the inside when the tire itself tears.
Quick link Tap for the meaning
Quick link A chain link that opens and closes by hand, for fixing a broken chain.
Derailleur hanger Tap for the meaning
Derailleur hanger A small metal part that connects the rear derailleur to the frame. It’s designed to bend in a crash instead of the frame, so it’s worth carrying a spare.
Dropper post Tap for the meaning
Dropper post A seatpost that drops and rises at the push of a lever. It limits the size of the seat pack.
Drop bar Tap for the meaning
Drop bar A curved bar like on road bikes, with several hand positions.
Alt bar Tap for the meaning
Alt bar A bar with a backward sweep and several hand positions. A favourite with bikepackers.
Mounts Tap for the meaning
Mounts Threaded holes on the frame and fork for bottle cages and bags.
1X Tap for the meaning
1X A drivetrain with a single front chainring. Simple, with fewer things to go wrong.
Rack Tap for the meaning
Rack A metal frame over the wheel that you hang panniers on.

Bags

10 terms
Handlebar bag Tap for the meaning
Handlebar bag A roll bag on the handlebars, usually for the sleeping bag and clothes. Read more →
Seat pack Tap for the meaning
Seat pack A long bag under the saddle that sticks out behind. Read more →
Frame bag Tap for the meaning
Frame bag A bag that fills the frame triangle. The place for tools and heavy items. Read more →
Top tube bag Tap for the meaning
Top tube bag A small bag on the top tube, next to the bars. For your phone and snacks.
Stem bag Tap for the meaning
Stem bag A small bag by the stem, for a bottle or snacks within reach.
Panniers Tap for the meaning
Panniers Large bags that hang on a rack. Common in bike touring.
Dry bag Tap for the meaning
Dry bag A bag that keeps water out. Keeps the sleeping bag dry.
Voile straps Tap for the meaning
Voile straps Tough rubber straps for securing anything to the bike.
Fork cage Tap for the meaning
Fork cage A cage on the fork for a large bottle or gear.
Hydration bladder Tap for the meaning
Hydration bladder A water bag with a drinking tube, inside a backpack or vest.

Sleeping

9 terms
Bivy Tap for the meaning
Bivy A thin, waterproof sack that wraps the sleeping bag. Minimalist and very light. Read more →
Tarp Tap for the meaning
Tarp A sheet you pitch overhead as a roof, with no walls. Lighter than a tent. Read more →
Night campsite Tap for the meaning
Night campsite A designated place to sleep outdoors. Some are free and some are paid. Read more →
Free INPA campsite Tap for the meaning
Free INPA campsite A free Nature and Parks Authority campsite, with no facilities. Read more →
Comfort rating Tap for the meaning
Comfort rating The temperature at which the sleeping bag is still comfortable for most people. This is the number to choose by. Read more →
Down vs. synthetic Tap for the meaning
Down vs. synthetic Down is lighter and packs smaller, while synthetic is cheaper and still warms when wet. Read more →
R-value Tap for the meaning
R-value A pad’s insulation rating from the ground. The higher the number, the warmer the pad. Read more →
Liner Tap for the meaning
Liner A thin sack inside the sleeping bag. Adds a little warmth and keeps the bag clean.
Camping stove Tap for the meaning
Camping stove A small burner on a gas canister, for cooking and coffee.

Navigation and planning

11 terms
GPX Tap for the meaning
GPX The file format for routes. You load it onto a navigation device or an app. Read more →
GPS device Tap for the meaning
GPS device A dedicated device that shows the route and map. Tougher than a phone, with a longer-lasting battery. Read more →
Offline map Tap for the meaning
Offline map A map you downloaded to your phone in advance, so it works without signal. Read more →
Elevation gain Tap for the meaning
Elevation gain The total metres you climb along the route. On this site it appears as "m climbing".
Elevation profile Tap for the meaning
Elevation profile A graph that shows where the route climbs and descends.
Singletrack Tap for the meaning
Singletrack A narrow trail that fits one rider at a time.
Section Tap for the meaning
Section A defined part of a long route, usually one day of riding.
Loop / one-way route Tap for the meaning
Loop / one-way route A loop returns to the start. A one-way route ends somewhere else, so you need to plan the way back. Read more →
Extension Tap for the meaning
Extension An optional route that branches off the main trail and rejoins it, like the nine extensions of the Discover Israel Trail. Read more →
Bailout Tap for the meaning
Bailout A place partway along the route where you can get out to a road or transport if you need to stop.
Firing zone Tap for the meaning
Firing zone An IDF training area. Entry only with advance coordination and approval. Read more →

Organisations and trails

4 terms
Discover Israel Trail Tap for the meaning
Discover Israel Trail Israel’s main bikepacking route, from Eilat to Rosh HaNikra through the desert, Jerusalem and the Galilee. You can ride it any time, and it has nine optional extensions. Read more →
INPA (Nature and Parks Authority) Tap for the meaning
INPA (Nature and Parks Authority) The body that manages nature reserves and national parks and runs night campsites, free and paid. It also leads the building of the Israel Bike Trail.
KKL (Jewish National Fund) Tap for the meaning
KKL (Jewish National Fund) Manages most of Israel’s forests, including picnic and overnight sites and bike trails. Forests are sometimes closed to the public for safety reasons, so check its website before you go.
Israel Bike Trail Tap for the meaning
Israel Bike Trail A national project to build a continuous, marked mountain bike trail from the Hermon to Eilat. Some sections are already open, mainly in the south. Not to be confused with the Israel National Trail for hikers, or with the Discover Israel Trail. Read more →

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PARTNERS ON THIS JOURNEY

The partners behind the community

Israeli companies that ride with us: they back our events, offer perks to community members and help bikepacking in Israel grow.

CTC · Trek Israel Trek importer in Israel

Trek's store network in Israel. Community members get 20% off bikepacking gear, and branches rent out gear for your first trip.

Visit site →
Joe's No Flats Sealant and repairs

An Israeli maker of sealant, lubes and repair kits. They built a full bikepacking repair kit with us: everything you need so a flat never ends your ride.

Visit site →
Small World Satellite tracker rental

Rents out satellite trackers and communicators. In the desert and in areas with no signal, your family can follow your location, and in an emergency you can call for help.

Visit site →
TwoNav GPS navigation

The only devices that display Shvilnet maps perfectly, with a big screen and the Land planning app. Site visitors get special deals.

Visit site →
Swift Optics Riding sunglasses

An Israeli company making quality glasses at fair prices. Protection from sun, dust and wind over long days on the trail, and 20% off for the community.

Visit site →
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