Epicurus 2026

Friday, 6 November. We leave at 06:15 from the Eshtaol petrol station. This year it's a refreshed edition: the reverse direction, familiar lines from a different angle, and some new climbs and places for anyone who has ridden it before. Again this year we stay out of Canada Park: the place needs a rest, and if we keep riding it, it won't recover. There are plenty of other places to roll through instead.

1. 01

   Eshtaol → Neve Ilan and Abu Ghosh

   km ⁦0–23⁩ All versions

   Leave the Eshtaol petrol station and climb to Neve Ilan. There's a water tap past the Neve Ilan roundabout, then the Elvis Inn. Around km 23, in Abu Ghosh, there's a narrow passage that may be a little overgrown. It has been trimmed, and it's rideable most of the way.

2. 02

   Mevaseret Zion: the split

   km ⁦33⁩ All versions

   There are water taps in the public garden in Mevaseret. This is where the routes part: the short one turns south from Harel Boulevard onto Hotzvim Boulevard toward Tzuba, and the long one carries on east.

3. 03

   Givat Shaul, Beit Zayit and Ein Karem

   km ⁦40–48.5⁩ 85 only

   Givat Shaul has everything you could want, all kosher. Around km 42.5 you reach the third gate: walk this bit down. There's a water tap at the Beit Zayit cemetery, then on to Ein Karem.

4. 04

   Sataf and Har Eitan

   km ⁦54.5–56⁩ 85 only

   The climb to the Sataf roundabout is on the road: take care and keep right. At the roundabout there's a caravan with coffee and food, and a short detour up from the route there's the Sataf café. On Har Eitan, watch for walkers and vehicles on the trails. The descents there are fast and steep.

5. 05

   Tzuba and the beer stash

   km ⁦65–66.5⁩ All versions

   Before you reach Tzuba, in the orchard, a beer stash will be waiting, signposted. Grab a bottle, sit down at the Tzuba entrance, drink your fill and stretch. There's a water cooler at the Tzuba gate. On the short route you arrive at Tzuba from another direction: the beer is in the orchards on the left, after the gate.

6. 06

   The Rafa singletrack and back to Eshtaol

   km ⁦66.5–85⁩ All versions

   Drop from Tzuba down the Rafa singletrack. The serpentine section is two-way, so pay attention. At the time you're likely to get there, the chance of meeting someone coming up is low, so for one section the line follows the singletrack against its marked direction: stay alert for surprises and give way to anyone coming toward you. Then, at last, you're back at the start.

Water and food on the way

Good to know

Thanks to Einan Balaban, who builds the route and runs Epicurus.