By: Eitan Hevrony, Director of the Samson Riders Biking Club (SRBC) and member of P2K's Biking Forum.

*  Katlav Winery at Nes Harim
*  Tzora Winery , Mony and Bike Route 
*   The Flam Winery and Bike Trail in the Kedoshim Forest and Nachal Kisalon
*   Agur Winery and Bike Route "In the footsteps of David and Goliath" to Tel Azekah

*Please coordinate your visit in advance with the owners of the wineries. Cyclists must come prepared with at least 2 liters of water, a helmet and a bicycle in good condition.  For further information, reserving guided tours, bike rentals, and maps contact Eitan: 972-50-3531232 www.bikeisrael.com

Katlav Winery at Nes Harim

An easy bike tour for the family with a dramatic view of Nachal Sorek.

Duration: Three hours

Directions: The tour starts at Moshav Nes Harim on route 3866, between the Machsiya and Bar-Giora intersections. Start and end point can be Bar b'Har information point and dairy caf? & restaurant (next to the Bar-Giora intersection).

Route: Travel in the direction of Moshav Nes Harim and look for a small sign that turns right to the Katlav winery. There we will meet Yossi Yitach, architect turned vintner. Yossi will direct us to the dirt trail that leads to the biking trail. We will head West with a view of Nachal Sorek, and then travel up to a narrow road and turn right in the direction of 3866 which we will cross carefully and then join up with a signed 4x4 JNF trail which heads East. The length of the trail is lined with Katlav trees (a local legendary tree with red branches) and Pine trees and has a magnificent view of Nachal Sorek. We will travel parallel to the road about 1/2 km before reaching the information stop/restaurant at Bar b'Har. There rises a dangerous ascent and this is a great place to rest and catch your breath (the balcony of Bar b'Har). You can collect maps and directions for JNF and other sites in the area. We will again cross route 3866 carefully, turn right on the trail in a Westerly direction, and return towards Moshav Nes Harim. At the end, we will partake in an elegant wine tasting ceremony at Yossi's Winery (Kosher, closed on Shabbat). Winery tel. 054-7591866

Tzora Winery, Mony Winery and Bike Route

"In the Footsteps of Samson" via the Sculpture Route.

Duration: Approx. two hours
The riding trail starts on Derech HaPsalim (Sculpture route) which is in the Tzora Forest at the south-west end of the range. From the summit, we will have a beautiful vista of the Yehuda Plains and on a day with good visibility, we can see Mediterranean Sea.

Directions: Drive on Route 1 and turn South onto Route 38 towards Beit Shemesh. After crossing the train tracks, turn right towards Kibbutz Tzora. Travel West, past Kibbutz Tzora and past the kibbutz chicken coops. Just before the right curve in the road, make a right turn towards the mountain (you will see JNF signs). The route winds up a paved road and at the top is a sculpture of the twelve tribes. About 100 meters further is a parking lot where you park and take out your bike.

Route: From the parking lot, we will take the asphalt trail with signs pointing in the direction of the vista point. We will see an aerial map of Yehuda Plains with names of the settlements located in the area, a project of the Tourism ministry. We will return from there to the trailhead and ride North next to the Sculpture route passing signs "To Samson's grave". Turning right and immediately left on this trail, we will arrive at Tel Tzora where we will see remnants of the Arab village Sarraa and a beautiful vista point on the eastern edge with a view to Beit Shemesh and the mountains of Jerusalem. At the vista point is the JNF telephone number. If you follow their directions, you will get a detailed explanation of the area.
From there we will return to the original point, go down towards the valley and travel towards the wineries (Tzora on the left and Mony on the right). At the end of the decline, turn right in the direction of Deir Rafat Monastery. Just before the monastery gates, turn left at the signs to Mony's Winery, along a short dirt road that leads to the winery named after its founders (not kosher). It is worthwhile to go down to the basement cellar and try the variety of wines.
From Mony's Winery, return to the road, make a right and ride down the steep hill in the direction of Tzora. Turn left at the Kibbutz entrance, and at the traffic circle turn right. On our left, we will see the parking lot for the Tzora Winery. Park there and follow the signs directing you to the winery (kosher). Tel. 050-5441646, 02-9908261, Mony's Winery: Tel. 052-2368498.

The Flam Winery and Bike Trail in the Kedoshim Forest and Nachal Kisalon

Duration of tour: Approx one hour - Park at the Flam Winery and Tavlin restaurant.

Directions: Drive on Route 1 and turn South on Route 38 in the direction of Beit Shemesh. Right after the turn to Moshav Eshtaol turn left in the direction of Ramat Raziel. After 100 m. turn left onto a dirt road and follow the sign for "Tavlin" restaurant which is next to the Flam Winery. Park at the winery and take out your bike.

Route: We will start by riding North on the path, crossing Nachal Kissalon, and turning right on the path alongside the Nachal. The path goes through Nachal Kissalon between eucalyptus trees, bushes and pines that were planted by the JNF in memory of victims of the Holocaust. On the route, we will pass the bridge engraved with names of communities that gave contributions to the forest until we get to the parking area next to the B'nai B'rith cave. Time for a short rest and return to the Flam Winery (02-9929923/4/5)  and Tavlin restaurant and boutique spice store.

Agur Winery and Bike Route "In the footsteps of David and Goliath" to Tel Azekah

Duration: 3 hours, parking at entrance to Li-On Srigim.

Directions: Drive on Route 38. 2 km South of the Emek Ha'Elah (Elah Valley) Junction turn West on Route 253 and then right into Moshav Li-On Srigim. Park in the parking area just past the gate of the Yishuv and take out your bike.

Route: We will start by riding close to the commercial area on Eshkolot Street until we get to a large park. Right after the park, we turn right in direction of the forest and we will leave the village. After about 200 m. we will get to a wide intersection before the chicken coops and turn left to the JNF black marked trail. We follow the markings until the black trail meets the blue marked trail. We will pass the green trail and turn right in the direction of Tel (hill) Azeka. Travel about 1 km to the base of the hill. We will ascend with bikes to the top of the Tel or leave the bikes supervised at the bottom and walk up. It is worthwhile to note the Biblical verses written in marble all along the path, which describe the battle between David and Goliath. As we reach the Tel, we will ride the loop to the top of the Tel and to the vista point with a lookout in the direction of Emek Ha'Elah. After a rest, we return to the bikes or ride down and ride back the way we came from the bottom of the Tel on the green/black path all the way back to the park and towards the Moshav's commercial area.

Two wineries are in this area: Srigim Winery: 050-6234110, 02-9991512 and Agur Winery (3 Km. West of Srigim on road 353 at the entrance to Agur): 054-4759672, 02-9910483.