From serious leisure to cycling tourism - The case of mountain biking

During the last fifteen years, there has been an impressive increase in the scope of mountain biking in Israel, particularly evident in the significant investments in open spaces and forest infrastructures, and the sociological changes of the cyclists themselves. Regarding trends in different rural areas in other countries, issues have been raised concerning the degree to which cyclists adopt 'serious leisure' patterns, and the degree to which the sport, which is usually identified with leisure activity, is developing as cycling tourism or cycling holidays. This study was based on two cycling surveys with a time gap of eight years, so that it enabled analysis of the cyclists' characteristics, perceptions, and needs, as well as comparison of changes in these aspects over time. The results indicate that although many characteristics found are similar to trends in other countries, there are some which are specific to a small country and to its social structure.