If you love the idea of cycling but are unfamiliar with the routes, social media is buzzing with cycling groups that cater for all abilities, from wobbly newbies to pedal-powered pros.
And if the idea of tackling the local roads puts you off getting in the saddle, you will be pleased to know that Dubai now has two large cycle tracks – at Nad Al Sheba and the Dubai Cycling Course at Al Qudra – while Abu Dhabi has the newly extended Al Wathba cycle track.
Gone are the days when people had to cycle in groups for safety-in-numbers, but group cycling remains highly popular, as it is a great way to meet fellow biking enthusiasts.
Almost every bike store has a cycling group that it runs, so you can ask at your friendly local shop about the options that suit you. As well as the regular weekly meetups, larger cycling groups also organise their own special events.
Here are a few of the better-known groups and events to get you started.
Experienced mountain bikers
HOT-COG-MTB is a club for experienced mountain bikers, most of whom were fans of the sport in their home countries before moving to Dubai.
It is run by Andy Whitaker, who has been at the forefront of trail- network development in the Shawka area for eight years.
Cyclists usually meet on Fridays in Shawka or at the new Hatta trail centre, with a maximum of 12 riders on each ride.
• Saracen's Cycle Off-Road Rides was founded four months ago by the New Zealander Brett Bowie, 47, who also runs the indoor cycling and circuit gym of the same name at Zayed Cricket Stadium, to reignite the mountain-biking hobby he had given up after moving to Abu Dhabi from South Korea eight years ago. So far, they use about six off-road trails around Abu Dhabi and are in search of more. Members meet on Saturdays.
• www.facebook.com/SARACENSCYCLE/timeline
MTB newbies
MTB Fridays is for beginner to intermediate riders and is on Facebook.
KOM MTB is a club dedicated to beginners.
UAE MTB is a large, predominantly Filipino riding community for beginners and intermediate-level cyclists.
All three of these groups have Facebook pages you can join for more information.
For ladies only
Emiratis Roudha Alawadhi and Asma Al Janahi started the Instagram page @uaecyclinggirls a month ago to help them meet fellow female cycling fans.
“Ours is a casual group for beginners who just want to practice the sport of cycling and don’t require the most expensive equipment – it’s just recreational cycling,” says Alawadhi.
The group meets at weekends to cycle around the Emaar Boulevard, Dubai Cycling Course and Dubai parks.
• Uaecycling@gmail.com
• Velo Vixens Dubai, run by Emma Woodcock, offers a skill-based clinic on Wednesday mornings for women who are new to group riding. They also have a regular 85km ride around Dubai Cycle Course on Monday mornings. They also organised a New Year outing on "fat bikes" from Adventure HQ, to give sand dune cycling a go.
• The Extempore Abu Dhabi Ladies Bicycle Group – which you can find on www.meetup.com – offers a more leisurely pace on Friday mornings. The organiser Dehra says on the website: "Even at a moment's notice we might even stop for tea, food, pictures, to talk to people – who knows what moments will be encountered in a ride. Let's get acquainted and start bike riding."
The Roadsters
The German Wolfgang Hohmann, who runs Wolfi's Bike Shop on Sheikh Zayed Road, cofounded Dubai Roadsters about 15 years ago. The group has about 600 cyclists who ride on quieter Dubai roads, with a support car for emergencies. They go out at 6pm on Sunday (55km) and Tuesday (75km), and at 6am on Friday (80 to 120km). They start off from Nad Al Sheba cycle track, then move onto the quieter roads around Academic City or the Meydan area.
The Social scene
On Saturday mornings, Cycle Safe Dubai organises a 60km coffee run to Bab Al Shams Desert Resort. Cyclists can refuel there with coffees and croissants, and chat to fellow cyclists before hitting the road back to Dubai. The largest cycling group in the UAE, it was founded five years ago by Stewart Howison, 40, a Briton who runs Revolution Cycles store in Motor City.
“The group is for those with a passion for cycling to meet up and get others into the sport,” he says.
Up to 1,000 cyclists also meet at the Dubai Cycling Course on Fridays and Saturdays at 6.30am (6am during the summer months) to take in the sights of the Arabian Desert, which include the occasional wild oryx. Different groups go out at different paces, covering a range of distances from 35 to 125km.
Hardcore pedal-pushers
More advanced cyclists can join Revolution Cycles, an offshoot of Cycle Safe Dubai, which is a smaller group that usually meets on Saturday mornings.
• Abu Dhabi's Raha cycling group meets at the Mugg and Bean Café at Etihad Plaza at 6am on Fridays, and head out to Al Wathba cycle track via Khalifa City A and B in two groups. Once there, they do 30km and 20km routes, stop for coffee, then cycle 50km back.
On Saturday at 6.30am there is the “recovery ride” which goes at a gentler pace, in two groups.
• www.facebook.com/raharevolution
•Abu Dhabi Tri Club organises not only weekly cycling meetups but also swimming and running training sessions. Members can train to compete in events throughout the year, or just to achieve their own fitness goals. Meeting times and places vary, but include Friday mornings at 5.30am from the British Club in Mina Port and the Al Wathba cycle track.
• www.facebook.com/groups/ADTCbusiness
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