Visitors flock to The National's stand at the Yas Mall to participate in a cycling challenge to win prizes as part of the #cycletoworkuae initiative. Mohammed Al Neyadi/The National
Visitors flock to The National's stand at the Yas Mall to participate in a cycling challenge to win prizes as part of the #cycletoworkuae initiative. Mohammed Al Neyadi/The National
Visitors flock to The National's stand at the Yas Mall to participate in a cycling challenge to win prizes as part of the #cycletoworkuae initiative. Mohammed Al Neyadi/The National
Visitors flock to The National's stand at the Yas Mall to participate in a cycling challenge to win prizes as part of the #cycletoworkuae initiative. Mohammed Al Neyadi/The National

Health

Cycling challenge proves time on two wheels offers fun and health benefits.

Naser Al Wasmi

January 09, 2015

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ABU DHABI // Crowds gathered at Yas Mall yesterday to watch as people sweated it out in a two-minute cycling challenge to see who could burn the most calories while pedalling a stationary bicycle.

Organised as part of The National’s #cycletoworkuae campaign, the Yas Mall Cycling Challenge aimed to boost interest in cycling as a way to keep fit and healthy, as well as an environmentally friendly means of getting from A to B.

Before competitors mounted one of the three fixed bicycles, organisers measured their height, weight and age, while a heart-rate monitor was attached to calculate the calories burnt. Whoever burnt the most calories was the winner.

On the buzzer, they began pedalling. Two minutes later, Ahsan Saqib was declared the slightly out-of-breath victor. He was encouraged to take part by his friend, Mohammed Ali, who had won his race a day earlier.

“I think this is an excellent way to get people involved, and see what they can do when they push their bodies,” said Mr Saqib, from Pakistan, who won a spa retreat at the InterContinental hotel.

Mr Saqib said the prize was not as important as the “feeling of biking” and the project itself. “Really, the more people who can get on bikes, that’s what I’d like to see.”

Victorino Rables, who was one calorie short of Mr Saqib’s impressive total of 38, said as a keen cyclist he was glad to see more people involved in cycling.

“It’s a great sport and we try to get people involved for fun. We have a group that we take out with people and go on trips, so we want more people on the bicycle.”

Mr Rables rides as part of the Chain Drive group, which organises trips around different parts of Abu Dhabi to encourage people, who would otherwise be hesitant, to get on a bike and experience what it is like to cycle in the emirate.

“I think I must try harder next time, the idea is really excellent and we hope to see more people engage,” Mr Rables said.

Khaled Chanter, the event’s producer, said that the Yas Mall Cycling Challenge would help to get people motivated.

“The project is all about getting Abu Dhabi to start cycling, basically to get to what Europe is doing and the US and, of course, here the weather is perfect for that, so we want to get people going,” Mr Chanter said.

“We hope that what’s going to happen is that more and more people start cycling in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and that drivers will be more conscious of the cyclists and therefore the culture will change,” he said.

nalwasmi@thenational.ae

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