DUBAI // A small group of female Emirati cyclists has plans to attract others to join them.
UAE Cycling Girls, which has 26 members, hopes that the cool weather will draw more women to the group to exercise outdoors and even take part in competitions.
“We are open to others to join and hopefully we can build a racing team to compete in the leagues in the coming season,” said Asma Al Janahi, the group’s co-founder. “We will go seriously this year.”
Since its inception two years ago, the group began cycling in Al Barsha Park and has ventured out to Al Qudra Bike Track.
A veteran cyclist, Ms Al Janahi has participated in amateur cycling leagues for women and rode with two group members in the Mini Dubai Tour in January.
“I cycle 50 to 70 kilometres with other groups, but with the UAE Cycling Girls we stick to achievable 25 to 30km goals,” said the computer engineer.
“Our entire goal is to get ladies into cycling.”
Roudha Al Awadhi, a co-founder of the group, said outdoor sports could help to improve people’s well-being and fight diabetes and obesity.
“The weather has had a positive impact, with more people joining us this winter,” said the engineer.
“Our group is for people who are new to sports. We will increase or reduce the distances depending on how the girls perform. They came out of curiosity. Once they experience the adrenaline boost, they keep wanting to do it and want to get out in the open air.”
The members of UAE Cycling Girls are a mix of university students, private-sector professionals and civil servants.
Instead of cycling on roads, they keep to tracks for cycling. Al Qudra is popular because many members do not own bicycles and they can rent them from shops there.
“Ladies prefer to go out in a group. We need this push because with social bonding it is more fun,” said Ms Al Awadhi.
Interest in cycling grew after the Roads and Transport Authority built more than 200km of dedicated cycling paths in Dubai after a call to promote the sport from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Samira Bu Humaid, a horse-riding enthusiast who had never cycled in a group, was drawn to cycling by UAE Cycling Girls. “I really enjoyed it because you rarely find Emirati ladies who go out together for activities, specially cycling,” she said.
“I got to know other local ladies and they really inspired me not only to take up cycling for fun but for fitness.
“I’m a horse rider and I learnt tips to cycle without getting tired over long distances. I want to encourage more ladies, not just Emiratis, to keep healthy and join the group so that we have a bigger community.”
The group has the support of older clubs.
“What I love about the group is that it is a relatively new sport to this country and they are embracing it. The numbers will slowly grow,” said Emma Woodcock, founder of Velo Vixens, a women’s cycling group with 780 members that began with a dozen enthusiasts four years ago.
rtalwar@thenational.ae