One of the most popular ways in which Emiratis keep fit is cycling, thanks to the lovely beaches of Dubai as well as the picturesque cycling tracks scattered all over the city. The power of pedalling can enhance your endurance, cardiovascular health and tone your lower body like no other. The government of Dubai has encouraged people to ditch their cars and motorbikes and take to cycling even when commuting to office. Here are some safety aspects as well as other important aspects of cycling that you must know.
Buying a new bike is not only an investment but it is something worth pondering over before you take the final plunge. Hit all the major biking shops. Most of the business bike owners are avid cyclers themselves and can give you terrific inputs from their repertoire of experience. For social riding a good quality entry level bike for Dhs 3000 may just be the right pick for you. For sporting events and tours you may need a sturdier bike with good gears. Wolfgang Hohmann is one of the pioneers of the cycling business on Sheikh Zayed road. He is the go to person for all things biking be it size, flexibility and sportiness and bikes for your body type. You have hybrid bikes, racing bikes and mountain bikes to choose from.
There is no excuse for your head safety, so investing in a good helmet is an absolute must. You can easily have a fall even from a stationery position and sustain serious injuries. The UAE government has made helmets mandatory and you can be fined if you are found defaulting. Besides a good helmet, padded cycling shorts are a must especially for long distance biking to prevent saddle sores. The shorts come in Lycra and sweat absorbing material that make cycling super comfortable. Long distance cycling must not be attempted without a survival kit consisting of a spare tube, water bottle, puncture kit and a pump.
Getting into competitive racing will give you a fair idea about your riding prowess. Dubai organises may rides like the RAK ride with 30 km or full 80 km, Ajman ride with 48 and 102 kms and the spinneys which has 42 or 92 kms. The routes are flat and racing with others will give you the competitive edge and can get you racing fit in no time.
Cycling is an all in one workout. Providing the benefits of endurance, strength and stamina, it also builds and tones your major muscles like the calves, quads and the glutes. Your arm strength and core stability also improves as you hold the bike. The resistance provided by cycling uphill and exerting pressure on the pedals provides resistance training which is great for your bone density.
As discussed above, wearing a helmet is mandatory. Bicyclists are prohibited from cycling on freeways, major highways and high traffic areas. The police encourage people to use the smaller internal roads or the dedicated cycling tracks that are meant for this purpose. Cyclists are also fined if they are found to be speeding beyond 60 miles per hour. A fine of AED 600 can be levied. Wearing reflective clothing for night riding and using bike lights is also advisable to avoid accidents at night. And in summers, you need stay hydrated at all times to prevent heat stroke and fatigue.
There is a wealth of options for people wanting a gentle ride around the park, a sprint on the cycling track, a mountain biking route or a jaunt on the beach. The Al quadra is one of the longest paved tracks on the desert covering 100 kms. In between there is cycle mechanics store, a medical centre and a coffee shop. This part of the route sees the maximum activity. Every Wednesday evening the Dubai Autodrome hosts a dedicated cycling session perfect for kicking off after a long day at office. The route is around 2.467 kms and includes gentle gradients too. Hatta mountain bike trail is the first of its kind offering scenic cross country routes. There is almost 50 kms of cycling track which also gives a panoramic view of the Hatta sunrise. Since it’s cross country, bikers are advised to be in good shape for taking this route.
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