ROCK THE RIDE
▶ Gravel cycling is on track to take the Emirates by storm, writes Nathan Irvine
To the untrained eye, gravel cycling looks as though someone on a traditional road bike has lost their way in comical fashion. Straying from smooth asphalt tracks, gravel bike riders seemingly hurtle across a mountainside at breakneck speed trying to rejoin their mates. As hilarious as this scenario is, there are some intricate differences that make gravel cycling the hottest leisure activity on two wheels right now.
Gravel bikes have the same drop handlebars (read: curved bars) and dimensions as a road bike seen at the Tour de France. However, they’re built for increased durability and have wider tyres with deeper tread, which can grip loose gravel and steep terrain.
The sport, which combines the speeds of road cycling with the freedom of mountain bike riding, has been around for a few decades, but it’s only just started to enter the mainstream. Gravel biking is attracting a lot of attention at the moment because of how seamless the transition from road cycling to off-road riding is. One minute you’re blasting along in a peloton on the tarmac and the next you can be powering through dirt tracks on the same bike.
Gravel cycling, in its basic form, has been around since the bicycle was first invented. But it’s only within the past decade that it has become a discipline in its own right. In fact, 2022 will be the first year that cycling’s governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale, will sanction official global events for the sport in countries such as Spain, the
Philippines and the US. And although the UAE isn’t currently on the list of official race venues, we predict it’s only a matter of time before it is.
Abu Dhabi is now officially a “Bike City” and is building a new 12,000-square-metre velodrome that will offer track racing. The Abu Dhabi Loop will be a segregated cycleway linking key destinations, and the current 300-kilometre cycling network will be increased to more than 1,000km. Meanwhile, Dubai recently announced its lofty target of having a whopping 739km of cycle track by 2026.
To further enhance its reputation as one of the cycling capitals of the world, the UAE is embracing gravel cycling and blazing trails across the
Emirates. From specially sculpted tracks around Al Qudra lakes to tree-lined routes and technical turns through Mushrif Park, there are several places to give gravel cycling a whirl. Venture out towards the mountainous regions of Ras Al Khaimah and you’ll see gravel cyclists zooming across makeshift tracks.
It’s all about the sense of adventure when it comes to this sport. And getting off the beaten path in search of new thrills is key to gravel cycling’s growing popularity.
Emirati ultra-cyclist Omar Al Saadi is leading the gravel cycling charge in the UAE. He recently opened Edge Cycling store and cafe in Dubai’s Town Square, providing a gateway to the sport for curious riders. With its dedicated line-up of gravel-spec bikes – which are available to buy or hire alongside all the accessories you need to go out and explore safely – Edge Cycling aims to add to its burgeoning community. Pedal cafe is another go-to for bespoke bikes.
“I was originally a mountain bike rider,” says Al Saadi. “But to get better at it, I had to do road bike riding as it was more accessible for training near my home. I had some races where I had to ride on gravel on my road bike and I found this very cool as it allowed me to merge long-distance riding with off-roading.”
He has since taken part in long-distance, ultra-style races on a gravel bike. Getting away from the traffic and, as Al Saadi puts it “engaging more with nature”, is a big reason behind why he fell in love with the sport. Through Edge Cycling, Al
We have some amazing places around the UAE that are yet to be discovered by cyclists OMAR AL SAADI
Edge Cycling founder
Saadi hopes to introduce more people to these benefits.
“I want people to have the same stories and experiences that I have had with gravel cycling,” he says. “I want it to be much more than selling a bike and then leave them hanging when it comes to actual experiences.”
As for what the future holds for gravel biking in the UAE and beyond, he is optimistic that the sport is set to thrive. “We have some amazing places around the UAE that are yet to be discovered by cyclists. Being in the middle of the world, we’re only a few hours on a flight away from even more amazing places to ride gravel bikes, too.”
For now, the UAE’s diverse landscape provides a readymade playground for those with a bit of imagination and daring. With most road bikes able to transform into a gravel bike by swapping slick tyres for some with a deep tread, the country’s thriving cycling scene could soon shift the focus to uncharted territory.