Cycling in Showka

Cycling guide to Showka

Showka sits in the Hajar Mountains, and every recorded route from it is a loop. The shortest is a 54 km circuit through Musseili with 594 m of climbing; the longest runs 141.5 km with 1,379 m of gain, taking in Al Qor, Mudayrah, Al Warqa, Masfut, Shariyah, Hayl and Hatta before turning back through Huwaylat and Wahala. In between are loops of 60, 76, 80, 84, 96, 100, 102, 108, 113, 127 and 132 km, so the same base serves a short hills ride or a full day. The roads fan out in several directions. North-east, rides reach Minazif, Al Qilē'ī and the coast at Sour Kalba and Tarif Kalba. Southward loops towards Shinas cross into Oman through Rāfāq, Al Naslah and Um al Ghaf, some of them twice. Eastern routes run to Masafi, Manama and Thoban on the way to Dibba and Khor Fakkan, while another passes Esfini, Rima and Far`ah towards Fujairah.

Best time to ride

Rides are recorded from September to May. The coolest readings come in January, at 17 °C to 22 °C, with November to March generally between 18 °C and 28 °C. April and May are warmer, at 29 °C to 32 °C, and September readings reach 34 °C.

Terrain

The riding is rolling rather than sustained: the featured climb on most loops is 1.3 to 5 km long with 43 to 266 m of gain, averaging 2.7% to 7.5% and peaking between 4% and 10.4%. High points sit mostly between 459 m and 508 m, though the Fujairah loop tops out at 828 m after a 2.9 km rise averaging 5.6%.