Road · United Arab Emirates
Kalba – Munay – Generator Hill
A hilly 103 km road cycling loop from Kalba, Sharjah through Al Qilē'ī, Harrah and Al Ghail, with 1,070 m of climbing over the Harrah climb and the As Simsimānīyah climb. Most of it (87.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 19 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 45 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 43–88).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 102.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,070 m
- Riding time
- 3–4 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 45 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Kalba
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,070 m
- 103 km
Route description
- Kalba
- Al Qilē'ī
- Harrah climb
- Harrah
- Al Ghail
- Wahala
- Rāfāq
- As Simsimānīyah climb
- As Simsimānīyah
- Kalba
Starting in Kalba, the route heads towards Al Qilē'ī and Minazif before climbing gently for 1.9 km from 7.2 km (2.5% average gradient). It passes through Fayyad then climbs again for 2.1 km from 14.6 km at 2.3% average gradient. A longer climb of 2.9 km averaging 5.5% takes the route to near the highest point at about 20 km near Jabal Al Miqsha (400 m). The route then descends and continues through Harrah, Shia, and Al Uqdah. From 24.3 km, a moderate 2.9 km climb of 2.5% average starts.
The loop continues passing Al Ghail, Al Saaf, and Al Maqt'a reaching a low point at 41.6 km of 2 m elevation. Between 42.7 km and 87.7 km there are no café, shop, or water facilities for 45 km. However, at 40.8 km just before this stretch, there is a Starbucks café and toilets nearby, along with petrol stations at 40.6 km and later at 87.7 km. The route passes Wahala Fort near 54.6 km and Jabal Naselah peak near 60.2 km. Later climbs include a 5.9 km climb averaging 3.2% from 75.3 km and a final short 1.6 km climb at 92.5 km averaging 2.8%. The route mostly follows main roads (67.2 km) and motorways (17.5 km) with 95% paved surface and some minor unpaved sections.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Harrah climb (3.1 km at 5.1 %) and the As Simsimānīyah climb (5.9 km at 3.2 %).
- Tops out at 508 m, 20 km in.
- An 8.4 km descent dropping 222 m.
Highlights
- Highest point near Jabal Al Miqsha at 508 m
- Long 45 km stretch without café, shop or water
- Wahala Fort near 54.6 km
- Jabal Naselah peak near 60.2 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 7.2 km | 1.9 km · 49 m · 2.5 % · max 4 % | — | 305 m |
| Unnamed climb | 14.6 km | 2.1 km · 49 m · 2.3 % · max 5.2 % | — | 325 m |
| Harrah climb | 17 km | 2.9 km · 158 m · 5.5 % · max 11.9 % | 3.1 km · 158 m · 5.1 % | 485 m |
| Unnamed climb | 24.3 km | 2.9 km · 70 m · 2.5 % · max 6.9 % | — | 267 m |
| Unnamed climb | 44.2 km | 1.6 km · 57 m · 3.6 % · max 8.1 % | — | 92 m |
| As Simsimānīyah climb | 75.3 km | 5.9 km · 187 m · 3.2 % · max 8.8 % | 5.9 km · 189 m · 3.2 % | 406 m |
| Unnamed climb | 92.5 km | 1.6 km · 44 m · 2.8 % · max 5.8 % | — | 278 m |
Harrah climb · full ascent, starts at 17.2 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
As Simsimānīyah climb · full ascent, starts at 75.3 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 85% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 19 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 67% main road · 17% motorway · 5% minor road · 5% other · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 87.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 19 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (15 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 95% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 3% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 24% descending · 52% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.6 km over 5% · 0.9 km over 8% · 0.3 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 20.6% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 8.4 km from 28.1 km, dropping 222 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 45 km, from km 43 to 88. Along the route: 4 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 2 petrol stations and 2 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 37.4 kmKalba Health Center · clinic · 130 m off route
- 40.6 kmADNOC · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 40.8 kmStarbucks · café · 60 m off route
- 40.8 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 42.7 kmKiosk · 80 m off route
- 87.7 kmADNOC · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 87.8 kmnaseem al howailat · supermarket · 40 m off route
Worth a stop
- 42.9 km — Wildlife observation (viewpoint)
- 54.6 km — Wahla Fort (castle)
- 60.3 km — Jabal Naselah (peak, 178 m)
Know before you go
- 45 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 42.7 km
- 87.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 19 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more
- 2% gravel or unpaved sections
