Road · United Arab Emirates
An Out and Back Route from Shees Rest Area
A hilly 74 km road cycling loop from Khor Fakkan, Sharjah through Ghadf, Al Khalabiya and Yalah, with 927 m of climbing over Daftah climb (615 m). Most of it (39.9 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 32 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 42 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 14–56).
6 photographs from the road
Videos from this Ride
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 73.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 927 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 58 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Colnago V5RS
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 42 km
- Best months
- Nov to Mar
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Khor Fakkan
What was the weather like for this ride
- Sky
- Clear
- Temperature
- 23 → 31 °C
- Wind
- Calm
- Rain
- None
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 927 m
- 74 km
What it was like to ride
Route description
- Khor Fakkan
- Ghadf
- Al Khalabiya
- Yalah
- شعبيات قبر اليهودي
- Al Jaroof
- Al Tayyibah
- Daftah climb (615 m)
- Daftah
- Khor Fakkan
A 74km route that starts at the Shees rest area just beyond the first tunnel on the road to Khor Fakkan. Heads through Masafi and on to a quiet, winding road that ends in a small village called Al Jaroof. There's a grocery store there for refreshements. Just be aware that they only accept cash.
Why ride this route?
- The shortest of the 7 rides from Khor Fakkan, yet it climbs 927 m.
- Climbs Daftah climb (615 m) (7.4 km at 4 %).
- Tops out at 613 m, 69.8 km in.
- A 5.5 km descent dropping 225 m.
Highlights
- Steep 1 km climb at start to 768 m
- Longest descent of 6 km starting near 1 km
- Climb near km 64 with max gradient 21.2%
- Passes near Jabal Shemah and Jabal Daftah peaks
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 1.4 km · 41 m · 2.8 % · max 4.2 % | — | 595 m |
| Unnamed climb | 7.3 km | 4.4 km · 117 m · 2.7 % · max 4 % | — | 484 m |
| Unnamed climb | 24 km | 1.3 km · 52 m · 4.2 % · max 7.9 % | — | 515 m |
| Unnamed climb | 35.5 km | 1.2 km · 60 m · 5 % · max 9.6 % | — | 443 m |
| Unnamed climb | 40.4 km | 3 km · 66 m · 2.3 % · max 3.5 % | — | 437 m |
| Unnamed climb | 43.6 km | 1.9 km · 89 m · 4.7 % · max 9 % | — | 520 m |
| Daftah climb (615 m) | 64.2 km | 5.6 km · 245 m · 4.4 % · max 8.2 % | 7.4 km · 298 m · 4 % | 613 m |
Daftah climb (615 m) · full ascent, starts at 64.1 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 54% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 32 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 55% major road · 42% minor road · 3% quiet street
- Main roads
- 39.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 32 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Masafi-Dibba Road (18 km), Khorfakkan Road (11 km), Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 31% climbing · 34% descending · 35% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.7 km over 5% · 0.5 km over 8% · 0.3 km over 10%
- Longest descent
- 5.5 km from 1.8 km, dropping 225 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 42 km, from km 14 to 56. Along the route: 11 cafés and restaurants, 14 shops, 2 water points, 2 petrol stations and 3 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 9.6 kmAl Aswaq · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 13.5 kmAl Dahreez · bakery · 50 m off route
- 55.8 kmSupermarket · 60 m off route
- 57 kmAden Mandi Restaurant · restaurant · on the route
- 57.4 kmADNOC · petrol station · on the route
- 60.3 kmMasafi Hospital · hospital · 170 m off route
- 63.8 kmDrinking water · 170 m off route
- 71 kmEmarat · petrol station · on the route
- 71.3 kmMohamed Al Yoha Supermarket · supermarket · 30 m off route
- 72.1 kmGerard · café · 90 m off route
- 72.1 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
- 72.1 kmToilets · 50 m off route
Start and access
- Where to start · Marcus
- Shees parking area
- Parking · Marcus
- Shees parking area. It's not free. Paid parking starts from 8am. Use your mobile to buy a ticket.
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- Alsad Ice Cream - Branch 2 (240 m), Tazej & Khafif Cafeteria (150 m), Lemon & Nenaa Cafeteria (210 m)
- Shops
- Mohamed Al Yoha Supermarket (220 m)
Know before you go
- 42.3 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from km 13.5 to 55.8
- 39.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 32 km on roads with posted limits 80 km/h or more
- 1% gravel or unpaved surface
