Showka Hills

Showka, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab EmiratesRoad

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Saturday 15th October 2022

80 km
Distance: 869 m
Elevation gain: Hard
Difficulty: Paved
Surface

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Elevation profile

Total ascent: 869 m
Distance: 80 km

Route overview

Riders comfortable with 80 km distance and moderate climbing on mostly paved roads.

80.3 km loop in the Hajar Mountains around Showka, UAE, with 764 m climbing and mainly paved roads.

The route starts and ends in Showka, traversing 80.3 km mainly on motorways and main roads. The ride visits Musseili at 6.2 km, Yaif at 25.6 km, and several other settlements before returning. It uses Al Watan Road for 18.7 km and Sharjah - Kalba Road for 18.3 km with 72.4 km on main roads lacking cycle lanes, including 32.1 km on roads with 80 km/h or more speed limits. There are four climbs: a 5.7 km ascent from 14.6 km gaining 201 m with a max 10.1% gradient, a 5.8 km climb from 38.6 km gaining 191 m, a shorter 1.4 km climb at 55.8 km gaining 45 m, and a 5.1 km climb from 65.8 km with 150 m elevation. The highest point is 532 m at 20.3 km and the lowest 208 m at 51.7 km. The first half includes 37% of the total climbing. The surface is 99% paved with a short 1% gravel or unpaved section. Services include a petrol station at 38.2 km, a supermarket at 51 km slightly off-route, and two sets of toilets near 66.2 and 73.9 km. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 38.2 km from the start. Showka Bicycles bike shop is at the start and finish. The ride passes beneath the 532 m Jabal Ash Shahayrah and 637 m Jabal Al Hinnah peaks near the end.

Highlights

Climb to 532 m peak at 20.3 km
Passes settlements including Musseili and Yaif
Longest 38 km with no shop or water
Peaks Jabal Ash Shahayrah and Jabal Al Hinnah nearby

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

Musseili 6.2 km
Yaif 25.6 km
Al Qor 28 km
Sha'biyyat Milāḩ 30.2 km
As Simsimānīyah 40.6 km
Huwaylat 50.8 km
Sikhе̄bar 55.5 km
Al Wa'ab 56.2 km
Munay 59 km

Climbs

Climb	Starts at	Length	Gain	Average	Max	Top
Showka climb	14.6 km	5.7 km	201 m	3.6 %	10.1 %	532 m
As Simsimānīyah climb	38.6 km	5.8 km	191 m	3.3 %	9.4 %	410 m
—	55.8 km	1.4 km	45 m	3.2 %	5.7 %	279 m
—	65.8 km	5.1 km	150 m	3 %	7.9 %	485 m

High point 532 m at 20.3 km; low point 208 m. Passes beneath Jabal Ash Shahayrah, Jabal Al Hinnah.

Showka climb · starts at 14.6 km

5.6 km at 3.6% · 203 m

< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

As Simsimānīyah climb · starts at 38.6 km

5.9 km at 3.2% · 189 m

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads: 49% motorway · 42% main road · 7% minor road · 1% track
Main roads: 72.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads: 32.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used: Al Watan Road (19 km), Sharjah - Kalba Road (18 km)
Surface: Paved throughout
Gradient: 28% climbing · 27% descending · 45% flat
Steep sections: 3.1 km over 5% · 1.3 km over 8% · 0.5 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 18.1% at 0 km
Longest descent: 5.6 km from 45 km, dropping 184 m