Road · United Arab Emirates
Showka Hills Loop via Musseili
- 54 km
- 713 m
- Moderate
- Paved
Elevation profile
- 713 m
- 54 km
Route overview
Cyclists suited to a medium-distance ride with moderate climbing on mostly paved roads.
53.8 km loop from Showka in the Hajar Mountains, UAE, with 594 m climbing on mostly paved roads.
The Showka short hills loop starts and finishes in Showka and passes the place Musseili at 2.4 km. It loops through the Hajar Mountains region, with a total elevation gain of 594 m over 53.8 km. The route climbs steadily with six main climbs: the longest is 3.8 km from 38.6 km gaining 199 m at an average gradient of 5.3%. Other climbs range from 1.4 to 3.4 km in length with average gradients between 3.1 and 4.3%. The highest point of the ride is 531 m at 42.4 km, and the lowest is 263 m near the finish at 53.3 km. Nearly all the route (99%) is on paved surfaces, with just 1% on gravel or unpaved. The roads are mainly motorway (65%) and main road (33%), with small parts on track and quiet street making up 2%. The route includes 52.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 21.4 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or above. The longest stretches on named roads are Sharjah - Kalba Road for 15.9 km, Al Watan Road for 13.2 km, and Al Rabet Street for 3.9 km. There are no cafés, shops, or water points along the route, with a continuous 53.6 km stretch without these amenities. Two toilet facilities are located just off the route at 14.1 km and 21.7 km, and a bike shop is near the route at 8.5 km. The route passes beneath Jabal Al Hinnah (637 m) near 11.5 km and Jabal Ash Shahayrah (532 m) near 14.8 km. Temperatures recorded are 32 to 34 °C in May and September.
Highlights
- Climb reaching 531 m at 42.4 km
- Passes beneath Jabal Al Hinnah and Jabal Ash Shahayrah
- Longest climb 3.8 km at 5.3% gradient
- Route follows Sharjah - Kalba and Al Watan Roads
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | Length | Gain | Average | Max | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 8.7 km | 2.9 km | 108 m | 3.7 % | 5.6 % | 399 m |
| — | 13.5 km | 3.4 km | 105 m | 3.1 % | 5.5 % | 488 m |
| — | 24.9 km | 1.4 km | 57 m | 4.1 % | 7.9 % | 379 m |
| — | 26.7 km | 1.7 km | 74 m | 4.3 % | 9.3 % | 442 m |
| — | 36 km | 1.8 km | 52 m | 2.9 % | 4.5 % | 363 m |
| Showka climb | 38.6 km | 3.8 km | 199 m | 5.3 % | 10.9 % | 531 m |
Showka climb · starts at 38.6 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 65% motorway · 33% main road · 1% track · 1% quiet street
- Main roads
- 52.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 21.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (16 km), Al Watan Road (13 km), Al Rabet Street (4 km)
- Surface
- Paved throughout
- Gradient
- 31% climbing · 32% descending · 38% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.1 km over 5% · 1 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 18.6% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 3.2 km from 17 km, dropping 111 m
Along the way
Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 54 km, from 0 km to 54 km.
Food, water and shops
- 8.5 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 570 m off route
- 14.1 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 21.7 kmToilets · on the route
Practical information
- Paved
- Loop
- 2–3 hours riding
- May, Sep
- Dec to Feb — daily highs of 24–26 °C in those months
Know before you go
- 53.6 km with no café, shop or water
- 52.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 21.4 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h+
- 1% gravel or unpaved surface
