Road · United Arab Emirates
Showka to Sufayri via Al Qor and Huwaylat
A hilly 84 km road cycling loop from Showka, Ras Al Khaimah through Al Qor, Sufayri and Huwaylat, with 953 m of climbing. Most of it (78.8 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 41.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 41 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 84.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 953 m
- Riding time
- 3½–4½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 41 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Showka
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 953 m
- 84 km
Route description
- Showka
- Yaif
- Al Qor
- Sha'biyyat Milāḩ
- Sufayri
- As Simsimānīyah
- Huwaylat
- Sikhе̄bar
- Al Wa'ab
- Showka
The route starts in Showka with a 2.9 km climb gaining 107 m at an average gradient of 3.7%, reaching 399 m near Jabal Al Hinnah. Shortly after, another climb of 3.6 km covers 105 m with a max gradient of 5.5%, peaking at 488 m. The first half of the ride includes two more climbs before reaching the village of Yaif at 22.2 km and passing Al Qor and Sha'biyyat Milāḩ at 24.6 and 25.6 km. The road surfaces are mostly paved, with 95% paved and 3% gravel or unpaved sections. The route predominantly follows motorways (64%), with significant sections on main and major roads, mostly without cycle lanes. The longest steep climb is 5 km with an average gradient of 3% starting at 70.2 km, reaching the highest point of 488 m. Places en route include Sufayri at 43.7 km, As Simsimānīyah at 53 km, and Sikhēbar at 60.2 km.
There is a notable longest stretch without café, shop, or water for 40.8 km from the start, with food and drink available off-route near 43 km. Toilets are located at 5.4 km, 13.1 km, and 44.3 km. Petrol stations are found at 40.8 km and 55.3 km. The road includes sharp gradients with a steepest 500 m section at 21.1% from the start. The road classes mix motorway, main, major roads and a few quiet streets or tracks, with a very significant proportion on roads posted over 80 km/h for 41.7 km. The route ends back at Showka where a bike shop is located. The ride is done in March with temperatures recorded around 28 °C.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 488 m, 8.3 km in.
- A 6.3 km descent dropping 171 m.
Highlights
- Climb starting at 70.2 km, 5 km at 3% avg gradient
- Passing beneath Jabal Al Hinnah (637 m) at 2.9 km
- Villages passed: Yaif, Sufayri, Sikhēbar
- Longest descent 6.3 km from 8.5 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.9 km · 107 m · 3.7 % · max 5.3 % | 399 m |
| Unnamed climb | 4.7 km | 3.6 km · 105 m · 3 % · max 5.5 % | 488 m |
| Unnamed climb | 17.7 km | 1.8 km · 52 m · 3 % · max 4.8 % | 363 m |
| Unnamed climb | 28.6 km | 3.4 km · 87 m · 2.5 % · max 3.6 % | 402 m |
| Unnamed climb | 32.2 km | 1.9 km · 51 m · 2.7 % · max 4.1 % | 455 m |
| Unnamed climb | 45 km | 2.4 km · 84 m · 3.5 % · max 5.6 % | 386 m |
| Unnamed climb | 47.9 km | 1.2 km · 54 m · 4.7 % · max 7.7 % | 408 m |
| Unnamed climb | 60.3 km | 1.5 km · 44 m · 3 % · max 6.2 % | 279 m |
| Unnamed climb | 70.2 km | 5 km · 148 m · 3 % · max 8 % | 482 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 93% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 41.7 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 64% motorway · 22% main road · 8% major road · 3% track · 1% other roads and tracks · 2% unmapped
- Main roads
- 78.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 41.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (34 km), Al Watan Road (14 km), E44 (6 km), Al Rabet Street (3 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 95% is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved or gravel and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 31% climbing · 30% descending · 39% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.5 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 21.1% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 6.3 km from 8.5 km, dropping 171 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 41 km, from the start. Along the route: 10 cafés and restaurants, 3 shops, 4 petrol stations, 3 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 5.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 13.1 kmToilets · on the route
- 40.8 kmENOC · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 43.3 kmTannor Lahm · restaurant · 40 m off route
- 43.6 kmZOOM · convenience store · 90 m off route
- 44.3 kmToilets · 150 m off route
- 44.3 kmHatta Pharmacy LLC. · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 55.3 kmADNOC · petrol station · 100 m off route
- 55.6 kmnaseem al howailat · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 83.9 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 490 m off route
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Showka Bicycles (620 m)
Know before you go
- 78.8 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 41.7 km on roads with posted speeds 80 km/h or more
- Longest stretch without café/shop/water 40.8 km from start
- Gravel or unpaved for 3% of the route
