Road · United Arab Emirates
Showka Hills Loop via Musseili
A hilly 54 km road cycling loop from Showka, Ras Al Khaimah through Musseili, with 713 m of climbing over Showka climb (531 m). Most of it (52.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 21.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 54 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 53.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 713 m
- Riding time
- 2–3 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 54 km
- Best months
- Dec to Feb
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Showka
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 713 m
- 54 km
Route description
- Showka
- Musseili
- Showka climb (531 m)
- Showka
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.
Why ride this route?
- The shortest of the 16 rides from Showka, yet it climbs 713 m.
- Climbs Showka climb (531 m) (3.8 km at 5.2 %).
- Tops out at 531 m, 42.4 km in.
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 | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 8.7 km | 2.9 km · 108 m · 3.7 % · max 5.6 % | — | 399 m |
| Unnamed climb | 13.5 km | 3.4 km · 105 m · 3.1 % · max 5.5 % | — | 488 m |
| Unnamed climb | 24.9 km | 1.4 km · 57 m · 4.1 % · max 7.9 % | — | 379 m |
| Unnamed climb | 26.7 km | 1.7 km · 74 m · 4.3 % · max 9.3 % | — | 442 m |
| Unnamed climb | 36 km | 1.8 km · 52 m · 2.9 % · max 4.5 % | — | 363 m |
| Showka climb (531 m) | 38.6 km | 3.8 km · 199 m · 5.3 % · max 10.9 % | 3.8 km · 200 m · 5.2 % | 531 m |
Showka climb (531 m) · full ascent, starts at 38.6 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 97% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 21.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- 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: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- 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
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 54 km, from the start. Along the route: 2 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 8.5 kmShowka Bicycles · bike shop · 570 m off route
- 14.1 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 21.7 kmToilets · on the route
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
