Ride into the desert with Dubai's own roadsters
Our city streets might not yet be the most cycle-friendly but that has not stopped the UAE's pedal-happy club from pushing themselves every week
The Dubai Roadsters, a group of cycling enthusiasts, have been meeting every week early Friday morning to hit the road and pedal their worries away.
The group, open to everyone, has been going from strength to strength, says Wolfgang Hohmann, who, along with his wife, founded the group.
Riders can choose between 80-kilometre and 140-kilometre ride routes.
And if that is a bit daunting for amateurs, the group also meets every Tuesday and Sunday evening for training rides at the Nad Al Sheba Circuit to help newbies get acquainted and up their fitness levels. Membership is free and all you need is a racing-style bike in good working condition, Hohmann says.
Hohmann, who also owns Wolfi's Bike Shop, shares his top tips on what to look for when buying a bike:
- Think about what you are planning to do with your bike and where you are likely to use it. Will you be joining a group of riders? If so, see what style of bike your fellow riders will be using.
- Visit a professional shop and seek advice. You should have a wide range of products available on display to choose from. Plan to spend about one hour to get information and get fitted properly to your bike. Small changes and adjustments can make a big difference and improve comfort and safety. Make sure you get good after-sales support — servicing options and follow-up fitting sessions.
- Test-ride the bike to see if you are comfortable on the suggested bike size and that you are aware about all the functions.
- Get safety equipment, such as a helmet, gloves, lights and some cycling shorts with padding, to improve comfort.
- Now get out on your new bike and enjoy riding it.
For more information on the group and to get familiar with riding etiquette, go to DubaiRoadsters.com and wbs.ae
