Hajaar Mountains: Hatta, Oman.

michael196

Last week I met up with Dubai Roadsters, for one of their weekly spins around the back roads and by pass roads of Dubai. Pefect surfaces all around. A relativly flat 120 K ride, completed in 3 hours 25 from memory, in relativly cool, 28 dEg C.

On the ride, the guys announced a trip into the Hajaar mountians for Friday just past. As Dubai is as flat as a pancake , i thought, lets give it a shot......

Here is how it went ........


A ride from the hot Hell, that was the Hajar mountains .............

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/74950717

4 hours 30 minutes,
118 Km,
500 M climbs,
total elevation climbing : 1677 Meters,
max heart 181,
max speed 70kmph
6 litres of water consumed
40 degree heat



up at 03:30 am, breakfast,
04:00 taxi transfer to Pick up point,
05:00 Am depart Dubai.
06:15 am arrive hatta.
06:30 am, just after sunrise and a drive out from Dubai to Hatta, Oman,

two passport checks en route. Heavy mist and fog en route. Into the Hatta fort Hotel grounds. all ready to go. Factor 30 on the face and arms and neck.

What started off as pedestrian at the start , our short distance people turned back, and the serious business started.

Straight into a hill, no warm ups, early morning so not so bad.

Hills immediatly displaying 7% gradient as we headed east towards Fujeriah, into the red sands. Stopping with in a few kilometers to allow everyone to regroup.

Traveling east, the hills soon started, and after 45 minutes or so we arrived at the first tunnel buit on the mountain summit. For this tunnel the guys, stayed outside, catching some sunshine, as we looked back down the steep 10% gradient to encouage on the final few people.

On wards thru the tunnel, in a single file, This tunnel was where two Dubai roadster Cyclists died last year after a collision with a motor bike. Exiting the tunnel with a steep descent afterwards , avoiding the rumble strips . Appear to have hit 70Kmph on this section.



Continued on to Kalba to turn around. Feeling weaker as we arrived into kalba, water refueling, the guys powering on as I went off the back , luckily a garage break was coming up.


On the return , the work realy started. Our 500 Meter descent on the way down had to be reclimbed, as the circuit was a circular one. By now we were past 10 am and the sunshine begining to get temperatures up. Heading back though the center of the mountain range, meant that no sea breezes were available, and soon we found ourselves enclosed by rock all round , experiencing micro climates of heat, humidity and cool air every few kilometers. air temperatures of 36 down by the coast rose to 40 deg C in the enclosed rocky moutnain climb. Energy bars turning into sludge in my back pockets.



Two major hills to climb on a 60 Km return journey. The diggers and excavators of these roads must have been stuck on a 10% gradient seting, as once 10% appeared on the garmin, it stayed on , kilmoeter, after kilometer after kilometer.

The road tunnel . came into sight about 1.5 km from the top of a 3 km climb at a constant 10% gradient. As I approached the tunnel, the lack of air, the enclosed heat, the sun on my back,sweat inside the jersey bagan to get hotter and hotter, things got very hot under the collar. . It was so important to reach the tunnel to get out of the oppressive heat , at least for a few minutes. THe option of stopping on the road side for a breather with no shade , and a steep enough gradient to restart on , was just not attractive.

Finally reaching the tunnel entrance, my back felt so hot and sweaty, and hot sweat on the skin all over. hot sweat inside the jersey, This time no sunbathing, every one was inside the tunnel , out of the heat. resting up while we waited for the remaining crew.

10% is not massivly diffcult I know, but the heat zapping energy , made it feel very difficult. the experience gave me an apporeciation for the TDF guys climbing in the heat.

I had bought a top to wear next to the skin to evaporate sweat. I used this during the week and it worked great, but feeling patriotic I decided to wear my wexford wheelers jersey with only a few inches of zip to open. I just fried in the jersey....with the sweat not escaping.

Cadence on the hillclimb was down at 40 : my gears were 56 39 , 12 25, so not exactly set up for these hills,. I had been trying to hit cadence of 50-60 during the week in flat dubai as part of training, but couldnt get below 70 in top gear !!!


Heart spent a lot of time in the 170+ region. Most times i looked down I saw 175 bpm . Heart began to max out at 181 BPM. Luckily no dizziness or dehydration .

Stoppin inside the tunnel shade, and looking back, cars only became visible 20 yards back, such was the gradient entering the tunnel.
The 500 meter climbs, was complete.

yep, of course the lighter guys left me on the hill, but i held my own.

Out of the tunnel and a steep descent started, every wet part of my body and clothing, legs, top of the legs , arms chest, back, etc began to freeze in the breeze on descent . Very distracting to fell all this evaporation all over , juts an uncanny experience. The descent continued as I continued to get colder and colder. ( so many wet spots !!!:D)

the second major hill, and again cadence right down to 40, heart at 175. 1.5 km climb at 10% again.

Mountain goats all over the roads causing havoc with traffic . Motor bike roaring by , with massive sounds.

steep descent again, and the rolling short sharp 10%'s back to the hotel, only a few hundred yards long , but were killers as energy was gone at this stage.

Absolute murder. the group spread out over 2 km on arriving back...

I stopped at one stage, second last hill, not knowing was it the heat or my energy or the steepness of the cimbs, the limiting factor in getting over these last few climbs. guys encouraging , tellin me how long the hills were and how close we were to fisinhing. Back on the bike to grind up the last few hills.


usually a back up jeep follows to act as broom, as no one is left behind in he desert here. If you go off the back usually, u will be picked up into a jeep. the jeeps also carry tonnes of bottled water.

2 hours of this ride captured on HD video and will be put up ASAP.

recovery ride today.... 2 hours , heart not budging above 130 ish !!!!


I started cycling last year on this holiday at 16 stone, after a long absense from road biking, and not managing the 80 K roadster spins,. Struggled with 20 miles the first day back last year, so I am happy to be back this year at 13 st 3 lbs, and handling a 120K tough mountain ride. Spent the year doing sportives W200, Etape, SKT etc. and starting into A4 racing this year.

Anyone heading to the Carrick Sportive Challange in june, will see u there.

I think it was a tough ride, that will do more for me mentally rather than physically..........

fat bloke

Sounds amazing! Well done you.

What's the craic over there with bikes? Are they all riding the flash bling equivalent of their Bentleys and Bugatti's??

kenmc

any good bike shops worth a visit? What are the prices like?

blorg

The big one in Dubai is Wolfi's- 20km out on Sheikh Zayed road. Nice guys and helpful if you need something but the prices are worse than here. Nice shop with some bling but nothing you wouldn't see in Dublin. They are the main sponsor for Dubai Roadsters so if you want to go on a ride, that is the place to go, but I wouldn't bother for the shop unless you are with bike in Dubai and need something.

One thing it is next to impossible to get in Dubai, or anywhere else between the Austrian border and Bangkok, is a mount for a Garmin 705. There is a Specialized shop a little up the road towards the centre where one of the Filipino staff, Peter I think his name was, gave me the Garmin mount off his own bike, saying he could order a new one on the internet. And wouldn't take any money for it. To say I was touched would be an understatement, thank you again for that!

In Oman, there is a new "quality" bike shop in Muscat, again in the suburbs, Oman Bicycle. Run by a Dutch guy, Fran. Small shop, prices lower than Dubai but again you would have no reason to go unless you wanted something or to join them on a ride. I spent a few days with him and his wife Andrea while I was there. Lovely people and very helpful to us.

AFAIK that is basically it in the area. It is no bike mecca, that is for sure!

kenmc

right so, thanks for that blorg, am passing through over easter thought i might pick up a new helmet for less than here. no biggie so, saves me carrying it through thailand! although could be handy in the tuctucs

michael196

fat bloke wrote: »

Sounds amazing! Well done you.

What's the craic over there with bikes? Are they all riding the flash bling equivalent of their Bentleys and Bugatti's??

I underestimated these guys last year as i barely survived the 80km, little did i know that once past the 40k stage the remaining 80 K becomes a race for the 120k ride.

2 dutch guys on the 120 k past the 40 K turn back, just destroyed the field when they went up.

Rides go out at 5:30 and 6 am to avoid the heat.


yes flash bikes, one of the european regulars I spoke to on the first flat trip, told me some of the local arabs just turn up with new bikes very regularily. One local arab ( emarati ) guy crashed, took off to hospital, broken pelvis, when asked about the bike , just said he had no idea and would be calling in to buy a new one !!!

what ever part is the lightest gets bought...

out around the palaces ( Nad Al Sheeba : behind Meydan Race course) , a toyota pickup driving along, hazards on and flashjing orang on the roof, two cyclists being 'escorted' through the traffic. They passed me later heading back into busy motorway like traffic lanes, again the jeep escorting the guys through the traffic. Reckon these guys were of the priviledged classes.

Another guy old us . 'his driver' was availaable to drive the support vehicle...... Lots of Scotts as that is what Wolfis sell, and A german brand called Storck.

michael196

kenmc wrote: »

any good bike shops worth a visit? What are the prices like?

in 2010 my hire bike was a Scott Speedster . Being so comfortable on the bike ,and having two weeks to assess it for fit etc, trying 54 and 56 frames. I decided to purchase one on returning to Wexford.

The local bike shop had me try Felts, Riidleys, Giants, and a few others, but nothing would chnage my mind away from the scott.

12000 dirhams was quoted in Dubai , around 2100 euro at the time , and thas pretty much what I paid in ireland. Checking slane in belfast also cam e in at 2100 euro for the CR1

michael196

blorg wrote: »

The big one in Dubai is Wolfi's- 20km out on Sheikh Zayed road. Nice guys and helpful if you need something but the prices are worse than here. Nice shop with some bling but nothing you wouldn't see in Dublin. They are the main sponsor for Dubai Roadsters so if you want to go on a ride, that is the place to go, but I wouldn't bother for the shop unless you are with bike in Dubai and need something.

One thing it is next to impossible to get in Dubai, or anywhere else between the Austrian border and Bangkok, is a mount for a Garmin 705. There is a Specialized shop a little up the road towards the centre where one of the Filipino staff, Peter I think his name was, gave me the Garmin mount off his own bike, saying he could order a new one on the internet. And wouldn't take any money for it. To say I was touched would be an understatement, thank you again for that!

In Oman, there is a new "quality" bike shop in Muscat, again in the suburbs, Oman Bicycle. Run by a Dutch guy, Fran. Small shop, prices lower than Dubai but again you would have no reason to go unless you wanted something or to join them on a ride. I spent a few days with him and his wife Andrea while I was there. Lovely people and very helpful to us.

AFAIK that is basically it in the area. It is no bike mecca, that is for sure!

yep Wolfis is about the best, he must have 15 staff there at this point !!! I went to the specialised shop and the cannondale shop. nothing compared with Wolfis.

Scott clothing is hard to get in ireland , but a huge supply in Wolfis, so i usually stock up there !!

yep i forgot the Garmin 705 mount so I am relying on sellotape for the next few days at least .

Dubai is not a bike Mecca. Cyclng in Dubai is dangerous. The drivers are emarati, pakistani and indian. human life is worthless there.

A range rover passed me just today on Jumeriah Beach road, ( JBR), Full of pedestrian crossing, junctions , holidays makers. The guy was easily doing a tonne ( mph) on the road.

road fatalities in dubai are te highest in the world. Taking a txi ride and ur heart will be in ur mouth several times.

the other day I saw a Landcruiser mounted on a traffic break on JBR, police cars aorund, photogrpahers, but no other car. as i passed by, a rusty mountin bike lay crushed in front of the landcruiser.....pool of liquid on the road.......god only knows what happened.

last year on JBR, a jeep pulled right out as i was passing , i felt my rear tyre rubbing against his bumper,, i relay thought I was about to be run over, luckily then i hear him slap on the brakes, Emarati, very apologetic as i ask hime to be a lot more careful, I was shaking after it....

today a jeep over took me and pulled straight in , in front of me, I slapped on the brakes. pulled up beside the guy, and told him how dangerous what he just did was, 'sorry sir'' is all I kept getting .

every junction , every slipway must be checked and double checked, they just do not see bikes !!!

this year JBR is alot quiter. Wolfis route of 120K brings u out to the back subbarbs away from teh city into academic city. It fine out there, but getting there, u could easily be run over or killed. the biem shops do not advise u to cycle there unless u know the area.

I started going up and down JBR...last year.

michael196

kenmc wrote: »

right so, thanks for that blorg, am passing through over easter thought i might pick up a new helmet for less than here. no biggie so, saves me carrying it through thailand! although could be handy in the tuctucs

friend of mine asked to to pick up a TT helmet, found a specialised one in the specialised shop , 200 euro equivalent, back in ireland , same price....

the attraction in the bike shopping is the availability, stuff u cannot get in ireland, is what i tend to buy.

michael196

the sunshine is gauranteed, safety is not, police shy away from the powerful bentleys, rolls, porsche, beamers etc on the roads and pick on the easy prey of the small battered toyotas. latest police 5 series beamers now fitted with number plate recognition cameras.

the trucks display, ''how is my driving ?'' , u have to be 1 foot away from the bumper to read the phone number, usually 1 digit obliterated, then some bangladeshi call center answers who may as well be asking you, what do u want to order from the take away.....


number plates indicate status, 5 digits, u are a joe soap, 4 digits, u have some cash, 3 digits, u are near royalty, 2 digits, u are royalty, and there 1 digit for the Sheik.

driving test is rediculous, drive around a block and park.

With all the darkened windows u cannot make eye contact with the driver.....

u will not encounter drunk driving but u will encounter agressive , impatient , dangerous lane hopping, taxi drivers at the limit of their existance behind the wheel.

I began to wonder today were they all on something , just asleep behind the wheel, had the brains finally fried......in the desert heat.

Taxis are commission based pay only, so journeys are rapid, agressive, beeping horns. Miss a turn ? no problem drive over the sand ......

tonight coming to the apartment in a taxi, a fork split in the road up ahead, backed up traffic on the exit lane, the driver stayed on the main route then at the last second slapped on the brakes and pushed his way into the queuing exit lane.He thought nothing of the lane hop to do that , and leaving the rear end of the taxi in a lane that a speeding range rover could appear on any second.

the taxis obey the traffic lights as they can be identified ( on the cameras ) and fined, for breaking them , but the range rover us his ass, blows him out of it for stopping on an orange. I was in a taxi when this happened last year, at light permitting a u turn , the taxi driver was hopping mad, making all these jestures while turned around in the car looking out the back window at a massive grill...his blood pressure must have been well up there, sweat pumping out of him as he explained what was going on.

they loose patience at slow moving traffic, while under pressure, and floor the avensis into oncoming traffic, ur heart in ur mouth, thinking why is he doing this ?? , you will gladly pay the extra euro for the extra 5 minutes the journey should have taken.

surely the longer the journey in duration the more they are paid ????? the metro is up and running and jammed a lot of the time, so the taxi income take must be down.

transporting the bike in the boot is no problem, few have seen quick release before, a good tip can be earned by taking the bike.

crossing on a pedestrian crossing today, the traffic on my right , at the far side of the highway, got a green to turn left, onto the street that I was crossing , on a zebra crossing. I was half way accross, and the car about 2.5 lanes away heading towards me , started blowing his horn ''get out of my way'' , while waving his arms inside the car ,,,,, u feel like telling them how crap and dangerous they are , and that their driving style is not tolerated anywhere else in the world....... felt like slapping the bonnet of the car Manhatten / Robert De Niro style '' hey !! i am walking here '' Tony Soprano would find this city rather upseting to his demure peace loving personality........ ( he just dosnt do annoyed !!! ), Irish rule book says pedestrains have right of way on all junctions once they step onto the road at a crossing ......



friends tell me Saudi and Kuwait are worse and apparanlty free for all in India....

they just cannot drive: sit into the automatic toyota avensis taxis, , the driver accelerates, foot off, foot on, foot off, foot on , foot off, the passengers lurching away goodo for the journey ......

u look at the driver once u get in , to see has this guy driven me before....

so go there, but be real careful about where u decide to ride......in Dubai........try up and down JBR to start. its 30K from the port entry right to the top of Dubai marina. you will get a feel for the traffic behaviour there, before venturing accross the city. if u can, stick with the police jeeps in traffic... the locals realy behave themselves when the green and white jeeps are about.

blorg

The driving in Dubai is pretty good compared to other countries in the Middle East. People stop at lights, give way at roundabouts and so on. It is not European standard but not bad. As for India, well you would be right, the driving here is incomparably worse.

kenmc

yeah the only way I can describe driving in India is that they *tend* to drive on the left.

cantalach

It is almost 10 years since I visited Iran, but at that time at least, Tehran had the worst driving I've ever encountered. Just one example... There are some large and very busy roundabouts in the city with maybe 5-6 streets converging on them. When things got congested, you would see cars taking a shortcut by going the wrong way around! This would happen right in front of the traffic policeman on duty who always seemed unfazed by this sort of thing.

blorg

Iran is incomparably worse than Dubai but India is worse again... I did not think this possible, until I went to India.

Tehran is a bit crazy but there is a sort of flow to it that you get the hang of, and other drivers will make a genuine effort not to hit you. I arrived in the city via the motorway into rush-hour traffic, just as night was falling, which was quite a rush. I was there for three weeks and did a lot of cycling around the city. Great city for biking if you like a MTB-style adrenaline rush. It helps if you can keep up with the traffic.

cantalach

blorg wrote: »

I was there for three weeks and did a lot of cycling around the city. Great city for biking if you like a MTB-style adrenaline rush. It helps if you can keep up with the traffic.

Did the smog not kill your lungs if you were cycling a lot? Perhaps the standard of cars has improved in the last 10 years or maybe it's only bad in summer when I was there, but I found that even walking around Tehran had my lungs burning. Did your itinerary take in Shiraz and Esfahan too? Beautiful cities, esp the latter.

(Apols to OP for going way off topic!)

blorg

The pollution was pretty bad, yes, possibly to the point of making me ill (or it could have been the Iranian whiskey.) I only realised quite how bad it was when we went up the mountains to the north, where the air was clear. I went through Shiraz and Esfahan as well, yes, they were very nice, particularly Esfahan.