Opportunities for mountain biking in Saudi Arabia are plentiful and extremely varied; from straightforward terrain for beginners to highly technical, bone-jarringly gnarly trails for experts. Heat and humidity mean that many mountain bikers prefer to ride during the cooler months between November and April, but the hardcore few ride all through the summer. If you time your ride for the last few hours of daylight, while not exactly pleasant, it can be cooler and easier to ride in than the middle of the day.

Making Tracks

The beauty of mountain biking is that it’s possible to see, and really feel, some of the most remote places that are inaccessible even by 4WD and discover some of the very best landscapes that the Kingdom has to offer.

Basically, you can hop onto your mountain bike anywhere and follow the routes covered in this guide. Depending on your technical ability and fitness, you can follow existing trails or go cross country through wadis or along rugged goat tracks; the possibilities are endless. The riding can be rocky, technical and challenging, but routes purely on 4WD tracks can be found for less experienced riders. If a route is frequently used by cars, especially in steep areas, there can be a lot of loose gravel which makes riding a bit slippery and dangerous, as those spots are difficult to judge.

From time to time, tracks may be covered with fresh gravel after heavy rainfall, which occurs mainly during the winter season. In less-used wadis, rain can alter the way of the track, so you might need to search out a new way to go on.

Hardcore Terrain

For hardcore mountain bikers there is a good range of terrain, from super technical rocky trails to mountain routes. The best way to make the most of these advanced routes is to join a club and go as a group. Look for groups on social media, ask at retailers, or look for routes and riders on online mountain bike communities.

REMEMBER

• Tubeless tyres are the best way to go for this terrain, with plenty of sealant inside, and for extra security, use double density tyres to protect against slashes from the sharp rocks and thorns

• Be prepared and be sensible – if you’re planning an epic journey, let someone know where you are going
• Carry far more water than you think you’ll need. You’ll probably end up using it all
• Personal hydration systems, such as a CamelBak, are excellent for allowing you to keep drinking on the go
• Take a GPS if possible, or someone who is familiar with the area
• Take some snacks for energy. Salt can sometimes be needed to replace body salts lost by sweating
• Be especially careful in wadis during the wet season; dangerous flash floods can fill a wadi in seconds
• Take a basic first aid kit and fully charged mobile
• Falling off on rocky terrain can be very painful, so be prepared and dress defensively
• Helmets and proper gear are essential
• Always carry at least one inner tube, plus a puncture repair kit including extra sealant, tubeless plugs and tyre patches, just in case
• Carry a basic tool kit.
• If you’re not very experienced, either with the area or mountain biking in general, find a club or buddy to go with

Road Cycling

Cycling in general is popular in Saudi Arabia and received a further boost by the hosting of the Saudi Tour 2020, by the organisers of the Tour de France. So, if mountain biking is a bit hair-raising for you, you’ll find groups open to social and competitive road cyclists, as well as for triathletes, all over the country.