Emirati cyclist rules the open road in UAQ

Moad Sultan says group riding is the best way to cycle, for safety and in comparing performance. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

AJMAN // Moad Sultan has been a riding his bike along the quiet roads of his home emirate of Umm Al Quwain since he was a teenager.

The 28-year-old Emirati accountant first got in the saddle when he was 17, when he joined Al Arabi sports club. What started as a way to keep fit and shed some extra weight has, 11 years later, become a way of life.

Mr Sultan said living in the least populated emirate means riding on roads was much safer, as fewer cars meant fewer dangers, although he still has his wits about him when he gets on two wheels and steers clear of the highways.

“Everybody does it on roads and it is safe because of less traffic, and we don’t go outside the city just inside,” he said.

As a member of the UAE Cycling Federation he has taken part in competitions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as UAQ.

“It is more safe to ride with a group than riding individually,” said Mr Sultan. “I use the Strava app, which is like Facebook for cyclists. It helps other cyclists to see where I am riding through GPS and then they can join me and compare our performances on speed and distance between each other.”

He roundly approved the #cycletoworkuae initiative, but said the most important thing was to make sure budding cyclists were educated on safety, the best routes to take and general road rules.

“Before using the bike we have to prepare. There is no problem with the roads, but people have to be careful and educated,” he said.

“We have to prepare for the environment and have facilities for showers and for the safe parking of bikes, because these bikes are expensive.”