Working you hard while staying easy on the joints and providing a sense of freedom and enjoyment, it’s no surprise that cycling has seen a massive growth in the UAE. The last couple of years in the UAE has seen a growing number of initiatives designed to increase cycling in the city, like new cycling route projects such as Al Qudra, the Dubai Tour, 92 Cycle Challenge and countless clubs and groups. So it seems fitting that there would now be the region’s first women’s cycling store in Dubai, highlighting the growing number of women who are taking up the sport!
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We recently checked out the Middle East’s first ever cycling store dedicated to women, Liv, which opened in Dubai earlier this year and now caters to the increasing amount of women now taking up cycling.
In a sport where women are often not catered for as much as men, Liv, located at Box Park on Al Wasl Road, fills this gap perfectly.
Created by Bonnie Tu, known as the “Grandmother of Cycling”, Liv is not only a well-equipped cycle store but a place to meet with other female cyclists and get expert advice and information.
The store organizes community rides for all levels of cyclists as well as technical workshops and coaching sessions.
Take a risk, do something amazing today. #LivBeyond pic.twitter.com/VmtR9W1vqf
— Liv Cycling (@Livgiant) June 15, 2015
Here’s a few of them:
Location: Dubai Cycle Course, Al Qudra Road
Timing: 05:00am – 07:00am
This is for the ladies that want to beat the heat and get a couple of hours on the bike before the day begins!
This two hour ride starts at the beginning of the Dubai Cycle Course – the start of the “stick”. Meeting point is at the first car park on Al Qudra Road, just after the bicycle arch. You’ll be riding out towards the solar park and racing back to the showers to get ready for the day.
The aim is to be back at the showers by 7am. All riders need to be self-sufficient, so make sure you bring your own puncture repair equipment, including a hand pump, and 2 bottles of water.
Location: Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park
Timing: 6:00am – 7:00am
This hour-long clinic is a great way to work on your bike handling and group riding skills. A nice sociable pace suitable for those who haven’t been riding very long or just returning to the bike after a hiatus. Grab an hour with the girls to start your day off with some you-time!
Location: Zad’s Cafe & Foodstore on the Dubai Cycle Course
Timing: 5:30am start
These rides are 50km distance, so riders must be comfortable in their saddles for a couple of hours! It is recommended that you will have completed a 35km ride before making the jump to #LivHappy.
They will work with you to improve your group riding techniques and this is a no drop ride, meaning that no one gets left behind. The pace will be that of the slowest rider, and the aim is to finish by 8:30am.
The #LivMighty girls are more experienced riders and will generally average around 30-32km/h. Be prepared to work hard and have some fun!
Have you seen Liv’s new performance mtb helmet: http://t.co/VQXnNjxkgl #LivBeyond pic.twitter.com/lgcBfUBnFY
— Liv Cycling (@Livgiant) June 4, 2015
Over the summer, Liv will also be running a series of workshops that will teach you how to remove and replace your front and rear wheels, how to check and inflate your tyres to the correct pressure and how to change an inner tube in the event of a puncture. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, check out their Facebook page for upcoming dates and times.
