My home loop: Boon MV Loop

My home loop begins and ends right where I live nearby, in The Meadows. Every weekday we roll out at exactly 5:30 AM, while weekend starts shift between 5:30 and 6:00 AM. It’s a 40 km loop, and every rider who finishes earns a free coffee from Boon Coffee Roasters, which is reason enough to get out of bed in the dark.

Each day has its own character. On Wednesdays we join forces with The Ventum House, the bike shop in The Meadows, for a joint ride that ends with coffee on them. Fridays are for the Cake Ride: we start in The Meadows and finish at Boon’s Jumeirah Park branch, where a volunteer “cake captain” brings the treats. Sundays are our lazy recovery ride, an easy spin from The Meadows to Boon Jumeirah Park, again with coffee waiting at the end.

The route is mostly flat, broken up by a few humps, roundabouts, traffic lights and one bridge we’ve nicknamed “Boon Hill,” our only real climb. We ride under our admins’ safety guidelines and a shared riding etiquette, which keeps the group tight, predictable and safe on the road.

It’s my go-to ride because it’s consistent, close to home and built around people who show up for each other, morning after morning. In my view, it’s one of the best cycling groups in Dubai.

The route

We roll out from The Meadows before sunrise and head into a circuit of about 20 km that we ride twice. The roads are mostly flat, with a few humps, roundabouts and traffic lights along the way. The main “climb” is the bridge we call Boon Hill. At about 18 m it’s the highest point of the loop and the only real effort, and we cross it on both laps. It also has the best view: first light breaking over the city from the top. Further on, the towers of Jumeirah Lake Towers fill the skyline, which makes a beautiful cityscape to ride beside as the day begins. After the second lap we ease off and roll to the coffee stop. Most days that’s Boon Coffee Roasters in The Meadows. On Fridays and Sundays it’s Boon’s Jumeirah Park branch, and from there it’s a short spin home.

• Distance: 40km · Climbing: about 100-120m · Usual time: about 1h 10 min of riding, at an average pace of 34 km/h
• Road: Fully paved and smooth. Mostly flat, with a few speed humps and one bridge
• Traffic: Quiet at our 5:30 AM start. Watch the roundabouts and junctions with traffic lights, and take extra care on Boon Hill as traffic builds after 6:30 AM.

Best time to ride

Roll out with the group at 5:30 AM, or no later than 6:00 AM on weekends. At that hour the roads are at their quietest, the air is as cool as Dubai gets, and you reach the top of Boon Hill just as first light breaks over the city. By 6:30 AM traffic picks up at the roundabouts and junctions, and in the summer months the heat builds fast after sunrise, so an early start is about safety as much as comfort. Wednesdays bring a bigger crowd for the joint ride with The Ventum House, Fridays are for the Cake Ride, and Sunday’s lazy recovery spin is the easiest day to join if you’re new.

Where to stop

• Boon Coffee Roasters, The Meadows: the usual finish and the heart of the ride, where every rider gets a free coffee.
• Boon Coffee Roasters, Jumeirah Park: the finish on Fridays, when the cake captain brings the treats, and on Sunday recovery rides.
• The Ventum House, The Meadows: the Wednesday meeting point, with coffee on them for everyone who rides. It’s also the place to go for anything bike-related.
• Jumeirah Lake Towers: the skyline makes a great cityscape shot as the sun comes up.

What I bring

• One or Two bottles of water, one with electrolytes
• Phone and extra money
• Bike Computer
• Helmet & Glasses
• Front and Tail Light
• Essential Tools

Ride it yourself

• Start on a Sunday or a Friday. Those rides have slower pods, so you can join the group that matches your pace. Once you know the route and the riders, move up to the faster weekday sessions.
• Be there on time. We roll out at 5:30 AM sharp, and no one waits for late riders.
• No lights, no ride. Front and rear lights must be mounted and switched on whatever the light conditions. Bright rear LEDs on solid mode, not flashing, are preferred, and bring charged spares to share. Wear a helmet as well.
• Ride in pods of 10 or fewer. Bigger groups split into smaller pods that start at least five minutes apart. If your pod catches the one ahead, don’t merge with it. Wait until traffic is clear and pass safely.
• Obey RTA rules at every light. There are several roundabouts and five sets of traffic lights on the loop. When the signal says stop, you stop, with no exceptions. Stop behind vehicles rather than beside them, and watch for cars turning right without indicating and pedestrians hidden behind stopped traffic.
• Hold the outer lane on roundabouts. Don’t cut to the inside, and watch out for buses and heavy vehicles cutting across riders.
• Signal everything. Point out debris, road changes and turns with an outstretched arm, because new riders may not know the route. Check over your shoulder before any move, and never assume the road is clear because other riders went.
• Don’t half-wheel. If you don’t know the rider in front of you, leave a gap of about 1 m. Expect car doors, scooters and pedestrians, and shout “heads up” to warn the group.
• No one gets dropped. Speak up, shout or whistle if you’re struggling, and the group will ease off. If you choose to drop off, tell the others first. Pods start and finish together.
• Take care in the wet. Slow down on wet curves at junctions and roundabouts, where riders have lost traction before.
• Stay for coffee. The ride doesn’t end at the last roundabout. The coffee stop is where you get to know the group.