You are on page 1of 5

6/25/13

Cycling in Riyadh. | Kiwi Living in Saudi: What to do?



0

Home

Eating Out

Sight Seeing

About Me

Contact A Kiwi

Thursday, 15 Novem ber 2012

Cycling in Riyadh.
Hi there...

NZ Pounamu Kia Ora I'm Gaelene, a New Zealand Maori and Aquarian which means I think life is a bit if a party and I'm dancing all the way. Join me. What have you got to lose? View my complete profile

Cycling in Riyadh is beginning to take off. It wasn't hard to notice the increase of cyclists amongst the populace given that for the first two years of living in the country bicycles in Riyadh's great outdoors were virtually nowhere to be seen. (Bikes ridden by kids on compounds is, of course, a different story).

Like Kiwi In Saudi On Facebook

Kiwi In Saudi
Like 45

Recent Posts
Ceroc In Riyadh.

The On-going 'Illegal Expat' Saga.

The first bicycle I saw being ridden down a Riyadh footpath in the central city was by one of the city's many workers (you can read more about them on my post Worker Bees). It was an old bike, a classic one gear beauty, but it was peddling along just fine. This bloke obviously started a new trend because he is no longer a lone cyclist in the city. Not that the numbers are excessive, but of late there is more than 1. In fact, on our walk through the city last night we were passed by six Worker Bee blokes on bicycles in the space of five minutes and spotted more bikes chained to posts and poles along the street. Perhaps having a Wheels bike shop recently locate to the vicinity, on Sulamaniya-Thalateen, has pushed up cycling interest .

Getting Down at Dirab Golf Club and Range.

www.nzpounamu.com/2012/11/cycling-in-riyadh.html#.UclE8fnLr9w

1/5

6/25/13

Cycling in Riyadh. | Kiwi Living in Saudi: What to do?


11A on the Eleventh Floor

Journey to the Secondhand Motorbike Warehouse.

Do Saudi's cycle? I would say generally speaking - no. Why not? No idea. Perhaps the heat. The thobe isn't really conducive to cycling either. Whatever the reason Saudi boys aren't really into cycling. Football yes. Cycling no. (Not yet, anyway - perhaps the bike shop will change all that). Surprisingly the bike shop stocks a few bikes for women, although only males were cycling about the street. Hubster was less than happy for me to haul out one of the women's bikes and give it a try. Apart from the fact he didn't want to attract attention he had an opinion on the cost (too much) but mostly he wanted to know where, exactly, I intended to ride the bike should I purchase it given that, just as women can't drive in this country, the general consensus is they should also not ride bikes - not in public anyway.

Powered By Blogger Widgets

Kiwi In Saudi Instagram

Chronicles To Date
2013 (52) 2012 (70) December (8) November (7) Women Are Working on Make Up Counters. Groups for Expat Women In Riyadh Petra

Cycling isn't encouraged for Saudi girls due, mostly, to the cultural value placed on the status of a females' nether regions, more specifically her hymen. The importance of being a virgin bride is one of the reasons given for restricting girls in this country from participating in numerous sporting and exercise activities that would benefit their physical and mental well-being. Living in the 21st century one could argue the archaic-ness of this belief and call it Saudi nonsense but it pays to remember that before the Wicked West became wicked (or is that educated and enlightened) tradition preferred Pure as Snow brides at the alter. And Saudi isn't the only country around the globe that still likes their brides to be innocent flowers.

Cycling in Riyadh. Graffiti in Riyadh Cruise to Stockholm and Antique Shopping Finland to Tallin, Estonia October (3) September (1) August (6) July (6) June (5) May (5) April (7) March (10) February (7) January (5) 2011 (48) 2010 (44)

What's confounding about Saudi is the conservatives continued stance of discouraging female involvement in sport or exercise even after the marital sheets have been bled on and long after offspring have sprung forth. What is their rational? Principal! If you aren't already aware of what those principles may be this article, Two Steps Forward, by Eman al Nafjan on the Foreign Policy website, gives a little insight.

Categories
Culture (33) Dining (28)

www.nzpounamu.com/2012/11/cycling-in-riyadh.html#.UclE8fnLr9w

2/5

6/25/13

Cycling in Riyadh. | Kiwi Living in Saudi: What to do?


Of course, even without cultural and religious restrictions not all Saudi girls are intent on rushing out to go bike riding though one does wonder how many would, if they could. My friend recounted a story about a Saudi family on holiday outside of Saudi Arabia. The father was trying to teach his daughter (14years) how to ride a bike. He was teaching her on this holiday because he would be frowned on for teaching her in his own country. My friend thought this was a sad story. I had to disagree. What a great Dad! What a fabulous thing for him to do! By all accounts she was determined to keep trying and he was perfectly happy to keep teaching. Definitely a story with a lot more positives than negatives. I have often wondered whether this young lady mastered her bike riding while on holiday and, if so, whether she continued her riding after returning to Saudi. "Where would she ride?" I hear you say. Two places I have seen youngsters enjoying the great outdoors on their bikes in Riyadh are out in the desert on family picnics and along the wide walk ways beside Al Elb lake on a balmy Saudi evening.
expat woman in Riyadh (47) House and Home (2) Markets and Shopping (10) New Zealand (3) Saudi news (9) Sight Seeing and Travel (31) Sport (8) Things to do in Riyadh (31) Transport (15) Women's Business (15) working in Saudi (1)

My Other Blogs
My Dad's Got Alzheimers Hefty Confessions

Stuff I like to read


DIET COKE ROCKS
DOZY BABY 13 hours ago

Yardy Yardy Yardy

Granted these kids were quite young (pre-teen), but it was heartening to see the parents didn't restrict their young daughters from the enjoyment that cycling can bring. And I have to admit that, though these families (my vast experience is drawn from meeting both of them) were of Middle Eastern origin, neither of them were Saudi. What do you do in Riyadh if you're a serious cyclist just itching to get on ya bike? One expat I know throws his mountain bike in the back of his truck and heads for the hills outside of Riyadh with a couple of his friends. He is, admittedly, a little bit crazy. Keen cyclists (including a couple of women) have also been seen pedaling the walking tracks around the DQ though, be warned, it's not a smooth ride by any means.

Battleground For Friends 13 hours ago

Crossroads Arabia
Assessing the New Weekend 18 hours ago

American Bedu
Saudi Arabia changes w eekend 1 day ago

Blue Abaya
Because I Am A Girl... 2 days ago

The Odysseia
New Beginnings and One Very Little Bean 3 days ago

If you're looking for a cycling club in Riyadh then this site - Riyadh Wheelers - may be of interest to you. According to their website the club, which consists mostly of expats, has been in existence since 1992 and there is a raft of other information about what they offer as well. For those looking for a more leisurely ride there is a walkway that runs through Wadi Hanifa that a few cyclists (mostly men I gather) are known to ride along. On one of our motorbike rides through the area it did cross my mind to cycle through the Wadi one weekend with Hubster. I have even contemplated designing an abaya specifically for the purpose. Mr Noor may have to come along too, as wheel man, in case we need a quick exit due to locals unhappy with feminine-ness bike riding in public in Riyadh.

Saudiwoman's Weblog
Takhbeeb! 4 days ago

The Sun Still Sets In The West


"You Cow ardly Americans" 5 days ago

Re-Volt Radio
Word Play - Farah Chamma - "How Must I Believe?" The FLEX 2.0 1 week ago

You may also like:

Bushmansfriend
Cathedrals of the New Zealand forest 1 month ago

As Lao as you like


Digging up a bit of home. 4 months ago

Bike Riding In The Diplom atic Quarter

Riyadhs Run Out Of My Meds

Car Parking in Riyadh Bow ling In Riyadh

The Great Riyadh Park Search

The Amazing Aging Mind


The Brains Springboard to Creativity 4 months ago

Keeping Good Company

www.nzpounamu.com/2012/11/cycling-in-riyadh.html#.UclE8fnLr9w

3/5

6/25/13
Marketing Through nRelate
nRelate.com

Cycling in Riyadh. | Kiwi Living in Saudi: What to do?


Join this site
w ith Google Friend Connect

0
Posted by NZ Pounamu at 11:29 0 Comments and 0 Reactions

Members (28) More

Labels: cycling, Riyadh Wheelers, Sport, Things to do in Riyadh

ALSO ON KIWI LIVING IN SAUDI

AROUND THE WEB

What's this?

Ceroc In Riyadh. | Kiwi Living in Saudi: What to do? 1 comment What to do?: Medicated at Last!
3 comments

Billionaire Tells Americans to Prepare For "Financial Ruin" Moneynews What Does Your Body Language Say about You? Citi Women & Co.

Already a member? Sign in

0 comments Leave a message...


Best Community Share

NetworkedBlogs

Blog: What to do: Diary of a Kiwi living in Saudi Arabia Topics: Expat in Riyadh, Living in Saudi Arabia, Expat Woman in Saudi Arabia
Follow my blog

No one has commented yet.

C o m m e n t fe e d

Su b s cri b e vi a e m a i l

Newer Post

Home

Older Post

Expat Exchange: A World of Friends Abroad

Disclaim er

www.nzpounamu.com/2012/11/cycling-in-riyadh.html#.UclE8fnLr9w

4/5

6/25/13

Cycling in Riyadh. | Kiwi Living in Saudi: What to do?


This is a personal blog. As such it is full of personal views, opinions, comments. Being a normal human, sometimes I have good days and good experiences, sometimes I don't. On the good days the sun shines everywhere. Other days, my view can be skewed by human imperfection - mine or somebody else's. (Some days your own human failings may misread my meaning). If you do find anything of interest here you may, if you feel the urge, share, link or repost with a respectful reference back to my blog. Ka kite Kiwi

Simple template. Template images by konradlew. Powered by Blogger.

www.nzpounamu.com/2012/11/cycling-in-riyadh.html#.UclE8fnLr9w

5/5

You might also like