Dubai bikers begin series of five endurance rides this weekend

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Dubai: A group of 50 bikers from the UAE’s Biker Buddies Brotherhood will take part in a series of five 24 to 36-hour 2,500-km endurance bike rides across the country starting this Friday to raise funds to buy workers water coolers.

The rides – on January 10, February 7, February 14, February 28 and March 6 – will be sanctioned by three international organisations; the Iron Butt Association of the USA, Long Distance Riders of the USA and Wheel Warriors of Canada, and will be classified as ‘King of the Road’ rides.

To date there are only 165 riders on earth who have completed a single 2,500-km ‘King of the Road’ ride, but this series would see a further 50 added to that list from the UAE alone.

“That means one fourth of all the world’s ‘King of the Roads’ will be from the UAE,” said organiser and chief mentor Vicky M.

A team of 50 bikers will take part in a series of five 24-36 hour 2,500-km endurance rides starting Friday January 10
Image Credit: Virendra Saklani, Photographer

Friday’s route will start from Dubai and head towards Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Liwa, Ruwais, Sila, back to Liwa, Abu Dhabi and back to Dubai. The team will cross the Tropic of Cancer four times.

The riders will do this without sleep with only 30 minute stops every 200-km, with 13 petrol stations mapped out for quick and efficient fuel stops. Asked why they were doing this, Vicky M. replied, “Why do people climb mountains? Because it’s there.

“There are many plus points to biking, it’s spiritual, philosophical and you make brothers for life.

“In any kind of endurance your mind gives up before your body so this allows you to control that, bond and become wiser, it gives you bragging rights and internal rewards. You become calmer, cooler and more relaxed, and can evaluate risk to guide a team.”

As well as that though, he says, “An important part of the ride is to promote the country, its tolerance and for our own self aggrandisation – for a certificate. But once you’ve done something for yourself and something for the country, now you have to do something for people not in the same situation as you.

“Last year we tied up with local registered charity organisations and donated nine watercoolers to workers in workers accommodation sites. We did a lower distance last year with more bikers but now we are going further with less bikers so the money raised could be lower, but we are asking bikers to open their hearts because while we are on fantastic bikes we need to think of those who might not even have water.”