Cycle Kuwait?

Kuwait seems very far away to me; and not only in geographical distance. It seems very far away culturally, too. How does cycling fit in? Are there opportunities to cycle Kuwait?

Of course! October and November are the best months. Summers are very hot in Kuwait; and the climate is arid. I bet I’d want an extra-large Camel-Bak!

You can choose from an array of rides of varying length and difficulty. Flat or uphill; hilly or downhill; even long tours.

If you just want a leisurely ride, the Arabian Gulf Street tour, from Salmiyah to Arabian Gulf Street (Kuwait City); is not quite 7.5 miles long. Little climbing is involved; and most riders can complete this route in less than one hour.

Salmiya is a moderate route, with over 2100 feet of climbing over about six miles. Let’s see — what’s the gradient of that? Sounds pretty steep — or are my calculations off? Have I read the ride info right?

The tour between Belajat Street and Salmiya covers 18 nice,  flat miles. There’s one for me! It’s both flat, and not very long; my Sunday rides are typically much longer!

If you still want a flat route, but want to go longer, how about the LOFTC133 Marina route? These 36 miles follow the shoreline; maybe you could get in some ship-watching?

Want to go re-e-eally long? There’s the 145.4 mile “15th Avenue” trip. For a cyclist in good condition, that’s still short enough to accomplish in a single day; but remember Kuwait’s arid climate! Be sure you can stay hydrated; and don’t forget about electrolytes.

If you want to cycle Kuwait, and are a woman, here’s something to keep in mind. I don’t know how old the article is; but in some cultures a woman in Lycra® would raise some eyebrows, to say the least. You don’t want to ruin your cycling adventure in Kuwait — or anywhere — by getting into trouble over your cycling attire.