Saudi Arabia Bashout Pass
Bashout Pass Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

42.3
PDI
7.8 mi
DISTANCE
4,538 ft
GAINED
11.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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Page Contributor(s): Josh Baker, Al Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Ties Arts, Bussum, Netherlands.

INTRO

One of the hardest bike climbs in the world with some of the greatest hairpins you will ever find.  This magnificent bike climb is located in the Asir Mountains which has the highest concentration of Top 100 World Bike Climbs than any other area in the world.  The Asir Mountains are are located in Southwest Saudi Arabia and are green, cool, scenic and, until PJAMM documents them in November, 2021, are undiscovered by the cycling world. 

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11.8% average grade (12.3% climb only).  32% of the climb is at grade 15-20% and 4% is at ≥20%.  The steepest 500 meters is 18.5% and steepest kilometer 16.5%.

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Be sure to check with your consulate and the internet to assess the prudence and safety of travelling to this region. 

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Nov 10, 2021
Also known by locals as Aqabat Aliyan Nisab. Aqabat means mountain pass. Greetings
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - view looking down on roadway from above, road snakes sharply back and forth with many hairpins up the mountainside

Cycling Bashout Pass: #25 World Top Bike Climb

Ride 7.8 miles gaining 4,543’ at 11.1% average grade.

Climb summary by PJAMM’s John Johnson.

Bashout Pass is one of the five roads with the highest concentration of hairpins in the world.  It is also an incredibly challenging bike climb, rated #36 in the world, but only ninth most difficult in the Asir Mountains - that tells you all you need to know about these glorious mountains.

START

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - photo collage, two PJAMM Cyclists stand with bikes at start of climb

As with all Asir Mountain climbs we documented in November 2021 (12 World Top 100), there is little around at the start and during the climb but pavement, an occasional residence and a lot of steep!

HAIRPINS

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - photo collage highlights hairpin turns along this climb

What makes this climb unique and - with a little publicity, downright famous - is it’s incredible concentration of hairpins.  There is not a straight spot on this climb, other than the brief sections between one bend to the next.  62 hairpins in 7.8 miles equates to a 7.5 hairpin to mile ratio.  Compare that to two of the most famous European hairpin bike climbs: Alpe d’Huez (21 in 7.1  miles = 2.96) and Stelvio (48 in 9 miles = 5.3) and you appreciate just how amazing this road is.

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - photo collage highlights hairpins on this climb

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - photo collage highlights hairpins on this climb

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - photo collage, PJAMM Cyclist riding in roadway, high rock walls

It is tough to make out the hairpins above as you climb, but it is possible in spots.

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - PJAMM Cyclist climbs on final hairpin of the 62 on this climb

Final hairpin of 62.

STEEP

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - PJAMM Cyclist rides along steep curve in roadway

After the hairpins, the next memory of this climb I have is how consistently steep it was.  The full climb average is 10.1% and the steepest quarter-mile is 10.9%.  This tells us that the climb is as consistent as any you will ever find on earth.

EPIC

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, Garmin reads 17%, large iron water vessel has Arabic graffiti on it, PJAMM Cyclist climbs up roadway, bike parked in rocky terrain on side of roadway

Bashout Pass should be on anyone’s bucket list for epic bike climbs.  The hairpins, challenge and rugged beauty of the Asir Mountains puts it near the top of our list for most epic bike climbs we’ve ever heard of or experienced.

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - PJAMM Cyclist stands next to a rock on the side of the roadway, looking down on the intense hairpins in the roadway below

ASIR MOUNTAIN LIVESTOCK

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, small buildings for goat herders

The livestock of choice in the Asir Mountains are goats.  We saw many goat herds, but few other animals, other than the occasional dog guarding the goats, baboons, and set of cows, but no sheep.

FRIENDLY PEOPLE

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - photo collage highlights friendly Asir Mountains residents, cars stopping to chat with PJAMM Cyclists

I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled I was to experience the warmth of the Asir Mountain residents.  Over half of our encounters with vehicles (I saw 0 cyclists in 11 days anywhere - while on the bike, on foot, or in the car) involved an encouraging toot-toot, shouts of encouragement, offers of water or the motorist stopping and chatting with me.

FINISH

Cycling Bashout Pass, Saudi Arabia - two PJAMM Cyclists stand with bikes in center of roundabout at climb finish

Another amazing Asir Mountain climb completed.