Climbing Sinan Road (Al Meger), Saudi Arabia by Bike

Saudi Arabia Sinan Road

53.4

PDI

8.3 mi

DISTANCE

5,277 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

12.2 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Ties Arts, Bussum, Netherlands

INTRO

Sinan Road is one of the great Asir Mountain bike climbs, climbing 8.3 miles and 5,277 feet at a 12.2% average grade through a remote valley near Al Majaridah in southern Saudi Arabia. It's currently the 34th-hardest climb in our worldwide database and the fourth-hardest of the 16 Asir Mountain climbs we've documented - behind Al Jaadah Pass, Rdom Pass, and Baniamr Aquabah Pass. Five of our Asir climbs, including this one, rank in the world's top 40, and three rank in the top 25, which says something about the concentration of difficulty in this one mountain range. The grades here are relentless: a quarter-mile at 20.9%, a half-mile at 19.7%, and a full mile at 17.4%, with the final 3.9 miles alone averaging 15.5% across roughly 30 hairpins. Spot readings above 25% aren't unusual on the steepest switchbacks. Bring gearing you'd normally save for a genuine emergency - a 34-tooth chainring paired with a 42-tooth (or larger) rear cog is the practical minimum, and several of our own riders here used cassettes up to 50 teeth. The climb finishes at Al-Meger Palace, a private museum and heritage village built over 35 years by Mohammed Al-Meger and opened in 2009, roughly 2,400 meters up in the mountains. Its halls hold rare Islamic manuscripts, including volumes reportedly dating to the era of the Prophet Muhammad, set inside architecture drawing on Umayyad and Abbasid design. It's a genuinely unusual reward for an extremely hard climb - and the local baboon troops that frequent these roads tend to be waiting at the finish, too.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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The climb averages 12.2% over 8.3 miles, and the numbers only get more serious from there: a quarter-mile averages 20.9%, a half-mile 19.7%, and a full mile 17.4%. The final 3.9 miles are the crux, climbing through roughly 30 hairpins at an average grade of 15.5%, with individual switchbacks reading 25-26% on a bike computer. There's no easing into this one and no flat recovery sections to speak of - budget accordingly and gear light.

Roadway: Paved and in excellent condition on our ride, consistent with the other Asir Mountain climbs we've documented in this range - smooth asphalt through all 30-plus hairpins, even on the steepest switchbacks.

Traffic: Light. This is a remote mountain road serving a small heritage village and private museum rather than a through-route, so expect the occasional local or visitor headed to Al-Meger Palace and little else.

Parking: No dedicated lot at this remote a start - park along the road near the base in Wadi Khat before beginning the climb.

A small chain ring (34 tooth or smaller) and a large rear cassette cog (42 tooth or bigger) is a must - riders on our own trip here used cassettes ranging from 42 to 50 teeth, and we wouldn't attempt this or any other Asir Mountain climb without at least that range. Temperatures run warm at the base (90s F) and noticeably cooler by the top, so layer accordingly. Carry all the water and food you'll need; there's nothing resembling a store on this route until you reach Al-Meger Palace and its heritage village at the finish.

Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.

The Asir Mountains have the highest concentration of extreme-grade climbs anywhere in the world, and Sinan Road is a good example of why - if you're making the trip, plan to string together several of the region's other climbs rather than just this one. The cooler months, roughly November through March, are the reliable season; temperatures at the base can still reach the 90s Fahrenheit even then. The heritage village around Al-Meger Palace at the finish offers lodging if you'd like to base yourself near the climb itself rather than in a larger town. Check our Routes in the Area tool to see which other Asir Mountain climbs are within reach.