Most ride problems at Al Qudra are packing problems. Our cycling guide makes the point plainly: there is nowhere on the loops to buy anything, so whatever you did not bring, you ride without. A five-minute check before you clip in avoids most of it.
Use this page as a list you can tick off at the car park, or print it. Zad is at the Last Exit, right by where the loops begin, so anything you forgot to pack can be fixed before you start. We only list what Zad actually sells, and we have noted where you need to bring things from home.
Rule of thumb: check the bike at home the night before, pack the kit at home, and use Zad for drinks, fuel and a coffee, not for bike spares.
1. The bike check
Do this the evening before, not in the car park at dawn.
- Tyres: inflate to your usual pressure and check for cuts, embedded thorns or glass.
- Brakes: both levers firm, pads with life left.
- Chain: clean and lightly lubricated.
- Quick releases or thru-axles: tight.
- Lights: charged, fitted and tested, with a front and a rear light for the dark start.
2. Puncture and repair kit
The cycling guide lists the repair basics: a spare tube, tyre levers, a mini-pump or CO₂, and a multi-tool. Pack them in a saddle bag or jersey pocket, and know how to use them before you need to. Zad's fuel wall is food and drink, and we do not list bike parts, so bring spares from home.
- Spare tube that fits your wheels
- Tyre levers
- Mini-pump or CO₂ inflator
- Multi-tool
- Patches, if you carry them
3. Water and bottles
Two full bottles minimum on the long loops, and more in summer, as the cycling guide advises. The desert pulls salt out of you fast, so a hydration drink or tablets in one bottle helps.
At Zad you can fill bottles and buy cold water from AED 2. Pocari Sweat 330 ml is AED 8 and 500 ml is AED 11, Vitamin Well Hydrate is AED 12.60 and Precision PH tablets are AED 40 to 80, all on the cyclist stop page.
4. Nutrition
Gels or chews for anything over an hour. Work out roughly how many you need, then add one.
- Gels: Maurten Gel 100 is AED 15.75 and Gel 160 is AED 19.95. GU Roctane gels and stroopwafels are AED 10.50 to 25, Precision Fuel gels and chews AED 20 to 25, and Huma chia gels AED 17 to 21.
- Snacks: Barebells protein bars are AED 15 to 17, and dates are in store.
- Before the ride: a croissant is AED 14 to 15 and a cappuccino AED 17.
Prices are indicative and may vary, so check the menu or message us to confirm stock.
5. Personal kit
- Phone, charged, with an offline map
- ID and a little cash
- Sunscreen
- A light layer for the temperature swing at dawn
- Helmet and gloves
- Power bank, if you ride long
Riding in the dark? Read our night cycling guide for lights and visibility. The track is built as nested loops of roughly 8, 20, 50 and 86 km, so choose the distance to match your fuel.
6. Before you roll, and after
Fill your car with fuel in the city, because Zad does not sell fuel. Park legally, clear of the track. After the ride, a smoothie is AED 26, fresh orange juice AED 22 and a chicken wrap AED 26 to 32. Clubs of six or more can order the Rider Breakfast (AED 38 per rider, the evening before) from the outings page.
Building a day around the ride? Our day trip itinerary has a ride-and-breakfast half day.
7. Common mistakes to avoid
Three things catch riders out again and again. The first is starting a long loop on one bottle, which is fine on the 8 km loop and a problem on the 50 km or 86 km loops, where there is nowhere to refill. The second is setting out without lights because the plan was a quick pre-work spin that ran late. The third is skipping fuel because the ride starts easy, then running short at kilometre 40.
A simple habit fixes all three: decide the loop first, then pack for that loop plus a margin. If the group is mixed, ride the distance of the slowest rider, and agree a meeting point in case you split up. The cycling guide has the loop lengths, and our running guide explains how to share the track with people on foot. Take your rubbish home, including gel wrappers, because a clean track is why it stays enjoyable for everyone.
8. Riding with a group or club
If you are meeting friends or a club, agree a start time at Zad in advance and keep the group to a pace everyone can hold. For clubs of six or more, the Rider Breakfast is ordered the evening before and is ready when you roll in. For smaller groups, message us your coffee order the night before so it is ready to grab.
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring for a ride at Al Qudra?
Can I buy bike spares at Zad?
Where can I fill my bottles?
How much water do I need?
Is there anything to buy on the track?
Do I need lights?
Fill the gaps at Zad
Gels, hydration, a hot coffee and bottles filled, right where the loops begin. We are open 24/7 at the Last Exit on Al Qudra Road, Seih Al Salam, with free parking right outside.
Zad Food Store is open 24/7 at the Last Exit, Al Qudra Road (Seih Al Salam), Dubai, the last stop before the desert since 2013.