From Yanbu to YouTube – How one Mountain Biker is Growing the Kingdom’s Mountain Bike Scene
We recently wrote about how riders are pedaling hard to ramp up the popularity of mountain biking in the Kingdom. Now we’ve got more insight from a pioneering YouTuber of the Saudi mountain bike scene, Mark Jensen Marzan, part of the “Tropang Bayan” (literally: People’s Group/Friends of the Community) Filipino mountain biking community. Based in the Red Sea coastal city of Yanbu, they’re leading the charge in actively growing the MTB scene in the area.
Hi, how did the Tropang Bayan riding group start?
“About 10 years ago a group of us friends just started riding around town after work. Then, we began to explore the countryside more, we drove out to the mountains in a pickup truck – it’s only about 40 minutes – and discovered beauty. That’s when we really got into mountain biking and Tropang Bayang came to life. It’s brought all of us a sense of freedom, adventure, and discovery that’s unlike anything we’ve experienced before.
From then on, we – Tropang Bayang – have just discovered more and more. It’s so easy, we use Google Maps or we talk to the locals who really know the area and find out where’s open to ride. It’s been really encouraging, actually – nearly everyone we talk too, even the landowners, are very open and encouraging.”
How would you describe the trails here in Saudi?
“Empty and supernatural! There still aren’t many riders so most mountains and most trails are relatively untouched. It’s not like riding in more established MTB destinations at all – we’re essentially forging the paths ourselves. The trails start as jeep tracks, camel tracks, or we make them ourselves. They’re rocky, they’re gnarly, but they’re really fun.”
Tell us about your local trails and what a typical ride looks like.
“Every Friday, we go out to explore and during the winter, we hit the really big mountains. For example, Mount Radwa is one of our regular Tropang Bayang destinations. It rises to 6,000ft (1,828m) high – one of the tallest in Madinah Province – so, it takes about four hours to ride up and 30 minutes to descend flat out, but the views and the descent make it totally worth it! Honestly, it compares to some of the best MTB destinations around the world.”
So, other than being so untouched, what sets Saudi riding apart?
“Saudi Arabia is stunningly beautiful and very unique – you can see some truly incredible sights on your ride. AlUla is the best one known — and riding there is a must – but every trail has something to take your breath away, whether it’s the technical challenge of the trail itself or a natural spring, some piece of historic rock art, a camel herd, a forest… the list goes on. It’s also super safe, everyone is very welcoming here.”
Tropang Bayang is based in Yanbu but mentioned forests just then. Where else have you been riding and where are you looking to explore next?
“We’re riding all over because it’s not just about exploring new trails, it’s about meeting other MTB communities out there. Like I said, it’s a growing sport and there are groups in Jeddah, Riyadh, Tabuk, Abha… probably more! One place we really want to ride more is Abha in Asir. The mountains and the forests there are quite like the Philippines and there are so many trails just waiting to be explored and, as we explore, we always discover more. It’s untapped.”
So, what advice would you give to someone looking to get into mountain biking in Saudi?
“All you need to do is ride. But, if you want to get out into the mountains where we’ve been talking about, I’d say full suspension is necessary and E-bikes are popular too. Helmets are essential of course and we usually wear some pads too for the downhill. Because the trails are quite wild and sometimes remote, I’d also recommend taking some precautions like telling people back home where you’re going and when you plan to be back. But the most important thing is just to be here, embrace the adventure, and start riding.”
What is the MTB community here like? How did you find each other?
“For us in Tropang Bayang, it really grew out of the Filipino community and, as we’ve become more visible, we’ve attracted more interest from other expats and locals. We’ve also had people from around the world – New Zealand, Canada, Norway – see our videos then get in touch. It’s a totally different side to Saudi Arabia than a lot of people expect and so they’re amazed at what we have here. For instance, we had a 73-year-old Norwegian climber get in touch with us, he’d never seen the Saudi mountains before but somehow our videos reached him, inspired him, and he came to visit. So, it’s an active, growing community.”
What do you see in the future for Saudi mountain biking?
“Discovery. There’s so much out there, there are lots of “ultra mountains” in Tabuk, Yanbu and all over the Kingdom just waiting to be explored. As for the scene, all it needs is more exposure. The government and some companies are already stepping in, like at AlUla or the Saudi Flight Freeride, but more riders will help. That’s all we need – more riders!”
So, there you go – All Saudi needs now is more riders. Want to be one of them? Check our visa guide for getting to the Kingdom and see you on the trails.
