Thursday 09 / January / 2025
Four years ago, when Mohammed Al Masroori was looking for an affordable, efficient way to travel long distances, he did not realise the bicycle he had just bought was to change his life forever.
He’d been looking for something that would let him travel freely, explore nature at his own pace, and understand the culture of people all across Oman. One day, while looking at the options available to him, he stumbled across an idea on social media.
“One of the things that used to really excite me when I was on social media was seeing people make long journeys on bikes, travelling in a very simple manner, such as using their bike frames to carry the luggage they needed,” he said.
What Mohammed was looking for was a touring bike, a versatile cycle that can be used both on and off-road. When he went in search of one, however, he ended up empty-handed.
“The shop owner instead advised me to buy a road bike and see how far I could go on it,” he said. “If you like it, he told me you can take a touring bike.”
Mohammed got on the bike and never looked back – except to check for traffic.
“I realised, this is who I am, this gives me freedom,” he explained. “This goes deep into myself, helps me energise myself. Through the years, I developed my interest in cycling, and have now gone beyond that by taking part in triathlons. It’s been an amazing career, and here I am now.
“There have been a lot of up and down moments, but overall, I am very thrilled about the experiences I have faced,” he added. “Triathlon is a very exciting sport: you begin by swimming, start cycling, and finish your course by running.”
Mohammed is the founder of Pacotora-Arsen, a professional triathlon outfit in Oman that competes at local and international events, encourages others to get fit, and if they want to, take up the sport.
“You go through so many experiences as a triathlete,” he revealed. “The way you set yourself up for a triathlon, condition yourself for it, and the endurance you require is very different to cycling. We are ambitious about taking this forward, and would like to expand our activities, going beyond the borders of Oman.”
As captain of this triathlon team, Mohammed is also a member of the Oman Cycling Association, which has provided him plenty of opportunities to pursue his passion, and spread awareness of the importance of cycling.
“Their efforts really impact your presence and your team, as well the decisions you make, because they affect all cyclists locally,” he says of the OCA. “This membership helps us have a voice, so I am thankful to the Oman Cycling Association for giving us the chance to take part in local races and the opportunity to make an impact in cycling. This is a sport that is progressively developing in Oman.”
While cycling is definitely a way for people to get fit, an a fantastic environmental alternative to cars, given our preoccupation with fossil-fuel guzzlers, does Mohammed feel bikes have an important role to play in future?
“Scientists have a famous saying,” he says. “Physical impact when done moderately impacts all ages at all stages. Cycling is a mode of transportation, it is very simple and reliable, and an environmentally sustainable means of travelling. It also helps enhance the human body’s cardiovascular system.
“Cities and societies around the world are currently focused on creating a safe and sustainable infrastructure, and are trying to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced to reverse global warming,” he added. “Cycling is one of the ways to reduce our impact on the environment.”
Mohammed, however, saves his best piece of advice for last: cycling, he says, it also has a social synergy with people.
“It helps the economy by creating jobs,” he reveals. “If you look at some Western countries, bicycle manufacturers and retailers have helped create jobs, because there are so many aspects to it: finance, procurement, maintenance, retail, engineering, so this does offer something beyond what we can ordinarily imagine.
“As a cyclist, I am very happy we have World Bicycle Day,” Mohammed admits. “We have 365 days in a year, but this is one of the days we are proud of. This is also a day that serves as an encouragement for people in wider society to take up cycling, and the importance of the bicycle.”
Mohammed Al Masroori was speaking to TFM’s Evita Louis on the occasion of World Bicycle Day.
