Cycling tours in Hawaii (Oahu or Maui)



Bob in CT <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I think the climbs are the only reason to go biking. Who wants to bike on
> flat ground? (And I'm not being facetious -- I really mean this.) Of
> course, if you live in AZ, where I used to live, or parts of TX, you might
> not have the option of hills. In AZ, I had to ride 10-15 miles just to
> get to rolling "hills" (using this term loosely). Most of the hills where
> I ride now are in the 7-8% range overall, with some steeper sections,
> typically separated by relatively flat sections. There's one hill that's
> 13-14%, but thankfully it's very short.

Oh, I don't know. Flat terrain is especially nice for social riding. I
went out cycling with my Brother and his friend while we were out in
Philly. It's pretty flat, so they were able to maintain a decent pace
without killing themselves. I'd quickly get bored waiting at the top of
every hill if it was hilly like Seattle.

--
Dane Buson - [email protected]
Fortune's Real-Life Courtroom Quote #18:

Q: Are you married?
A: No, I'm divorced.
Q: And what did your husband do before you divorced him?
A: A lot of things I didn't know about.
 

>> I like hills so much that I actually worry about moving. For instance,
>> CT
> has its share of hills but also has flat sections. I rode an MS ride near
> Hartford that was basically flat. It was incredibly easy, I thought
> (except for the heat, that is). I selected the 75 mile ride, but had I
> know how easy the ride was, I'd have selected the century (again, except
> for the heat -- it was May but hot).
>
> --
> Bob in CT

There is one hill not too far away that I tried to go up and I fell over
about 40% of the way up. When you are going up a hill and it gets to where
you are deciding which side to fall on, that's a tough hill! (when I am
going less than 5 mph I know it's time to worry.)

Pat in TX
 

>> Did I read that you used the words "climb" and "fun" in the same
>> sentence?
>> Are you nuts? I don't recall any climbs being "fun." :)
>
> Well, a nice gradual climb can be nice, especially if the outside
> temperature is low so you're not sweating everywhere. Then you can
> bundle up for the descent.
> > Dane Buson -

Oh, I call those "inclines." and not hills. Sort of like going up the
incline on the freeway service road until you get to the top where the
crossing road goes over the freeway...man-made inclines. I don't call it a
hill unless I have to downshift 4 times.

Pat in TX
 
On Jun 1, 7:24 am, "Roger Zoul" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Anyone have any experiences to share? I'm going next week to Oahu and am
> thinking of skipping over ot Maui for the downhill ride from Heleakala
> summit.

Cycling on Maui is awesome. I take my road bike there when I go. Last
year I rode 500 miles in two weeks. There is a map called "Maui County
Bicycle Map" available at the local bike shops for $6. It shows all
the island's roads and their suitability for cycling, terrain,
gradients, prevailing winds, etc. It's useful to have if you are not
familiar with the island.

I did the Haleakala downhill mountain bike ride with Mark from Aloha
BIke Tours many years ago. In those days, he'd fit you with a Raleigh
mountain bike and standard bike helmet, drive you to the park
entrance, and down you'd go on your own until meeting up with him at
the winery in Ulupalakua. Now his trips are a little more structured
with cruiser bikes, but he is still the guy to contact if you want to
do an "organized "downhill ride.

if someone drives you to the top, you can alsot rent a mountain bike
and helmet in the parking lot at the summit from Haleakala BIke Tours,
go down on your own, and return it to the shop in Makawao when you get
down there. They are always up there with a trailer full of bikes when
the weather is good.

GoCyclingMaui is another service that will fit you with a Litespeed
road bike and full kit for small supported group rides on theisland's
most challenging routes. They cater to amateur and pro racers and very
fit club riders who want to hammer.

Or, you can rent a road or mountain bike for the day or week from any
of several shops on Maui and explore the island on your own. South
Maui Cycles in Kihea and Island BIker in Kahului are both good shops.

Here are some good cheap places to eat: In Pai'a: Anthony's, Cafe
Mambo, Pa'ia FIshmarket. In Kihea: Da Kitchen, Hanafuda Saiman, Stella
Blues. In Kahalui: Koko Ichiban Ya.
Enjoy your trip.
 
Mike wrote:
:: On Jun 1, 7:24 am, "Roger Zoul" <[email protected]> wrote:
::: Anyone have any experiences to share? I'm going next week to Oahu
::: and am thinking of skipping over ot Maui for the downhill ride from
::: Heleakala summit.
::
:: Cycling on Maui is awesome. I take my road bike there when I go. Last
:: year I rode 500 miles in two weeks. There is a map called "Maui
:: County Bicycle Map" available at the local bike shops for $6. It
:: shows all the island's roads and their suitability for cycling,
:: terrain, gradients, prevailing winds, etc. It's useful to have if
:: you are not familiar with the island.
::
:: I did the Haleakala downhill mountain bike ride with Mark from Aloha
:: BIke Tours many years ago. In those days, he'd fit you with a Raleigh
:: mountain bike and standard bike helmet, drive you to the park
:: entrance, and down you'd go on your own until meeting up with him at
:: the winery in Ulupalakua. Now his trips are a little more structured
:: with cruiser bikes, but he is still the guy to contact if you want to
:: do an "organized "downhill ride.
::
:: if someone drives you to the top, you can alsot rent a mountain bike
:: and helmet in the parking lot at the summit from Haleakala BIke
:: Tours, go down on your own, and return it to the shop in Makawao
:: when you get down there. They are always up there with a trailer
:: full of bikes when the weather is good.
::
:: GoCyclingMaui is another service that will fit you with a Litespeed
:: road bike and full kit for small supported group rides on theisland's
:: most challenging routes. They cater to amateur and pro racers and
:: very fit club riders who want to hammer.
::
:: Or, you can rent a road or mountain bike for the day or week from any
:: of several shops on Maui and explore the island on your own. South
:: Maui Cycles in Kihea and Island BIker in Kahului are both good shops.
::
:: Here are some good cheap places to eat: In Pai'a: Anthony's, Cafe
:: Mambo, Pa'ia FIshmarket. In Kihea: Da Kitchen, Hanafuda Saiman,
:: Stella Blues. In Kahalui: Koko Ichiban Ya.
:: Enjoy your trip.

Thanks, Mike. Great report!
 
> :: On Jun 1, 6:24 am, "Roger Zoul" <[email protected]> wrote:
> ::: Anyone have any experiences to share? I'm going next week to Oahu
> ::: and am thinking of skipping over ot Maui for the downhill ride from
> ::: Heleakala summit.
> ::
> :: http://www.chainreaction.com/haleakala.htm
>
> Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I believe I already covered this on the web page, but I think for most of us
who hang out here, the Maui downhill would be extremely boring. It's just
not steep enough to get any real speed, and they don't let you go fast
anyway. Plus you have to get up at a ridiculous hour if you want to see the
sun rise (I didn't... I mean, I'm sure it's beautiful to see and all, but
not something I'm willing to trade 3 or 4 hours of sleep for).

The ride *up* Haleakala is something else again. Definitely something to do,
at least once in your life. I'd love to go back and do it again.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
 
> Did I read that you used the words "climb" and "fun" in the same sentence?
> Are you nuts? I don't recall any climbs being "fun." :)
>
> Pat in TX

Nor have I ever considered melting as being "fun" either, but if Texans let
that stop them from riding... :>)

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
 
>> Did I read that you used the words "climb" and "fun" in the same
>> sentence? Are you nuts? I don't recall any climbs being "fun." :)
>>
>> Pat in TX
>
> Nor have I ever considered melting as being "fun" either, but if Texans
> let that stop them from riding... :>)
>
> --Mike Jacoubowsky

Who says we let the heat stop us? Now, rain, that's different. I'm allergic
to lightning bolts, you see.

Pat in TX
 
Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
::::: On Jun 1, 6:24 am, "Roger Zoul" <[email protected]> wrote:
:::::: Anyone have any experiences to share? I'm going next week to
:::::: Oahu and am thinking of skipping over ot Maui for the downhill
:::::: ride from Heleakala summit.
:::::
::::: http://www.chainreaction.com/haleakala.htm
:::
::: Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
::
::
:: I believe I already covered this on the web page, but I think for
:: most of us who hang out here, the Maui downhill would be extremely
:: boring. It's just not steep enough to get any real speed, and they
:: don't let you go fast anyway.

Well, just how steep is it? 10000+ ft over 33 miles sounds like a lot of
climbing..

Plus you have to get up at a
:: ridiculous hour if you want to see the sun rise (I didn't... I mean,
:: I'm sure it's beautiful to see and all, but not something I'm
:: willing to trade 3 or 4 hours of sleep for).

Right.

::
:: The ride *up* Haleakala is something else again. Definitely
:: something to do, at least once in your life. I'd love to go back and
:: do it again.

From your page, it sounds like a lot of work!
 
On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:41:58 -0400, Pat <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>>> I like hills so much that I actually worry about moving. For instance,
>>> CT
>> has its share of hills but also has flat sections. I rode an MS ride
>> near
>> Hartford that was basically flat. It was incredibly easy, I thought
>> (except for the heat, that is). I selected the 75 mile ride, but had I
>> know how easy the ride was, I'd have selected the century (again, except
>> for the heat -- it was May but hot).
>>
>> --
>> Bob in CT
>
> There is one hill not too far away that I tried to go up and I fell over
> about 40% of the way up. When you are going up a hill and it gets to
> where
> you are deciding which side to fall on, that's a tough hill! (when I am
> going less than 5 mph I know it's time to worry.)
>
> Pat in TX
>
>

When I ride home from work, there's a hill that's around 13% grade
according to my calculations. Thankfully, it's not very long. But you
can't take much speed if any into the hill. It's the only hill around
here where I've had to pull up on the bars and push down as hard as
possible in order to not fall over.

--
Bob in CT
 
On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:43:52 -0400, Pat <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>>> Did I read that you used the words "climb" and "fun" in the same
>>> sentence?
>>> Are you nuts? I don't recall any climbs being "fun." :)
>>
>> Well, a nice gradual climb can be nice, especially if the outside
>> temperature is low so you're not sweating everywhere. Then you can
>> bundle up for the descent.
>> > Dane Buson -
>
> Oh, I call those "inclines." and not hills. Sort of like going up the
> incline on the freeway service road until you get to the top where the
> crossing road goes over the freeway...man-made inclines. I don't call
> it a
> hill unless I have to downshift 4 times.
>
> Pat in TX
>
>

I only call a "hill" a "hill" if I have to be in my easiest gear. Some
inclines, particularly if I'm tired, can qualify, although I typically
don't let them into the "hill" club as the time in my easiest gear is
short (if at all). If you stand at the bottom and look at asphalt, it's a
hill; if you don't, it's an incline.

The hills that kill me are the ones with false crests. There are two that
come to mind. One is on my way home from work, and it's hard because it's
near the end of the route and it really appears to be ending. Then, along
comes a slight downhill and then yet another steep section.

--
Bob in CT
 
On Jun 5, 8:15 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I believe I already covered this on the web page, but I think for most of us
> who hang out here, the Maui downhill would be extremely boring. It's just
> not steep enough to get any real speed, and they don't let you go fast
> anyway.

It's not that it isn't steep enough to get up any speed, it's that the
upper half of the climb is all switchbacks like the Alp D'Huez, and
you are stuck on a narrow, two-lane road with heavy vehicular traffic.
Plus, there's no shoulder or guard rails on many of the turns. The
tour operators don't want too many people getting killed, although a
few do.
Descending the lower half of the climb is the good part. Once you
reach the bottom of the Crater Road where it joins Upper Kula Road
near Rice Park, you begin a 4,000' descent, where you don't have to
turn the pedals for 18 miles. The road becomes the Haleakala Highway,
a 6 lane divided road with a wide shoulder. The crosswinds are pretty
fierce, that's the only factor that really limits your speed.
 
On Jun 5, 8:15 pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I believe I already covered this on the web page, but I think for most of us
> who hang out here, the Maui downhill would be extremely boring. It's just
> not steep enough to get any real speed, and they don't let you go fast
> anyway.

It's not that it isn't steep enough to get up any speed, it's that the
upper half of the climb is all switchbacks like the Alp D'Huez, and
you are stuck on a narrow, two-lane road with heavy vehicular traffic.
Plus, there's no shoulder or guard rails on many of the turns. The
tour operators don't want too many people getting killed, although a
few do.
Descending the lower half of the climb is the good part. Once you
reach the bottom of the Crater Road where it joins Upper Kula Road
near Rice Park, you begin a 4,000' descent, where you don't have to
turn the pedals for 18 miles. The road becomes the Haleakala Highway,
a 6 lane divided road with a wide shoulder. The crosswinds are pretty
fierce, that's the only factor that really limits your speed.
 
Bob in CT <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> The hills that kill me are the ones with false crests. There are two that
> come to mind. One is on my way home from work, and it's hard because it's
> near the end of the route and it really appears to be ending. Then, along
> comes a slight downhill and then yet another steep section.

Or the ones that look like you're nearing the top, and it curves away
into the trees or terrain. Of course, when you get there, you find
there is plenty more hill hidden behind the curve.

--
Dane Buson - [email protected]
"Heisenburg probably rules."
 
On Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:14:03 -0400, Dane Buson <[email protected]> wrote:

> Bob in CT <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> The hills that kill me are the ones with false crests. There are two
>> that
>> come to mind. One is on my way home from work, and it's hard because
>> it's
>> near the end of the route and it really appears to be ending. Then,
>> along
>> comes a slight downhill and then yet another steep section.
>
> Or the ones that look like you're nearing the top, and it curves away
> into the trees or terrain. Of course, when you get there, you find
> there is plenty more hill hidden behind the curve.
>

Good point. I have a few of those, too, but until about a month ago I was
able to see that they kept going up. Darn trees! ;-)

--
Bob in CT
 
Bob in CT wrote:
> On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:41:58 -0400, Pat <[email protected]> wrote:
>> There is one hill not too far away that I tried to go up and I fell over
>> about 40% of the way up. When you are going up a hill and it gets to
>> where
>> you are deciding which side to fall on, that's a tough hill! (when I am
>> going less than 5 mph I know it's time to worry.)
>>
>> Pat in TX
>>
>
> When I ride home from work, there's a hill that's around 13% grade
> according to my calculations. Thankfully, it's not very long. But you
> can't take much speed if any into the hill. It's the only hill around
> here where I've had to pull up on the bars and push down as hard as
> possible in order to not fall over.

At some point a triple becomes really attractive. When I'm in Hong Kong
(on Hong Kong island there are no flat rides at all) my usual ride includes
a hill which my altimeter claims is 22%. I can do this with my 30/27 low
gear without a huge amount of effort, though I need to stand to keep the
front wheel on the ground. A 13% hill is comfortable climbing while seated.

Note that I'm a fairly rotten climber, relatively speaking. In both Hong
Kong and California, where there are a lot of hills to climb, I get passed
by a lot more people than I manage to pass. Between having the 30" low
gear available when I need it, and some patience, however, there's
very little I wouldn't take a shot at climbing.

Dennis Ferguson
 
On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:00:23 -0400, Dennis Ferguson
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Bob in CT wrote:
>> On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:41:58 -0400, Pat <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> There is one hill not too far away that I tried to go up and I fell
>>> over
>>> about 40% of the way up. When you are going up a hill and it gets to
>>> where
>>> you are deciding which side to fall on, that's a tough hill! (when I am
>>> going less than 5 mph I know it's time to worry.)
>>>
>>> Pat in TX
>>>
>>
>> When I ride home from work, there's a hill that's around 13% grade
>> according to my calculations. Thankfully, it's not very long. But you
>> can't take much speed if any into the hill. It's the only hill around
>> here where I've had to pull up on the bars and push down as hard as
>> possible in order to not fall over.
>
> At some point a triple becomes really attractive. When I'm in Hong Kong
> (on Hong Kong island there are no flat rides at all) my usual ride
> includes
> a hill which my altimeter claims is 22%. I can do this with my 30/27 low
> gear without a huge amount of effort, though I need to stand to keep the
> front wheel on the ground. A 13% hill is comfortable climbing while
> seated.
>
> Note that I'm a fairly rotten climber, relatively speaking. In both Hong
> Kong and California, where there are a lot of hills to climb, I get
> passed
> by a lot more people than I manage to pass. Between having the 30" low
> gear available when I need it, and some patience, however, there's
> very little I wouldn't take a shot at climbing.
>
> Dennis Ferguson

I have a triple. I think it's a 30 on the front and a 27 on the rear.
There's no way I could climb a 13 % grade while seated. I weigh 240
pounds, though. I determined my gradients via a mapping program. My
altimeter is horrible at gauging actual gradients, and I only use it for
general profile. There are very few hills at 22 percent gradient. This
doesn't mean that the hill you think is 22% isn't 22%, but I'd try to find
a map indicating the actual gradient.

--
Bob in CT
 
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