Smooooth

Here is a little write up of our unique riding experience in Maui:


If you don't know, you may be asking yourself what is this? Well let me just try to describe this ride.

The statistics: 37 miles, 10,000 feet. Average 5.4% grade approximately. Completely manageable...
Where? - Maui, Hawaii.
Gear: Rented road bikes- I had a specialized allez comp, 105/tiagra and Michelle had a Dolce with same groupo
We both used camelbacks and I carried the jackets, leg warmers, extra gloves and food - lots of food + 100 oz of water. There are a few places to get water and food on the way. Here is a great site for info on how to prepare for the ride if you are interested (it helped us):

https://www.chainreactionbicycles.com/haleakala.htm

Michelle and I started in Kihei at 7:00 a.m. This adds about 12 miles to the ride, 49 total. It was raining lightly, temperature in the low 70's. We got to the base of the mountain easily. This part of the ride had very little climbing and was a great warm up. We stopped and stretched to get ready for a steady 10k foot climb.

The hill is not steep, it just does not stop. The other element which comes into play is the ever increasing altitude.

We were in overcast conditions until we got into the clouds themselves. At 6,500 feet. we broke through to the sun and the beauty of this ride revealed itself. We were tired and learned quickly that you must pace yourself. It is easy to go a little too hard and really bonk. We were careful to stop enough times to recover as well as eat and drink plenty.

Because of the length of this ride- in total about 6 hours for us from Kihei, there is plenty of time to wonder:
- if you will have enough energy to make it
- how much longer will it take
- is it really worth it? (of course it is)

As our energy reserves got lower and the air got thinner, these questions and more crept in to the back of our minds.

6,500 feet - only 3,500 more to go (only a Mt. Diablo left to the top : )
8,000 feet - only 2,000 more to go, energy running low, air thin (just to mid mountain on Diablo)
9,000 feet - only 1,000 left, I am whooped, but only 1k left, must continue
9,800 feet - yes, the visitor center, we made Oh &*^%!! 200 more feet to climb to the observation area, and about 11% grade. This was a killer. Thin air, steeper hill.

Yes we made it!! What an experience. Luckily for us my brother drove up and gave us a ride down. It would have been getting dark on the descent.

Overview: It is just a long hill, no real steep parts, just unrelenting. Eat, drink and pace yourself. You can do it.

Here are some pics:

https://gallery.mac.com/gordonreese#100061

Take care

Gordon and Michelle

EXCALIBUR

Congratulations. I usually go up Haleakala in a rental car. Yes, and Alooooha!!!

cgallagh

Congratulations you two. I flew off that mountain in a hang glider in 1985. It is one of the most incredible views from the top. The cloud ceiling at 6500 ft is very predictable and comes in most every day. Hope the rest of your vacation was tons of fun.

taxi777

Fantastic!

Hermes

Fantastic.

Smooooth

Thanks guys.

Here is the route we took:

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...UTF8&z=11&om=1

Stax

Great pics!

I will be in Maui in January. Where did you rent the bikes?

Smooooth

The Island Biker, 808-877-7744. Most places want 200 per week, or 50/day. This place was $150 for the week. Bikes were ok, everything worked.

Bring your pedals and shoes.

Stax

Thanks for the tip, Smooooth. I'll check 'em out.

Velodiva

You and Sassy are awesome! I love the above-the-clouds photos - that says it all. Hermes and I will have to put this on our "must-do" list of hill climbs.

overthere

Wow! What a climb! Those shots from the top really look like you're on top of the world.
Pics are awesome...although you guys do look kind of odd on those 1/2 bikes. lol!

Smooooth

Would like to try it on our tandem. Maybe next time - Do Haleakula as a warm up. Then island hop to the big island for Mauna Kea - almost 14k

ROJA

Very cool story and great pictures- thanks for sharing! If I go back to Hawaii, I will plan to do this ride!

SpinningHoosier

Great report! I started looking into doing this ride and appreciate the info and pics. Did you see anyone descending on road bikes? We did the touristy roll down the mountain in one of those guided trips with the 50lbs bikes. I think going up like you guys did would be a lot more fun.

Where did you guys stay? We stayed at the Hale Pau Hana right by the Denny's on Kihei road. The map shows a starting point that's close, so just curious.

Congrats!

Smooooth

We stayed at the Maui Coast Hotel on S. Kihei road. We saw lots of touristy downhill riders. They can no longer go into the park - so the descent is from 7,000 feet not 10k.

Only saw 3 other road bikers the day we rode, Friday.