Sprocket Man

Is it cold where you are? Have a few days of vacation and you'd like to travel somewhere where the weather is warm? Hawaii may just be the destination you're looking for We had some brief morning showers, and the temperatures today were in the high 70s to low 80s. It's expected to be very good conditions for the Honolulu Marathon tomorrow.

Anyway, I've been on BF for a while, and have always enjoyed ride reports from around the world. It's about time that I posted one of my favorite rides. Tantalus is a nearly 2000 ft., 4.5 mile climb starting from the Makiki neighborhood in Honolulu. The base of the hill is about 1 mile away from my home in Manoa. Though it's adjacent to Metro Honolulu, it's a lush oasis that transports you away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded city that it rises above. Because there aren't very many houses on Tantalus, vehicular traffic is fairly light. During the day, it frequently rains, but it's usually quite light and passes quickly.

A view of the road near mile 1:



There are a lot of switchbacks which make for an interesting climb, but the real fun comes when you are descending. Because cars need to slow down a lot more than bikes to negotiate these turns, car vs. bike "races" can happen from time to time:



Right after the steepest section about half way up, Eucalyptus trees dominate large sections of the vegetation and add a wonderful smell to the ride:



At the top is a narrow pass where you can admire the views on either side - one looking towards Pauoa Valley and the other looking towards Oahu's famous landmark - Diamond Head:




After riding about half way down, there is a lookout where you can see Diamond Head, the University of Hawaii-Manoa, and much of Eastern Honolulu:



Here are the two bikes that I use when I climb Tantalus -
My Trek 2300, purchased in the early 1990s that I recently fixed up with DuraAce brifters, 105 crank and derailleurs, Zipp carbon handlebars, Vision stem, Easton fork and Campy carbon seatpost:



Cannondale Killer V500 from the early 1990s - with slicks because I found myself using this almost exclusively on the road. This thing is a beast and I have full confidence riding it at high speed over the gnarliest of roads:


If you guys like these, I'll be sure to bring my camera with me on more rides and will be sure to post the results here.

Aloha,
Sprocket Man

blandin

Beautiful ride. Thanks for sharing.

dagna

Thanks for the pictures! I used to have friends who lived on Tantalus. It really brought back memories.

Of course, now I'm homesick...
Dagna

USAZorro

Nice pictures. Thanks for rubbing it in. Are you taking requests? How about the Pali lookout? Waimea Canyon? Kohala? Haleakala? Wish I'd done some riding when I lived there (long ago).

Sprocket Man

Sounds to me like you need to come back for a visit!


Pali lookout is a good one - definitely on my list. Haleakala will be posted in April of 2006 - I'm currently riding a lot of hills because I've been wanting to do that climb for a while. 36 miles with a 10,000 foot elevation is surely a challenge for me, and I can't wait to give it a try!

Pico

Nice pics. I think those of us in warmer climates have to rub it in just a little bit this time of year.

Haleakala would be incredible, I'd love to climb it sometime. The 10,000 foot elevation, steep grades, and cold would make it very challenging.

I'm sorry, I have to ask. Is that a dork disc on your Trek?

johnny99

Haleakala is long, but hardly steep. Here's a trip report from a California bike shop: https://www.chainreaction.com/haleakala.htm

cannondalecutie

I love the Tantalus ride. Kinda nice zig-zaggy ride where you can traverse and maintain cadence. I was just there last month visiting the folks but I didn't take pictures when I rode up there. Thanks for sharing.I hope to do more mountain biking there next trip. Perhaps Aiea Loop Trail or downhill in Saint Louis. Are you a member of HBL?

Sprocket Man

Thanks, I really don't want to make people jealous of our weather. It's just that Hawaii's economy is really dependent on tourism, and I want to do my part to support our promotion efforts.

Regarding the dork disk on my wheel, it is! The weight it adds is negligible, so I didn't bother to take it off. Once I get a locknut remover and a chain whip, I may change my mind.


Thanks for the link. I have it bookmarked and will look at it more in detail a little later. Haleakala isn't really steep, but it's unrelenting. The biggest challenge for me will be to get enough oxygen when I get above the 8,000 foot level.


I am a member of HBL.

When you rode Tantalus, did it rain? It rained this morning but by midday it was clear. When it rains a lot, the mongoose hang out on the road to dry off. I saw at least 6 of them today.

Ostuni

nice pics - what a gorgeous place to ride...

think i can speak for just about all of us who have frost on their windshields this morning: we hate you....

request: do post more, but next time size pics down a little so that horizontal scrolling is not needed.....

steephill

Speaking of Haleakala, I took a picture of it while flying into Hawaii today. I'm staying on the Big Island (Hawaii) and not Maui so I will not be able to climb it on this trip but it was great to see it on such a clear day from a plane.

steephill

Nice pics of quiet roads. I just arrived on the Big Island (Hawaii) today and I'm surprised at how busy it is. The weather sure is nice though. Hopefully, it holds up and I'm successful in some other areas of the island. I have a list of rides to do but its a big island! Plus, I have to balance time with in-laws.

mscycler

Did anyone mention we hate you?

mscycler

Mariner Fan

Great pictures. Makes me miss the islands. It sure is expensive to vacation there but worth it.

jyossarian

Motherf***er w/ your motherf***ing beautiful weather and your motherf***ing beautiful mountains and motherf***ing gorgeous scenery and your motherf***ing beautiful bikes, I oughtta get on a plane right now and fly there take my own motherf***ing beautiful pictures. Can I stay at your house?

Velo Vol 

Sprocket Man:

It's about 40 degrees and raining here today. Perhaps I should post some pictures and make you jealous. Ha ha.

Thanks for the report.

sunninho

Awesome pictures, man! The foliage reminds me of the Mexican Yucatan Riviera... so tranquil (except for the mosquitos) and beautiful.

Sprocket Man

Thanks for the replies! For those of you who watch the TV show "Lost" on ABC, the vegetation on the Tantalus ride is very similar to the jungle scenes in that TV show - where the "Others" live. "Lost" is shot almost entirely on the island of Oahu. Speaking of "Lost", my brother was shopping at CompUSA yesterday when he ran into Hurley (Jorge Garcia). He got a picture (edited to protect anonymity ):

DUDE!

jyossarian

What was Hurley buying? Too bad your bro didn't run into Evangeline Lilly or Maggie Grace or Michelle Rodriguez. Yeah, I'm a fan. Now if they'd just stop showing repeats!

Hipcycler

You want some pictures of snow and slush?
I got plenty of that!

rule

:: sigh ::

Sprocket Man

So do we! We put it in a cup, cover it with syrup and eat it:


Yum!

My brother didn't see what he was buying. He said Hurley was a little preoccupied, so my brother just wanted to snap a picture and leave him alone. Regarding the three ladies, I totally agree, all hotties! Especially Evangeline Lilly (who's currently dating that hobbit, Charlie, in real life).

But Michelle Rodriuez has really been menacing the roads here on Oahu. So far this year, she was busted going 80 mph in a 50 mph zone, 90 mph in a 35 mph zone and capped off the trifecta by getting busted for drunk driving and speeding yet again (mugshot):


Incidentally, her costar and fellow "Tailie" was also busted for DUI that same evening:


Look at her eyes! Apparently, it looks as if she also ingested some "non-liquid refreshments" as well.

If I get hit by a car while I'm riding, look for Anna Lucia!

t4mv

Sprocket Man, you suck! Tantalus-Round Top is my favorite ride! It's the only one I do when I'm visiting family in HNL. My 3Rensho is stored under my in-law's house just so I can ride when we visit in the summer. You and I have got to hook up next summer so you can thrash me up and down Tantalus.
And to think I was having such a great day (NOT!) until I saw your link to this thread, now I'm all "homesick" and wishing I could take this job and shove it. Speaking of which, I have to go pretend I'm doing something useful before I get to ride with you all the time...

mrbubbles

just by looking at the map, makes me wonder why they even built the road in the first place, other than being a wonderful ride route

mrbubbles

2000ft, 4.5miles, the gradient isn't so bad