VertigoFlyer

I've driven to the top of Haleakala and yeah that is one mighty climb on a bike! We drove up with another couple and his wife got altitude sickness and we had to rush her down the mountain post haste! When we arrived at Kula Lodge (a damn good lunch spot BTW) the brakes on both SUV's were smokin red hot!!

So no shame in your attempt. The real shame would be in not learning from the first mistakes... I've made the same mistakes on vastly easier rides. Leaving my food at home truly pisses me off.

nesdog

This one was on my list last summer. I've ridden down that mountain twice but never up. But I never got the training miles I needed all Spring and I bailed on doing it. So in that respect, you did better than me!

But just wait until the next trip over.....for both of us!

hhnngg1

That's a big-a climb fo sho. I wouldn't feel bad at all about failing that one, except if I'd paid the money all the way expressly to make it to the top.

I would have to be in A-game shape to ride that one without making it a near-death experience to the top. 35 miles uphill is brutal.

mpath

I think you meant feet not meters.

Talewinds

Point Loma... 0-80ft above sea level, that's one of the issues that makes climbing incredibly difficult. I'm a mountaineer that lives at 600ft, ask me how I know, it frequently sucks.
Haleakala is no joke, just endless on the bike.

Velo Vol 

Fail.

Interesting that you were so ill-prepared to do something on your "bucket list."

Tunnelrat81

That one's definitely on my list too, but when I was on the big island in January, I was sort of itching to make a go at the Mauna Kea climb. I ended up doing lots of riding, and had a blast overall, but it got me wondering. How hard would the Mauna Kea climb be really. I understand that the last little bit isn't paved...so the 'end' would be lower than the actual observatory...but is a Kailua-Kona -> Mauna Kea a realistic goal? Has anyone here done it?

-Jeremy

patrickgm60

Thanks for the post and all the replies, people; my respect for that climb has increased, after reading them. I'm planning that ride in July. We'll be there for 2 weeks, but I want to try it on the second or third day there, to leave time for a retry if I fail, and lots of drinking and snorkeling if I succeed.

valygrl

I drove that in a car. It would be epic. The last 5 miles or so are unpaved, and would be extremely challenging on a road bike, with a loose surface, steep, and of course, very little O2. And ending where the pavement ends would be pretty anti-climactic. Also, the difference between 10,000 (Haleakala) and 13,000 (Moana Kea) is huge, in terms of how the altitude affects you (or at least, how it affects me). And then add the extra 40 miles of approach. Epic. Let me know when you're doing it, I'm in.

mpath

I was there too a couple of weeks back. While it certainly would be epic, it's not realistic at all without a support crew. Kona to mile marker 28 on Saddle Rd (the base of Mauna Kea) is already ~60 miles. Then the ~13,600ft to the observatories? Don't think so.

Btw, the last 4 miles is actually paved; what's not paved is the previous 4 miles, and not rideable on a road bike.

patrickgm60

(Back on topic):

If I'm reading this mapmyride correctly, the climb portion of the ride is approx. 32.5 miles and climbs some 9,600ft, meaning an average of 296 feet/mile. Compared to my local rides, that's high. It does appear to be a steady grind, though, rather than rolling. I'll be renting a bike; better go for a compact crank, if not a triple...


https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5650494

save10

Its actually a very mild climb for the entire length except for two parts. a stretch near the bottom after this little town (makawo or something like that) and the final little pitch to get to the summit. its just that it never seems to end.

Tunnelrat81

Well I didn't say that it would be easy.

I've done 10k ft. peaks, but never starting from sea level. That's the catch. Last year's Everest Challenge event was a milestone for me as far as confidence, but the segment from 10k - 13k ft. would be completely different, and much harder. Surely someone has done it though right? Insanity is what some folks live for. I'd love to read a ride report of it. Sea level to 13,600 would be an amazing accomplishment.

Haleakala would certainly be an important step. If I couldn't climb that, well, there's no reason to attempt Mauna Kea.

*edit* Well this answers the question:

https://itisaboutthebicycle.blogspot....il-2-2009.html

-Jeremy

caloso

Who ever did this ride is a stud. The first 32 flat miles from Kihei to Kahului is full on into the prevailing wind. This past Saturday, it was a heavy 20mph with gusts to 28. To me, that would be like adding an additional 3000 ft of climbing.

caloso

Yep. I think there were two flat sections between Kula and the park gate of less than a mile combined. Other than that, it's just 6-8% constantly.

nhluhr

You really do live in a dream world don't you?

Hendo252 

Fail my a** -- that is an awesome achievement.

I drove that road last Christmas and egads what a hill.

If I thought I could make it half as far as you I'd be stopping strangers on the street corner to brag about it.

Be proud!

-Tom in SoCal

metalheart44

Th real reason you did not make it is that you needed an Exogrid to succeed ...

HokuLoa

Bummer Nachoman. You definitely "did it wrong" but still impressive and hopefully fun. Hard not to indulge in the "vacation lifestyle." I usually recommend starting the Maui trip with this ride and then ans only then indulging in the other typical things. Something to remember for next time... Gorgeous route though, eh?

hawiken

https://hawaiiseatostars.com/

hyhuu

Wut? The ride has been on your bucketlist for many years and that's all of the excuses you can came up with?

JSMaxwell

+1 on this. I've ridden that stretch the other way and its easy to go over 30mph for quite a while due to the tradewinds coming through the valley.

Also, the average on the Haleakala is over 5.5% grade. That is real climbing. Other things are steeper for shorter distances, but 5.5% is not what I would consider "mild" by any stretch.

I think they key here is to get the ride done as soon as possible after arriving. There are too many ways to get distracted while you are there, and this ride requires serious effort; there is no way to take it easy.

JSMaxwell

No need to start in town. Hilton Waikoloa Village is at sea level and is 15-20 miles to the start of saddle road. From there, its 30 miles to the park station or 39 miles to the top. That would be epic. I wonder if this could be done the whole way on a cross bike type set up. I've been up there in a car, but it was almost 20 years ago. Its the unpaved part basically graded cinder?

mpath

Packed gravel mostly. IMO a cross bike would be more suitable than a roadbike.

mpath

Things on people's buckets list may take several attempts. IMO, it's got to be worthwhile, and often it's the journey getting there that counts too. I don't have crap like, "seeing the world's largest bowling ball" in mine.