Attempting Haleakala
#1
Recusant Iconoclast
Thread Starter
Attempting Haleakala
I will be in Maui next month for a conference, and I'm hoping to squeeze out a couple of free days to climb Haleakala - and if in one of those two days the weather is favourable. I've read a number of threads here and online blogs, including YouTube, but still have a few questions....
1. Tire pressure, climbing from sea level to 10,000 ft - any issues? Should I run them a bit lower? I typically run 110-115 psi on carbon tubulars (Mad Fibers).
2. I plan to bring two extra water bottles on rear cages. But my Selle Italia saddle has carbon rails. Any issues using them as attachment points? My seatpost isn't round (Look E-Post) so attaching it from there is a non-starter.
3. My rear cassette is currently 12-27. Given average grade is 5-8% (depending on where you read), and the last couple km's kicking up to 16% or so, would it be worth it to swap to 12-29?
4. Which brand rear cages? I'm looking at XLabs and Profile Designs.
1. Tire pressure, climbing from sea level to 10,000 ft - any issues? Should I run them a bit lower? I typically run 110-115 psi on carbon tubulars (Mad Fibers).
2. I plan to bring two extra water bottles on rear cages. But my Selle Italia saddle has carbon rails. Any issues using them as attachment points? My seatpost isn't round (Look E-Post) so attaching it from there is a non-starter.
3. My rear cassette is currently 12-27. Given average grade is 5-8% (depending on where you read), and the last couple km's kicking up to 16% or so, would it be worth it to swap to 12-29?
4. Which brand rear cages? I'm looking at XLabs and Profile Designs.
#2
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I will be in Maui next month for a conference, and I'm hoping to squeeze out a couple of free days to climb Haleakala - and if in one of those two days the weather is favourable. I've read a number of threads here and online blogs, including YouTube, but still have a few questions....
1. Tire pressure, climbing from sea level to 10,000 ft - any issues? Should I run them a bit lower? I typically run 110-115 psi on carbon tubulars (Mad Fibers).
2. I plan to bring two extra water bottles on rear cages. But my Selle Italia saddle has carbon rails. Any issues using them as attachment points? My seatpost isn't round (Look E-Post) so attaching it from there is a non-starter.
3. My rear cassette is currently 12-27. Given average grade is 5-8% (depending on where you read), and the last couple km's kicking up to 16% or so, would it be worth it to swap to 12-29?
4. Which brand rear cages? I'm looking at XLabs and Profile Designs.
1. Tire pressure, climbing from sea level to 10,000 ft - any issues? Should I run them a bit lower? I typically run 110-115 psi on carbon tubulars (Mad Fibers).
2. I plan to bring two extra water bottles on rear cages. But my Selle Italia saddle has carbon rails. Any issues using them as attachment points? My seatpost isn't round (Look E-Post) so attaching it from there is a non-starter.
3. My rear cassette is currently 12-27. Given average grade is 5-8% (depending on where you read), and the last couple km's kicking up to 16% or so, would it be worth it to swap to 12-29?
4. Which brand rear cages? I'm looking at XLabs and Profile Designs.
For the tire pressure, you don't need to change anything. A pressure gauge measures the pressure in the tire compared to the ambient air pressure, so measuring at the top of the mountain would give you a higher number by a few PSI than at the bottom, but the difference is small and may be erased by temperature changes anyway.
Here's a good reference-
FLO Cycling - Tire Pressure and Elevation
No idea on your questions about seatpost bottle holders.
Enjoy the ride, that's a bucket list item for me!
#3
Woman make me faster
I'm going to watch this thread, when I turn 50 it's going to happen for me. Hoping to see what others have done to prepare. I would think the carbon rails would be fine for the extra bottles.most likely less torque than saddle to seat post is required and it's a pretty common thing on a lot of bikes I see in my area.
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Oh, and if you're bringing your own bike, maybe consider another pair of wheels. I'm sure it'd be nice to have lightweight carbon tubulars on the way up, but there are some switchbacks that require braking on the way down and I'm still wary of rim brakes on carbon wheels with very heavy repeated braking, especially if you're heavy.
#5
Recusant Iconoclast
Thread Starter
You should definitely put on the 12-29. Not saying you'll need it, but with a climb that long you have to expect you'll need lower gears than the gradient would normally require due to the sheer duration of the thing.
For the tire pressure, you don't need to change anything. A pressure gauge measures the pressure in the tire compared to the ambient air pressure, so measuring at the top of the mountain would give you a higher number by a few PSI than at the bottom, but the difference is small and may be erased by temperature changes anyway.
Here's a good reference-
FLO Cycling - Tire Pressure and Elevation
No idea on your questions about seatpost bottle holders.
Enjoy the ride, that's a bucket list item for me!
For the tire pressure, you don't need to change anything. A pressure gauge measures the pressure in the tire compared to the ambient air pressure, so measuring at the top of the mountain would give you a higher number by a few PSI than at the bottom, but the difference is small and may be erased by temperature changes anyway.
Here's a good reference-
FLO Cycling - Tire Pressure and Elevation
No idea on your questions about seatpost bottle holders.
Enjoy the ride, that's a bucket list item for me!
Yes, I'll be bringing a couple of sets of wheels, but I won't be riding down; my wife will rendezvous at the summit with the SAG vehicle
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Really? Besides the braking/heat issue, the descent would be the best part! I love flying down mountains, it's the reward for the hard work going up. I guess you'd end up freezing cold, but if your wife is going to be there anyway she can give you a new jersey and a vest and swap your wheels to some aluminum hoops. Win/win.
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I agree on a wider cassette. Are you really bringing your bike? Sometimes I struggle with that decision when I travel, I'd rather have my own but it's a pain to transport.
Is your wife bringing lunch for the summit? And how did you talk her into that anyway?
Is your wife bringing lunch for the summit? And how did you talk her into that anyway?
#8
Recusant Iconoclast
Thread Starter
I'm going to watch this thread, when I turn 50 it's going to happen for me. Hoping to see what others have done to prepare. I would think the carbon rails would be fine for the extra bottles.most likely less torque than saddle to seat post is required and it's a pretty common thing on a lot of bikes I see in my area.
#11
Recusant Iconoclast
Thread Starter
Really? Besides the braking/heat issue, the descent would be the best part! I love flying down mountains, it's the reward for the hard work going up. I guess you'd end up freezing cold, but if your wife is going to be there anyway she can give you a new jersey and a vest and swap your wheels to some aluminum hoops. Win/win.
#12
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Thread Starter
I travel with my bike all the time, with zero damage to the bike in transit. I even took it to Rarotonga last summer even though it was flat and only 20 miles in circumference. Just make sure you get a good bike box; mine's the Thule Roundtrip Transition.
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I will be in Maui next month for a conference, and I'm hoping to squeeze out a couple of free days to climb Haleakala - and if in one of those two days the weather is favourable. I've read a number of threads here and online blogs, including YouTube, but still have a few questions....
1. Tire pressure, climbing from sea level to 10,000 ft - any issues? Should I run them a bit lower? I typically run 110-115 psi on carbon tubulars (Mad Fibers).
2. I plan to bring two extra water bottles on rear cages. But my Selle Italia saddle has carbon rails. Any issues using them as attachment points? My seatpost isn't round (Look E-Post) so attaching it from there is a non-starter.
3. My rear cassette is currently 12-27. Given average grade is 5-8% (depending on where you read), and the last couple km's kicking up to 16% or so, would it be worth it to swap to 12-29?
4. Which brand rear cages? I'm looking at XLabs and Profile Designs.
1. Tire pressure, climbing from sea level to 10,000 ft - any issues? Should I run them a bit lower? I typically run 110-115 psi on carbon tubulars (Mad Fibers).
2. I plan to bring two extra water bottles on rear cages. But my Selle Italia saddle has carbon rails. Any issues using them as attachment points? My seatpost isn't round (Look E-Post) so attaching it from there is a non-starter.
3. My rear cassette is currently 12-27. Given average grade is 5-8% (depending on where you read), and the last couple km's kicking up to 16% or so, would it be worth it to swap to 12-29?
4. Which brand rear cages? I'm looking at XLabs and Profile Designs.
1. 110-115 psi is fine. I wouldn't change it.
2. Unless it's super hot and humid, I think you can get away with 2 bottles. Start with 2 full bottles from the beach. There is a store/restaurant in Kula not far from the turn up the mountain road which is conveniently about 1/3 of the way up. Buy/refill more liquid there. Then refill bottles at the Visitor Center. And if your wife is driving SAG, have her carry extra bottles/food.
2.5 Don't forget to bring/buy food.
3. There aren't any particularly steep pitches. It's all one long 6-7% grind. That said: Better to have a lower gear and not need it than to need it and not have it.
4. Don't know about rear cages. I just use my jersey pockets if I need an extra bottle or two.
Re the way down: If you plan to ride down, have your wife bring a windvest/armwarmers/kneewarmers/gloves. It can get hella cold, especially in the moonscape between the summit and the Visitor Center.
Once you get past the Visitor Center, be super careful of the tour groups that get carted up and coast down on beach cruisers. These groups are down right hazardous to themselves and others. I would give them a super wide berth. Calling out on your left isn't particularly effective because they're in full face helmets and most of them would drift wide left if they could hear you.
Good luck! It's awesome and definitely a bucket list ride.
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I've done it as well in October 2015, and it was quite a blast! In short, what Caloso said above Although personally I ran out of water at the 7000ft mark, even after having refilled at the Kula store... Luckily I was able to bum 2 bottles of water from the drivr of one of those downhill-only groups hehehe (didn't have the luxury of a SAG car!).
When I climbed, it was 90 degrees by the beach and 55 degrees at the top. I luckily brought proper attire, including a long-sleeve t-shirt and gloves, and it was definitely useful as I descended the top 4000ft. After that, it warms up again so I was able to put them away again.
Regarding gears: I personally rented a Specialized Roubaix with 50/34 crankset and 11-28 cassette. It was fine. Elevation though... I'm not used to ride above 6000ft, so the last 2000ft elevations were pretty challenging, I had to stop a quite few time just to catch my breath
It was all worth it though! Now I'm really thinking of attempting Mauna Kea (on the Big Island) in the next 12 months, that one's even worse!
Enjoy, and keep it safe!
Geoff
When I climbed, it was 90 degrees by the beach and 55 degrees at the top. I luckily brought proper attire, including a long-sleeve t-shirt and gloves, and it was definitely useful as I descended the top 4000ft. After that, it warms up again so I was able to put them away again.
Regarding gears: I personally rented a Specialized Roubaix with 50/34 crankset and 11-28 cassette. It was fine. Elevation though... I'm not used to ride above 6000ft, so the last 2000ft elevations were pretty challenging, I had to stop a quite few time just to catch my breath
It was all worth it though! Now I'm really thinking of attempting Mauna Kea (on the Big Island) in the next 12 months, that one's even worse!
Enjoy, and keep it safe!
Geoff
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There are a number of unattended spots where hunters apparently pay for wilderness permits (or something) on the honor system and head out on 4-wheelers. I came across one on my way down and was able to get some water at a tap connected to some sort of rain collection thing or something. If you could map those out, it might be a good way to not have to carry a bunch of extra bottles...
Good luck!
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I did it a few years ago. It's really not technically hard, it just goes on forever. I don't remember any sustained 16% stretches but I was pretty damn tired by the top so everything felt hard! The hardest thing for me was the elevation. I can climb in the Sierra every year to 13-14k feet only feeling it a little bit, but for some reason once I got above 9k on Haleakala, I was dead. Probably due to the amount of work it took to get to that point.
The most important thing I can advise is to go WAY easier than you normally can on the lower slopes, this climb is a war of attrition.
The most important thing I can advise is to go WAY easier than you normally can on the lower slopes, this climb is a war of attrition.
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I tried that one and you'll definitely need to figure out the extra water situation before embarking.. I didn't figure it out and had to turn around. Still a beautiful ride.. but.
There are a number of unattended spots where hunters apparently pay for wilderness permits (or something) on the honor system and head out on 4-wheelers. I came across one on my way down and was able to get some water at a tap connected to some sort of rain collection thing or something. If you could map those out, it might be a good way to not have to carry a bunch of extra bottles...
Good luck!
There are a number of unattended spots where hunters apparently pay for wilderness permits (or something) on the honor system and head out on 4-wheelers. I came across one on my way down and was able to get some water at a tap connected to some sort of rain collection thing or something. If you could map those out, it might be a good way to not have to carry a bunch of extra bottles...
Good luck!
In my case though, I'll likely coerce the wify into being my SAG car I want to do it on a single bike (My Spec Diverge?), but I'll definitely need water and food on the way!
Geoff
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I searched Nairo Quintana, Chris Froome, Alberto Contador for what they have on the rear cassette. Mostly around 11-27 or 11-28.
One exception is Andrew Talansky, 11-32
One exception is Andrew Talansky, 11-32
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On the flip side of that is going so slow that you start to break down just from being in the saddle for so many hours. It's tough...my plan was to start super easy then ramp it up, but I never got that chance because I was getting tired, and fed up with being in the saddle with the same type of gear range and effort level for so long. Maybe if I knocked some time off and changed up my heart rate earlier, I would have been more "awake" and energetic for the top.
I'm kind of all over the place on this post, but I'm actually going back to Maui next month and may do it again. If I do, I'll probably try starting easy for several miles, but then mix in some harder efforts in the middle just to break the monotony in my mind and on my cardio/legs.
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Once you reach the top, its fun to go into the crater and hike a bit there. Bring a whistle and hear the echo inside that crater.
#22
Recusant Iconoclast
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Thanks everyone. Lots of great advice, and I'm definitely going to simply pace myself, and try and enjoy the view. Surviving the climb is the main goal. My plan is to start from Paia at dawn (6:30ish) and hopefully make the summit before noon.
#23
Stevoo
Did it some years back on our tandem. Only had two bottles each. Should have taken one more to share in jersey pocket.
The ride back down was the best part. Quite a quick decent. Many cars to pass but still quite fun.
You have a support car so you are golden.
Have fun and enjoy the ride.
Be sure to also ride around the island as well while you are there. Ride around Hanna. Take lots of water on that one. The dry side is desolate and hot with no services.
The ride back down was the best part. Quite a quick decent. Many cars to pass but still quite fun.
You have a support car so you are golden.
Have fun and enjoy the ride.
Be sure to also ride around the island as well while you are there. Ride around Hanna. Take lots of water on that one. The dry side is desolate and hot with no services.
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Geoff
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The east loop has a few miles of gravel road. You can't (legally) go around the whole island. I guess Opra did put in a road to her property in up-country that would allow you to get to Kihei from the east loop then you could continue to do the west loop. Or cut through the ranch lands.
There's also an mtb route down from Haleakala via Skyline.
scott s.
.
There's also an mtb route down from Haleakala via Skyline.
scott s.
.
Last edited by scott967; 09-23-16 at 04:15 PM.