Sonoma76

What a....memorable and painful experience. I don't often describe my own rides as 'epic' but I think this one deserves the title.




True, I did not do the sea-level to the summit ride that most do. That was because 1) December 20 is one of the shortest days in the year and 2) the rental car had a flat early in the morning that we had to fix, but I still climbed Crater Road!

The ride wasn't as tough as I thought it was going to be. The grade isn't that bad; my heart rate never peaked as it would on really steep grades. What made this ride really hard, however, was the cold and the thin air above 8000 feet. For a good two or three miles, I was dizzy and had to take several breaks.

I thought I had prepared for the cold, but my wool sweater and full-fingered trek gloves weren't enough. By the time I left the summit, clouds had rolled in and the temperature dropped into the 30s. I hustled down the mountain but my fingers, toes and arms became numb, so I pulled over and hitched a ride down to Kula, where I found the first restaurant I could and ate a hot bowl of soup and some coffee.

By the end of the day I was back on the beach.

nikoncmk

contrats! that's something i want to do after seeing that Garmin video of it...

Nachoman

Good job! I plan on pedaling up Haleakala one day too.

tj90

I did it a few years ago on my mtn bike. It was truly a memorable experience. I rode down the lava/dirt road on the backside back to the state park and then onto kula. I too remember the dizzyness and the constant encouragement from tourists going up the mountain. Congrats - but you should have gotten a tourist to take a pic of you holding your bike over your head!!

Sonoma76

Thanks!

I do have a shot of me standing in front of the bike with the sign in the background. Pity I didn't think of your shot.

The sun is intense at these altitudes. I was almost entirely covered up for the last 2000 feet, but my face is sunburned save for two long white strips where the helmet straps went.

I just reviewed a Garmin log of a team rider named Ryder who rode from the coast to the summit in 2 hours 38 minutes at an average speed of 13.8mph. Amazing.

khatfull

Mind posting a link to your Garmin Connect activity? I'd like to see it....not that I'll be in Hawaii in this lifetime...

Herbie53

Awesome.

I'm going to be in Maui in Mid January.. this looks like a good way to spend a day!

bobthib

My wife and I did Haleakala in Feb ('09). Man, it was cold (39) at the top, and a misty rain. The air is very thing, esp. us sea level dwellers.

Of course, in the interest of FULL DISCLOSURE, we did the ride DOWN the mt only. Rode up the Mt in a van with about 8 others. The tour company had all the right stuff, full rain gear, bomber jackets, full gloves, and HEAVY steel bikes with drum brakes front and rear. The group was limited to descending at the speed of the slowest rider. The good thing about that was that it gave you a little time to look out at the view. At higher speeds you really have to concentrate. You don't want to go off the road.

Last Feb was before I got into road biking. There were a few brave souls riding up. I thought they were crazy. Now with a century and 3 metrics under my belt, and riding over 100 mi a week, I think I'd like to take the Haleakala challenge. Doubt I will, but I'll put it on the bucket list.

Congrats man.

FYI - here is the course with the elevation histogram.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/10388
A pretty steady 5.3% grade.

YOJiMBO20

Ryder's time was 2:32. The previous record was 2:38 held by Garmin's director, Jonathan Vaughters.

Mash Master

oo, looks fun. I think that should go on the bucket list.

Sprocket Man

Congratulations! I did that ride a couple of months ago. The conditions then were much different from what you faced yesterday. When I did the ride, the temperature at the summit was probably in the mid-60s.

The ride was by far the most enjoyable ride I've ever been on. One of these days, I'm going to do it again.

johnny99

https://cycletothesun.net/
The world's toughest time trial?

notwist

Here's a vid of an attempt to beat the Haleakala record.

https://vimeo.com/2805838

RacerOne

Next time in Maui, I'm doing this. Congratulations on you most 'epic' ride!

acaurora

I am actually in Maui right now, however the Go Cycling Maui company that (to my knowledge is the only one that does this) does the SAG supported rides up and down Haleakala isn't doing any rides up Haleakala the week that I'm here! I considered doing it solo, however I am too scared, especially since I am would be my own (that, and my parents are strongly against it). So I am just doing a normal group ride tomorrow, 40 mi, 4000 ft climbing). I figure since I am relatively young I will have another shot at doing this

akohekohe

Why did you take the easy way up? The way to do Haleakala is to start at Polipoli Springs State Park and ride to the summit from there. You can then take the paved road down if you want and ride back to Polipoli. You'll need a cross bike to do it, but the trail from Polipoli isn't that bad and the real nice thing is there won't be any cars, and the odds are no people either, until you reach the summit. You can camp at Polipoli too, nice cheap way to see Maui.

rumrunn6

I've been numb - it's no fun. congrats on the ride!

rollin

Chapeaux.

DXchulo

I echo this.