Im planning to rent a bike on Maui and riding Haleakala or thinking about a couple of catered rides with Go cycle Maui tours.Any one have any advice on this ? Im Then meeting my wife on Oahu for a week of the typical tourist bs.I have a Breakdown crossbike Im thinking of bringing to Oahu for some early morning rides before the wife is up and ready to lay around . .Should I bring the bike For Oahu ? Is there any good riding ,pavement ,gravel or mellow single track . Dont think I can just hang out for eight days and not ride ,The road riding looks a little slim thats why I thought the Cyclocross bike my be the ticket. Any advice or connection would be appreciated ,Thanks

I grew up on Oahu, and I was back there for a visit in February. To be honest, there are not many places on the island I would really feel safe road riding. The island is too crowded and many people are not use to cyclist there IMHO.

Kolekole pass would be the only ride I would consider. It is a great climb, but access is limited since it is on a military reservation.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/ed_o/Kolekole_Pass.jpg

I've rented a bike from go cycling maui several times before, the first time I rented I asked about one of their rides, they had none scheduled that day but one of the guys at the shop said he was riding and I could go with him, rode from Haiku to Kenei (sp?) penensula along the hana hiway, great ride if you can hit it in good weather, several good climbs and awesome views, take a camera. On the lahaina side, Ive ridden out around the western side of the island, that is a fun road too, pretty much everything between lahaina and the middle valley is pretty busy with traffic. I haven't ridden up Haleakala yet, maybe next time I'm there. Roads are sketchy down around the south to south easern part, I haven't ridden around that area, but there may be some good riding there, don't know. I'm sure the folks at go cycling maui can point you in a good direction, good people. Don't know much about Oahu, last time I was there I was 10.

I'll be in Maui from April 1st to the 8th and bringing my travel bike. I plan on doing a ride with Donnie and Go. If anyone else is going to be there at that time and wants to meet up let me know.

Sorry I can't be much help, but would love to benefit from what you learn! I'm going to Maui in July, and if I can convince my wife to let me bring my bike, I'm going to. I'd love to hear where some good rides are.

Here's the skinny on Oahu...

True, it's not the most cycling-friendly locale in the world, but you'd be missing out if you didn't ride while you were here. I ride an average of 5-6 days/week and have very few problems. The key, in my opinion, is to simply pick the correct routes and times. Do you know where you'll be staying? I can definitely make some recommendations for rides with stunning views and also some good climbs if you're interested. One thing to prepare yourself for, however: WIND!!! Last couple of days it's been howling. Where I live is called the "Windward" side of Oahu for a reason!

Double check with the bike tour people on Maui. I read a couple of months ago that the state shut down all the Haleakala bike tour companies. There have been several fatalities on those "bomb down the mountain" rides.

Double check with the bike tour people on Maui. I read a couple of months ago that the state shut down all the Haleakala bike tour companies. There have been several fatalities on those "bomb down the mountain" rides. I can see that--long high speed descent on crappy cruiser bikes with inexperienced cyclists=smashy. smashy.

I was on a boat tour of the Napali coast and the captain was telling us how the FAA had to stop the helicopter operators from flying into a large archway he was showing us from the sea. Eveidently they had been doing that on a routine basis until recently.

FYI:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2004292827_webhawaiibiketours19.html



HONOLULU — Officials at Haleakala National Park on Maui have decided to extend a suspension of downhill bike tours on the volcano.


A panel has found the tours pose an unacceptably high risk.
Park Superintendent Marilyn Parris says the park will is looking into the possibility of allowing less dangerous interpretive bike tours than the ones that drop bikers off at the crater at sunrise and let them speed 30 miles down the two-lane road.


Five bicycle tour companies are being allowed to conduct some activities. Tours now start outside the park at the 6,500-foot level and go for 20 miles.


The park banned the downhill run Oct. 10 following a fatality on Sept. 26.
Before the ban inside the park, more than 100,000 bikers a year made the tours.



(http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Oct/04/ln/hawaii710040356.html)

The ban at Haleakala is only for organized group tours. These were frequented by people who never rode a bike in dozens of years, and rode POS cruiser style bikes. Anyway, you can rent a semi decent bike with a bike rack from some of these outfits and take the bike up yourself. No ban against individuals riding down. The outfits will drive you back up so you can retrieve your car.

I'm just finishing up a week here in Maui and have ridden 4 of my 7 days here. Ridings been great. I'll post pics and a ride report when I'm on the Mainland.

You are going at a great time for a run up Haleakala, a definite must if you're in Maui, here's a link to some good info on the ride: http://pages.prodigy.net/hamachi/Haleakala.html
Riding around West Maui is also a great ride, or an out an back from Lahina to the northern end of the island - very scenic, fairly quiet road.