Heading to Maui in Mid July–
- Is it worth it to bring my road or is there a good place to rent a bike in Maui
- Staying at the Fairmount—Any good routes?
Heading to Maui in Mid July–
Heading to Maui in Mid July–
I always bring my own bike. But South Maui Bicycles can probably hook you up.
Fairmont is in Wailea. From there:
I arrive on Maui July 31.
Heading to Maui in Mid July–
I always bring my own bike. But South Maui Bicycles can probably hook you up.
Fairmont is in Wailea. From there:
I arrive on Maui July 31.
That west Maui loop is one of my favorites. When I go to Maui, I usually ride it multiple times because the views are amazing!
If you are staying in Wailea, to get to the west loop, you can ride, but its going to be a really long day (the loop itself, starting in Lahaina and back, is around 43 miles).
Was there a month ago and rented from South Maui Cycles, check the website they have some decent bikes.
Good route suggestions above, of course Haleakala is a bucket list thing. Pay attention to weather and unless you have a ride down bring some warm gear for the descent. I did it up and down in 2012, so this time just had my wife meet me up top. :).
West Maui Loop is supposed to be great, I did it from Kihei, it’s about 70 miles (so add 10 or so to the Kea Lani and back), the first 25 or so miles is really all highway riding ( i mean, along the Hawaiian ocean but it is still cars passing you at 50). I got 35 miles in, just started the really pretty stuff, and broke a spoke, stranded out of cell range. Hitched back to Lahaina and my wife had to come get me.
Upcountry rides - Maui Veteran’s Hwy to Hansen to Pulehu to Omaopio to Kula Hwy was the route suggested to me by locals - to Kula Lodge, or Grandma’s, or the Winery.
South towards Ahihi/La Perouse,mini Kona in the lava fields but at a certain point the road goes to absolute shit.
If you are on the facebook there is a decent local cycling group, Maui cycling group rides or something like that. They meet at the north Kihei ABC store i think on Tues/Thurs/Sat/Sun
I was in Maui in April. I took my road bike (gravel bike with road wheels) and it was the best thing I have ever done. One day rode from Kehei up to Pukalani and that was pretty fun, but a little windy. I really wanted to do the West Maui Loop but we decided to ride up Haleakala instead. It was one of the best rides I have ever done. Started from Paia and went all the way to the top. Started in the rain, then it was sunny, then went up through the clouds and then ended up on top to sun and wind. The decent wasn’t bad at all either. We did put on jackets until we decended through the clouds on our way down. https://www.strava.com/activities/5186879601
We didn’t even really watch the weather, just decided a day or two before to go for it. It was awesome and we probably just got lucky on the weather. It was so easy to fly in and out with the bike. I can’t imagine I wouldn’t take my own every time now. $30 each way on Alaska Air. That is cheaper than renting.
I was in Maui a while ago, definitely ride, some fantastic riding out there.
There are some really good places to rent bike out there, I rented a SuperSix, it just didnt seem worth the effort to drag a huge box through the airport and the car rental counter etc…
I have used Maui Cyclery in Paia several times, with good results. They also are an excellent source of information on rides.
The West Maui loop is fantastic, but had some lousy pavement. I had beefy road tires (per the store’s recommendation) and was glad for it. Juanita’s is the best place to stop on that ride for banana bread and hydration. I did the ride clockwise, to get the crappy section (the Lahaina-Kanapalli section) out of the way early. It was about 70 miles from Kihei, and much longer (with a busy road) from where you’re staying. If I were you, I’d drive to Kihei to begin the loop.
Haleakala is a brilliant ride. You go through many eco zones and the views are great on a clear day. Start early, as it warms up quickly down low and the clouds can build up high. There is water at 3500’ (store in Kula) and 6500’ (visitors center) — though check if Covid has changed that. You don’t need super easy gearing for Haleakala, which is steady around 5-6% except the last 200 yards. Pavement is in great shape and makes for a good descent (which can take more than an hour). West Maui Loop has some steep stuff — maybe around 15%, so gear accordingly.
Coming down off the summit of HaleakalÄ, it took ~33 minutes before my cadence sensor recorded a single turn of the crankarms. Definitely a bucket list ride and I am hoping you get a chance to ride it too.
I rented a C-dale Super Six when I was there a bunch of years ago:
https://bossfrog.com/maui-bike-rentals/
You can rent by the day or the week. We stayed just outside of Lahaina and it’s super easy to get there. I looked up a bunch of segments abd routes on strava, ended up riding about 3.5 hours north/west out of town and back. Stunning.
I’ve rented from Maui Cyclery a few times in the past good service, decent bikes.
Back in April I rented from the West Maui Cycles in Lahaina and was very impressed with the Specialized SL6 I rented - Ultegra Di2 and Roval carbon wheels on a rental…I didn’t want to return it.
I did the West Maui loop for the first time in April, highly recommend it if your looking for a more fun ride. I’ve done Haleakala a couple times, it is incredible. I live at sea-level and have zero climbing around me, so it’s a death March once I get to 5k feet-ish.
If you’re looking for a quick <1 hour ride from your hotel, I’d recommend cruising down toward Makena beach. I did a ride there one morning, nothing crazy or challenging, just nice chill roads. Once you get to the lava field the road is horrendous.
Wondering where one stay if want to ride up Haleakala? I’ve not been there before and husband want to go in November for a few days. I’d like to have a morning to do the climb & then have husband meet @ summit. Would he need to drive me to the “start” from some nice place .
Thanks,
Barb L
Wondering where one stay if want to ride up Haleakala? I’ve not been there before and husband want to go in November for a few days. I’d like to have a morning to do the climb & then have husband meet @ summit. Would he need to drive me to the “start” from some nice place .
Thanks,
Barb L
You can stay wherever you want (well Hana might be a bit of a pain).
Paia is the traditional start.
Have your husband play around in Makawao and Kula while you ascend and refuel you in Kula or you’ll have to stop at the Kula store to make it to the next water stop inside the gates.
If you husband likes hiking there are several trails he could explore off the road while doing SAG.
I’ll be on Maui in two weeks…
Wondering where one stay if want to ride up Haleakala? I’ve not been there before and husband want to go in November for a few days. I’d like to have a morning to do the climb & then have husband meet @ summit. Would he need to drive me to the “start” from some nice place .
Thanks,
Barb L
You could start from anywhere (but might be a very long day)
This is what we did. Staying in Kihei so a quick 20 minute drive to Paia. Unfortunately, if you start early most stuff isn’t open for you husband to do. I had her meet me at Kula Lodge and the Visitor Center. She had to drive back to the condo after I started to grab something I forgot, that timing about worked out.
In reading reports Donnie A from Maui Cyclery wrote that the best way to descend is find someone in the parking lot to take you down. The descent is fine, lots really like it, I just find descending for 1.5 hours a bit boring. Did it once, enough for me. And so happy to get a nice cold drink at the top
Reminder if anyone goes and is diving, that limits the days you can do it of course
Thanks for info. I done plenty of long descents and it does get old after a while. I much prefer the climbing. On the Beartooth it started snowing at around 8000. Fortunately they had reverse gear drop at the top 10,947, 30 degrees. For those of us who made it it was a very long cold descent to Cooke City.
+1 for the West Maui loop, have done it several times with my wife on tandem…
Have ridden up Haleakala twice, once starting in Kula on a rented mountain bike.
Another time started in Paia, made it to the visitor center at 7,000 ft and had to turn around due to freezing rain.
It rains a lot up there and gets very cold so bring some clothes like arm warmers and vest and check the weather before you go. It is not terribly steep but long.
Have also been rained on the West Maui loop but it is not cold and only lasted about an hour.
Renting a road bike should be no problem, but you should check ahead for availability.
Its always better to bring your own bike if possible. The last time we rented a tandem it was terrible, will never do it again.
I will be going up HaleakalÄ the 29th or 30th if your looking to ride with someone. I have made it up it once already a lot more fitness this time around.