Cycle to the Sun: Bicycling up Haleakala, Maui

 Seven Tips for Conquering the Mother of All Climbs by bike.

1 Training Train for a 38-mile climb? Even if you don't prepare and plan on simply taking it easy and spinning to the top (along with carrying too little fuel), will likely end your ride well short of the top of Haleakala's lunar summit. Training beforehand on Maui is difficult, the traffic on Maui is heavy on the limited roads (although traffic on the climb is not an issue). Going out too hard to the base and steeper, first third of the climb may come back to bite you later on, say above 8,000 feet. This can make finishing difficult, leaving you short of breath and feeling like one of those slow-motion, zoned-out climbers slogging towards the summit of Everest. This is the biggest surprise of the ride — the last 2,000 feet is a lot harder than expected (although the road is excellent and elevation gain gradual) — it is a really long climb. After reaching the top, looking around desperately and pointlessly for a soda machine (descending was not possible) — I promptly laid down on the warm sidewalk and napped for a good half hour. Ride total: about 7 hours and about 90+ miles roundtrip from Kihei. Also read full ride reports, esp. the comprehensive Chain Reaction diary (links below right), of biking up Haleakala.

Click on Map

2 Check the weather Obviously, try to go on a clear day if you have multiple days in Maui. Tricky though — morning may be clear and it may cloud in the afternoon anyway (but you may be above it by then). Leaving at first light (around 7:30 am), I was at the summit when clouds starting shrouding around the 6,000 foot level. Cycling down Haleakala through the clouds is like going through thick, moist fog with little visibility although not uncomfortably cold.

3 Sunscreen Calves and a few other missed spots were cooked after hours exposed to the strong sunlight at higher elevation.

4 Fuel Brought, bought and ate all of what was thought to be adequate and still bonked heavily around 9,000 feet (two+ miles to go). This almost ended the ride (does Domino's deliver?). Doing it again, I would take a longer rest at the 7,000-foot visitor center, eat and drink, and then push on for the remaining ten miles after feeling the gu kicking in.

5 Cold riding gear Limited to what I could stuff in jersey pockets which included arm warmers, light windbreaker, and winter gloves (no knee or leg warmers). The chilly wind gusts begin about 8,000 feet — a windbreaker is enough — and the rest was adequate for cycling down the descent and by bottom it was in the 80s-90s again.

6 Consider biking side roads up to the park (about the first third of the ascent) instead of busy Haleakala Highway. Coming from South Maui (Kihei), it was an obvious choice bike an old route — Pulehule Road (right on Hansen, then shortly after look for the dump trucks turning on the road to the right - this is Pulhule). However, this alternate route was not as gradual with steep pitches in some sections (especially the terrible Lower Kimo with no triple or compact crank) and surface not as smooth, but there was sparse traffic and much greenery. Of course, if you come from Pa'ia you should go up other alternatives (see other ride reports).

7 Pause at the pleasant Sunrise Market and park center The Sunrise Market is at about 3,500 feet, on the left just after entering the national park (which states no ffod or services afterwards). If you're only planning one stop, this is the last place for liquid or solid fuel and the owner stocks everything you'd ever need. Downhill cyclists also congregate here on the way down so you can swagger around telling everyone how easy going uphill is will be. Note: many cyclists begin the climb here as well, as it is the official start of the park land. Also check out their wall map of what's to come. Later, at 7,000 feet, there is water and restroom at the park visitor's center. If this was Everest, consider this base camp IV from which you'll make the final and hardest push. There is also a water fountain ten miles later at the summit. Unfortunately, there are no soda machines or food at either park center.

After you've done it, give yourself a pat on the back, but before you get too cocky you should know that there are cyclists who every August actually race up Haleakala and there are a few very disturbed souls who actually race on foot to the top.

For much, much more information see the very detailed ride reports above right (including elevation profiles). Although United charged $80 each way for my bike, there are good rental bikes are available in West and South Maui. There is also one road tour operator, Go Cycling Maui. Excellent although limited riding in Kihei cycling along the excellent road (with bike lane) fronting the Wailea resorts, about 45 minutes roundtrip to the end of the bike path (you can ride all the way to La Pernouse although the road is narrow and choppy). Kids? Here are some notes about that.