This is Haleakala, a sleeping volcano on the island of Maui.
What is it with tall stuff? Why do we look at tall stuff and say "Wonder what it's like on top..." As luck would have it, there is a road to the top. It's a 36 mile trip from sea level to 10,000 feet. And a good time was had by all.
Let me quickly say that I wasn't packing the internal fortitude to tackle the entire climb. I was, after all, supposed to be on vacation, rewinding after a stretch of grade A crazy in the day gig. But I still had to take a bite.
This is Maui Cyclery...
Also the home of Go Cycling Maui, a magical little enterprise that makes really cool things possible. Donnie and his crew will rent you a nice Litespeed, spin your pedals onto the cranks, turn you over to a local who knows the island, and let you create some of the most incredible rides on the planet. They'll even load the Suburban up with goodies and SAG the ride.
For the vacationing flat-lander, there are opportunities to dance with Hale without sacrificially tossing your carcass into the smoking pit. I jumped on the opportunity to climb some 4000 feet... to a great little coffee house. Great views, minimal traffic, and the strange looks from the cruisers coasting down from the top after their 4 am "Dramamine Presents" van ride to the summit.
On a regular basis, Donnie sends trips up to the top. Local lore has it that a good number of pros swing in to chew on one of the few 10K foot climbs not requiring a passport. Donnie, a retired pro rider himself, told me he's not topping Haleakala much anymore. "It's brutal."
No matter how far up you go, you then have the opportunity to show off your skeells coming down. Lots of hairpin turns. Lots of blind corners. The locals have a distinct advantage. Glued to the back wheel of my lead, watching the speedo dance around 40 MPH, there were a half a dozen times where he piled into a corner and my eyes got bigger. I had to make a decision to trust that he knew something I didn't about the real estate around the next corner. He did.
Bottom line... any ride on Maui is an incredible thing. In addition to a breakthrough workout, there are views, there is foliage, and there is the laid back island 'tude that can't be matched. Fly in your own sled or rent from Donnie - if you're on the island, it's a must.
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