OT - Looking for info and advice on Maui

[sayhello]

Originally Posted by ScubaMickey

We used Haleakala Bike Company. Equipment was very good and the van driver was a lot of fun. Sit in the front seats of the van if you are prone to getting car sick. Lots of curves.

Enjoy the freshly made coconut ice cream on the Road to Hana!!! Yummy!!!

Enjoy Hawaii and then on your next island adventure keep going to Tahiti. Spectacular islands that still have the tropical charm.

I hope I get to meet you at the upcoming DIS meet in Orlando next month. I would love to hear more about your recent adventure to Europe!! Loved reading your blog.

ScubaMickey

Thanks, ScubaMickey! I'll check out Haleakala Bike Company.

Tahiti! Oh, my! I think if I was going to fly that far, I'd probably suck it up & go to China, but who knows!

I aam planning on attending DISapalooza, so I look forward to meeting you, too. I'm so glad you're enjoying my Trip Report. I hope to have more up really soon!

Thanks!
Sayhello

[TEK224]

I used Maui Mountain Cruisers both times I've done it before!

Terri

[sayhello]

Originally Posted by TEK224

I used Maui Mountain Cruisers both times I've done it before!

Terri

Thanks, Terri!

Sayhello

[pankajs]

What are the specialties in Maui?

[Diskidatheart]

Not trying to discourage anyone from biking down Haleakala, but I just read this story today. So sad.

http://mauitvnews.com/blog/http:/mau...-bike-company/

[knewton64]

Originally Posted by Diskidatheart

Not trying to discourage anyone from biking down Haleakala, but I just read this story today. So sad.

http://mauitvnews.com/blog/http:/mau...-bike-company/

1) the guy was 65 yrs old.
2) you HAVE TO USE to brakes literally 98& of the time because if you dont, you will be going FAST - I am mean FAST.

When I was on this escursion last month,
Yes there was one curve that I bent my body to the far right and leaned in and yet due to my speed, I still crossed the median by about 1 foot. I didnt panick nor overcorrect. I simply allowed the physics of my body to take me back over to my side of the road and proceed as if nothing happened.
And yes, there was no oncoming car approaching - I KNEW THAT BEFORE HAND.


IMO, the key is to be using those brakes. They are your lifeline. Same for your helmet. gloves, rainwear, etc.


3) you have to have a basic knowledge of how to control that bike as it is literally like snow skiing....per se, you use your body to control that bike.
4) be aware of your surroundings and your fellow cyclists.
5) Respect the road and all who are on it.
6) Be aware of the weather and dress accordingly.


I feel the guy was in way over his head. in short, when in doubt, ride in the crash van.

There is no shame in your game should you choose to ride in the crash van.



I applaud him for trying but look what the end result was.



The exeperience while on that mountain is something to behold - its just you have to know what you are doing.




T.T.F.N.

[sayhello]

Originally Posted by Diskidatheart

Not trying to discourage anyone from biking down Haleakala, but I just read this story today. So sad.

http://mauitvnews.com/blog/http:/mau...-bike-company/

That *is* quite sad! Thanks for the link. I really think I'll skip this one. It's not like there aren't dozens of other ways to experience Haleakala!

Originally Posted by knewton64

1) the guy was 65 yrs old.
2) you HAVE TO USE to brakes literally 98& of the time because if you dont, you will be going FAST - I am mean FAST.

When I was on this escursion last month,
Yes there was one curve that I bent my body to the far right and leaned in and yet due to my speed, I still crossed the median by about 1 foot. I didnt panick nor overcorrect. I simply allowed the physics of my body to take me back over to my side of the road and proceed as if nothing happened.
And yes, there was no oncoming car approaching - I KNEW THAT BEFORE HAND.
IMO, the key is to be using those brakes. They are your lifeline. Same for your helmet. gloves, rainwear, etc.

3) you have to have a basic knowledge of how to control that bike as it is literally like snow skiing....per se, you use your body to control that bike.
4) be aware of your surroundings and your fellow cyclists.
5) Respect the road and all who are on it.
6) Be aware of the weather and dress accordingly.

I feel the guy was in way over his head. in short, when in doubt, ride in the crash van.
There is no shame in your game should you choose to ride in the crash van.
I applaud him for trying but look what the end result was.
The exeperience while on that mountain is something to behold - its just you have to know what you are doing.
T.T.F.N.

I think it's shameful to assume that this accident was somehow the bike rider's fault when you know nothing about the man or what happened. Your little excursion 1 foot over the median could just as easily have gotten you killed if you'd been unlucky. This is a tragedy, and just because you were lucky and he was not doesn't make this any less of a tragedy.

Sayhello

[knewton64]

Originally Posted by sayhello

That *is* quite sad! Thanks for the link. I really think I'll skip this one. It's not like there aren't dozens of other ways to experience Haleakala!

I think it's shameful to assume that this accident was somehow the bike rider's fault when you know nothing about the man or what happened. Your little excursion 1 foot over the median could just as easily have gotten you killed if you'd been unlucky. This is a tragedy, and just because you were lucky and he was not doesn't make this any less of a tragedy.

Sayhello

** (very thankful I brought a big hotel body towel to keep me warm!!)**

**hotel towel has many uses in addition to keeping my head warm ** wud recommend bringing one.



While being respectul of eveyone's opinions here, I feel very strongly that if the indiviudal in question would have paid attention to the tour director's hand signals, this would have never have occured.

per se,
The tour directions gives very very very specific hand signals (during this section of the excursion) telling you the biker when you are allowed to do what, when and where.

I paid very close attention to him as I saw very quickly just how easily this section of my adventure could have turned into my last one had I not been paying attention.

yes, I agree it is sad to see 11 people lose their lives over this this year alone.

but again, if people would simply just read the brochure explaining what this tour entails, these 11 deaths would have never occured.
There, it specifically tells you the minimun requirements for this adventure.



Per se, this is NOT a nice slow bike ride in the country tour. this is a very serious tour.


** (tour director is pictured w/me) **



So serious, that YES , I had every right to feel frightened about crossing that median because one of the rules was by the tour leader:

You cross the median for any reason = automatic trip into the crash van.



And yes, the crash van was right behind me as I chose to be the last one in the group.
I was very concerned I would be pulled and put in the crash van.

ANYWHO -



this is why i am making such a big deal over crossing the median.


moreover,
SO you can see just how far I had to look to watch the tour leader (at the front of the pack) for his hand signals.

This adventure is literally tailored for people who read "Outdoors" magazine and or who like to be up at a observatory in Switzerland at the 13,000 foot level.
(hey I saw a blip on tv where NBC's Matt Lauer was at that Switzerland location)



Not here to start anything with anyone, i am here to gently state that whereas I felt this adventure was quite tame (because they stressed safety soooooo much) it can get quickly out of hand if you dont pay attention to the tour leaders hand signals.



Same goes with watching the sun rise at the top of the mountain. Meaning, you need to dress apropriatly or you will be in serious trouble as it was VERY COLD up that high.
Yes, I had fun taking many a pic and I have lots of video from both sections of this adventure, and yes I had about 10-15 minutes of making sure my exposed picture taking right hand got all of its feeling back as we were making our way back down to the 9000 foot level via a heated motorcaoch before we began the biking portion of this tour.

But I knew I wasnt in total danger on both sections of this add on because I knew my limits.



All in all,
This is an adventure that is a sight to behold: ya just have to know your limits.




And yes, based upon your hesitancy, I applaud you for sitting this one out.
there is no shame in your game.


how I work?
I like handling a 65 foot catamaran while in Hawaii last month in 28 knot winds - that's what i get into.
or feeling the power of a jetty while snorkeling off the coast of Molokini.

Yes, I will be snorkeling off the coast of Key West in a few more days as yes, I will also be riding TOT and Aerosmith rollercoaster attraction as well as Star tours (never been on that one) while in Orlando in Jan 5th before I head out on my DCL cruise.


Moreover,
chances are i will be taking a helicopter ride while in NYC in Sept 2012 as I head off into that neck of the woods for the very first time.


it is to each their own limits.


Now if I just can remember that when I try some HOT & Spicy NYC food next year.
So yes, If you know of any wonderful restaurants I can look into while in and around the area of the Sheraton hotel (811 7th ave nYC), feel free to let me know as I do welcome your input.



but above all, enjoy whatever you do and have fun as this wasnt meant out of meaness. It was meant to be blunt in reference to this Hawaii add-on and above all, hope ya write a trip report!!



T.T.F.N.

[Diskidatheart]

I didn't intend to cause an argument in my post about the tragic death of the man on the bike riding tour. As I was reading this post earlier, I was getting the impression from some that these Haleakala bike tours were not that difficult. I just wanted to put it out there that sometimes things happen. Let's face it, something could easily happen on a snorkel trip or a simple hike as well.

I also don't think that you can fault the man who was killed for being in over his head. Just because he was 65 years old has nothing to do with it. He could be a world class athlete for all you know and been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's unfortunate that his life was lost on this bike ride. My point all along was that this excursion should not be taken lightly. If you want to bike ride down the volcano, by all means do it, but just know what you are getting into ahead of time. Similar to snorkeling, if you aren't a good swimmer, you might not want to go snorkeling in an area that does not have calm waters.

Knewton, I am a pretty fit person and have biked at home for the past several years. I enjoy thrill rides at amusement parks, zipling through the jungle, and hiking through the bamboo forest of Maui....but there is no way that I would ever bike ride down Haleakala. It's too dangerous and there are too many unknowns on the way down. I'm sure it's as safe as you can possibly get for this excursion, but this is something that I just don't get. You're going downhill the entire time...you can't enjoy the scenery because you have to pay attention to everything. I'm glad you enjoyed it as I'm sure many others have, but it's just something that shouldn't be taken lightly.

[LSmith]

Originally Posted by Diskidatheart

I didn't intend to cause an argument in my post about the tragic death of the man on the bike riding tour. As I was reading this post earlier, I was getting the impression from some that these Haleakala bike tours were not that difficult. I just wanted to put it out there that sometimes things happen. Let's face it, something could easily happen on a snorkel trip or a simple hike as well.

I also don't think that you can fault the man who was killed for being in over his head. Just because he was 65 years old has nothing to do with it. He could be a world class athlete for all you know and been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's unfortunate that his life was lost on this bike ride. My point all along was that this excursion should not be taken lightly. If you want to bike ride down the volcano, by all means do it, but just know what you are getting into ahead of time. Similar to snorkeling, if you aren't a good swimmer, you might not want to go snorkeling in an area that does not have calm waters.

Knewton, I am a pretty fit person and have biked at home for the past several years. I enjoy thrill rides at amusement parks, zipling through the jungle, and hiking through the bamboo forest of Maui....but there is no way that I would ever bike ride down Haleakala. It's too dangerous and there are too many unknowns on the way down. I'm sure it's as safe as you can possibly get for this excursion, but this is something that I just don't get. You're going downhill the entire time...you can't enjoy the scenery because you have to pay attention to everything. I'm glad you enjoyed it as I'm sure many others have, but it's just something that shouldn't be taken lightly.

I don't think Knewton was taking lightly the bike ride down Haleakala. Quite the opposite. He was trying to convey that this is serious business.

I have driven up and down this mountain and there is no way in heck I would ever think I was capable of riding a bike down it. My entire family ride bikes for 6 months of the year but riding down Haleakala is for the extremely skilled or daredevils. Consider it an extreme sport. Not for your average tourists looking for a thrills. It's not ziplining.

Two years ago when we were here I though that this tour was going to be stopped soon due to the danger and deaths I kept reading about. I think that the company is irresponsible taking letting amateurs do this.

[carpenta]

Originally Posted by LSmith

Two years ago when we were here I though that this tour was going to be stopped soon due to the danger and deaths I kept reading about. I think that the company is irresponsible taking letting amateurs do this.

.....Boy they must have great lawyers and that waiver is solid...

[Diskidatheart]

Originally Posted by knewton64

Due to a lot of fatalities, Maui Downhill really really has toned down their tour recently; contrary to what you have or may have read on trip advisor.com


Moreover, to those who have incurred injury while on this tour?? IMHO, they had NO BUSINESS being on a bike!!

IMO, the
Bike ride (last week) was tame w/the exception of 3 times when tour guide gave us the all clear to use no brakes and WOW!!! that was fun!! yes, I would reccommend it. If you go, IMO bring a flashlight for the sunrise part of the tour as it will help you to see easier.

LSmith - I personally took this as taking the tour lightly. Although Knewton claims that people who were injured had no business being on the trip (many people don't realize their ability is not quite up to what it should be), he followed this comment up by saying it was tame. When i read this, I thought to myself, there is nothing tame about bike riding down Haleakala.

I don't want to get into a he said this and that topic, but what i got out of the beginning of this thread was that bike riding down Haleakala was something that anyone could do and I think Sayhello got the same feeling as she sounded like she was considering doing this excursion. I think she realized that it's not worth it for her and I just wanted others reading this thread to understand how dangerous this can be. Unfortunately, there are a lot of lives lost riding a bike down the mountain. There are so many other wonderful and safe things to do on Maui, I don't know why people would consider one of these tours. To each their own.

[LSmith]

Originally Posted by Diskidatheart

LSmith - I personally took this as taking the tour lightly. Although Knewton claims that people who were injured had no business being on the trip (many people don't realize their ability is not quite up to what it should be), he followed this comment up by saying it was tame. When i read this, I thought to myself, there is nothing tame about bike riding down Haleakala.

I don't want to get into a he said this and that topic, but what i got out of the beginning of this thread was that bike riding down Haleakala was something that anyone could do and I think Sayhello got the same feeling as she sounded like she was considering doing this excursion. I think she realized that it's not worth it for her and I just wanted others reading this thread to understand how dangerous this can be. Unfortunately, there are a lot of lives lost riding a bike down the mountain. There are so many other wonderful and safe things to do on Maui, I don't know why people would consider one of these tours. To each their own.

Right. I'm sorry Sayhello . I hadn't read that part that Knewton said that the trip had been toned down, etc.

What really bothers me about these Haleakala bike companies is that they let kids ride by themselves. One site said over 8 and one site said over 12. That is ridiculous.

Like carpenta said, they must have a solid waver.

[sayhello]

I've done some reading, and Haleakala National Park has banned all downhill bike tours within the Park since late 2007 due to the unsafe record of the tours (3 deaths in under 12 months that year). They have no jurisdiction outside of the park, so the remaining companies take you outside of the Park before starting the biking portion of the tour.

I was really struck by this quote:

Doctors at Maui Memorial say, they see at least two to five injuried cyclists in their emergency room each week. With broken bones or facial injuries from their downhill ride.

Source: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/6...edirected=true

Yes, I think I'll be skipping this activity! It's just not worth it!

Sayhello

[carpenta]

Originally Posted by sayhello

Yes, I think I'll be skipping this activity! It's just not worth it!

Sayhello

We have seen some tours from the tour BUS and I scratched my head and thought "that looks dangerous". Good decision IMHO and we all don't want to break in a new Moderator......