Haleakala Bike Tour Companies
 

Hi. My husband and I will be visiting Maui next week and the top of our "to do" list is biking down Mt. Haleakala. We've narrowed down our tour compny options to 3 - Cruiser Phil's, BikeItMaui and Maui Mountain Cruisers. Can anyone help us narrow down our search?

Monicamac: My husband and I were in Maui in March. He was seriously hurt on the bike ride (broken bones, 2 days in the hospital). He is an experienced biker. I would not tell you not to do it, just do your research. If you're willing to have a weeks vacation that you have probably saved for for months, if not years, possibly ruined...go for it. The bike companies do not tell you how dangerous this ride really is...read the stats: http://tinyurl.com/ypr7se Just be informed.

I am so sorry to hear about your husband's injury---that sounds terrible. I can see why you would never recommend it.

We did do this ride with our teenagers and we had a great time. I did see what I felt were dangerous riders--mainly riders going too fast behind a guide-- although accidents can happen anytime.

We did this ride with Aloha Bike Tours www.mauibike.com. This is a family owned business and Marc Friezner, used to lead all the tours. We did this ride in 2000. He did not do sunrise but I believe they offer that now.

We did the sunrise on our own--we didn't go to the top, but watched from the Leileiwi Overlook--no crowds and easy to get back on the road to join the other riders at Rice Park in Kula. We met for coffee muffins and fruit and then Marc drove us up to the gates of Haleakala National Park.

We only rode down the hill with our family--no staying together in a large group, no leader. Marc followed in the van and we met up at several points. He encouraged us to take our time, stop to enjoy the scenery, be safe, pull over to the side when a large group of bikers came by. By the time we started the bike ride, many of the groups had already passed the national park gate.

We rode through down the mountain and through the ranch--after Marc shuttled our bikes up the rather large hill. There are beautiful views out over Wailea on this ride. We met at the winery for lunch.

We had a great time on this bike ride.

A previous thread on this forum on this subject is worth reading....

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34556207

hi I did the maui mt cruisers.Had a good time after I learned to relax going around those hair pin turns.I have a small problem with balance due to the fact I have M.S.I was up front with the leader,not because I was fast.The van follows you down the mt. for those who no longer wish to ride..but it was extremely hard for me to get into it,also due to my condition,and that left leg is not always willing to go along with the rest of my body......I was slow but had a great time.enjoy your trip