gualalalisa

Diva: Don't let people put you off on the bike ride - I loved it!

Yes, you have to get up at an ongodly hour but it ws worth it. My whole family went and the views were spectacular - at the end of the ride we went through a flat area of farmland and little towns that was really cool. I liked having the security of a guided tour - they do keep any vehicle traffic away from you.

Dress in layers you can peel off because it is cold at the top. The bike riding part is very easy and lots of fun and I'm only an average athlete.

I've spent a lot of time in Hawaii over the past 40 (gasp!) years and I would highly recommend this bike ride.

ABCDEFG

We also did the Pony Express ride into the crater of the volcano and it was a highlight of our trip. We did not do the bike ride although we saw all the others riding down.

If I just wanted to see the sunrise, I'd wake up later and drive myself and spend time exploring the crater and peak myself. You could sleep much later, and it wouldn't be such a uber-touristy thing. There were SOOO many people on bikes when we were there. The bike ride itself didn't look too much fun to me.

The bike ride down doesn't justify the cost of the entire trip. I would much prefer to drive myself to the top. And if you want to do the horses, taht's even better! We were complete novices and thoroughly enjoyed both the drive to the top and the all day horseback tour.

Loisde

I'd like to offer an alternative suggestion: go for the sunSET. My husband and I did this a couple of years ago and we were able to be flexible enough to wait for a good day weather-wise.

We drove to the top through the low clouds and waited for the sun to set. It was spectacular and we have some wonderful photos taken just minutes apart of the sun going down, down, down until it was just slightly visible with rays streaking across the horizon. And then the drive back to the bottom of the volcano wasn't bad as it was twilight.

There were a number of people up there with us, but it was as quiet a place as I have ever been - and as cold!

What's not to like? You won't have to get up at o-dark-thirty, you'll see lots of color, when you reach the bottom, you can have dinner at a nice restaurant and relax with the memory of the sunset in your mind.

You wouldn't have the comfort of a narrow seat on a flimsy bicycle hurtling down a twisty, steep road, but oh, well. And I agree with the fact that you'll see more of the landscape from your car when you are not having to manage a bike. Of course, the driver will have to pay a little attention, but one of you drive up and the other down.

TravelDiva

Hi All...

Thanks so much for your input. Jury's still out for me on this. My co-worker just got back from Maui and he did the guided sunrise downhill bikeride with Bike It Maui and loved it. He said he like have the vans to block and tackle the traffic.

Loisde - I had heard that sunsets can be really nice up there...in fact my brother and his fiancee are planning to go up for the sunset, and are considering doing Maui Downhill's Crater-to-Kula Sunset.

I'll let you guys know what we do!