PM Maui Downhill?
 

I really want to do a downhill trip (in June) but the typical trip I see listed is EARLY AM with hotel pickup, and guided. <BR>My questions: <BR> <BR>1. I'd like to tour the Park in our car at sunset, after the downhill, rather than the sunrise bike van tour. What I would like to do is drive to the area and do the downhill later in the day, maybe starting at 11AM. Is this possible? Less expensive? Name of an company that does this? <BR>2. Disadvantages of a later downhill, other that missing the sunrise? <BR>3. Is it possible to do a downhill by renting bikes and getting a van ride to a staging area, then go unguided? Disadvantages? <BR>Thanks!

Yes, there are definitely alternatives to the sunrise bike ride. My daughter & I went last year with Haleakala Bike Co. See website: www.bikemaui.com <BR>We met in Haiku, van transported bikes & people to staging area at the gates of park, gave us maps and we're on our own. We left mid-am and took a leisurely ride down and got back in the afternoon. You can take longer if you stop in Makawao for lunch, etc. This way, we missed the crowds at sunrise and not as many cars on the way down. This ride doesn't start at the top of the crater. Only guided bike tours are allowed in the park. There are some other companies that provide unguided tours. Try Maui Downhill. Have a great time - it's fun anytime! <BR>

The downhill bike tours are very dangerous. There have been at least 12 deaths and 1000's of accidents. Once you get hurt if is difficult to get the companies to even respond to you. See Maui News. Search their data. base. The ER at Maui Memorial sees up to 6 people per week.
The safer companies are Haleakala Bike, and Maui Sunriders. These are what is called the &quot;independent tours.&quot; You go at your own pace. The guided tours are the most dangerous as they often rush down the hill do they can finish their jobs and go home. The vast majority of locals hate these companies and road rage is common. The bike vans illegally block the roadways and this leads to frustration and anger. Check out www.bikemauisafety.com. Also youtube video. Type in downhill bike tours on Maui.

To both &quot;Tom and Bill;&quot; (Wink, wink) Answers are provided at www.bikemauisafety.com.

Make an informed choice. Your health, maybe the health of others you love could be at risk. Even your life. Each company is different. Some are really caring and concerned and their safety records speak for them. Can't say the same of each company. Read what Mr. Adams has to say. Read what Foror's said about one of their young relatives who was injured.

Some companies want you to have a safe and good time, others may be more interested in just taking your money. There is a history of some companies not showing any caring about people after they have been hurt. Even if they are one of their employees.

Use your head while it is still on your shoulders. Good luck.

Why pull up a 9 year old post?

A very safe bike company is Aloha Bike Tours www.mauibike.com

Marc Friezner has lived and ridden bikes for 30 years on Maui. He actually won the Race to the Top--or something like that--a bike race up Haleakala.

Marc leads all the tours and they are independently guided. You ride at your own pace. They have a van and they will check on you at several places along your route.

There are several different rides--not all include the sunrise.

We did the sunrise on our own and then met Marc at Kula Park at 9am. Our 2 teenagers rode with us. It was a great morning. We ended with a picnic lunch that his wife had prepared at the winery.

Sounds like someone is touting a certain bicyle company.

That is prohibited on Fodors.

It makes me think that they are a greasy, bad bunch if they have to resort to fraudulently posting to get customers.

I would certainly stay away from that company.

These rides are a disaster waiting to happen. Consider yoursleves lucky if you didn't end up going ass over tea kettle on your way down.

We did a downhill bike tour at sunrise in 1992 with my 65ish in-laws, among others--no incidents. It was exhilirating. Much more serene and safe than riding bikes over the GG Bridge into Sausalito. Likely safer than swimming in many places in Hawai`i.

Related question-why decide to answer these questions after a nine year pause?