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I <3 Maui !
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Author:  badkittyjing [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  I <3 Maui !

So I've been in Maui since the 12th and just got back yesterday. I am having serious Maui withdrawals!! I spent most of my time hanging out on the beach, but I was able to get in a ride on Sunday, August 15, with some local guys from Crater Cycles. This was the only bike shop I could find that offered more than just road bikes, cruisers, or hardtails (which are apparently considered "DH" bikes by the tourist bike shops. :roll: ). I ended up with a Norco Six (one, two, or three, I'm not sure). I rode with Rich & Dane (who work at the shop) and their friend Jake (who actually rolls with the Laguna Rads quite a bit when he flies over to the mainland).

The initial plan was to hit up some FR trails in Makawao, but since this was going to be my only riding day, they decided I should experience the Summit (Haleakala).

The drive up towards the clouds
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As we enter the clouds, the mist appears on the windshield
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Entering Haleakala National Park. We lucked out that Sunday was a "free access" day as set by the Dept. of Interior for ALL national parks in the nation.
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Now above the clouds and the sky is clear
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Over 10k!
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Observatory tower
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The shuttle vehicle driven by Dane's mom (Dane is only 15 y.o. but has a supportive mom who has taken him to Whistler every year for the last 3 years)
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The local crew - From L to R: Rich, Dane, Jake
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This first part was just loose volcanic rock. Speed was definitely your friend, otherwise you would just sink right into the loose rock. A lot of moments where I thought I would wash out because you really had zero grip on this stuff. I should've gotten a better picture of the terrain.

After the initial fireroad, the loose rock goes away and it's onto winding doubletrack where you can catch some serious speed! But not before getting a flat...
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After the doubletrack, you start onto some nice single track in the woods and mist. We take a break before heading on.
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I wish I had gotten more pictures of this trail. Soooo rooty!! SoCal has chunky rocks, Maui has chunky roots. The big fork on my rental bike was much appreciated. After we exit the trail, I find out it was called:
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We're on to some fireroad for about 2 miles to get to the "Chutes". The grade is very mild (practically almost flat the whole way), which made it easy to pedal the 45lb steed I was on. While we were in mist the whole time & drops kept getting in my eyes, it still did nothing for the dust on the trail. But this dust isn't anything like SoCal dust. You didn't really "sink" into this dust. You basically stepped in it and it practically exploded away. So when you're riding through it, it didn't really add much rolling resistance, if any at all.
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As we ride through, Dane's eye catches a tree full of plums, so we stop to eat
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Once we reach the end of the fire road, you end up on a paved service road. Most people would then just ride down the service road, but Rich knew of these "Chutes" that cut through the the dirt so you're going in more or less a straight line rather than through the paved switchbacks. If you didn't already know they were there, you really wouldn't be able to find the entrance to some of these chutes as they're not readily visible. They were initially used by motos so they could ditch the cops as they're not supposed to be riding up there.
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This chute was actually more vertical than the picture shows. A lot of the chutes were skinny, deep, and steep.

Orange moss growing on the trees
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Tunnels anyone?
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Some of the chutes were really short, like the first picture. Others were longer and were very rooty & steep. Kinda reminded me of LPQ.

We then get out onto some fields in Poli Poli which takes you into the woods where the crew from Crater Cycles built a couple of features. Not exactly legal, but no one to really enforce it.
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We then come upon this feature ~ a mini-Flow Drop
Dane
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Rich
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Me?
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It looks sketchier standing up top
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Attempt #1
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Attempt #2
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Attempt #3
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I know, I know! Pix or it didn't happen! I did the drop, but after over thinking it, I either forgot to pull up or the bike was too heavy for me. I ended up going off nose-heavy, but I leaned back enough that I was able to save the landing and not go OTB. My ass did touch the back tire & I really lucked out that I did not crash. Everyone basically had an "Oh Shit" look on their face. So, no pix was taken. It started to drizzle, which made the transition slippery so rather than a 4th attempt, we decided to move on.

We ended up on some open fields and riding straight into some cattle. The fields were very bumpy, but you could still catch some speed through it.
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A short ride on some paved road and we were back at the "bottom" where our vehicles were waiting.

We stopped to get some local eats at 808 Cafe and then I was on my merry way "home."
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I definitely wish I had a chance to ride the trails out in Makawao, but my time in Maui was limited. Rich's boss, Paul, actually took this crew out to ride last year: http://www.nsmb.com/3051-ride-guide-in-maui (I love Darcy Turenne!).

Big thanks to Crater Cycles and Rich, Dane, and Jake for taking this random asian girl that just walked into their shop without warning asking for a DH ride that wasn't the road :)

Here are some random Hawaii pictures I just wanted to share:

Hawaiian sunset at my first luau :)
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Clear waters in Maui
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Why can't the sand at our beaches be this clean and soft ??
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I am having some serious withdrawals already! :crying:

I can't wait to go back! :bang:

Author:  Sultan Ali [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

Thanks for sharing this nice TR along with some geouges pictures of Maui.

I am glad you were able to save that jump's landing and not ruining your vaction instead nursing a broken ....... :thumbsup:

Author:  McLovin [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

Cool pics!! :thumbsup:

Author:  Kimba [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

Awesome TR. I remember seeing the chutes along the. Side of the road.

Author:  Canaan [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

That's the best TR from an exotic locale. Way to sack up (can a woman even do that?) and hit that drop.

I have to admit that I haven't traveled very much, but it's hard to imagine I'd find a place I could like much more than Maui. Thanks for including the pictures of the palm trees and the ocean.

Author:  Los [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 6:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

sweet pics, I will be heading to Oahu / honolulu in the end of September. So I have to ask, was your husband getting a mani / pedi while you were out riding?

Author:  Dirty Boo [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

What a fantastic vacation! beach! a luau! awesome trail ride!

and...

Canaan wrote:
... Way to sack up (can a woman even do that?) and hit that drop.
bk isn't your average woman... :bang: :bang:

Author:  badkittyjing [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

Los wrote:
sweet pics, I will be heading to Oahu / honolulu in the end of September. So I have to ask, was your husband getting a mani / pedi while you were out riding?

He was actually left back home in San Diego. I went with my friend (who won a free trip) and brought along my sister (for her birthday).

Dirty Boo wrote:
What a fantastic vacation! beach! a luau! awesome trail ride!

and...

Canaan wrote:
... Way to sack up (can a woman even do that?) and hit that drop.
bk isn't your average woman... :bang: :bang:

:bang: Thanks!

Author:  dft [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

looks real cool.
nice you hit that drop. nice looking trails there. all the islands seem to have some good riding.

Author:  Los [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

badkittyjing wrote:
He was actually left back home in San Diego. I went with my friend (who won a free trip) and brought along my sister (for her birthday).


So long story short, ill take that as a yes :lol: kidding of course

Author:  amor587 [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 11:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

Nice photos and TR BK! 8)

Author:  wirk242 [ Wed Aug 18, 2010 11:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

I want to hitch a ride in your luggage next time!

Author:  Kimba [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

I couldn't help but to read the TR again since it brings back lots of good memories. The coolest part of the backside of Haleakela is how you go from what is basically the moon at the top to alpinish forest, to rooty singletrack, to typical Hawaii lushness. We ended our ride in a lavender garden. I know, the lavender garden end sounds so vacationey but that's Maui.

Looks like you lucked out and did not have to go back up the mountain to fetch a shuttle vehicle. That helps a lot because driving up that mountain after such an epic ride makes for a LONG day on the hill.

Did you do the zipline??? That is a whole another adventure. If you didn't then you have another reason to go back.

As they say in Hawaii, Maui is the best.

After Maui, Kauai is next in fun factor.

We go every couple of years or so since we are honorary Hawaiians: a twinkie Korean, a haole and a bunch of hapa kids.

Author:  406 [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

looks like fun, nice work on the jump.

Author:  badkittyjing [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I <3 Maui !

I'm already trying to figure out how I can get back there again ASAP!! Can I tag along on your next trip there?? :mrgreen:

Kimba wrote:
...you have another reason to go back.

As they say in Hawaii, Maui is the best.

After Maui, Kauai is next in fun factor.

We go every couple of years or so since we are honorary Hawaiians: a twinkie Korean, a haole and a bunch of hapa kids.

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