Hawaii

[alwaysmtbiking]

Has anyone ridden in Hawaii?

I'm planning a trip in Dec/Jan and looking for a couple of trail recommendations and also what type of tires I should put on.

The islands are (ignore spelling) Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai.

I'll be doing XC and looking for the sweetest singletrack.

I already bought John Alford's Mountain Biking the Hawaiian Islands.

I'm a big fan of Hutchinson XC tires. Don't know if they'll hold up in Hawaii though?

Thanks,

Brian

[T Grimble]

When are you going.
My wife and I will likely be in Maui in early January.
She has to go for work and I may tag along to use up some of my frequent flyer miles.
I am not sure about riding there because this will be my first (possibly last) trip there but maybe we can put our heads together.

Tires? Ride what you got as long as they are fat.

-Tom

[Jisch]

According to an article in Bike magazine a few years back, Hans Rey's favorite place to mountain bike is on Kauai. I hiked the trail he mentioned, it had been raining the week I was there so it was far too muddy for biking. It is a beautiful trail. There are "outfitters" everywhere on Kauai to rent bikes from.

I've never really spent any time on any of the other islands, it is a magical place once you get away from all the people. It doesn't take long - a mile into a hike and you are unlikely to see anybody else. Most people only sight see from their cars.

John

[Z]

I don't know if I'd take Hans Rey's recommendation for favorite trail! ;) Although I will vouch for the beauty of Kauai. I lived in Hawaii (on Oahu) for a summer, and it is definitely a hard place to leave.

Anyway, why don't you ask John Alford directly for some advice! I'll PM you his email address.

He's a really nice guy (when you meet him you'll believe he's from Hawaii!) and he always seems eager to show people around his part of the country.

[alwaysmtbiking]

(T Grimble)
I'll be on Maui in early Jan too. If you want to hook up, send an email to alwaysmtbiking@yahoo.com . And yes... The tires have to be fat.

(Jisch)
I totally forgot about my old Bike issues. I'll try to find the article. Thanks. In regards to the mud, that's what I ocassionaly hear. What time of year did you go for Kaui?

(Z)
I'll also send an email to John to see what he recommends.

Thanks,

Brian

[Jisch]

We went to Kauai in Jan/Feb both times. One time it was an El Nino year and it was dry as could be. Didn't see rain the entire 10 days we were there. The second time was not an El Nino year and it rained every day, not the afternoon showers you hear about. I poured all day sometimes. Not a pretty sight when you are hiking and camping every day. Amazing we didn't lose any toes to foot rot.

Oh and the trail was not that difficult, some roots, but nothing earth shattering. I believe the main reason Hans liked it was because of the beauty, not the challenge. I didn't hike the whole thing so maybe there was some super technical stuff up there somewhere beyond where we went. I do know that there is a knife edge once you get past the part you can bike on. Supposedly a foot wide path with 200' drops on either side.

John