Maui No Ka Oi Got Down and Dirty with West Maui Cycles Bike Mechanic!

We're a family bike shop on Maui, so don’t let that title fool you! This Maui bike blog article is about getten’ down and dirty as in Maui mountain biking!

We’re thrilled the popular Maui No Ka Oi Magazine recently published a story describing the excitement and adrenaline of Maui mountain biking! Mountain bike rider and writer, Lehia Apana of Maui No Ka Oi magazine, bravely put her fate into the hands of West Maui Cycle bike mechanic, Aaron Reichert (Moose), to gain firsthand experience of what is in store for anyone lucky enough to go mountain bike riding on Maui! Lehia begins with an enticing recap of her experience single-track riding on the makeshift west Maui mountain biking trails and finishes with a spine tingling description of the her descent down the infamous Skyline bike trail on Haleakala.

Quotes from Maui No Ka Oi Maui mountain biking article, beginning with vivid descriptions of the mountain biking single track trails in the West Maui mountains:

“Oh yeah, you got this,” my guide, Moose, yells as I hurtle past him down the steep single-track trail, snaking through knee-high grass and manmade berms.

I’m in attack mode: butt off the saddle, pedals parallel to the ground and knees slightly bent. As gravity propels the bike to full momentum, I repeat one of Moose’s favorite lines and try to convince myself that “speed is your friend.”

Fighting my instinct to slow down through the rocky, rust-colored terrain, I slam down on the pedals and push forward. Moments later, I clench the rear brake and skid to a stop along a flat patch of dirt.

To the untrained eye, it seems like a barren field dotted with rocky outcroppings and dirt mounds. But a true mountain biker will see a free ride trail with drops that could crumble even the best shocks, and chutes ripe for high-speed descents.

And a little info on a recently formed Maui mountain bike community chapter, too. Speaking of Moose, founder of a local Maui chapter of the IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association):

Through the IMBA Maui chapter, Moose hopes to establish legitimate alternatives to guerrilla trails like those torn down in Makawao. In doing so, the group plans to partner with land managers and trail designers to create safe and environmentally sustainable riding areas.

“Between Polipoli, Makawao and the West Side, the potential here is unreal because we have so many different climate zones to ride in,” he explains, adding that the quickest way to experience Maui’s diverse landscape is along Haleakala’s Skyline Trail.

A couple of Lehia's comments about mountain biking down Haleakala’s Skyline Trail:

While my body is thrashed, my mind is still high on endorphins. Never mind the aching muscles or bruised ego—this is fun stuff.

As I reflect on the past couple hours, I begin to understand the appeal of mountain biking. It’s the childlike freedom, the chance to reconnect with the outdoors and the thrill of danger. There’s no trace of civilization, no cars to contend with, and despite the chaos of the descent, the beauty of this place is staggering.

By now, you should be primed to go read the whole article. Thank You to Maui No Ka Oi Magazine! We appreciate the exposure and hope to see you on the Maui MTB trails again soon! Photos by Jason Moore.

Yes, the Full Suspension Specialized Stumpjumper Performance Mountain Bike rental Lehia described and used her article returned unscathed. Though Moose performed a minor bike tune up in our Maui bike shop after Lehia’s Maui mountain biking adventure, the bike is ready and waiting for you to use to create your Maui bike tours! Reserve this Maui mountain bike rental.

Are you ready to Unleash your inner daredevil on Maui mountain biking trails? as Lehia experienced? Then head over to our Maui bike rental page and make a reservation:

Book a Maui Bike Rental Reservation NOW!

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