Images from Stage 4 Tour de France with West Maui Cycles

Wow! Attending the 100th running of Tour de France in person is nothing short of a dream come true! This past Tuesday we were in Nice France where the 4th Stage Time Trials took place. Along with West Maui Cycles (seen in the image), our hotel was near the finish line on the course in Nice.

Specialized bicycle are the performance road bike of choice for many the best cyclists in the world. If you want more info on the 100th running of the Tour de France, take a look at the highlights we shared last week or visit the official Tour de France website for the latest updates.

If you enjoyed these cycling pics, then take a look at more images from the 100th running of the Tour de France on Facebook. Plan a Maui cycling vacation of your own! Ready to make a reservation for a Maui bike rental? Pick a performance road bike, a mountain bike rental or a beach cruiser (by Electra bikes). Then enter the dates of your rental along with a few other details and your rental bike will be ready and waiting at the Lahaina bike shop in West Maui. It's that easy. Make a bicycle rental reservation NOW:

Maui Bike Shop Facts for 100th Tour de France Cycling Race 3D Route

Le Tour de France Official Race Headquarters ship.

If you can’t make it to Maui for the Cycle to the Sun Ride up Haleakala, join millions of other cyclists around the world celebrating the 100th running of the famed Tour de France cycling race! To get ready for my trip to Europe for the cycling event of the year, before departing Maui I compiled a list of information about the Tour de France. Though I’m here representing cycling on Maui and West Maui Cycles bike shop, the list below should help you enjoy the tour almost as much as being here! The world’s best riders and cycling teams from around the world have already arrived on the island of Corsica and a ship has been commandeered as the headquarters for the Tour de France officials and press. The cyclists are housed elsewhere around the starting point. Read more and watch our Facebook page for updates from the race over the weekend or afterwards.

Bikes in Tour de France image.

100th Running of the Tour de France

When – The first stage of the race begins on Saturday, June 29 in Corsica. The last stage of the 2013 Tour de France bicycle race finishes in Paris, France on Sunday evening, July 21.

Route Map of the 2013 Tour de France Cycling Race.

Highlight of the 2013 Tour de France:

• 6 mountain stages with summit finishes
• 5 hilly stages
• 7 flat stages
• 1 team time trial stage (11)
• 2 individual time trial stages (4 and 17)
• 2 rest days

Distance – 2,088 miles or 3,360 kilometers is the total distance.

Where – Throughout France, of course! Take a look at the 2013 Tour de France Map pictured below for more details of the route. Or, take a look at the interactive map on the Official Tour de France website.

Course Route Overview – See the Tour de France Map for complete details of the Tour de France route and details for each stage of the race. The 100th running of the Tour de France begins on the island of Corsica on the 29th of June. After the 22 teams of 198 cyclists Grand Depart of 2013 from Porto Vecchio, the first stage will be a sprinters delight! With the Tour making it's inaugural appearance in this region of France, the first 3 stages of the 2013 the Tour de France will take place on the island of Corsica before the cyclists transition to Nice on the French mainland for Stage 4 where they’ll compete in the first team time trials.

The start of the 100th Tour de France on Corsica.

Next, cyclists make their way on Stage 5 riding through breathtaking scenery in the south of France with a finish at Marseille in the second longest stage of the race. Stage 6 on July 4 and Stage 7 conclude another 238 miles of riding when the riders finish up in Albi before climbing Stages 8 and 9 in the Pyrenees Mountains on Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7. The riders take a break on Monday the 8th before undertaking the 122 mile flat Stage 10 ride beginning in Saint-Gildas-des-Bois and ends at Saint Malo.

Stage 11 consists of two individual time trials on the 10th of July before another mostly flat Stage 12 ride covers the 135 miles in western France on Thursday, July 11. Stages 13 and 14 burn through another 226 miles with a couple days of hard climbing to Lyon before the long 151 mile stage 15 ride on Bastille Day, July 14 finishes with the grueling climb up Mont Ventoux. Cyclists rest on Monday, July 15 before the Tour de France resumes on Tuesday, July 16, for the 104 mile 16th stage ride followed by time trial Stage 17 on July 17. Difficult altitude climbing in the Alps will be featured in stages 18, 19 and 20. On Sunday, the 100th Tour de France cycling race comes to a finish with the 83 mile Stage 21, riding from Varsailles to the finish line at Paris Champs-Elysees after a ride around the famed Arch de Triomphe with an evening finish at dusk in the City of Lights!

Watch this 4 min, 3 sec video of the 2013 Tour de France Route with 3D Imaging:

Tour De France Website – The official 2013 Le Tour de France website, http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2013/us/

How Many Mountain Stages in the Tour De France – This year’s Tour features 6 Mountain Stages with varying degrees of difficulty. 28 of the climbs are rated Category 2 or above. The six mountain stages are listed in order below:

• Stage 8 – Castres to stage finish at AX-3 Domaine in the Pyrenees.
• Stage 9 – Saint Girons to stage finish at Bagneres-de-Bigorre
• Stage 15 – Fitting for the Bastille Day stage, the stage includes the most difficult climb of the 2013 Tour de France! The day of cycling begins in Givor and the stage finishes at Mont Ventoux. This stage features a a finish with an 11% grade at the summit and riders are likely to find the section similar to what cyclists endure on a bike climbing Haleakala on Maui!
• Stage 18 – Gap to stage finish at Alpe-D’Huez.
• Stage 19 – Bourg-D’Oisans to stage finish at Le Grand Bornand.
• Stage 20 – Annecy to stage finish at Semnoz

Television Coverage – Much of the 100th running of the Tour de France will be televised on NBC Sports TV, beginning with the start in Corsica on June 29 and ending with the finish on July 21 in Paris at the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. All stages of the race are being live streamed on NBCSports.com. Did you know the Tour de France is the third most watch sported event worldwide, just behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup Soccer matches?

Time Difference Between Maui and France - 12 hours. When it is noon here on Maui, it is midnight in Paris. Set the DVR so you don't miss any of the cycling action!

More Resources for the 2013 Tour de France - Review this comprehensive daily highlight summary of what to look for at the 100 th running of the Tour de France by Gayle Falkenthal for Communities Digital News at Washington Times.

See pictures of the riding routes and read more about the Mountain Stages of the 2013 Tour de France on the Podium Café at SBNation, where some of the above information was referenced from.

Tired of reading about biking and ready to make a reservation for a bike rental on Maui? Head over to our bike rentals page, choose the bike you want to rent for your Maui cycling vacation and then select the dates you need the bicycle rental. After you arrive on Maui, just stop by the bike shop in Lahaina to pick up your rental bike. It really is that easy! Make a bicycle rental reservation now:

Book a Maui Bike Rental Reservation Faster and Easier!

Maui bicycle rental reservations at West Maui Cycles in Lahaina.

Renting a bike in Maui is easy!West Maui Cycles in Lahaina Hawaii has made it easier than ever to reserve a bicycle rental on Maui before your arrival. Our web site bike reservation system provides you with the ability to reserve a rental bicycle in a variety of sizes. Even when the mood strikes you to rent a bike spontaneously while already enjoying your Maui vacation, you can use the Maui bicycle rental reservation system too! Next day and same day reservations and walk-ins are always welcome at West Maui Cycles.

Our extensive Maui bicycle rental inventory with options to select the bicycle rental and specific size options based on your dates of rental is at your fingertips whenever you are ready to reserve a bike rental on Maui. Our Maui bike rental selection includes performance road bikes by Specialized, high performance mountain bike rentals (full suspension and hardtails), Electra cruiser bike rentals for riding around Lahaina or Kaanapali, high performance tandem bicycle rentals and the newest addition to our tandem rental fleet, the Electra Hellbetty cruiser tandem bicycle rental!

Electra Hellbetty Tandem Maui rental bicycle by Electra is perfect for cruising Lahaina Town

In addition to making it easy for our customers to reserve a bike rental on Maui, our new reservation will speed you through the checkout and checkin process, leaving you even more time to enjoy your Maui bike rides. Visit our web site rental section, select the bike to rent on Maui, select the dates you want to rent your bicycle and pick the size. Add your personal information and book the reservation - It's really that easy!! Our system will send you a message confirming your Maui bike rental reservation is being processed. Shortly before your bike reservation, another message is sent with final details regarding your bike rental on Maui.

Are you ready to book a Maui bicycle rental reservation NOW? Please use the comments section below to let us know if you like the reservation system or to ask any questions about renting a bike on Maui. We also perform bike repairs and service at our Maui bike store in Lahaina!

Subscribe to our Maui bike blog to keep up with the latest Maui biking news and Maui bike ride information.

Maui Bicycle Blog and Maui Adventure Activities blog, West Maui Cycles RSS

Top 4 Benefits of a Maui Bike Rental for a Cycling Vacation in Hawaii

Planning a Maui cycling vacation? Trying to decide if you should ship a bike to Maui or if getting a bike rental on Maui save money and time? Indeed, a difficult choice for many bike riders who love riding their own bicycle. We understand and want to help you enjoy your cycling vacation.

To help you make an informed choice, we present 4 benefits of riding a Maui bike rental instead of shipping a bike to Maui:

• Renting a bike on Maui is less expensive than shipping your bike on an airline. The major airline carriers impose hefty fees for shipping a bike to Maui. To understand the full costs to ship a bike to Maui and make comparisons, review our Maui bike blog article on bike shipping costs with links to airline bike shipping rules.
• Better bicycle equipment than you ride at home. Rent the bike of your dreams. Our Maui bike rental fleet is state of the art and each bike is personally maintained by our top notch bicycle mechanics! We personally adjust each bicycle rental to the rider and install your pedals. Each bike is thoroughly inspected and adjusted before and after each bike rental. Our fleet of Maui rental bicycles is replaced annually to ensure you'll be riding the newest bike technology available. From our Specialized Roubaix Compact SRAM Rival Carbon Fiber performance road bike rental and Specialized Stumpjumper Hardtail 29'er or Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp performance mountain bike rentals to our Electra Cruiser bike rental, you'll be riding the best rental bikes on Maui when you rent a bike at West Maui Cycles!

• Renting a bike on Maui gives you more riding time. You won't need to spend time packing and preparing your bike before you depart for your Maui cycling vacation. And, when you rent a bike instead of shipping a bicycle to Maui, you'll be on your bike road riding (or mountain biking) sooner and avoid wasting precious vacation time unpacking and assembling your bike at your hotel or vacation rental. Yes, you'll spend a few minutes to pick up your rental bike while we adjust it for you and install your pedals. Wouldn't you rather spend time hanging out in a bike store than at the airport waiting on your 'oversize cargo' to be available in baggage claim. Most of our customers install the bike car rack while we are processing their bike rental.
• Avoids risk of damage to your own bicycle. The airlines are notorious for abusing bicycles shipped to Hawaii. Avoid arriving on Maui all set to enjoy your long overdue cycling vacation only to be disappointed to find your bike damaged by the airline and needing to waste more time dealing with the airline and processing damage claims. Don't risk it, rent a bike on Maui!

Have you shipped a bike to Maui or used a Maui bike rental? Please share your experiences of renting a bike on Maui or shipping your bike for a cycling vacation in the comments section below.

Regardless of your decision to ship your bicycle or to rent a bike on Maui, we want you to enjoy bike riding on Maui! Whatever you decide, stop into our West Maui bike store in Lahaina to talk story about bike riding on Maui. In addition to performance road bike rentals, performance mountain bike rentals, Electra cruisers and hybrid bicycles for rent, we are a full service bike shop providing bicycle repairs and offer a complete line of bicycle parts and bike gear. Stop in to get a West Maui Cycles logo bike jersey or shop online for bike gear after you return home from a cycling vacation on Maui!

Ready to enjoy a Maui cycling vacation riding a performance bicycle? Reserve a Maui 

Specialized Athletes Compete in XTerra Maui Post Tsunami

Does traveling the world as a professional cycle rider backed by a world class bike manufacturer sound like a glamorous life full of adventure? After working with the athletes competing in the XTerra World Championship at Kapalua and the TriLanai, I can attest to the effort these world class athletes expend for their sport! Have you ever considered what these world class XTerra triathletes go through on race day or training to get ready for races?

The Race Must Go on! Even a Tsunami can't stop XTerra Maui.

Though few would argue it is not an exciting life worth pursuing, pro cycling is not all fun and games all the time. In some cases, including the most recent XTerra Maui races when a tsunami threatened the XTerra World Championship race itself, some of the competing athletes were forced to compete with minimal sleep after a restless night complete with tsunami evacuation sirens. Watch the 2012 XTerra race day unfold in the following video with the Specialized bike race team:

Thanks to Specialized Bikes and the I Am Specialized bike team for the XTerra Maui video above.

Whether you are a professional bike rider on Maui training for your next road bike race or a serious enthusiast looking to conquer a volcano mountain biking down Haleakala, Maui offers unparralleled opportunities for the perfect island cycling vacation! With the widest selection of bicycle rentals on Maui available, West Maui Cycles in Lahaina is more than ready to match a rental bike to your riding preferences. Our bicycle rentals include high performance Specialized Roubaix Carbon Fiber road bike rentals and full suspension Specialized Stumpjumper mountain bikes with 29 or 26 inch wheels. Hardtail fans will love the Comp 29'er! Check out one of our latest additions, the Cannondale Quick CX4. hybrid bike rental.

Even our most affordable bike rental options don't scrimp on quality or comfort! As an authorized Electra bike dealer on Maui, we know how much you'll enjoy cruising the streets of Lahaina on our Electra cruiser bike rentals! One of our recent rental returnees told us they couldn't think of a better way to explore all the West Maui beaches from the Kaanapali resort. They couldn't stop talking about how much fun the retro styling was or how comfortable their Electra cruiser bikes were. No need to waste time packing and shipping a bike to Maui! Take a look at our bike rental fleet. We have every kind of bicycle rental available to ride during your Maui bicycle vacation.

From the latest Specialized mountain bike rentals and high performance road bikes to fun Electra cruiser bike rentals, you'll find a complete selection of Maui bicycle rentals available for every price and rider skill level. Many of our bicycles are available in multiple sizes to ensure your rental bicycle fits you! To be certain the bike rental of your choice is available, make a bike rental reservation before you arrive on Maui. Or, just walk in and rent from the bikes available. With the exception of Christmas, Thanksgiving and XTerra Maui week, our bicycle rental selection includes enough bikes you'll usually be able to find a bike rental matching your style of riding.

Ready to make a Maui Bike Rental Reservation? It's easy! Hit the button below. Choose a bike from our bike rental fleet. Specify your reservation dates and provide information to complete the reservation. Thats it! We'll have your bike ready and waiting when you arrrive on Maui. Make a Maui bike rental reservation NOW:

Bike Tech Tips: How to Adjust Bike Derailleur from a Maui Bike Shop

Are you getting your bike ready for next summer or maybe a bicycle vacation? Thinking about touring Maui by bicycle? If you aren't renting a bike on Maui, you'll want your bike prepared and ready before the trip enabling yourself to start your Maui bike vacation soon after the plan lands. Regardless of getting your bike ready for winter or a bike vacation on Maui, the following bicycle maintenance video, from bicycletutor.com, provides a short tutorial demonstrating how to adjust the front derailleur on a bicycle:

And in another bike maintenance video, thanks to Mellow Johnny's bike shop in Austin TX, demonstrating how to adjust your rear derailleur:

If you found these bicycle maintenance tech tips informative and helpful in keeping your bike in ride ready condition, please leave a note in the comments section below. If you need bike reapair on Maui, including derailleur adjustments or a complete bicycle tune-up, head to West Maui Cycles full service bike shop in Lahaina. In addition to repairing bicycles, our bicycle shop sells bikes and we rent performance road bikes for bicycling touring on Maui. If mountain bike riding on Maui is included in your list of perfect bicycle vacations, then rent one of our full suspension mountain bikes. Maybe the Specialized Comp 29'er?

Keep up with the latest Maui bike news and happenings by subscribing to our blog!

The 2012 Olympic Vids of Mountain Bike Trail Course from Maui Bikes

Mountain Biking on Maui or the Olympics in England?

The 2012 Olympics includes numerous bicycling events, including track riding at the velodrome and the mountain bike course at Hadleigh Farms in England. If you are curious about the progress and scenery for these events, check out the videos below and let us know what you think. We'll be watching all the 2012 Olympic bicycle events from our bike shop in Lahaina.

The Velodrome is nearly ready. Watch this time lapse video of the velodrome being constructed:

And a Video of the 2012 MTB Olympic Course at Hadleigh Farm in England:

In July of 2011, a test run of the Olympic MTB course was ran, here is a video from the event:

Did those videos get you in the mood to ride this winter? Maui offers the perfect perfect weather and a variety of bicycle riding opportunities ranging from extreme mountain biking trails on the slopes of Haleakala, road bike riding the West Maui Loop and rides to Olowalu petroglyphs, or cruise Lahaina Town in style on an Electra cruiser bike. West Maui Cycles can set you up with whatever type of bike rental in Maui you are looking for.

Not going to the 2012 Olympics in England but interested in bicycle vacations on Maui instead? Not sure of the riding conditions for performance road bike riding on Maui or where the best mountain bike trails on Maui. Let us know your style of riding and abilities and we'll suggest rides on Maui matching your preferences. Then, if you aren't shipping your own bike to Maui, we'll help you rent a bike to match.

Leave questions in the comments section below or subscribe to our blog for the latest Maui bike information.