West Maui Cycles Bike Logo Gear and Updated Bike Store Website

Have you been to West Maui Cycles bike shop in Lahaina lately? Ordered a new bike jersey with our latest design for the summer cycling season? Need to refresh the memory of your cycling vacation on Maui? Check out our cycling gear page or stop in the Lahaina bike shop on your next visit to West Maui. In anticipation of spring and summer biking, we added a bunch of new bike gear and cycling clothing with the latest West Maui Cycles logo design. From a new under saddle gear bag and better tasting bike water bottle to our newest bike jerseys and tshirts, rely on West Maui Cycles for plenty of new bike gear being available at the Lahaina bike shop or when you order online. And all the new cycling gear displays the latest evolution of our beloved West Maui Cycles logo.

Speaking of better tasting bike water bottles, take a look at the newest cycling water bottles from Purist. To make your bike water bottle taste and work like regular glass, Purist hydration bottles utilize a special lining to avoid typical bad taste and coloration just like glass containers. Our West Maui Cycles logo-ized Purist water bottles are only $9.95 in the bike store or when ordered(plus tax and shipping).

To show off the new gear, we've been sprucing up our bike store website too. We wanted to make it faster and easier for you to get to the information about Maui bike rentals, rides on Maui or anything else cycling related on Maui you need! The new 'road grey' color reflects road cycling on Maui while the 'brownish rust' colors represent off road trail riding with homage to the famous red dirt mountain bikers on Maui fondly love. We aimed for the changes to make it easier and quicker for you choose a bike rental for a cycling vacation or to get information about group rides or where to ride a bicycle on Maui. Let us know if you like the new colors and other modifications or let us know what you would like to find on our website and what you think would make our bike shop website better serve your needs as a cyclist visiting Maui or as a resident seeking a bike shop on Maui.

Planning a vacation on Maui and want to be certain the bike rental you choose is available? Use our easy online bicycle rental reservation system to reserve a mountain bike rental, performance road bikes or a pair of beach cruisers to explore Maui. For beach cruisers, be sure to take a look at the fun cruiser bike rentals by Electra Bike. Make a Maui bicycle rental reservation:

Bike to Work during National Bike Month and more Maui Bike Fun!

Did you know cycling is celebrated in the US in the month of May?May is National Bike Month and this year Bike to Work Day is today, May 17! To commemorate National Bike Month, we share the following fun biking facts about Bike to Work Day, Bike to Work Month and Biking in General. Being a local Maui bike store, we managed to weave in a few facts about riding a bicycle on Maui, too. After you scan through the short factoids, find out how you can get a FREE bicycle water bottle with the latest West Maui Cycles logo:

• National Bike Month has been recognized since 1956. The 3rd Friday of May is declared as the national Bike to Work Day celebrating cyclists who commute to work. The Third Week of May is designated as Bike to Work Week.
• With over 50% of US population living within five miles of their workplace, riding a bike to work is practical and saves money. The perpetual summer weather we enjoy makes getting to work by riding a bike on Maui even more practical and avoids the high cost of gas and maintenance. Do you bike to work on Maui? Share the details about your Maui bike commute in the comments section.
• In 2012, more than $4.6 billion was saved by Americans bicycling instead of driving.
• Trips of Less than 3 miles are faster by bicycle.
• Ride a bike on Maui to avoid generating the 3.6 pounds per mile of pollution short auto trips generate.
• $308. is the average cost of annual bicycle maintenance.
• $8000. is the average annual expense for an automobile.
• Save time and avoid parking fees in Lahaina by riding a bike. Ten bicycles will fit in the average auto parking space. Fortunately, you’ll find plenty of bike racks in Lahaina, Kaanapali and most other Maui locations.
• An average bike commuter travels at 10 mph.
• Use Your Work Commute to Exercise. On average, a 130 pound woman burns 300 calories on a 10 mile round trip bike ride while a 180 pound man burns 400 calories over the same 10 mile cycling route.
• All Maui County buses permit bicycles with storage for up to two bikes in front of the bus. Check your route and use the bus for if any parts of your bike commute you don’t want to ride.
• Most roads on Maui have a wide shoulder or berm suitable for riding a bike for sightseeing or commuting on Maui.
• Our Maui Bike Rentals begin as low as $15. a day for a beach cruiser bike. Performance road bike rentals are $60 a day. Most economy car rentals on Maui begin at over $50 per day plus fees and gasoline expenses.

If you used your bike to get to work on Maui on Friday, May 17, 2013, we’ve got a new West Maui Cycles bike water bottle for you! All you have to do to claim the water bottle is post a picture to our Facebook page. Make sure the picture includes yourself with your bike outside of a local workplace after you ride to work on Maui. Then, stop into the bike shop in Lahaina, identify yourself in the pic to claim your new bike water bottle. Or, if you are a Maui visitor and use a bike to commute to the beach, you may use a photo of yourself alongside one of  our West Maui Cycles rental bikes at the beach you commuted to on May 17. Either way, all images must be posted to our Facebook page before the end of May, Bike Month on Maui.

If we organized an event for next year for bike to work day or bike to work week, would you participate? Let us know in the comments section below. If we have enough interest, we’ll try to organize an event for the 2014 National Bike to Work Day. Would you ride with the mayor or attend a breakfast bike ride and rally for National Bike Month?

Thanks to the BikeLeague.org website for some of the details and info about the National Bike Month.

Keep up with the latest Maui biking info and news by subscribing to the West Maui Cycles weekly update: 

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:

$105K Purse Up for Grabs at 2013 XTERRA World Championship at Kapalua

Barely a week to go until XTERRA World Championship returns to West Maui for the third time in as many years. Though difficult to imagine what more could be done to improve upon the success of the off road triathlon at Kapalua, it's no surprise the organizers continue to strive for perfection.

As the routine entails before important race days, the organizers have been busy fine tuning the running course and bike trails for the 2013 XTERRA World Championship to ensure everything is ready for the athletes competing and fans attending next weekend. We'll let the organizers surprise you with the particulars of the official schedule as updates happen. With the XTERRA athletes and fans already arriving and picking up bike rentals on Maui, we'll be keeping our ears to the coconut wireless to let you know the latest info. In the mean time, enjoy a few images from last year, watch the video showcasing XTERRA World Championship and then catch Specialized team rider Conrad Stoltz video from the XTERRA bike course at Kapalua. And, take a look at our tips for the 2013 XTERRA World Championship too.

Theres plenty of opportunity to participate even if you aren't competing for the World Championship on Sunday! Saturday, thanks to the 4 Maui TS Restaurants, the following XTERRA Trail Runs are open to the public:

• Hula Grill XTERRA Kapalua 5km at 9 am
• Duke's Beach House XTERRA 10km at 9:20 am
• Kimo's XTERRA Keiki Run at 11 am (FREE for kids 10 and under)

Onsite registration is available at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua beginning Weds and Thurs from 9 am to 2 pm or on Friday between 9 am to 5 pm. Or, sign up at the race start area on between 7 and 8 am just before the events get underway on Saturday. Check XTERRA Trail Run Kapalua for more details. For those in the races on Sunday, remember to go for the Leilani's Run Prime Awards for the fastest time on the Leilani's XTERRA Run Course.

Which athlete do you think is the favorite to win the race this year? Look no further than to "Kahuna Dave" Nicholas, managing director of the XTERRA World Tour, for his in-depth analysis with prognostications based on his more than twenty years of attending World Championships. Share your favorite and keep your eye on xterraplanet.com/maui or follow the event with @XTERRAOffroad using the #xterramaui hashtag on Twitter. Watch a short 4 min 23 sec XTERRA highlights video and then read on for my picks:

XTERRA World Championship from XTERRA TV on Vimeo.

As promised, my 2013 XTERRA World Championship predictions: On the local side of the XTERRA World championship, we are rooting for the inspirational family competition between Kim Mufalli and her son Tony. On the women's side, I think Heather Jackson has a great chance to win at Kapalua and looking forward to see Specialized Team Rider Conrad Stoltz earn his fifth XTERRA World Championship. Watch this short bike video of Conrad 'Caveman' Stoltz riding the bike course at Kapalua last year:

Ready to go for the 2013 XTERRA? Stop by the bike shop in Lahaina and talk story about Maui bike rides or pickup a new bike jersey and water bottle. Get last minute details in our 2013 XTERRA World Championship tips. We also have hydration gear and nutrition needs at our Lahaina bike store. Our professional bike mechanics are ready to tuneup or make last minute bike adjustments for XTERRA racers. Need a bike rental for XTERRA? Don't wait to reserve a bike rental for XTERRA World Championship on Maui! Make a bicycle rental reservation now:

Do Your Part! Record Your Maui Bike Rides in the 2 Mile Challenge

As a bike shop participating in the Maui cycling community and for benefit of those who bike Maui, we are always looking to share ideas and facts about the benefits of bicycle riding. Clif Bar is in the midst of a fun 2 Mile Challenge campaign. Whether you are visiting Maui to enjoy mountain biking, a road bike ride up Haleakala or exploring Lahaina on an Electra cruiser, choosing to ride your bike for trips less than 2 miles will keep a few cars off the roads and reduce carbon dioxide. Enjoy these bike facts from the Clif Bar 2 mile challenge bike video, then sign up to record your Maui bike rides:

• While the United States has more bicycle owners per capita than most countries, we are near the bottom of the list for use of bicycles

• If one million people replaced a 2 mile car trip once a week with a bike ride, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 50,000 tons per year
• Sign up for the Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge, 2milechallenge.com, start pedaling and register your Maui rides.

Need to buy a bike on Maui for the Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge? A full service bike shop in Lahaina, West Maui Cycles offers bike repairs, setup, bicycle tuneups and bikes for sale. Ready to record your bicycle rides on Maui and need a Maui bike rental? Just choose a rental bike, enter the dates you want to reserve your bike and complete the reservation process. It really is that easy!