3 Special Reasons for a Maui Road Bike Rental from West Maui Cycles

West Maui Cycles performance road bike rental, Specialized Tarmac Comp Mid-Compact image

With two new Maui road bike rentals from Specialized added to the selection of road cycles available at West Maui Cycles in Lahaina, you have two more reasons to turn an ordinary vacation into a cycling vacation on Maui! To provide riders with additional options, we've expanded our selection of road bicycle rentals. Besides the 2013 Specialized Roubaix Compact Comp and Elite Rival Carbon Fiber, our bike rental fleet includes the Specialized Tarmac Comp Mid-Compact and for slightly less cost the Specialized Allez road bike rental. You'll have fun cycling the West Maui Loop on any of these road bikes! And no need to worry about not knowing where the best bike routes on Maui are. Ask us where to ride before you reserve a bike rental or when you pick up your cycle at the bike shop in Lahaina. Use the following road bike rental comparison chart to help choose a road bike to rent on Maui:

Roubaix Comp Carbon & Elite Rival	Tarmac Comp Mid-Compact	Allez
The smoother, faster Roubaix — named after the grueling Paris-Roubaix race it has won four times — is a high-performance, endurance-focused bike that's highly stable and efficient. The Comp C2 features Shimano Ultegra compact gearing and our new DT-Axis 3.0 wheels for lower weight and higher performance.	Whether it's winning the Tour de France or a city-limit sprint, Tarmac is made for racing, with its powerful acceleration and razor-sharp handling. The Comp features Shimano Ultegra components, FSA carbon crank, and our new DT-Axis 3.0 wheels for race-ready performance at a great value.	Stiff, light, race-inspired Allez Comp offers great acceleration and handling—perfect for aspiring racers, or as a winter training bike for more accomplished veterans. 10-speed Shimano 105 group and upgraded wheels give this bike race-ready performance.
FRAME:
Specialized FACT 8r carbon, FACT TM construction, 1- 1/8" to 1-3/8" HT, compact race design, Zertz, internal rear brake cable, threaded BB	Specialized FACT 8r carbon, FACT IS construction, compact race design, 1-1/2" lower bearing, OSBB	Specialized E5 alloy, fully manipulated tubing with smooth welds, 1-1/8" lower bearing, OSBB
FORK:
Specialized Roubaix, FACT carbon, full monocoque, Zertz	Specialized FACT carbon, full monocoque, OS race for 1-1/2" bearing	Specialized FACT carbon, aluminum steerer and crown, 1-1/8"
HEADSET:
1-1/8" upper and 1-3/8" lower Cr-Mo cartridge bearings, w/ 20mm cone spacer and 20mm of spacers	1-1/8" upper and 1-1/2" lower Cr-Mo cartridge bearings integrated w/ headset, 20mm cone spacer, w/ 20mm of spacers	1-1/8" sealed Cr-Mo cartridge bearings integrated w/headset, 20mm alloy cone spacer, w/ 20mm of spacers
STEM:
Specialized Comp-Set 6061 alloy, cone head bolt, 12-degree, 4-degree shim, 31.8mm	Specialized Comp-Set 6061 alloy, cone head bolt, 12-degree, 4-degree shim, 31.8mm	Specialized Elite-Set, 3D forged alloy, 4-position adjustable, 4-bolt, 31.8mm
HANDLEBARS:
Specialized Comp, alloy, shallow drop	Specialized Tarmac Comp, alloy, deep bend	Specialized Comp, 6061 alloy, shallow bend
FRONT BRAKE:
Shimano Ultegra	Shimano Ultegra	Axis DC 1.0
REAR BRAKE:
Shimano Ultegra	Shimano Ultegra	Axis DC 1.0
BRAKE LEVERS:
	Shimano Ultegra STI, Flight Deck compatible
FRONT DERAILLEUR:
Shimano 105	Shimano 105	SRAM Apex
REAR DERAILLEUR:
Shimano Ultegra	Shimano Ultegra	SRAM APEX
SHIFT LEVERS:
Shimano Ultegra STI	Shimano Ultegra STI	SRAM Apex DoubleTap
CASSETTE:
Shimano Ultegra compact	Shimano 105, 10-speed, 11-2	Shimano Tiagra 10-speed, 12-28
CHAIN:
Shimano Tiagra 10-speed	Shimano Tiagra 10-speed	KMC X10 CP
CRANKSET:
Shimano Ultegra compact	FSA SL-K Light, carbon, BB30	FSA Gossamer BB30
CHAINRINGS:
50./34	52/36	52/36
BOTTOM BRACKET:
	OS integrated, sealed bearings	OS integrated
PEDALS:
Nylon flat test ride, loose ball, w/ reflectors	Nylon flat test ride, loose ball, w/ reflectors	Nylon flat test ride, loose ball, w/ reflectors
REAR WHEEL:
DT Axis 3.0	DT Axis 3.0	DT Axis 1.0
FRONT WHEEL:
DT Axis 3.0	DT Axis 3.0	DT Axis 1.0
FRONT TIRE:
Specialized Espoir Elite, double BlackBelt, 60TPI, aramid bead, 700x25c	Specialized Turbo Elite, BlackBelt, 100TPI, aramid bead, 700x23c	Specialized Espoir Sport, 60TPI, wire bead, double BlackBelt protection, 700x23c
REAR TIRE:
Specialized Espoir Elite, double BlackBelt, 60TPI, aramid bead, 700x25c	Specialized Turbo Elite, BlackBelt, 100TPI, aramid bead, 700x23c	Specialized Espoir Sport, 60TPI, wire bead, double BlackBelt protection, 700x23c
INNER TUBES:
Lightweight, presta	Lightweight, presta	Standard presta valve
SADDLE:
Body Geometry Toupé RBX Comp, hollow Cr-Mo rails, 143mm	Body Geometry Toupé Comp, hollow Cr-Mo rails, 143mm	Body Geometry Riva Road Gel, Cr-Mo rails, 143mm
SEATPOST
Specialized Comp, FACT carbon, 27.2mm	Specialized Comp, FACT carbon, 27.2mm	Specialized Sport alloy, 27.2mm
SEAT BINDER:
Forged alloy, 32.6mm	Forged alloy, 32.6mm	Alloy, 31.8mm

Download a FREE West Maui Cycles Performance Road Bike Rentals Comparison Chart (PDF Format).

Planning on going mountain biking on Maui, too? As you'd expect from a bike shop catering to the serious cyclist riding on Maui, our mountain bike rentals rival our road bike rental fleet! And not to be left out, we recently added a new Giant mountain bike rental to our fleet. Check out the Giant Reign X1 mountain bike! And like the road bike rental chart above, to help make Maui mountain bike rental decisions easier, review the specs of three of our Maui mountain bike rentals from Specialized.

Make a Reservation for a Performance Road Bike Rental OR a Mountain Bike Rental:

Not Maui Mountain Biking, Sick Red Bull Rampage Mountain Biking Video

A shot from the Red Bull Rampage bike video series

Ever wondered what might be possible on a mountain bike? So did some of the most extreme mountain bikers on the planet! As a result, the Red Bull Rampage is now an annual bike race. Find out how far some of the best can push themselves and their bikes when world class mountain bikers converge at Zion National Park in Southern Utah. The Red Bull Rampage is modeled after extreme skiing and has been described as the most prestigious mountain biking challenge in the world. Read a little more about it and then watch a couple bike videos of the riders making their way down the treacherous mountain bike course.

Bike riders get to choose from at least 25 different lines to ride. None are easy! With a choice of making their way down massive step downs on ridge lines straddling towering cliffs above deadly drops offs or deciding to jump off to carve a trail line through the vertical chutes everything leads downhill with fast acceleration into the next vertical! Its crazy! Combined with man made jumps and natural terrain, this is some of the most extreme mountain biking on the planet. Most wouldn’t consider hiking down these trails let alone riding a mountain bike. Competing bike riders are judged on Fluidity, Style, Air, Amplitude, Tricks and Line Choice. Watch the short four minute bike video to see if you could judge this bike race:

Want to see more of those career ending 200 foot drops, speeds in excess of 40 miles an hour, gigantic vertical downhills, full back flips, 60 foot gaps and monstrous step downs? Catch even more thrills than you can imagine on a mountain bike in the hour and a half long television episode of the Red Bull Signature Series. Stream this YouTube bike video full size to your big screen!

image of Waimea canyon on Kauai for Hawaii mountain biking challenge.

What do you think? In addition to the XTerra World Championship at the Kapalua Resort in West Maui, could Hawaii host one of these extreme mountain bike challenges? I’d guess the only place with possibly similar terrain challenges could be the Waimea Canyon on Kauai.

Waimea Canyon image by photographer Kyle Pearce, originally posted to Flikr.

In the meantime, extreme mountain bike riders can indulge their urge for extreme mountain biking on Maui with Haleakala bike ride. Before heading out, stop at West Maui Cycles for the best mountain bike rentals on Maui! Take a look at the Specialized Stumpjumper mountain bike rental with full suspension or the Specialized Comp 29er Hardtail for your decent down Haleakala. For slightly less extreme mountain bike rides on Maui, the Cannondale Quick CX4 Hybrid bike rental and the Specialized crosstrail rental bikes are available. Sharing a Maui cycling vacation with road riders? We also have Maui road bike rentals and Electra cruiser bikes for rent. Whatever you need, stop into West Maui Cycles bike store in Lahaina.

New Bike Trails on Maui for Both Road and Mountain Bikes

"The Maui bike trail between Baldwin Beach Park and Paia, Maui.

Just returning from Europe where were we were fortunate to get to watch a few stages of the 100th running of the Tour de France. Upon returning to Maui and catching up in the Lahaina bike shop we were happy to be greeted with news of progress on a couple new bike trails on Maui! First, a new mountain bike trail is being built in the Makawao Forest! Read below for details of public work day today and the remaining Saturdays in July. Cruiser bike riders and family cyclists are getting a new bike trail on the North Shore of Maui.

It is fantastic to hear there is progress on the 20 year old project connecting the bike trails between Paia and Kahului. Originally initiated by Cruiser Bob, the trail was envisioned as a way to modernize and recreate the old Hawaiian Kings Trail. Beginning more than 20 years ago, the project is nearly 75% complete now and some money for the final section was received last year. The final section will eventually connect a full 7 mile stretch of multi-use trail and bikeway linking Paia to Kahului. The initial sections of the project included a trail circumventing the airport in Kahului and connecting Kahului to the areas of Kaunoa. The most recent finished phase completed the trail between Baldwin and Paia. Progress has been made to complete the final trail section between the two and connect the entire 7 mile stretch! With funding received last year for the Environmental Assessments and Design work, the next phases include construction funding to procure a contractor via a bid process to build the project.

A cyclist riding on the bike trail in Paia Maui.

The current trails and remaining final sections are all multi-use trails intended to be shared between cyclists, joggers and pedestrians. The Maui county Mayor claims the components of the North Shore Greenway are a model for the entire county with hopes to emulate the model in other parts of the county. The public is invited to participate and work with the county to initiate a program in their area. NPAC MAUI, Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, put together a few promotional videos with viewpoints about the Northshore Greenway Project. Informative segments featuring the Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa, Irene Bowie from Maui Tomorrow, Maui County Council Member Mike White, Walter Enomoto of the Maui Bicycle Alliance, and Maui County Director of Public Works David Goode are included. Watch the short 6 minute, 36 second video discussing The Northshore Greenway on the north coast of Maui, then scroll down to find out about how you can help build a new mountain bike trail in the Makawao Forest Reserve:

New Maui Mountain Bike Trail in Makawao Forest Reserve

Maui-mountain-bike-trail-building-th.jpg

Get out on Saturdays in July to Dig new Mountain Bike Trail!Did you know there is a new mountain bike trail on Maui?

The Maui Mountain Bike Coalition is coordinating effort with the Na Ala Hele and Trail Solutions for a trail work days in the Kahakapao Recreational Area of the Makawao Forest Reserve. Tools will be supplied but bring your own gloves, water and a snack. You’ll be grooming a newly cut trail in the Makawao Forest on Saturday, July 13. Work begins at 8:30 am. Per the DNLR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) the mountain bike trail runs parallel for about 2 miles along an existing multi-use trail section of the the Kahakapao Loop Trail. If you can’t make it today, you can still help as every Saturday in July is a work day to build a new mountain bike trail! Head over to the Maui Mountain Bike Coalition Facebook page for details of the Kahakapao trail building work going on during July.

Ready to make a reservation for a bicycle rental on Maui? Get started NOW by choosing a bicycle rental and rental dates:

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 Cycling Vacation? West Maui Bike Video, Watch Out for the Gap!

Image of Maui mountain bike trails in the West Maui mountains.

Maui Mountain Bike Riding is too much fun! Watch Out for that gap, Moose!

What?!?! You still haven't had a chance to get out to enjoy spring bike riding? Longing to get out on your performance road bike for a day of cycling? Or, wishing you could spend a day tearing up the red dirt mountain biking on Maui? Since we know our readers enjoy Maui bike videos, this week's Maui bike blog article features another Maui mountain bike ride video. This one is a fun downhill mountain bike ride through the defunct pineapple fields of West Maui with a few jumps and trail features.

Watch a short 2 minute mountain bike ride video on Maui mountain bike trails in the West Maui mountains:

What Maui bike rides have you enjoyed? Did you complete the epic climb up Haleakala or did you cruise the Maui volcano bike ride? Use the comments section below to let us know your favorite ride on Maui and why it was your favorite bicycle ride. And, if you have photos from your bike rides on Maui, please share your images with a recap of your bike ride on our Facebook bike shop page! We'd also enjoy seeing images of you wearing our West Maui Cycles bicycle jersey or other bike gear on your favorite ride at home!

West Maui Cycles Lahaina bike shop carries a complete line of bike gear and bicycles for sale. In addition to our impressive fleet of Specialized performance road bike rentals and mountain bikes for rent, our bike repair shop is staffed with professional bike technicians ready to handle your most challenging bike repairs. Don't forget to explore historic Lahaina riding an Electra cruiser bike rental or Electra Hellbetty Tandem rental during your Maui vacation!Ready to Book a Maui Bike Rental Reservation?

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:

Recommendations for Weekend Bike Rides in Maui

A Maui bike loop ride map from Paia to Ho'okipa and Makawao.

The month of May is always one of the best months to ride a bike on Maui. The weather is not as warm as the summer months and we have limited trade winds blowing. The roads are nearly empty before the summer visitor influx. With the first of the summer swells arriving, some of the best views of the waves will be from the seat of a bike!

Where to Ride a Bike on Maui

If you want to get out for a bike ride on Maui this Memorial Day holiday weekend, the biggest decision will be choosing where to ride! My best recommendations for mountain biking this weekend: Consider contributing to a very worthwhile charity by riding in the Mountain Bike Relays benefiting Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Maui on Saturday. Sign up using the online registration form at MauiRaceReg.com. Then, on Sunday afternoon, join our weekly shop ride for a fun sunset mountain bike ride in West Maui mountains. Though road cyclists don’t have any organized rides over the Memorial day weekend, you won’t have any problem finding road riding bike routes for cycling around Maui! Use the long weekend to get in some training with a 10K feet climb up Haleakala so you'll be ready for the upcoming Cycle to the Sun ride, the longest steepest paved ride on the planet. Or, for slightly less strenuous ride, ride the West Maui Loop or use the extra holiday weekend day to ride a bike on the road to Hana. Here are a few of our favorite Maui bike rides:

Maui Performance Road Bike Rentals by Specialized

• Paia and Ho’okipa Beach Park with Makawao Loop Upcountry Ride – If you don’t feel like riding all the way out to Hana on your bike, a shorter loop ride exists. Ride your bike or drive to Central Maui. You can park a car at either Kanaha Beach Park or at Baldwin Beach Park and we’ll use Baldwin Park as our recommend bike ride starting point. From Baldwin Beach Park, ride along the Hana Highway using the bike path on the ocean side of the road. Ride toward Paia and Kanaha Beach Park. Though the famous waves of Jaws are usually firing more in the winter month, the bike ride to Ho’okipa Beach Park and a little beyond will give you a sense for the road to Hana ride. I like this road bike ride as it provides opportunity to avoid riding the same route in as you take going out. To make a loop out of the ride, you’ll want to continue riding a few miles past Ho’okipa until you get to Haiku Road. If you miss Haiku Road, an alternate route is Pauwela Road. Whichever you choose, you’ll want to begin riding away from the ocean till you get to Kaukikoa Road. Continue riding and climbing through the rural upcountry scenic area until you get to Kaupakakua Road, where you’ll make another right. Kaupakakua Road turns into Makawao Avenue. Continue on Makawao Avenue until you get into the town of Makawao where you’ll make a right on Baldwin Avenue. After you spend a little time exploring the shops in Makawao or grabbing a snack and refilling your hydration bottle, you’ll want to continue on Baldwin Avenue and ride back down toward the ocean and Paia before returning to the Hana Highway and riding back into Central Maui.
  

View Bicycle Loop ride from Paia to Ho'okipa and Makawao in a larger map

Or, save this Maui bike route map link to your mobile device and use the map after you rent a bike at West Maui Cycles Lahaina bike shop.

Maui bicycle rental, the Cannondale Quick CX 4

• Lahaina to the Olowalu Petroglyph – The Lahaina to Olowalu bicycle ride is a fun ride for families or those looking to combine a road ride with a little off road mountain bike riding. The total round trip ride is about 15 miles on mostly flat paved road with scenic ocean views before heading off road for the short three quarter mile single track ride to the petroglyph at Olowalu. Unless you want to rent a performance mountain bike or the Specialized 29’er HT, a good choice for this ride is our Cannondale Quick CX4 hybrid bike rentals. Your whole family will enjoy this bike ride in West Maui and kids of all ages love exploring the petroglyph. Take along plenty of hydration and carry towels with a swim suits to cool with an ocean swim after exploring the historic petroglyph. With the bike ride passing by Puamana and Luaniupoko Beach Parks, use the bike locks provided with all of our rental bicycles and dive in before riding back to Lahaina.

Arial image showing the West Maui Loop bike route.

• The West Maui Loop Cycling Ride – Under 60 miles, the West Maui Loop ride is the same bike route we follow on our weekly Weds morning shop ride. You'll find this ride one of the most fun bike rides on Maui! The ride offers breathtaking scenery around every corner and some compare to to what is found on the Road to Hana ride but without the distance or time involved on the famous ride out to East Maui and around South Maui. If you are interested in this ride, be sure to check out our West Maui Loop bike ride description for information and advice about riding around West Maui. Find out if you should ride clockwise or counterclockwise.

Need a rental bike for one of the Maui bicycle rides described above? No problem! High performance road bikes from Specialized, full suspension mountain bikes or beach cruisers are available at West Maui Cycles bike shop in Lahaina. Head over to our Maui bike rentals page to select the bike you’d like to rent. Then, hit the rental bike reservation button to reserve a rental bike to ride during a cycling vacation on Maui! Choose a Maui bicycle rental now:

Maui Mountain Bike Relay Kids Race for Big Brother and Sisters Maui

Last weekend the 2013 Maui Mountain Bike Relay Races were held to benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Maui. The event gave mountain bike riders an opportunity to ride trails in upcountry Maui and enjoy a day of cycling camaraderie with fellow mountain bikers, feast on great food and support one of the best charity organizations on Maui, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Maui. Of course, West Maui Cycles was onsite offering bike repairs, support and bike maintenance for those in need of bike repairs or adjustments. We used our Specialized pop up alongside the bike store popup to provide a mini bike repair shop for the mountain bike event. Everyone had a great time and the kids loved the pump track and relay track. What a great day for families to get out and ride.

The event registration opened at 7. Afterwards, the event got underway with the Maui Pace Relay races for beginners and intermediate riders taking place at 8 am. The goal for riders was to complete as many trips around the 1.5 mile mountain bike relay course as possible between 8 and 9:30 am.  The next event was the Keiki Races for kids under 13 and was non-competitive fun race to get the little ones riding and enjoying cycling. And finally, the day of bike racing finished with a competitive Fast Relay Pace for the expert and elite mountain bike riders. This race was a gender neutral event open to all experienced mountain bike riders of any age. Teams were comprised of individuals and two rider relay teams who made as many trips around the challenging 4 mile mountain bike relay course as possible in the 3 hours allotted for the relay. Nearly all the riders noted the difficulty of the mtb course even for the expert level riders!

Check out a short video of the kids mountain biking at the Relay Races last weekend in Makawao. With all the great mountain bike riding on Maui, is it any wonder even the youngest keiki love to get out on the mountain bike trails available around Maui! Check out a short video with the kids mountain biking at the Relay Races:

Take a look at a few more images from the 2013 Maui Mountain Bike Relay on the Maui Mountain Bike Coallition’s (Local IMBA chapter) Facebook page.

Or, if you participated in the adult racing you can get your Maui Mountain Bike Relay results here on Racesplitter. After the event, the riders, fans and supporting organizers all sat down to a bbq feast and talked story about the fun day of riding on Maui.

Special Thank You to Paul Turner for sharing his property and making this Maui bike event possible!

You didn't know where to get a mountain bike rental on Maui and missed all the mountain biking fun last weekend? Don't let that happen again! From full suspension mountain bike rentals to hybrid cross trail bikes, West Maui Cycles in Lahaina offers one  of the largest fleets of bike rentals in Hawaii. Hit the button below, pick the bike you want to rent and complete the reservation for the days you'll be renting a bike on Maui. It's that easy. Make a Maui bike rental reservation NOW:

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

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: