Illusions Shattered of What Can be Done on a Mountain Bike

Mountain bike trail in West Maui.

While events surrounding the 2013 XTERRA World Championship are already underway here on Maui, a little further away the Red Bull Rampage competition took place in Southern Utah a few weeks ago. As always, Red Bull captured plenty of videos from the event and is already sharing a few for mountain biker riders to enjoy. Watch the first two time winner in this 5 minute Best of Rampage 2013 bike video and then let us know if the footage of the biggest backflip in history changed your impression of what you thought could be done on a mountain bike:

Still not impressed? OK. As would be expected, a few of the riders attached GoPro cams to their bike helmets. Watch Kelly McGarry's ride to see why it was good enough to win the Silver Medal with a flip over a 72 foot long canyon gap (at 1:14):

Catch more of the event when it airs on NBC on Dec 21st as part of the Redbull Signature Series. What do you think? Use the comments below to let us know if you would do those jumps?

On Maui for the 2013 XTERRA World Championship at Kapalua? Review our XTERRA Tips for advice on parking and more info. Look for us onsite at the races in Kapalua all weekend with our satellite bike shop ready to help with bike adjustments, bike repairs and more! Have a great race and stop by to say hello at XTERRA! Or, stop by the Lahaina bicycle store for jerseys and other bike gear or to get advice about where to ride on Maui.

Need a bike rental on Maui? Pick a bike and select the days you want to rent the bike. Then, when you arrive, your Maui bike rental will be waiting at our bike shop in Lahaina! Make a reservations for performance road cycles, hybrids or cruiser bike rental now:

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

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.

On the XTERRA mountain bike trail course at Kapalua in West Maui.

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)

XTERRA World Championship mountain bike course Razors Ridge section.

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.

2013 XTerra World Championship Returns to West Maui

2013 XTerra Bike Courses Run

Returning to West Maui for the third time, the 2013 XTerra World Championship will again be held at the famed Kapalua Resort and surrounding areas. Being the closest Maui bike shop to the event we are already gearing up and very excited to support this year's event. Whether you are an athlete competing or a spectator attending the XTerra event, you'll be sure to have a great time and we look forward to helping you with all of your Maui cycling needs.

Hear what West Maui Cycles bike shop owner Jamie has to say about the upcoming XTerra World Championship at Kapalua in this 1 minute 16 second video:

XTERRA World Championship from XTERRA TV on Vimeo.

Cycling jersey with West Maui Cycles logo and Hawaiian flag graphics.

Already have your tickets and entry secured for the 2013 XTerra World Championship at Kapalua Resort in October? Be sure to stop by the bike shop in Lahaina. We're right on the way and you'll pass by our shop when you cruise through Lahaina on the way to Kapalua. Pick up a bike jersey, new tires or any bike parts you need for the XTerra races! Located in Lahaina just 8 miles south of the XTerra race courses, West Maui Cycles is the closest bike shop to the race course and we'll have extra mechanics and staff ready to help you with anything you need for the race or to get ready for XTerra on Maui! We'll also be at the races and have our portable bike shop stocked and staffed ready for bike repairs or to help with all your cycling needs.

Maui Biking Path Updates and Trail Building News

Public bike paths on Maui.

Now that Maui’s North Shore Greenery bike trails are well underway with at least some funding allocated, it looks like the Maui County Council and other public entities may be starting to seriously look at other areas for bicycle path improvements and finding the funds to develop more riding trails for cyclists. On that positive note for both local and visiting cyclists to Maui, the county has announced council member Don Guzman, who holds the Kahului residency area council seat, will be hosting a community meeting at the Lihikai School Cafeteria on Wednesday, October 23 starting at 5:30 pm. The Central Maui Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan is going to be presented at the meeting. Council member Guzman is also the chair of the Council’s Economic Development, Energy, Agriculture and Recreation Committee. In the announcement Guzman claims "A healthy and happy community significantly improves our quality of life in Maui County" and we couldn't agree more! Keep reading to find out how a couple lucky kids could go home from the meeting with a brand new bicycle and bike helmet!

Central Maui Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan meeting poster.

In addition to presenting the Central Maui Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, topics to be discussed include the ‘Complete Streets’ program which was used when the master plan was completed back in 2012. A goal of ‘Complete Streets’ is to encourage bicycling and walking in Central Maui communities. Fitting well with the intent of the Healthy Hawaii Initiatives, Complete Streets describes a set of design principles promoting safe access for public users of all ages and abilities. Per council member Guzman’s’ statement in the county announcement "Having streets that encourage active living is a powerful way to address not only getting safely to our destination, but also much larger issues such as child obesity and energy-related impacts to our environment".

Maui County Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition (NPAC) is co-hosting the meeting with council member Guzman and the meeting is being held in cooperation with the YMCA’s Pioneering Healthier Communities project and the County of Maui Department of Public Works. Two children’s bikes with helmets will be given away to two lucky kids attending! Read the county announcement for the latest updates and more details. Add the important meeting to your calendar now and then make plans to attend on Weds, Oct 23rd, 2013. The meeting begins at 5:30 and will take place in the Lihikai School Cafeteria.

Conrad Caveman returns for the 2013 XTERRA World Championship.

Heading to the 2013 XTERRA World Championship on Maui in a couple weeks? Then be sure to take a look at these tips for the 2013 XTERRA World Championship. Remember to make an advance reservation if you need a bike rental for the XTERRA races! Just choose a bike from our bicycle rentals page, share a few details and complete the reservation! Your bike rental reservation will be confirmed for convenient fast pickup after you arrive on Maui. Then, just stop by at the West Maui Cycles bike shop in Lahaina to pick up your bike rental on your way up to XTERRA at Kapalua!

5 Reasons to Visit West Maui Cycles Bike Shop on a Maui Bike Vacation

A beutiful view from a Maui bicycle rental during a cycling vacation

If you are vacationing on Maui, you'll want to experience Maui from the seat of a bicycle! You won't need to ship your bike to Maui to enjoy cycling on vacation! Instead, equip yourself with bicycle gear and performance bike rentals from West Maui Cycles.

It doesn't matter if you are staying at one of the Kaanapali resorts or need a bike rental in South Maui. Our cyclery shop in Lahaina offers convenient access for all your Maui biking needs. Whether you need a bike rental for a cycling vacation on Maui or only need to pick up a bike jersey and water bottle to remember your fun bike rides on Maui, a cycling vacation on Maui wouldn't be complete without a quick stop at West Maui Cycles! If you are staying in Kaanapali, Kapaula or any other vacation rentals in West Maui, give us a call at (808) 661-9005 for bike rentals. We've even been known to drop off bike rentals in Kehei and Wailea.  Read on for details of our bike rental options and 5 reasons to visit West Maui Cycles during your Maui cycle vacation:

A rainbow from West Maui during a Maui cycling vacation.

• Road bike riders visiting Maui won't be disappointed by our Maui cyclery! Our performance road bicycle rentals are ready for the Maui cycling adventures. The Specialized Roubaix is our high performance road bike rental. Enjoy cycling the roads of Maui on the performance bike named after the famous annual cobblestone road race! Use our bike ride info with maps and bike routes for the most popular road bike rides on Maui. Our Maui bike blog features ride descriptions with bike maps for the The West Maui loop bike ride and other cycling routes on Maui including the ride to Haleakala and the Olowalu petroglyph bike ride.
• Mountain bike riders longing to experience the diverse mountain bike trails on Maui will find a huge selection of mountain bikes rentals and size options at our bike shop in Lahaina. From the Specialized Comp 29'er Hartail for trail and cross cycling to diehard trail riders requiring a full suspension Specialized FSR to bike down Haleakala, we've got 'em all! Our rental bikes are maintained by expert technicians and our shop is staffed with full time professional bike mechanics for bike repairs or service. If you shipped your mountain bike to Maui and need bike trail info, visit Maui mountain bike ride information with trail maps for biking the Haleakala Skyline trail, Poplipoli and Makawao Forest Reserve bike trails.
• For honeymooners in need of a little romantic bike adventure, we have the perfect tandem bike rental on Maui! Ride the stylish red Electra Hellbetty tandem bike with your sweety as you explore the historical sites in Lahaina. If you are vacationing solo or just don't feel like sharing a tandem on Maui, you'll love our Electra beach cruiser bike rentals for men or women and you'll still  arrive in style as you bike to one of the many West Maui restaurants!

Hellbetty Electra tandem rental cruiser available at West Maui Cycles.

• Forget your bike shorts, riding gloves or other cycling gear before departing for that long awaited Maui cycling vacation? No need to panic! Our bike store has everything you need to enjoy a cycling vacation on Maui. Tubes, tires, bike helmets, pedals, gloves and bike clothing along with an extensive selection of original West Maui cycles logowear designs to remember your cycling vacation on Maui. Browse our bike logo gear online where you can purchase West Maui Cycles logo hats, t-shirts, bike water bottles and other bike gear!
• Stop at our Lahaina bike shop to share your latest Maui cycling adventure or get the latest Maui bike ride tips and advice about bicycle riding in West Maui. Check out our vintage bike collection during your visit. Its a mini bike museum with several interesting vintage bikes and scooters from yesteryear.
• Need advice for an upcoming Maui cycling vacation? Review our bike rentals page or call for advice before selecting a bike rental. Ready to make a bike rental reservation online? Use the link below your cycle will ready and waiting when you arrive on Maui:

Ready for XTerra 2013 at Kapalua? XTerra World Championship on Maui

Mountain biking on the XTerra world championship course at Kapalua.

With the Maui Marathon running this weekend in Kaanapali and Lahaina, the excitement for the XTerra World Championship at Kapalua in West Maui is already gearing up! We’re hearing rumors about the mountain biking and running courses already receiving rough treatments to eliminate large boulders and other debris in preparation for the upcoming races on Oct 27. All of the local XTerra regional races have completed a couple weekends ago and qualified racers are busy getting the plans in order for their trip to Maui to compete. For a preview of the US riders participating in the 2013 XTerra World Championships at Kapalua in October, catch the XTerra USA Championship this weekend at the Snowbasin resort in Ogden Utah.

Ever thought about riding on the XTerra course at Kapalua? We know you have! Almost every mountain bike rider visiting Maui asks about the XTerra World Championship bike course. So, first off a little less than good news about riding the XTerra course: Since the course is on private land, the XTerra course is closed to the general public and only open to participating riders during XTerra and the weeks leading up to it.

Riding a mountain bike trail in West Maui.

A couple ladies riding West Maui mountain bike trails.

If you ride any portions of the XTerra course or ride on other private lands on Maui, please be courteous and respectful of property and property owners. Though indicative of dire need for more access to public biking trails on Maui, forging ahead without permission is not appropriate and you could be arrested for trespassing. Join West Maui Cycles and other local bike shops on Maui by working with the Maui mountain bike coalition and other Maui cycling advocacy groups who are successfully opening and building public bike trail systems around Maui. If you still really want to ride on the XTerra course, the best way to do so is to start training now so you can get qualified for the 2018 XTerra World Championship! Until then, enjoy the pics from a few mountain bike rides in West Maui:

Authorized Electra Bikes Dealer on Maui with Electra Cruiser Bikes

Hawaii Electra Cruiser bike rental Maui

As an authorized Specialized bike shop, West Maui Cycles is already well known for offering the best mountain bike and performance road bike rentals on Maui! We're also among a select group of bicycle shops authorized by Electra Bicycle to sell, service and rent Electra bikes. We are the only authorized Electra bike shop on Maui. In addition to new Electra cruiser bikes for sale, our bike rental fleet includes the powder blue Aloha Electra cruiser bike for women and a men's Electra cruser bike. The red Hellbetty tandem Electra cruiser is a popular bike rental for couples. And why not? What better way to sightsee in Lahaina than cruising on a bicycle built for two!

The Electra Hellbetty tandem bike rental on Maui

Electra cruiser bikes are certainly sought after for their cool retro styling with fun bike parts and accessories to create custom bike experience. Electra cruiser bikes are also a favorite cruiser bike because of their bike riding comfort. Electra cruisers include the trademarked Flat Foot Technology design for a more comfortable riding position:

The Electra Bicycle Company logo

It's easy to reserve an Electra cruiser bike for your Maui vacation! Wether you are here on Maui already or want to reserve your bike rental ahead of your Maui vacation, just select your rental bicycle, pick days you'll be riding and then complete the reservation. Your bike rental will be ready for you to pick up at our Lahaina bike shop!

West Maui Cycles in Lahaina is the only Authorized Electra cruiser bike dealer on Maui.

The Electra difference is the Electra Flat Foot Technology for a more comfortable riding position.

5 Reasons to Go Riding on a Maui Rental Bicycle

Bike Rentals at Lahaina bike shop.

Riding a bike on Maui offers many advantages over the typical car rental experience most visitors undertake. With new mountain bike trails being built and more designated bike lanes on more roads, the opportunity to go cycling on Maui should not be missed. Regardless of being a casual cyclist looking to cruise to the beach, an extreme mountain bike rider looking for adrenaline inducing trails or a weekend warrior training for their next century ride, riding a bike on Maui is a must do activity!

Why Maui is Better From the Seat of Bicycle!

Family cycling on Maui in Paia.

• Easier to See More Biking on Maui – Exploring Maui by bicycle puts the rider in touch with the scenery at a slower pace and without the distractions of driving. Maui visitors returning their bike rentals to our shop in Lahaina frequently tell us they are astounded at how much more they saw while touring Maui by bicycle. Even frequent returning visitors exclaim the flowers smell better and we were closer to nature on a bike.
• Stay Healthy and Have Fun on Vacation – Being active during a vacation will help you maintain your fitness routine while vacationing on Maui. Riding a bike is a great way to get exercise on vacation. We all want to slow down during our vacation. But, that doesn’t mean we need to stop exercising or break our fitness routines. Get on a road bike to explore Maui or cycle around the entire island! Mountain bikers have every type of trail ride available on Maui! From cool tree lined shady upcountry trails in the Makawao Forest Reserve on the slopes of Haleakala to the dry single track trails in West Maui and South Maui, jump on a rental mountain bike and get away from it all! Join our Sunday afternoon shop ride to find out about mountain bike trails in West Maui.

Specialized bicycle rentals on Maui.

• Easy Parking for Bicycles – If you are on a bike, no need to drive around Lahaina wasting time looking for a parking space for the rental car before you go to dinner. A cruiser bike rental from West Maui Cycles is perfect to explore Lahaina or Kaanapali and the other West Maui resort areas. Just find one of the many racks available and lock up your bike rental. We include a lock and cable with all bike rentals.
• Less Traffic Hassles – Though Maui certainly has less traffic than visitors encounter while cycling at home, the smaller roads can still create traffic delays due to construction or accidents. You’ll be happy you are a rental bike when traffic backs up as you zip by onto your next destination! Most Maui roads have paved shoulders for bike riding and many have designated bike lanes for cycling.
• Try the Latest Bicycles - Thinking about getting a new bicycle? Lots of visiting cyclists use their cycling vacation to experience a few different bikes for the purpose of narrowing their choice. Others want to spend an expanded length of time on the bike they’ve decided on just before they make the final purchase. Our rental bike fleet includes several Specialized bicycle models. Maybe you’ll even want to purchase the rental bike and ship it home with you to ride forever! New or used, you can buy a bike on Maui at West Maui Cycles!

Have you been out biking on Maui lately? Share your riding experience in the comments section below or leave questions about Maui biking. Hit the button to make a Maui bicycle rental reservation:

Rent a Bike on Maui NOW

A BMX’er Goes Biking on Maui and A Bike Land Speed Video

Maui mountain biking at Honolua Bay in West Maui past Kapalua.

Its always fun to scour Internet to find videos from visitors sharing their Maui biking experiences. This week I found a fun video from BMX rider Ryan Worcester riding his bike around Maui both on the road and on the mountain bike trails. Ryan made the most of his oportunity to use his bike to explore and go sightseeing during a cycling vacation on Maui last year.

BMX riding behind the West Maui Cycles Lahaina bike shop.

The short video includes Ryan riding the red dirt trail at Honolua Bay in West Maui followed by a segment at 2 min 25 sec pont with Ryan riding his bike on a trail in the bamboo forest out past Hana. Don't miss BMX riding in Lahaina at 1 min 15 second mark where Ryan shows off his skills with a little riding exhibit in the cement drainage ditch just behind West Maui Cycles bike shop in Lahaina. If you‘ve been thinking about a Maui bike vacation but weren’t sure if you would find enough riding, watch Ryan’s video experience of his rides on Maui. Then, go to the bottom to make a bike rental reservation and get that plane ticket to Hawaii booked! Or, scroll down a little to watch a bike frame builder from England who wanted to test his ideas of building a fast bike.

As the video above shows, there are plenty of types of riding available for every type of bike rider on Maui! After seeing the new performance road bikes Specialized demo'd at last month's dealer event in Colorado and being added to our rental fleet with anticipated arrival before the year end holiday season, I guess I must have fast road bikes built for speed on my mind. If you like interesting bike engineering and going fast, take a look at the next bike video featuring an English bike frame builder who shares his enthusiasm for speed and bicycle engineering. After he matched a frame with standard off the shelf everyday bike components and a huge customized crank, the team was able to get the bike up to 60 mph on their first open road trial! Next, for 'safety reasons', they took the bike to an old abandoned airstrip, patched the cracks in the 2 miles of pavement and were able to hit 80 mph pedaling on flat ground. But not before a few moments of trepidation as the rider explains in the video:

"After feeling low and vulnerable asking why am I doing this, you step on the bike and get a mad moment where it doesn’t matter what the hell happens, all you care about is focusing on that bumper and you don’t give a shit, you just pedal that thing till the wheels fall off"

Ready to go biking on Maui? Get the Bike You Want with a Bike Rental Reservation! Begin by selecting a bike rental, picking the bike size you need and then noting the dates you'll be riding on Maui. That's it! We'll have your rental bike in Lahaina waiting for you to get to Maui for that long deserved cycling vacation! Make a rental bicycle reservation NOW:

A Maui Mountain Biking Video from a Recent Bike Rental Customer

Mountain biking trails in the Makawao Forest Reserve on Maui.

Barely a little more than a half hour drive from the Kaanapali Resort and our bike shop, West Maui Cycles in Lahaina, the Makawao Forest Reserve is one of our favorite organized mountain bike trail systems. Cyclists the world over are hearing more about the new trails and maintenance efforts going into making this one of the best organized mountain biking trail systems on Maui. There isn't a day passes that a bike renal customer doesn't ask us for a car bike rack with directions on how to get to the Makawao Forest to go mountain biking! With trails for all rider skill levels and located in a cool rain forest conveniently located on the slopes of Haleakala, mountain bike riders won't want to miss the opportunity to go riding in the Makawao Forest Reserve.

Don't take our word for it! Watch a short video below from a recent bike rental customer who captured the experience riding the bike trails in the Makwawao Forest Reserve. Makawao Forest Reserve Mountain Bike Ride Video (13 min, 24 sec):

For a little cruelty, Shawn filmed his riding colleague crashing in the Makawao Forest Reserve to provide a demonstration with a short lesson on why you shouldn't grab a handful of front brake while turning the handlebar and still clipped in:

Map of drive from Lahaina bike shop to Makawao Forest Reserve mountain bike trails.

How many of you have crashed just like this when you weren't paying attention? Thanks to Shawn Landreth for sharing his Maui mountain bike videos and for renting mountain bikes at West Maui Cycles in Lahaina! If you are ready to go mountain biking on Maui but are not sure how to get to the Makawao Forest Reserve, head over to our Maui bike rides page for a Makawao Forest Reserve map and for driving directions to the forest. Take a look at a couple other videos from the Makawao Forest or learn more about this fun Maui mountain biking opportunity. Or, use the image below with the corresponding Google Map for driving directions to the Makawao Forest mountain bike trails:

Ready to make a reservation for a Maui mountain bike rental? It's easy! Just hit the button below, decide on the mountain bike rental and then answer a few questions about when you need rental bikes. Thats it! your mountain bike rental will be waiting at the West Maui Cycles bike shop in Lahaina when you get to Maui! Then, when you pick up your bike rental we'll point you in the right direction for the best mountain bike rides on Maui or share advice about the most current riding conditions. Remember to ask about our organized group rides: Sunday afternoon group ride for mountain bike riders and Wednesay mornings for the group road bike ride, usually around West Maui! Make a bicycle rental reservation for a fun Maui cycling vacation: