Haleakala Summit - Cycle To The Sun
James Boote
This is the world famous "Cycle To The Sun" a 10,000ft/3048m climb over 36mi/58k that takes you from Maui's North shore Pa'ia (Pah-ee-ah) town through Makawao (mah-kah-wow) town then up to Kula (koo-lah) and finally on to the famous "ribbon road" to Haleakala (Hah-leh-ah-kah-lah) summit. Don' be fooled, it is no easy ride. The gradient is an average of 5% with many corners reaching 8-10% and one short steep climb of 10% for 1/4mi/.4k just out of Makawao. The hardest leg is the last kick to the summit where you are just below 10k and you are faced with another 10% at the summit when you have the least amount of oxygen and your legs are like lead, full of lactic acid.
Read More