Hawaii big island road bike rentals?

John Forbes

2013-12-09

If you fancy a long ride then leave from Kona or Captain Cook and ride to
South Point which is the southern most point in the U.S.- 7000 some odd
miles to Antarctica.
While you are on the main road it's not that big a deal. There are numerous
towns with food and drink along the way. You can turn back from thwm as
well since the trip is an out and back. If you have someone with a car then
make the long ride to the town of Volcano and spend the night. Driving to
the shore at night let's you see rivers of lava pouring down from the crater.
The Big Island is a jewel.
John Forbes
503 422 1239

On December 8, 2013 8:36:24 PM Alan Pruder wrote:
> Also the best sushi I have ever had in my life is in Hawi, "sushi rock"
> little restaurant on the hwy, north side can't miss it.
>
>
> On Dec 8, 2013, at 7:57 PM, "Josh LeBus" wrote:
>
> > Hey Mike.. First, I hope you have a great trip! The big island is a
> special place that I think many people may not know or understand it's
> place in history.
> > What's been posted is true and really there are few "great" rides when it
> comes to "epic" road rides relevant to what us in the main land are
> accustom to.
> > What you should know is that the majority of the suggested rides are on
> federal land that has been recognized by our government as illegally
> obtained through the over throw of the native Hawaiians and the queen at
> the time.
> > The land you'll ride through is beautiful.. Saddle road will take you
> near one of the few active volcanos in the world. At the foothills you'll
> be surrounded by the Parker ranch, a ranch that at one time was the worlds
> largest working cattle ranch in the world... Which was headed for over 30
> years by my late great grandfather Willie Kaniho. Yes many true Hawaiians
> are cowboys, or Paniolos by them.
> > Towards Hawi you'll encompass the Kohala coast which if you take the
> Kohala mt rd off of kawaihae rd out of Waimea, it is lush and home to
> another huge cattle range and where my grandmother was born on a trip to
> herd cattle by her parents in the late 20's. Hawi is a special place, also
> the turn point for ironman, and is worth the visit and an ice cream cone.
> > I guess my point is that the terrain isn't "epic" for riding but the
> island of Hawaii and the people are rich with history and cultural and I
> think that's what will make your rides "epic", if you're into that!
> > Enjoy and ride safe and if you do ride saddle mountain, I actually have
> pics of my late uncle skiing (likely the only Hawaiian of that time to try
> skiing) from the observatory than surfing on the same day. It will be cold
> up there!!
> > Travel safe!!
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> > >> On Dec 7, 2013, at 1:20 PM, Mike Wise wrote:
> >> Hi friends. Can anyone recommend a shop on the big island that rents
> road bikes? What about some good roads to ride? I'm headed there next
> week for the first time, and I don't know anything about the place. It
> would be wonderful to hear a few pointers from someone who's
> knowledgeable... Thanks! Mike
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Alan Pruder

2013-12-09

Also the best sushi I have ever had in my life is in Hawi, "sushi rock" little restaurant on the hwy, north side can't miss it.

On Dec 8, 2013, at 7:57 PM, "Josh LeBus" wrote:

> Hey Mike.. First, I hope you have a great trip! The big island is a special place that I think many people may not know or understand it's place in history.
>
> What's been posted is true and really there are few "great" rides when it comes to "epic" road rides relevant to what us in the main land are accustom to.
>
> What you should know is that the majority of the suggested rides are on federal land that has been recognized by our government as illegally obtained through the over throw of the native Hawaiians and the queen at the time.
> The land you'll ride through is beautiful..
> Saddle road will take you near one of the few active volcanos in the world. At the foothills you'll be surrounded by the Parker ranch, a ranch that at one time was the worlds largest working cattle ranch in the world... Which was headed for over 30 years by my late great grandfather Willie Kaniho. Yes many true Hawaiians are cowboys, or Paniolos by them.
> Towards Hawi you'll encompass the Kohala coast which if you take the Kohala mt rd off of kawaihae rd out of Waimea, it is lush and home to another huge cattle range and where my grandmother was born on a trip to herd cattle by her parents in the late 20's. Hawi is a special place, also the turn point for ironman, and is worth the visit and an ice cream cone.
>
> I guess my point is that the terrain isn't "epic" for riding but the island of Hawaii and the people are rich with history and cultural and I think that's what will make your rides "epic", if you're into that!
>
> Enjoy and ride safe and if you do ride saddle mountain, I actually have pics of my late uncle skiing (likely the only Hawaiian of that time to try skiing) from the observatory than surfing on the same day. It will be cold up there!!
>
> Travel safe!!
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Dec 7, 2013, at 1:20 PM, Mike Wise wrote:
>>
>> Hi friends. Can anyone recommend a shop on the big island that rents road bikes? What about some good roads to ride? I'm headed there next week for the first time, and I don't know anything about the place. It would be wonderful to hear a few pointers from someone who's knowledgeable... Thanks! Mike
>> _______________________________________________
>> OBRA mailing list
>> obra@list.obra.org
>> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
>> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org


Josh LeBus

2013-12-09

Hey Mike.. First, I hope you have a great trip! The big island is a special place that I think many people may not know or understand it's place in history.

What's been posted is true and really there are few "great" rides when it comes to "epic" road rides relevant to what us in the main land are accustom to.

What you should know is that the majority of the suggested rides are on federal land that has been recognized by our government as illegally obtained through the over throw of the native Hawaiians and the queen at the time.
The land you'll ride through is beautiful..
Saddle road will take you near one of the few active volcanos in the world. At the foothills you'll be surrounded by the Parker ranch, a ranch that at one time was the worlds largest working cattle ranch in the world... Which was headed for over 30 years by my late great grandfather Willie Kaniho. Yes many true Hawaiians are cowboys, or Paniolos by them.
Towards Hawi you'll encompass the Kohala coast which if you take the Kohala mt rd off of kawaihae rd out of Waimea, it is lush and home to another huge cattle range and where my grandmother was born on a trip to herd cattle by her parents in the late 20's. Hawi is a special place, also the turn point for ironman, and is worth the visit and an ice cream cone.

I guess my point is that the terrain isn't "epic" for riding but the island of Hawaii and the people are rich with history and cultural and I think that's what will make your rides "epic", if you're into that!

Enjoy and ride safe and if you do ride saddle mountain, I actually have pics of my late uncle skiing (likely the only Hawaiian of that time to try skiing) from the observatory than surfing on the same day. It will be cold up there!!

Travel safe!!

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 7, 2013, at 1:20 PM, Mike Wise wrote:
>
> Hi friends. Can anyone recommend a shop on the big island that rents road bikes? What about some good roads to ride? I'm headed there next week for the first time, and I don't know anything about the place. It would be wonderful to hear a few pointers from someone who's knowledgeable... Thanks! Mike
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org


Scott Kocher

2013-12-08

Big Island rental from Bike Works in Kona was fine.
For riding...
Queen K Hwy Ironman route N of Kona has traffic but wide shoulders.
Hawaii Belt Rd above there is narrower but lower traffic, and longish day-ride loops to the N and E of Kona are possible.
Kaloko Dr is a crazy 3k' climb, sustained very steep "double helix" road. Pretty neat.
Saddle Rd would be the epic option--logistics of getting to the actual top are not trivial w/ upper unpaved stretch (BYO 25mm bombproof touring tires?) and 13k' altitude especially if you haven't ridden that high, aren't in strong climbing shape, or don't have proper gear for cold possibly wet descent.
Enjoy.


Mike Kender

2013-12-07

My experience riding in Kona is different. And out and back to Havi follows the Ironman route. It's a great ride despite the cars. There are numerous loops up in the hills. I rented a bike for a week from Bike Works. I brought my pedals and power tap wheel and they swapped things out for me.

Mike

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 7, 2013, at 2:02 PM, "Mike Murray" wrote:

> It has been a while since I have been there but my impression was that there
> were no good roads to ride on the big island, at least not on the Kona side.
> You are pretty much limited to riding the highway which circles the island.
> There are tons of cars flying by. Some portions have a wide side area but
> many portions do not. The saddle road from Hilo might be interesting but
> would be pretty significantly epic. Not just a regular ride.
>
> Mike Murray
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
> Behalf Of Mike Wise
> Sent: Saturday, December 07, 2013 13:20
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Hawaii big island road bike rentals?
>
> Hi friends. Can anyone recommend a shop on the big island that rents road
> bikes? What about some good roads to ride? I'm headed there next week for
> the first time, and I don't know anything about the place. It would be
> wonderful to hear a few pointers from someone who's knowledgeable... Thanks!
> Mike _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org


Mike Murray

2013-12-07

It has been a while since I have been there but my impression was that there
were no good roads to ride on the big island, at least not on the Kona side.
You are pretty much limited to riding the highway which circles the island.
There are tons of cars flying by. Some portions have a wide side area but
many portions do not. The saddle road from Hilo might be interesting but
would be pretty significantly epic. Not just a regular ride.

Mike Murray

-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Wise
Sent: Saturday, December 07, 2013 13:20
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Hawaii big island road bike rentals?

Hi friends. Can anyone recommend a shop on the big island that rents road
bikes? What about some good roads to ride? I'm headed there next week for
the first time, and I don't know anything about the place. It would be
wonderful to hear a few pointers from someone who's knowledgeable... Thanks!
Mike _______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
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Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org


Mike Wise

2013-12-07

Hi friends. Can anyone recommend a shop on the big island that rents road bikes? What about some good roads to ride? I'm headed there next week for the first time, and I don't know anything about the place. It would be wonderful to hear a few pointers from someone who's knowledgeable... Thanks! Mike