So far, while in Maui we hiked 4 miles into the crater of Haleakala (and back), took a helicopter tour over West Maui and Molokai, visited the Dragon Teeth lava formations, and drove the Road to Hana and around the upcountry. All of these experiences were fantastic, but the bike ride down Haleakala with Mountain Riders has been my favorite experience. Our tour started with Rob meeting us out front of the address provided on our email confirmation. We then traveled over to their lot to complete some paperwork. We were offered water and granola bars, which really hit the spot. Then, it was up the mountain. During the van ride, Rob gave us some history of the area, and pointed out some landmarks (and an abandoned SUV) for us to use as reference while on route back to Mountain Riders' office. He also explained how to control the bikes (use both brakes at the same time and keep your hands on the handlebars). We stopped to take a photo of the beautiful scenery before us, then we continued up the mountain. Once at the 6500 foot level we got on our bikes, strapped on our helmets and said goodbye to Rob. Since this was the self-guided tour he only met us one more time down the mountain to ensure that we were all comfortable and felt safe to ride. We had his phone number in case we got lost, which thankfully we never needed!
The ride down the mountain was exhilarating! We were going about 25-30 miles per hour around switchbacks and curves. This was better than a roller coaster, in my opinion.
I was deciding between the self-guided and the guided tour and because of my last minute booking they only had self-guided available. I was scared at first because I thought for sure we'd get lost, but Rob provided us with a map, which highlighted our route. I'm sure the guided tour was great. We actually saw that tour in the little town on the way back to the office, but I am so glad that I went with this tour. My family and I really enjoyed going at our own pace, having to walk the bike when needed (two big hills on the way back to the office), and just taking our time. Rob was a great tour guide, and the rest of the crew that we encountered was very welcoming and friendly. I would love to do this tour again if I had more time on Maui. I recommend this to anyone who wants to experience flying down the mountain and rolling past some great ranches. Just a few things to note: The address on Hallemaile is a big industrial/manufacturing area. I couldn't find any sign for Mountain Riders, but after passing the address, I realized that Rob was out front with the van, which did have the logo and name on it. Look for Maui Gold, the pineapple producing plant and you will know you are in the right area. Also, bring some cash for tipping the guys. They recommend about 15% of your total price as standard for gratuity.