ActiveTravelerAndMom
Aug 2021
THIS*IS*DANGEROUS!!! While I sat next to my 13 year old (avid cycler) daughter's bed in the emergency room at Maui Memorial Medical Center following her head over handlebars tumble down the volcano, where apparently she followed a little too close to the cycler in front of her and jolted the brakes too hard, the ER doctors told us that they not only see horrific accident victims all too often, but tragic fatalities from these tours on a regular basis and we should tell all of our friends and post online wherever possible to warn others.
Our daughter was lucky. Only a minor concussion, facial lacerations, and severe road rash on her arm, hand, and leg. We cancelled our upcoming snorkeling plans and surf lessons, and returned her rented boogie board. The ocean is now off limits for the rest of our vacation due to the high levels of bacteria that could infect her wounds. The doctors said at least 2 weeks away from that water.
Please note that the guides make this ride as safe as humanly possible. They had a guide leading and pacing at the front and van blocking traffic in the back who would radio the leader when he was allowing cars to pass so they could try keep the riders to the shoulder, but there are simply too many variables that are out of their control. There IS a lot of traffic, there ARE blind curves and turns all the way down, there ARE unsafe, novice, or unskilled cyclers and cars possibly riding along side you, it IS steep and super fast riding, you MUST completely focus and ride your brakes the entire way down, it is NOT in the general public's best interest.
*And yes, they asked for tips a number of times, even after the recent review from July 2021 where their response was that this is not common practice. One of them even went as far as to joke "Can you believe that other guides ask for 15 to 20%? He suggests 25 to 30%."