Cycling in paradise

There is not much difference between cycling in Maui vs. Rochester in December. If you believe that please take three steps forward in the Gullible line, and lose your turn in the Reality line.

Mid 80s, little rain, lots of cyclist and postcard venues provide enough incentive to get out every day. I like hills and there is everything from 3 minute climbs to 3 hour suffer-fests. I declined to go up Mt Haleakala this year, mainly because its a 5 hour out and back proposition, and you feel wasted the next day, or at least I do. I did manage to do a 30 minute climb up Iao. The Iao Valley is the northern mountain of the island, shadowed by the more impressive monster to the south.

Being a creature of habit I found myself content to do a 3 minute climb several times in a low gear, an attempt to build more leg strength. The heart rate is not supposed to get up there when the cadence is low, but I think my heart starts to feel sympathy for my legs and it starts pumping faster as well. I found this more enjoyable than leg presses and somehow I think that it simulates the cycling motion more than weights do, why? because it is cycling. Further proof is the following. After a hard ride I find it difficult to climb steps, and oddly enough after the sitting hill climbs, well I had a hard time climbing the steps back to the condo, QED. Each day I warmed up by doing a 40 minute out and back run along the villas in Wailea. I only wish I had taken a picture of my turn around point which is basically the end of the road, but at that point you are surrounded by lava fields.

The roads are for the most part bicycle compatible, meaning they either are lightly traveled or have a significant well marked bike lane. Not much debris either, but I did manage to flat twice. I seem to have a significant problem in that department. There is a great bike shop called South Maui Bicycles that serves the local racers and enthusiast. A tube is $5.00, I didn't look at the bikes but there seem to be several top end ones displayed. I guess mountain biking is big in Maui as well.

Oddly enough I didn't ride any harder or longer than I would have had I been home. The only real advantage is that it doesn't take much to get dressed and go out for a spin.

For those looking for more recipes I am working on a low fat, high protein shrimp cake and writing up an old standby Apple Chutney Chicken Salad.