Mountian Riders from March 2014 Horrid don't use them. Since you never get a second chance to make a first impression they had three strikes against them before we boarded the van to go up the Mountian. First they almost left us at the hotel. Second, they had filthy facilities. Third was very poor communications and attitude as to the mornings events. So it could only go down hill from here (pun intended). Now the details: 1. Pickup at 0240 at hotel. Van arrives for a P/U of 3. Driver loads 2 at curb and is ready to leave. Wait wait 3 sitting on couch walk over and told "oh you must be with another company there van is behind me" I check my 2. Van. Dirty. Check engine light on whole trip. Sliding door rattled because damaged and would not seal could see daylight through the edges. Lots of dents and NO air conditioning. Facilities. A sad state of disrepair Restrooms filthy all the thrash cans were ash trays who's outsides were covered in cigarette burns that you had to touch to dispose of your trash. The trash from the " breakfast snack" what a joke. Coffee so bad that all who had commented on and no one finished. Felt like a dirty mechanics maintenance yard which it was. I hope that they have changed since then but I doubt it. read more

Great morning spent on Hale-akala thanks to Roger, Kay and the rest of the Mountain Riders. The van ride up was fine, sunrise and pre-sun colors were cool, but the best was the bike ride down. It was very safe, no pressure, easy to do and really really fun. I'd highly recommend this excursion! read more

Amazing bike ride down the volcano. Bobby was our guide and was very knowledgeable and funny. We were super impressive with this tour and I couldn't recommend it more! read more

I gave Mountain Riders the chance to avoid this review. If they they had any decency or sense of customer service they would have refunded my money. Because I spent my whole first day in Maui in a van that the tour leader "put me in" (his words) because I wasn't going as fast as the rest of the group. I know how to ride a bike, but he marched me to the van after 10 minutes on the tour. And then the driver told me to lose the attitude. I dare anyone to not have an attitude after 2 hours of sleep and then being shoved unceremoniously in a van while the rest of the group rides. I didn't get the ride I paid for and they refused to refund any portion of what I paid. Go with another company, trust me. read more

I don't generally ever write reviews. This is for the 7:30 excursion. I thought Aleeka (spelling?) and Rob deserved a big shout out!! The ride itself is awesome. That said, I'm glad we did this with a tour group and specifically these guys. As a very amateur cyclist, the equipment they use may not seem legit, but the volcano cruisers are perfect, stable, and a super comfortable ride. Aleeka was the main guide and he is local. Family guy. Super knowledgeable, funny, corny, warm, encouraging - pretty much all superlatives. I would trust my kids to him on this type of ride but also would love to have a beer with him after. Really good dude who made this trip unforgettable. Oh yeah -we just had engagement pics and were gouged - the pics these guys took are maybe my favorite from an entire year of travel. That was the worth the price by itself. read more

Find another biking company if you really want to bike down Haleakala!!! After waking up super early for our 2:45 a.m. pickup, the van didn't arrive until 3:15. The driver was very unprofessional and admitted to "forgetting his glasses." We had to find our own names on his reservation list because he couldn't even read it. Then he was the one we trusted to bring us up to the top of the crater in the dark on winding roads! :/ The breakfast was terrible with horrible coffee and packaged bear claws. I wish we had packed our own cliff bars or something because you don't eat again until about Noon at the very end of the trip at a restaurant similar to Chipotle. The sunrise was definitely beautiful (and FREEZING!!!!) but we could have made the trip ourselves and saved lots of money, time, and all the things that came next! From there our trip just went downhill (no pun intended!). We were in a group with the maximum number of people they take-14. They insist on putting the women in the front and the men in the back with no questions about your biking ability. They told us that if you slow the group down you will be either put in the back of the line or will have to ride in the van. NOT SO! I was fifth in line and my husband was dead last. None of the ladies ahead of me kept up with the guide in the front and we LITERALLY rode the brakes for the first 8 miles until we stopped at the lookout point. You weren't allowed to pass. They say we are required to maintain a speed of 20-25 mph but we were going about 5 mph. Not very fun for someone who loves to fly down hills!! And I knew my husband and I would keep up with the guide if we were behind him. My husband had an even worse time from the back of the line and came to a complete stop a few times because of all the inexperienced riders. We understand that there are different capabilities so he kindly asked the bus driver if he could be moved to the front so he could actually RIDE his bike. The guy was so rude and said "ya, you just gotta deal with it man." Umm excuse me?! Where is your customer service? At least make an effort to look like you care! So my husband stayed in the back and had a terrible time. The ladies in the front got a little better as we got to flatter land but not much. We didn't stop in the lavender fields for lunch as advertised. My husband eventually opted to ride in the van because he was having such a bad experience. They still did nothing to try to help him out. To finish it off, the bus driver on the way back kept talking about money and how poor he was and how he couldn't afford to live in the houses we were passing by. I don't find it professional to discuss money like that with your customers. It seemed like a way he was trying to get more tips. So, we totally wasted our money and hope other people don't try this unprofessional company. read more

Biking down the largest dormant volcano in the world at up to 20 miles an hour while sneaking peeks at fantastic views....awesome. The sunrise tour starts around 2ish in the morning when you get picked up from your hotel and driven to their base. Then ya eat some Costco muffins and board a minibus to drive for more than an hour up Haleakala in the dark...which may be a problem if you're at all prone to motion sickness, so take dramamine. (I almost lost my cookies, er muffins.) Once you're up there, you have about an hour to wait in the frickin cold for the sunrise (wusses like me hang out in the visitors center), and then at last you'll drive down a bit and start your 30-mile downhill tour. Our guide kind of freaked us out with the intro talk....how cars come up behind you and people die doing this (which is true), but I'm thinking he probably does that to scare stupid people into following directions. I wouldn't really care to do the dawn tour again, but I think the earlier the better because there will be fewer cars on the road down. What they say distinguishes Mountain Riders from the rest is that they keep biking all the way down to the beach in Paia rather than stopping you several miles back. This was pretty cool because the trip feels more complete, like you really went from the top of the volcano all the way down to the ocean. They might not be the cheapest group out there but our guide and driver really seemed to know their stuff and put us at ease (and also set up some cool photo ops). It was one of our fave parts of the trip. read more

Awesome experience, but skip the "Be there for sunrise" hustle. Mountain Riders gave us a terrific bike trip down from the peak of Mt. Haleakala to the waterfront. First, don't bite for the sunrise bull. It's a way to get another turn out of the day for tour operators. There is no great thrill in getting up at 3am to join a tour and be bused up the mountain in the dark, just to see sunrise from the mountain top. You don't watch any other sunrise in Maui, so why this one? Why go in the dark and miss the views going up (views you'll be too nervous to enjoy coming down)? Take the day's second tour - you'll have to get up early enough for that. What they don't tell you is that National Park Service rangers regulate departures from the peak. They space them out, so they don't bunch up or cause traffic problems. So you may see sunrise, but then wait 1-2 hours for your groups "turn" to leave the peak. Doesn't that sound like fun at 7am? Now, enjoy the banter and instructions from the Mountain Riders guide. Our experience was great - stories all the way up the mountain, barbs and jibes to all that seemed ready to take them. "Now I want to know the last time you each were on bikes, and I mean real bikes, the kind that fall over if you stop pedaling?" You have to pedal for something like 1/2 mile out of the 20 mile trip. The important thing is knowing how to use the brakes. Really - you'll be squeezing the breaks all the way down, debating between going slow enough to feel safe and the peer pressure of keeping up with your group. But after a few miles you get comfortable and start stealing peaks at the awesome views. And the guide keeps the nervous bikers near him. They stop regularly to let everyone catch up, have a drink of water, and enjoy the views. And give warnings about what's ahead: "We had this woman last spring who..." A lunch stop is included. And they have a van if you get too nervous or tired and want to finish the trip riding in the van instead of biking. It's not physically demanding (I did it!). But it's also not for the feint of heart. Or those unstable on a bike. But damn it's a great trip with memorable views. read more

Very unprofessional. Lack any customer service. In my opinion you should drive to the top for the sunrise and drive down, or find another company. If you are able to ride a bike with any proficiency you will be annoyed by the large groups they take with people who cannot ride. The driver showed up late, made comments continuously about how poor he was so we should tip him, and was quite rude when I tried to express my concerns. I can understand the problems these guys have with inexperienced riders, but if you say "keep up or I'll have to put you in the van," then do what you say! The sunrise is beautiful, and FREEZING so dress warm. They will give you crappy food and coffee, so don't let that suck you in. If you are old and unable to ride very well, go with these guys, otherwise go on your own. read more

Just ok. I would recommend spending the money on renting a car and going to see it yourself. Then you're not captured for hours. The view is amazing!! . The number of times we were told to give some "aloha" (tips) was annoying! 20% and everyone wants aloha. Add $540 per person for tips. read more

While I understand many people genuinely enjoy this experience, this tour was the lowlight of my trip for the following reasons: -I am proficient on a bike and ride often These bikes are terrible and are not meant for pedaling, they are meant for sitting. Take one hand off the handlebar and they shimmy and feel like they're about to come loose. People who call themselves cyclists will be unhappy -I am a woman who is comfortable on a bike The leader said he'd keep the "ladies" close to him to "keep an eye on them." This felt demeaning and sexist. This should have been gauged by experience, not sex. -Lots of driving, little biking, too much stopping It's a long haul for a quick view. And the ride regrouped so many times, you could never just ride (I mean, as if that would have been possible -Leader was a downer Most or all of his commentary was disparaging development and tourism on the island. I understand this, I do, but when you're part of a group that's specifically for tourists, making visitors feel unwelcome/guilty for being there isn't ideal. -Long trip, no snacks, no water Beyond the coffee/danish at 3am, there was no opportunity to get a bite/water until 10am. It should have been more explicit that we needed to bring our own I'm generally not comfortable offering one-star reviews, but if you're a cyclist and really want to do a nice downhill, bring your own bike and do it on your own or find a better outfitter. read more

We really enjoyed this adventure while visiting Maui. Using a tour company like Mountain Riders made me much more comfortable biking down the volcano for the first time, as the guides are familiar with the route, the road, and the good photo spots. Also, they picked us up from the resort so we didn't have to figure out where we were going at 3am. My reasons for a 4 instead of 5: the bikes needed some maintenance and the guides were a bit pushy about tips. read more

I refused to wake up at 2:30 in the morning while on vacation just to see the sunrise, so instead, I biked down the volcano with Mountain Riders on their day trip. We were picked up around 6:30 and finished our ride at around 12:30. Kona and our driver, Rob, were extremely nice people. The early hours of the trip is to first get to the peak of Haleakala, where we then had an opportunity to take pictures of the crater. Rob then drove us back down to the 6500 feet level to start our bike ride. We were all provided with BMX bike helmets and cruiser bikes with handbrakes. I'm not sure how well maintained the bikes are, but if I'm going down a freakin volcano, with 20-something hairpin turns to start, I want those brakes to work well. I felt like I had to squeeze the living lights out of them to ensure I was slowing down, so I definitely felt I could have used better equipment. How fun your ride is really depends on who you are following. I was at the front of the pack since I'm the smallest and lightest, while all of the gentlemen were riding in the back. If you have super cautious bikers in front of you who are constantly braking, then you may not get the best experience if you wanted to ride faster. Such was the case for the gentlemen on our ride. But the route we took was quite scenic. After a short initial ride, Kona took us to a lavender farm where we enjoyed brunch there. Then after that, for the remaining 20 miles, we cruised on one-lane roads through Makawao, a small cowboy town, and ended our ride at Paia, a surf town with big waves. All along the way, Kona guided our group in the front with safety signals and Rob in the back with the van to secure us from cars. Riding down the volcano is supposedly something you have to do when you're in Maui. I can say that I did it now and am glad I went with guides that were nice and helpful. read more

Our guides were Alika and Dante and both were fantastic! What I appreciated most was that they were very serious about everyone's safety as we came down the mountain. They also both were very friendly, entertaining, knowledgeable about the sites throughout the ride, and engaging. I will second some of the other reviews though, it is very cold on top of Haleakala. I appreciated the extra weather gear they gave us - no one wants to tote a winter coat to Maui. However, I would suggest bringing your own hat and warm gloves and wear warm socks. You can always remove layers as you descend the mountain. I would also suggest a snack to eat before you start the bike ride. They do provide coffee/tea/cocoa and granola bars, but if those items aren't your thing or you need at little energy boost, then bring something else to tide you over until the 0900 breakfast stop. read more

I cringe giving this review. The tour guides were very very nice and very informational. But I would NEVER EVER spend my money on this again! I called them a week prior to our tour today. I explained my family and I ride mountain bikes together regularly and my boys are 12. They said it would be no problem, and in fact since we are experienced riders we should pay online for the self guided tour. I thought it would work out fine since I explained the situation, what I didn't say is my boys were on the small side - which they are - that was apparently my bad! However I expected like any bike tour company they'd have multiple bike sizes for men and women (my boys can ride an adult small mountain bike in mild terrain like I'd expected)... they didn't. They have ONE SIZE BIKES FOR EVERYONE. SO we get there, I'm not at all happy to find out all they have is one size bike and they are - I'll be nice and say - not in good condition! The guide tells me the boys need to be five feet tall - would have been nice to know that on the phone! My brakes squealed the whole way down, it felt like a tank, it must have weighed 45 pounds. My ears still hurt. I am a bike snob I admit, I ride a lot and race... So I expected some sort of decent kona rental or something... These were hand made in someone's back yard it seemed. The brakes weren't adjusted properly, the bike in front of me had seat twisting issues. They were kind of a mashup of a beach cruiser and a bmx bike plus about 20 pounds of lead which was unnecessary because it just made the bike harder to handle for me. My hands went numb multiple times during the ride because the grips were pretty poor, a guy from the group said the same to me at the end. I also mistakenly expected some nice flowing fire roads, maybe some double track. This was my mistake - I should've researched this. It's all paved road all the way down to the beach. Lots of "should be fun" twists and turns speed... If the bike wasn't what it was. I couldn't help but notice many of the other bike tours had similar bikes going up and down the mountain... Maybe that's just what they do here. But there were other bike tours I saw with konas and such, and even kids on kid sized bikes. I still don't know I would've loved it, but it would've been much nicer if my family didn't have to ride the entire tour in the van. The boys didn't even try it at the top, and thank God because there's no way in hell they could've controlled that bike at that speed around a corner give their size and the bikes weight. There are a lot of corners that you take at a decent speed... It could be fun! In the tours defense they had my boys try the bike out before we went to the top, and kinda sorta gave me a chance to back out of the tour then. I SHOULD HAVE THEN! But we rented a car and drive all the way from Wailea, so I thought we would give it a shot (still thinking of nice flowy fire road and having no clue what trails we were in store for). The guides also disagreed on whether it would work for the boys or not, one said multiple times it would be fine. POSITIVES: The guides were great! My only beef in hindsight was they shouldn't have even let us go up knowing there was no way my boys could handle those tanks. They were very nice and knowledgable about the area on the ride and the whole island. Also the scenery was pretty, the ride was very unique and kinda cool (the actual route). The guides even took us into the national park (even though they made sure to point out it wasn't included in the self guided option). They called my cell to confirm as well and offer directions etc. NEGATIVES: pretty much the bike, the lack of knowledge of the person I talked to on the phone, and my stupidity for not pulling the plug when I saw the bikes! Plus it would've been nice to know it was all paved road, I wouldn't have bothered. I figure mountain rider synonymous with mountain biker and they're not even close. I highly recommend doing a GREAT deal or research before one of these bike trips. Also, I wouldn't put anyone less than 120 pounds or so on one of those bikes... Stories of crashes I won't elaborate on. The reason for the one star is the whole experience. I left some details out in the interests of not being overly harsh, but overall the experience wasn't great for someone who rides bikes - A LOT! read more

I would give them 10 stars if poss. Our bike guides were Bobbie and Tamara. They were very safe. Very organized. If you think for one second you can't do it because "your not in shape", that is the farthest from the truth. I bet in the whole 26 Miles I peddled maybe 1 full minute. Also if you think you butt is going to get sore, it won't. They have super comfy seats. I was not too happy about getting up early for the sunrise but it really was amazing. Bring a camera or go pro. Make sure you layer clothes, and bring your camera. As it warms up as you ride your bike there are several opportunities to peel off clothes and leave them with your camera in the van that will travel with you. Even my wife who is not a big bike rider absolutely loved it. It's well worth the price. I loved it. read more

Amazing experience!!! a must do early in the tip as they give you a good layout and history of the island. The parking lot they have you come too looks sketchy as its an old pineapple factory, but you are in the right place. The bikes are comfy. My only suggestion is bring WARM clothes its cold at 5 in the morning up there, especially in the winter. Also Cowlana was absolutely amazing as a bike guide!!! read more

Had such an amazing experience. From the moment our driver Jo Jean picked us up at 2:00am, meeting bob mountain king, the sunrise, the bike tour, the stop for food, the Jackson chameleon we found and the aloha! Magical experience! Will definitely come back for this tour. read more

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I've never road on any other company but I will never choose any other! Mountain riders were exceptional! The drivers and tour guides are fun and knowledgeable, they treat you like family and make you feel comfortable. I read many negative reviews regarding the bikes they use and yes the bikes are not the prettiest or newest but they're well built and do the job. The staff makes sure you're safe at all times. We couldn't had picked a better day to go the sunrise was beautiful and we were lucky enough to gave a clear say to ride. Ultimately if you're looking for a fun adventure with an experience team that cares for your safety you have to choose mountain riders! read more

As a first time trip to Maui I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. We had Kay (driver) and Alika (cruise leader) who were both very engaging and gave a ton of information about history, geography, etc. Great guides with jokes as well 2:15am pick up is early but worth it. You will get coffee and granola bars before making it to the top of the mountain, bring something else if you need more. A wind jacket and rain pants was provided but you still need layers as it was around 45 degrees in early September. You will get up the the top about an hour for sunrise so it does get chilly We stopped a couple times on the way down for pictures and chatting and then also stopped in a small town for a heartier food stop (not paid for) and then another 30min ride down to the beach. Bring some cash for food and drink on the stop and they also do accept tips for their service. All in all, well worth what we paid for amazing views and memories. read more

Let me preface this review with a note that I have done a Haleakala sunrise bike tour with another company in the past, so this was not my first experience with a tour of this kind. On the morning of the tour we arrived at the destination (886 Hallimaile Ave.) at 2:28 AM. There was no one around and no indication of the location of Maui Mountain Riders - just a General Store and a sign for Crossfit Up Country. There was one other car also looking for the destination. I called the 800 number and was told by a woman to park to the right of the General Store and that she would be there at 2:30. I and the other car parked in the General Store parking lot. About a dozen more cars subsequently joined us as we waited. Finally a woman arrived who started yelling at all of us that we couldn't park there, we were supposed to park in front of what looked like sheds on the property marked Crossfit Up Country. There was no time to explore the summit after the sun rose. During the safety overview the leader demonstrated the hand signals that he would use to direct the group. The leader also told us in no uncertain terms that they expected a tip at the end of the ride. The tip was to be 15-20% of the total cost of the tour. Rude beyond belief! The group leader never took the time to make sure everyone was comfortable and feeling safe. He took off down the hill at break-neck speed with the first 8 people following close behind. I was among the 4 at the back of the group. The leader and his gang of 8 disappeared out of sight. A tour van followed behind each group. He stopped after about 2 miles to let everyone catch up. Then again, he and his gang of 8 took off and soon were again out of sight. It was quite nerve wracking not to feel comfortable/safe on these bikes and to lose sight of the leader who was supposed to be giving us signals when traffic was approaching from behind. When we finally reached the one scenic view spot, I was upset. I felt unsafe and the group leader couldn't care less. He yelled at me that I didn't know how to ride a bike. He then proceeded to tell me how many thousands of people he's had in his groups and that he had been down the mountain so many times. I wasn't feeling safe, especially not being able to see any directions he was giving to his gang of 8, ignoring the 4 of us at the rear. At that point he threatened to put my bike in the back of the van, drive me to the bottom, and let me get an Uber back to my hotel. While stopped, another group passed by. Their group leader was showing off by riding side-saddle with his legs in the air. After the stop, the group leader and his gang of 8 were tearing off again. Soon they were out of sight. When the 4 of us at the back reached a Y in the road we all came to a dead stop. That was quite frightening. We had NO idea which way the front of the pack had gone. The guy in the van started yelling to go right. We went around the bend where they were waiting. The bikes had to be loaded up before they could drive us into a little town where we would be on our own for breakfast for 45 minutes. When I and another person loaded our bicycles, we told them we would ride out the rest of the trip in the van. No one in the van wore masks for the van ride into town, in spite of Covid laws in place at the time. Absolutely disgusted, I and another person sat on a bench waiting for the "tour" to resume. The group leader came over to us and said there was someone who would drive us back to where our cars were parked. We got in the van with the bossy lady who drove us back to our cars in complete silence. If you are an avid, every-day bike enthusiast, then you might actually enjoy Maui Mountain Riders. In my opinion, they are rude show-off jerks who have no clue on what constitutes good customer service. read more

We arranged the trip through Trip Advisor a few ,weeks before we got to Maui. We decided to do it the first night we were there because of the time difference. We were told it would make it easier. The Saturday we landed, I had a voicemail from the company asking if we still needed transportation to the site.. I called back to report that yes, we still needed the transportation. The lady that answered the phone said, "Okay, we can still do the transportation but you probably wont get back till 12 or 1." We were fine with this and said so. I got the impression that they did not want to bring us back. We were picked up the next morning right on time at 230 am. We arrived at the meeting point for the tour with another group in about 30 minutes. Here, we signed a disclaimer, had some coffee, and got some warm clothing because we were told it would be very cold. We both had worn warm clothing but also accepted their offer of additional coats and blankets. There were only granola bars to snack on at this meeting point and no bathrooms. We were told the next bathroom stop was at least 30 minutes away. We got on a bus, drove for another 30 minutes on a winding road to the top. There, we got our first bathroom break. The tour guide made sure that we all got in a good spot to see the sunrise, which was at least an hour away. While we waited, he took pictures of us with our phones. He didn't offer a lot of information about the volcano which was what we had expected when booking the tour. So, we stood in the freezing cold for about an hour waiting for the sun to come up. He told us that the souvenir store opened as soon as the sun comes up but he wanted us back on the bus, 10 minutes after the sun came up. We totally felt rushed, because we actually wanted to learn some facts about the volcano. The tour guide was in a hurry to get us halfway down the volcano to the station where the bikes are waiting. We were encouraged to tip the tour guide/driver before he passed us off to the bike group. We tipped him and said goodbye. The bike crew was the same crew that picked us up that morning. They were waiting with the bikes already set up. I am a short person and could not stand up with the bike without it leaning severely over. I asked if they could lower the seat and I was told no. The bike tour guide gave us safety instructions, especially focusing on leaning into the turns because the turns are so sharp going down the volcano. We started down, with the guide in front and the van behind us. It was very scary going down the mountain. I felt like I was going to crash at any moment, it didn't help that the bike was too high. Another woman's bike seem to stop working at one point and we had to change it out. The tour eventually ended in a little town where we were told we could use the bathroom and buy our breakfast. The bathrooms were locked, so we had to use the disgusting Porta Potty that was there. There was not a good selection at the grocery store, so we just grabbed some chips. We all got back in the van to head back to the meeting point. The bike guide told a few cheesy jokes and we stopped at a beach to have a look. When we got back in the van, we were given 1/2 bottles of cold water. We were told we needed to tip our guide at least $30 per person. I don't mind tipping, in fact we are overly generous tippers. But, they were charging almost $250 per person to pick you up and drive you to the top of the volcano, give you coffee and granola bars, put you on bicycles that weren't even adjustable to short people, make you buy your own breakfast, encourage them to tip not only the tour guide but the bike tour guide as well, setting a price that you should tip by, all of this, while not really giving you a "Tour", because they didn't really give you that much information. Seeing the sunrise was great, but I would not do this experience again, and definetly, not with this company. read more

All my friends who have visited Maui said that I had to do the Sunrise Bike tour on Mt. Haleakala at least once. My friend CD recommended the Mountain Riders tour group and had a "life-changing" experience. I'm all for adventure, so I signed on to their website and booked a tour ($120/person, must be booked in advance.) Since we were signed up to watch the sunrise, the van picked my group up at our condo at 2:30 a.m. (youch!) and proceeded to pick up a few other people in the group before heading to the Mountain Riders headquarters. You get a cheap "continental breakfast" and watch a safety video before you are given some Northface rain gear to keep you warm (it's certainly cold at 4am, so LAYER UP!), and climb aboard the van. I took a nice nap on the way up the mountain, so there was no motion-sickness problems - it's pitch black anyway. Then drop you off at the Haleakala viewing area to slowly watch as the sky changes colors and the sun finally rises above the sea of clouds resting in the volcanic crater. Then they take you just outside the entrance to the Haleakala National Park, where they fit you to bicycles, give you safety tips and away you go down the mountain! There is very little pedaling involved, mostly cruising - so be prepared to maneuver your bike to take the turns and not steer it like you normally would. Tips: 1.) Listen to your guide! Follow his/her hand signals and it will make your ride enjoyable - they are there to keep you safe! 2.) Don't go if you're not comfortable on a bike. You don't need to be an expert bike rider, but if hairpin turns on a highway, and 20-25 MPH speeds going downhill (with minimal pedaling) make you queasy, opt out. 3.) Be sure to enjoy the scenery! It's beautiful out there, even if you're spending a good chunk of time paying attention to the guide 4.) You don't have to ride the entire bike ride down. If you are feeling uneasy, tired, etc., the van that you came up in is following you back down and you can climb aboard and keep the driver company. This is quite an enjoyable activity, but I probably won't go for the sunrise again. It can be dangerous if you horse around, but the guides do everything in their power to make sure you are safe and have a great time! read more

My husband and I were really looking forward to biking down from the Haleakala summit. Unfortunately, our overall experience was less than delightful. The tour leader, Bob, insisted on a descent that was unnecessarily speedy and, in my view, dangerous. Within earshot of the other members of our group, Bob subjected me to nasty and humiliating comments because I was not comfortable with his breakneck pace. He rediculed me for using my brakes on the switchback turns and actually told me I was ruining the experience for everyone! Not exactly the ALOHA spirit. BTW, not that it matters, but I was not the weakest link nor was I the slowest, but I was the lucky one that got reprimanded. Nani the driver was lovely and did her best on damage control. I will definitely do this trip again soon (cause it looks gorgeous) but with ANOTHER COMPANY. read more

Although coasting down a volcano on a bike is not my thing, this is a must do trip! The pickup time is insanely early (2:45 am) so it's probably better to go on your first day. Also, dress warmly. Seriously, layer up and bring a blanket. It was pretty close to freezing at sunrise, and you can change for the bike ride. The scenery all the way down is beautiful. And, the tour guides stop for photos and a Hawaii history lesson. Also, all of the tour guides have been working for the company for years so they can answer all your questions and keep you safe. read more

There are several companies that offer the bike ride down Haleakala, but Mountain riders takes you all the way to the beach in Paia. This was the primary reason I picked these guys over the others. Overall, the trip was fun and memorable. I didn't really mind getting picked up at 2:30 in the morning, and waiting for the sun to rise seemed tedious, but as soon as the sun peaked over the horizon, I felt overwhelmed. It was a beautiful experience. The ride down the mountain was fun, but the brakes on those bikes can be dicey. If you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, or some other forearm ailment like tendonitis, i don't recommend you do this. It works your forearms for sure and my exacerbate your symptoms. I think its worth the money and the time. I recommend everyone do this activity when visiting Maui at least once! ALOHA! read more

Dante the bus driver picked us up at 2:30am for the sunrise tour on 9/4. We did this our first night, so we were still on CA time. After picking up others on the west side, we did the orientation in Kahului. You get your rain suit there and Costco muffins and coffee. Highly recommend you eat something then or bring some granola bars, as the "no host" breakfast is around 10am at the Protea Farm. Sunrise at Haleakala was COLD!!! I had on multiple layers (beanie, tank top, fleece hoodie, windbreaker, shorts, sweats and gloves) and was still a bit frozen. But really it was magical to see this once. Check that off the bucket list! Andres our bike guide was great! The bikes on the other hand were very poorly maintained. My bike had a bent rim and combined with sucky brakes, I almost bailed coming around a steep corner. Later, that same bike had to be replaced (Dante follows the pack with extra bikes in the trailer.), as did my SO and another rider's. My SO and I are experienced riders, we would do this ride again, but not at sunrise and with another company with better bikes. Also, they do line you up in order of lightest/less experienced women to heaviest/more experienced men. Being behind people who's true experience is unknown to you makes it somewhat less enjoyable. read more

Overall I like to experience with this trip seen the sunrise on top of the mountain. Luckily it was not raining that day which I would advise if you are a beginner you could feel a little bit unsafe going down the road on the bikes. As they advertise they do block the cars behind you I would highly advise this from this company or any other that provides the service they do offer other bike so you can go on your own which could be quite dangerous if you are a beginner. Equipment seems to be getting very old from the service provider. The experience. Of going down the mountain was fun. But you really are never looking at the surroundings because you need to concentrate on the road with all the twist and turns. We paid from our concierge at Kapalua Bay villas they said it was all included and by the time we started our bike ride they said we need to provide 15 to 20% tip which you can imagine on $600 is quite a bit of extra money not taking into account that they said was already all included as I was advised before and after. Not that the $90 or hundred is a lot of money but it was never advised so for 700 total dollars you could also rent a car go up there on the top of the mountain by 3:30 AM get online and do the same thing for a lot less. $$ read more

My husband and I did the sunrise tour on Haleakala. I was a little apprehensive about the cold weather at the top and the potential altitude sickness I had heard from others. Mountain Riders were very professional and on top of everything. We received a few confirmation emails and calls prior to our ride. They provided instructions on layering our clothes so we are not too cold at the top of Haleakala. They also provided warm jackets, pants and gloves which came in extremely handy despite my 5 layers of clothes I was wearing! Hope you all know that Mountain Riders cannot guarantee just the right sunrise for you. Despite the clouds, it was still so beautiful and majestic. Although a 2:45am pickup is early, we were one of the early ones to arrive at the mountain so we did not need to wait in the long line to pay at the gate and got a choice spot to view the sunrise. The mountain Rangers were helpful in explaining the history of the mountain. Our tour guide, Aleka, was perfect. He was funny, sarcastic, not too obnoxious and very knowledgable about Hawaii. He even had a few corny, but funny, jokes. He communicated often with the beautiful and skillful driver, Jo Jean, and knew when one of our rider's bikes was acting up. Aleka fixed it immediately and it was smooth sailing from then on. I'm so glad we did a guided tour. Jo Jean drove behind us so we could have full access of the road riding down the mountain. And Aleka took periodic breaks and stops for us to rest, take pics and eat. The one recommendation would be that although they can mention tipping them at 15-20%, I would not put a specific dollar amount they would like. I would highly recommend this group. They were professional, punctual, safe and fun to be with. read more

Excellent tour. So much fun. Beautiful scenery. Guides are amazing. Love Bobby and Nani. Dress warm and bring a jacket and gloves if you are going early. This is a must do tour. read more

My babe and I booked the Sunrise bike tour last week while we were in Maui. We were picked up at 2:30am (which was not fun) but the group of guys that were leading this tour made sure we had an awesome time! We were dropped off at their facilities, watched a video with safety instructions and some additional info on the tour. We were provided coffee, juice and pastries. Pops was the main leader and what a cool guy he is! Very informative, funny and down to earth. So glad we had him leading this tour! We were then driven to the top of the volcano for the sunrise. We made it up there around 5am and sunrise was around 5:45am. The sunrise on top of the volcano was FREEZING but so worth it! I wore layers but my honey only wore a t-shirt (he had a jacket but claimed he didn't need it - sure, tough guy). The bike ride is close to 30 miles, mostly downhill. The lower we get, the hotter it gets so make sure you can strip your clothings off! We stopped once for some pictures in a spot with a great view, got some awesome shots with my honey and I. I hope to do this tour again next time I am in Maui! read more

Ok so maybe should have done some more research. -if you have 1/2 a testicle (my husbands words not mine) and can ride a bike u don't NEED a guide. It was nice not having to look for cars though -this company is completely disorganized as far as shuffling clients. There is no clear plan are we eating not eating? Who's taking what bus/van? No1 talked to us about what was happening - the guides are completely unprofessional. They literally were complaining about who was taking us back to our car (another point I'll get to). Ummm isn read more

This was a completely unforgettable experience! My family signed up for the sunrise bike tour. They picked us up from our hotel at about two in the morning. We were then taken to their station to watch a safety video where they also offered muffins, juice and coffee for breakfast. After we watched the video, we were given windbreakers to wear on the top of Mount Haleakala. We didn't arrive to the top of Haleakala till about five in the morning. It was still dark outside and because of the ongoing meteor shower, I got to see at least three shooting stars! My fam & I being LA folk, I've never seen that many concentration of stars in one place. It was absolutely amazing. The sunrise was delayed because of all the clouds, but when the sun did decide to rise, it was beautiful. Afterwards, we were driven down eight miles out of the park to our destination to set up our bikes. We were assigned numbers and told that we would ride in a single file line. The ride down was super intense at some points. I did not expect to go down the hill 35-40 miles per hour. The views of the houses and country side was amazing though. Finally reaching a local city, we took rests at a nearby secluded beach , took the shuttle back to the station and then all got dropped off at our hotel. Pluses: + It's very reassuring that the van/shuttle is behind you, as to block other traffic so you can ride in the middle of the lane (usually). + The guides/instructors are really friendly and very helpful. + The experience is one in itself. Minuses: - It was FREEZING on top of Mount Haleakala (45 degrees). - Some people in our group were complete douches (but that has nothing to do with the company itself). - I almost lost control of my bike (going 35-40 mph downhill) I would not recommend this bike ride experience to anyone who is not familiar with riding a bike or that is fully capable to ride a bike. My mom who has arthritis in her hands found it difficult to brake and almost zoomed into an intersection (yeah, not so fun). Overall, it was a great experience that I am glad to say I did in my life! read more

My boyfriend and I did the sunrise bike tour. Isaac led the the way and Dante brought up the rear. Likes: great guides and lots of information! They were funny and amiable guys. Dislikes: there was a lack of breakfast. Coffee and granola bars was all that was available at 0300. I was hungry. By the time we made our first stop I'm a small town and were able to get something to eat, it was 0900. That's a long time considering most of us had probably been up since at least 0200. Suggestions to prospective tourists: bring snacks for the morning. You'll get to the sunrise spot about an hour early so bring a hat and gloves. MR provides jackets and pants but the wind up there blows pretty hard and the jackets don't have hoods. Other than the lack of breakfast- I would highly recommend the tour! read more

I've been on 3 rides down the mountain, and this was my first time with Mountain Riders. They were the only ones that allowed us to take our Junior Higher with us. Just have your expectations for what you are going up for. This is a nice leisurely ride down the mountain. There is almost no pedaling needed. I am 35 and was the second youngest person riding, with most of the group being senior citizens. You will be going down in a group of 13 with the slow people in the front and fast people in the back. That is how every tour group does it. I do find it funny how the last two negative reviews are complete opposites. One person said that people went to fast, the other said that they went to slow. Anyways, this is my favorite thing to do in Maui and I had a great time with Mountain Riders. read more

One of the highlights of my Maui trip! We did the sunrise tour: hotel picks you up at 2-3am, takes you to a place where you eat muffins (costco?) and drink coffee while watching safety video, then everyone gets a set of used/kinda smelly jacket/pants/gloves to wear when up top of Haleakela (this is not enough; best to use your own gear w/ ear/face protection; it's about as cold and windy as a winter day in Tahoe up there), drive up the summit (10,000 ft), watch the sunrise, optional hang around the visitor center, then drive back down to 6500ft where the bike ride begins! The bike ride is single file, ladies in front, guys in the back. The bikes themselves are like a hybrid mountain bike/cruiser, no gears, and handle brakes. The majority of the ride is downhill, so not much pedaling needed. You can bring some gloves because your hands will be pressing the handle bars/brakes the whole time. It was quite scary at first for me; the downhill part made be forget how to ride a bike for a second. The scared people get to go in front behind the guide though. The guide does warn that if he doesnt feel that you can ride a bike safely down, he will make you stay in the van. We ride mainly on the road, and go to the bike lane when we want to let cars go by. A van follows behind the last rider and escorts us, communicating with the guide in front when there are cars coming up. There are several stops for photos, snacks, taking off clothing layers or whenever we want. Great views on the way down. We end up finishing around lunch time in Paia, where then they take us back to our hotels. During the whole thing, our guide Pops was very welcoming and provided us with a lot of information on on the history/culture of hawaii. We had a great time!! Would probably not do the sunrise part again (you only need to do that once in your life, since it's the thing in Maui), but the bike ride I wanted to do all over! read more

Pretty cool experience for all abilities. Although the 2am pickup was a bit rough, the sunrise more than made up for it. Not a ton of skill or exertion involved on the ride down as long as you can use a hand brake....frequently! The road is windy so be prepared to pay close attention to the road ahead. Roger was a fantastic guide! read more

Mountain Riders - The sunrise - Mountain Biking Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

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A bit disappointed in this adventure as you get the impression that the ride will start at the summit but actually starts several thousand feet down Haleakala. This should have been very clear before shelling out this kind of cash for a ride. Secondly the some of the bikes needed maintenance, kick stands dragging on the ground, very badly balanced bike tires. One last thing, 13 people in van designed to hold 12, one rider sat on the floor all the way up the mountain The staff was great, very concerned about safety and made the ride pleasurable. Too bad the former items diminished from the experience. I would not recommend this trip read more

What a light adventure! This is perfect for people who want a little touch of nature and love humor. Bobby our tour guy really knows Maui and how to make a group laugh. You are given the right precautions and road safety guidelines and they are super helpful for a girl's comfort. I loved how other tour buses passed us during our picture stops and Bobby knew all of them. I never once felt rushed, worried because Bobby provided so much attention and care for everyone. Aside from the main attraction we got to see so much such as our little stop in Pukalani town where I think exists the oldest bakery in Maui, along with boutiques and a grocery store with organic treats. I would recommend this journey for anyone who wants to get a tour of Maui and still have a whole day to yourself. Now I'm going to the beach! read more

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The good: from the pick up with Marlon, to the first guide Kevin, to the knowledge and experience of Bob and the female driver who I called Momma... They were awesome. The facts they knew and the friendliest attitude were the best. The actual ride down once we got on the bikes was a great experience. I had done the ride before but the wife and son and some friends of ours had not. They loved it. Starting at maybe 7000 feet, winding down in Makawao, Paia and the beach. Plus a little rain made for great memories with our dear family. The not so good: it's advertised as continental breakfast but in reality it's granola bars, a couple can juice choices, small waters, and coffee. Not really a true "continental" breakfast. Fix that or offer a stop for a sit down included breakfast like I rode and experienced some 25 years ago when these bike trips started up. My party also didn't really care for the pitch on tips. We get the fact that the staff appreciates tips but to ask for 30% after paying over 100-160 dollars is a bit tacky. If the service ( which it was ) was good enough and deserved a tip would have came. With this trip / excursion as an extra in the Maui experience the company should basically appreciate everyone spending hard earned vacation money on the selection of this company. Don't beg for a tip. Just put a jar out and it will come. And by word of mouth people will spread the word... Make no mistake the people, Kevin, Bob, momma and Marlon make the place.. Give them a shot. read more