Haleakala Goals

Trainer Road’s “Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast” answered the question I submitted about climbing Haleakula in Maui. Every year I visit Maui in March with family. Every year I sit in a van while we explore the island and I look longingly out the window at all the cyclists riding on the side of the road. I see cyclists climbing the mountain and I am in so much envy. One time we stopped at a rest area and I chatted a bit with a woman taking a rest. It wasn’t her first time taking the climb and she seemed to enjoy every moment; its reward and struggle. After we chatted a bit I found out she was from Seattle and lived not far from me.

My question starts at 1:42:04. They took a direction I didn’t expect. They started talking about “The Growth Mindset”. They pulled that I had a fixed mindset from the way I phrased my question. This is an uncanny direction to take. Just weeks ago my employer held a forum on the Growth Mindset and asked me to present as part of a penel. Each person talked about their fixed mindset past and the struggle trying to take a growth approach. A bit part of my personality is my drive to experiment. I am constantly trying to learn about the world around me and thrive with novelty. And barely weeks away, the group of strangers pull my fixed mindset out from just a few sentences of writing. In crafting my question I thought about how I would sound. I didn’t want to come across too boastful because I am not a racer. I phrased it with the goal of coming off humble, not fixed. But where did my need for humility come from? How fixed is my mindset really? I grew up in the Western culture that declares “you can do anything if you just put your mind to it”. At the same time, I am filled with worry and fear every time I ride. I still ride, and I guess that’s what makes me different from others. Needless to say, I don’t love the Growth Mindset approach. I can see how it’s what my employer needs, but it doesn’t touch me personally. That being said, I am now more driven than ever to take on the next challenge. Prove them wrong. I lived many years filled with insecurity, but that isn’t me now and hasn’t been for a long time. Check back soon to find out what my next big challenge will be.

West Maui Loop Bike Ride

I have a lot of people to thank, who all played a role in making this ride happen:

• The boy's family, for hosting a delightful Maui vacation and keeping the eye rollers in place while I ran off on the bike for the morning.

• West Maui Cycles, for renting me a light and snappy Ruby for the ride.

• mcmahobn (who I don't know) who published their open-sourced code for a 3D printed backpack strap for a GoPro so I could capture the below video.

• The Maui Cycling Group (on Facebook and Strava) for being an awesome and helpful bunch when I was pretty sure the loop would be too long for my current condition and I was looking to alternate options (it's amazing how many ride options these guys can come up with on a small island with limited roads!).

Video highlights of the ride

I wanted to capture some video of this ride because I knew I'd want to share the beauty. I've tried a few different mounts on the handlebars, but the view was obscured by cables and vibration made the video nearly unwatchable. I can't handle the look of a helmet mounted GoPro. That's where I draw the line when it comes to dorky cycling fashion. I made a few videos where I held the GoPro in my hands, and these were the best so far. But one can't one-arm a 60-mile ride. So the boy 3D printed me a backpack mount for the GoPro. I'm intrigued by a front fork mount, but since I rented a bike for this trip I couldn't confirm the shape of the folk for printing. I didn't really want to wear a hot backpack for the ride, but that turned out to be a good idea as I used all 3 liters of water from the Camelback in the first 40 miles.  

I'm disappointed with the camera angle. I wish I could have tested it out before the ride. I had to discard lots of beautiful footage because the view was too low to the ground. As I watched the footage for the first time, I kept lifting my head up. The instinctual need to look above the view couldn't be stopped. Some turned out OK and that's what I have below. I will definately use this mount again, and with better angling, home to improve my footage even more. 

I started the ride anxious. A lot of people worried me about the wind (narrow road with a cliff dropping off to the crashing ocean waves below!), the blind corners, the unknown terrain, the potentially spotty cell service, the traffic, the heat, the humidity, you name it. I focused on riding as far over to the curb as possible more than I focused on enjoying myself. I felt hot. It was 7 in the morning for crying out loud! I took refuge in knowing that the temperature would got up another 10 degrees at most by noon. Then. Cars melted away into nothingness. I saw birds lollygaging on the street. I inhaled the thick, floral air. I saw spots I remembered from the time I rode this loop in a car years ago. In a car, you see all the amazing sights. But on a bike, you fully experience what you see. Every view is coupled with a smell, a sound, a taste, and a feeling. It is such a rich and complex way to enjoy a beautiful place. I ran into several other cyclists on the road. I chatted with a few others who were visiting like me, as well as a local. I should add that the local kindly escorted me through the only section of the ride with turns, rendering my taped-on cue sheet totally unnecessary. 

While the first part of the ride was the most scenic, the last part was the most invigorating. The southwest corner of the island was flat, hot, and sunny. But it also came with a tail wind to beat all tail winds. I pedaled at half the effort and went twice as fast. What a rush! Literally! 

I got to ride a Specialized Ruby, the girl version of my own bike, the Roubaix. The frame felt small, too small. I felt numbness and soreness in strange areas I don't normally feel; clearly a result of the strange fit. I definitely noticed the light and nimble feel of the upgraded, newer components. I shifted inefficiently, not familiar with the gearing of compact bikes. I loved the bike though, and I loved the seamless experience of the rental. 

Who wants to ride with me next time?