Cycling in HI

Q: can you log hilly miles and still avoid the highways in Hawaii?

A: sure!

I don't ride much anymore since I've moved to Hawaii as various ocean activities and hiking in the mountains have taken much of my outdoor recreational time. But when the cycling itch needs scratching I always have missed long climbs and little trafic. I've tried a few rides out of town. Good stuff, but mostly rolling terrain (with great views of the ocean) mixed in with some very bussy roads that make me head back to the ocean or the mountains where I can listen to my self think.

Strangely, hiking has shown me that there are some steep and quiet roads around that could turn into an interesting ride if linked together. Recently I experimented a bit. Some of roads are dead ends and a bit of back tracking was needed to get to the next valley, but I did ended up with a 40 mile ride that was just amazing. Great views. Great climbs. Gorgeous houses. Awesome high speed cornering. And once in a while The Bus coming at me in the opposite direction taking a wide corner in a very narrow road. Loved it.