Malia k Harunaga, Author at Hawaii Bicycling League

2020 Dick Evans Memorial Road RIDE

8/21/2020 Information shared from the Aloha State Bicycle Racing Association.

To find out more, check out their site at: asbra.org

Aloha Racers,

Apparently we picked a heck of a year to start a bicycle racing organization, but in spite of the COVID-19 crisis, here at the Aloha State Bicycle Racing Association we continue to have high hopes for a vibrant bicycle racing community here in Hawaii. We have made some modest efforts to encourage ridership and competition this year, with Outta Bounds and Tradewind Cycling Team putting on a number of virtual Strava challenges. Unfortunately most of the races this year had to be cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns and legal limitations.

However, with the scheduled date of the Dick Evans Memorial Road Race fast approaching, we want to do something to keep the spirit of the race alive. To that end, in concert with Outta Bounds Hawaii we are holding the Dick Evans Memorial Road Ride/Virtual Challenge on the same date: Sunday August 30th between 5:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.. To register, if you are a Strava user, register on the Outta Bounds Strava site (http://strava.outtaboundshawaii.com/challenge/demrr2020), or if you aren’t a Strava user fill out are registration form (https://forms.gle/VwBLocBYA5qYhzbz9). To be eligible for prizes, your ride must be uploaded to Strava, or you must submit a GPX file to racing@outtaboundshawaii.com no later than 4 p.m. on Sunday.

After the ride we will have a virtual Pau Hana at 5 p.m. (using Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/ztx-qect-aom) where we will announce top riders, have a few words from our supporters, and raise a glass to Dick Evans and his memory.

Important Details

Route: See the “Dick Evans Solo Route” (https://www.strava.com/routes/2727025023295691130). It is similar to the typical race route BUT NOT EXACTLY THE SAME (details below).

When: Sunday, August 30th. The official roll out time is 5:45 a.m. However, you can start your ride from Hawaii Kai any time after 5 a.m. You must finish your ride by 3 p.m. to be eligible for prizes.

Ride Instructions:

This is an unsupported ride. Carry or plan to stop for your own supplies.
There will be no police escort. Obey all traffic laws and observe all traffic signals.
This is a ride, not a race.
The leaderboard will be based on moving time (enable auto-pause on your GPS).
Do not ride in large groups or congregate in large groups off the bike.
You can ride in small groups (5 or fewer), however smaller is better to lessen the possibility of spreading COVID-19.
Carry a mask with you! Wear your mask whenever you are off your bike and around other people.
Be safe and have fun!

Route Details

The route starts heading west on Hawaii Kai Dr. from Kealahou St in Kalama Valley.
Turn Left at the bottom of the hill onto Lunalilo Home Rd (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Kalanianaole Hwy (Traffic Light).
Take the Ramp for Kilauea Ave (Exit 27), do not get on H1.
Turn Left on Kilauea Ave (Traffic Light).
Turn Left on 18th Ave (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Diamond Head Rd (Stop Sign).
Turn Right on Paki Ave (Traffic Light).
Turn Left on Niu St.
- CAUTION: This is one block before the McCully traffic light, watch for traffic when moving left.
Proceed Straight through the traffic light onto Ala Moana Blvd.
Take Nimitz Highway out to the Airport
Feel free to use the bike path on the right side of Nimitz starting from Puuloa Rd if desired.
At Nimitz Highway and Valkenburgh St take the bike path to the North West.
- Do not continue onto the highway. This is a deviation from the standard race route.
Turn Left on Radford Dr (Traffic Light)
- Use the pedestrian signal when crossing at this light.
Turn Right on Kamehameha Hwy (Traffic Light).
Keep Left toward 99 West Pearl City.
Turn Left on McGrew Loop/Honomanu St.
- This is a deviation from the standard race route.
Immediately Turn Right onto the Pearl Harbor Bike Path.
Take The Pearl Harbor Bike Path to its end at Waipahu Depot Rd.
Turn Right on Waipahu Depot Rd.
Turn Left on Farrington Hwy (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Pupupuhi St/Waikele Rd (Traffic Light).
- This is a deviation from the standard race route.
Turn Left on Waipahu St (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Honowai St (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Loaa St.
Immediately Turn Left on Aiki St (Stop Sign).
Turn Left on Kupuna Loop (Stop Sign).
Turn Right on Kunia Rd (Traffic Light).
Turn Left on Wilikina Dr/HI-99 (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Kamananui Rd/HI-99 (Right Fork Before Traffic Light).
Turn Left on Kamehameha Hwy (Traffic Light).
. . . 47 Miles Later
Turn Left on Kulukeoe St (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Keneke St (Stop Sign).
Turn Left to stay on Keneke St (Stop Sign).
Turn Right on Anoi Rd (Stop Sign).
Turn Left on Likelike Hwy (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Kapaa Quarry Rd (Traffic Light).
Turn Left on Kalanianaole Hwy (Traffic Light).
Turn Right to stay on Kalanianaole Hwy (Traffic Light).
Turn Right on Old Kalanianaole Rd at the top of the hill (Traffic Light/Right Fork).
- This is a deviation from the standard race route.
- One way on Old Kalanianaole, no out and back.
Turn Right on Kalanianaole Hwy (Stop Sign).
Turn Right on Kumuhau St (Waimanalo Back Roads).
Turn Left on Waikupanaha St (Stop Sign).
Turn Left on Ahiki St.
Turn Right on Hihimanu St (Stop Sign).
Turn Right on Oluolu St (Stop Sign).
- This is a deviation from the standard race route.
Turn RIght on Kalanianaole Hwy (Stop Sign).
Turn Right on Kealahou St (Traffic Light).
Finish just at the Stop Sign with Hawaii Kai Dr.

Mahalo nui from your fellow cyclists at,

The Aloha State Bicycle Racing Association

Protected Bike Lanes: Cycling Savvy Series Video #1

Types of Bike Infrastructure in Hawai‘i and How to Use It

Protected Bike Lanes

What are protected bike lanes? Protected bike lanes are next-generation bikeways being built across the US. Protected bike lanes (also known as “cycletracks”) are physically separated from motor traffic and distinct from the sidewalk. They use physical barriers – like curbs, plastic bollards, or planters – to separate the cycle track from both cars and sidewalks. They combine the experience of a separated bike path with the on-street infrastructure of a conventional bike lane.

Why should we have more protected bike lanes?

Imagine riding in a wide bike lane that is separated from cars by a physical barrier. Feel safer? That’s because it is! Feel better than riding on the road or in an unprotected bike lane? If you said Yes, then a whole lot of others agree with you!

Protected bike lanes are safer.
Protected bike lanes eliminate risk of injury from overtaking vehicles.
Protected bike lanes reduce risk of “dooring.”
Protected bike lanes get people off the sidewalk (where they are at increased risk of injury to themselves and pedestrians).
For all these reasons, people of all levels and ages love protected bike lanes! Which means they get more people out riding, more often!

Click here for more info.

While they’ve been used in Europe for a long time, in recent years protected bike lanes are taking off in the US with over 70 cities already having at least one in place (as of August 2015). Check out the Green Lane Project’s website for a comprehensive list of protected bike lanes in the US.

Protected Bike Lane (“PBL”) – Safe Biking Tips:

While the lanes protect cyclists from being struck by motorists from behind, it is part of the roadway and you should operate with similar caution as riding on the road.
Watch for vehicles crossing at driveways and intersections – always be aware! Slow down & look around for cars & people BEFORE entering the green paint.
Follow all traffic laws and signals. There are traffic signals facing cyclists both ways that riders must adhere to (please, no running red lights!).
Yield to pedestrians.
Be aware of pedestrians crossing from the parking lane on the outside of the protected bike lane to the sidewalk.
Don’t ride in the “buffer zone” – this is the dreaded “door zone.” The buffer zone is 3-foot area marked by crosshatched paint and designed to provide space for people parking to open their door and get in/out of their car.
Ride to the right unless passing someone else in the “PBL”. It’s a great courtesy to let them know you’re passing ahead of time with your voice or bell.
Ride with aloha & care. This is NOT made to be a “bike super-freeway” where you should ride fast & not look around. It’s actually for people that don’t want to ride fast or in the lanes of traffic.

Rules for Safe Driving:

When crossing the protected bike lanes, yield the right of way. Crossing a protected bike lane is like crossing a travel lane – you must yield the right of way.
Before making a turn, you must signal your intentions (the law states at least 100 ft in advance).
When crossing a protected bike lane look both ways (for people on the sidewalk/crosswalk and bike riders in the PBL). Be aware that many cyclists move quite fast.
When pulling out of or into a driveway, do not stop in a protected bike lane.
When parking next to a protected bike lane, look before opening your door. Be cautious when walking across a protected bike lane from adjacent street parking. Look both ways before crossing.
Mopeds are not permitted in protected bike lane.
Drive always with aloha and care!

Walk Bike Vote 2020

Where do candidates stand on funding bike lanes and sidewalks? Building a network of bikeways? Prioritizing Complete Streets that safely accommodate those walking and biking? Adopting Vision Zero to achieve zero traffic deaths.

Find out here!

Bike Akamai

Ride Akamai Tri-Fold Brochure PDF

Ride Akamai Image

Training for a Century Ride!

Tackling Your First Century Ride

By Malia k Harunaga

“You rode 100 miles? On your BICYCLE?! How is that possible?” This might be a common remark you’ll start to hear after telling someone you’ve completed a century ride. If you’re reading this and have never experienced the joy of finishing a 100-mile bike ride, you might be thinking the same thing. How is biking 100 miles possible; surely you must have to be a hardcore cyclist or professional racer to do such a feat?

The answer is that biking 100 miles is totally achievable for almost anyone, with the right amount of preparation and determination! If you are thinking about tackling your first century ride, congratulations – you’ve passed the first hurdle already! Now that you have your eyes on the goal, you can start to put the other parts in motion to get you crossing the 100-mile finish line with a smile on your face!

The Hawaii Bicycling League will be holding the 37th Annual Honolulu Century Ride on September 30th, 2018 (Sunday). This event brings about 2,000 cyclists to the roads of O‘ahu to take part of a gorgeous ride that starts from Kapi‘olani Park and heads out to Swanzy Beach Park and back for an amazing 100-mile journey. The participants are taken well care of with aid stations along the route stocked by friendly volunteers handing out cold refreshments, fruits, snacks, and cheer to keep riders’ energy up.

Having your first 100-mile adventure on a bike is a much more pleasurable experience when you have support, and having other riders out there helping you along makes it a wonderful experience and even more rewarding achievement.

The key to finishing a century ride is being prepared. You must get yourself ready with the right amount of training, good food, and mental determination. It is highly advised to join a group ride to steadily build up your mileage and endurance, and to get more comfortable on your two-wheels. The Hawaii Bicycling League has a full calendar of different group lead rides for cyclists of all abilities ranging from total beginners to local racing teams at www.HBL.org/calendar. One of the groups that will be actively training for the September century ride is the Red Hot Ladies. “The Red Hot Ladies bicycling club was formed by Patricia Johnson & Pattie Dunn with the expressed goal of encouraging women 50+ to get back into bicycling and start enjoying the freedom of being on two wheels. Over the last decade our community of riders has expanded to include younger women as well as men. As Red Hot Ladies we strive to be humble, kind, courteous and inclusive not only as bicycle ambassadors but in our daily lives.” They have multiple no-drop rides each week for you to choose from. Riding with friends is not only more fun but there is also an added layer of safety when bicycling in numbers.

Even before you start building up your cycling stamina and making sure your body is ready for the ride, you’ll want to make sure your equipment is ready to roll as well. Always make sure you have the proper amount of air in your tubes by checking the recommended PSI on your tire sidewalls. Getting a flat is never fun but it shouldn’t mean you have to call it quits on your ride! Learn how to fix a flat (or refresh your flat-fixing skills) by going to a fun hands-on Basic Bike Maintenance workshop offered for free by the Hawaii Bicycling League! Go to www.HBL.org/workshops to see when the next workshop is. The Honolulu Century Ride will offer mechanical assistance to all registered riders if you find yourself needing any help on the course. Another reason this event is the best place for your first century!

Some other tips to get you to the finish line:

Start small and increase your mileage steadily. Listen to your body when it needs to rest and don’t over do it.
Know all the rights and responsibilities for bicycle (vehicle) operators biking in Hawai‘i – HBL has free workshops for adults that go over safe cycling practices and make sure everyone leaves feeling more confident on their bikes.
Train using the equipment you will be biking with for the Century. The day before the ride is not the time to bust out a new pair of cycling shoes or to swap out your wheels.
Ride ready. Always carry with you basic tools to fix a flat (spare tube or patch kit, tire levers, and hand pump).
If you are unsure of your bike’s current condition or your own mechanical prowess it would be a good idea to bring in your bike into a local bike store for a basic or full tune-up.
Bring some form of personal identification with you. Having a mobile phone and spare cash is recommended as well.
Watch the weather. The heat of the Hawai‘i sun can be draining – protect yourself by wearing UV blocking attire or applying (and reapplying) sunscreen.
Butt sore after being on the saddle? Padded shorts are a lifesaver. Invest in a pair… or a few!
Life essentials: Just like water is essential to human life, water is essential to riding and training for a century ride! Make sure you are well-stocked with water or sports drink and set a timer to drink every 20 minutes if you need a friendly re-hydration reminder.
Nutrition is a necessity! Make sure you eat a hearty (not heavy) balanced meal with fresh vegetables and low glycaemic index carbs before your ride.
Wear a helmet when you’re biking and be sure to make yourself visible on the road, especially at low-light conditions (got lights?).

You can do it! And even if the thought of a hundred-mile bike ride does not sound like your cup of tea right now, maybe it will become a taste you desire down the road. It’s never too late to get training!

There are 25, 50, 75, and 100 mile options for the Honolulu Century Ride and even 9 and 18 mile options in the family-friendly, all abilities welcome, Aloha Fun Ride (both on September 27th). Find more information on the Honolulu Century Ride and Aloha Fun Ride at www.HBL.org/HCR.