Pikes Peak Bike Challenge

One of the things on my bucket list is to bicycle UP Pikes Peak. I'm going to have an opportunity to try in late June. Here are some quick facts about the bike ride, as taken from the video below.

Start: Pikes Peak Gateway
Length: 19 miles / 30.5km
Summit: 14,115ft / 4,302m
Elevation gain: 6,315ft / 1,925m
Average gradient: 6.5%
Max gradient: 13%

This will be a big challenge. The closest thing I've achieved is the Lee Canyon climb, which I did on a unicycle. Here is a comparison of the two.

Statistic	Pikes Peak	Lee Canyon
Miles	19	17.3
Elevation Gain	6,315	5,388
Average gradient	6.5%	5.9%
Elevation at summit	14,115	8,698

It may look comparable, but the elevation should play into this significantly. Doing anything strenuous as altitude is very taxing. Having climbed four 14'ers and a 17'er in Mexico, I speak with some experience on that. Altitude is a big energy drain as you simply get much less oxygen per breath. Also, every percentage point in the gradient matters.

Last weekend I did ten laps of what I call the Lake Mead hill, which is about 1.2 miles in length at a gradient of 5.4%. I know it isn't as steep as Pikes Peak, but at least its close. I plan to repeat the Lee Canyon climb too.

Here is a good video on what I'm fixin' to do.


Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NECDeWhpL8&t=84s

The question for the poll is do you think I can do it?

What will be your wake up call to quit
pushing harder and harder as you get
older. Will you know it when you get it?

Quote: Evenbob

What will be your wake up call to quit
pushing harder and harder as you get
older.

A heart attack.

Quote: Wizard

A heart attack.

You realize Mike that there is no proven improvement in longevity between enough moderate exercise to stay fit and participating in extreme sports. In fact some studies have shown opposite. More is not necessarily better.

Quote: kenarman

More is not necessarily better.

Yup. Moderation in all things once
past 50.

Moderation in all things once past 50 60.

You like Colorado? Have you ever heard of The Run for the Clouds? Several hundred miles with lots of elevation gain. On foot!!

How do you get down from Pike's Peak?
....
....

You don't silly. You get down from a goose.

I saw some of the Wrightwood to Rose Bowl runners and they did not seem to have an ounce of fat on them. Some followed strange dietary regimens.

Quote: kenarman

You realize Mike that there is no proven improvement in longevity between enough moderate exercise to stay fit and participating in extreme sports. In fact some studies have shown opposite. More is not necessarily better.

I hope SOOPOO can chime in, but I'll at least concede the marginal additional benefit, as economists would say, goes down after the first hour per day. Also, I wouldn't say I'm an extreme athlete. Only about on day in seven do I work out more than two hours.

Quote: Fleastiff

Have you ever heard of The Run for the Clouds? Several hundred miles with lots of elevation gain. On foot!!

I think I've vaguely heard of it. After the Appalachian Trail, which is on my bucket list, I'll look into it.