So there is a new bike event/race this year up Pikes Peak… Of course I had to go do it. The short of it is that it is the hardest climb I have ever done on a bike – and I have done enough hard climbs that it is quite possibly the single hardest bike climb in the world. Starting at 6,300 feet and finishing above 14,000, it has the net vertical, the altitude as well as being quite steep at only 24 miles total. Also really cool that the roads are completely closed to cars the whole way. Way to go race directors!
By buddy Rob M went with me, and although I started faster, in the end he finished about 5 minutes in front of me. He had a great day, and me only pretty good. I could have done better with the food. The big issue was the 40 MPH wind above the tree line with the 3 degree wind chill factor. My hands were so numb, I couldn’t get my gel out of my back pocket. Obviously I should have stopped and consumed some calories, but at 12,000+ feet, brain cells don’t work quite as well. Oh well, I still did great and had a lot of fun (and the suffering is quickly being forgotten). No complaints.
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| You have already been climbing for almost an hour at this point. That high point up there is where we are heading. It would be kind of demoralizing if it weren’t so beautiful. | 11,000 ft and climbing. Only 3,100 ft to go! There is about 2.5 miles of dirt here, which really wasn’t too bad on the way up, but was a pain on the way down. |
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| Getting to the tree line. You can see the road up above. | Rob & I in the restaurant on the summit trying to get warm. |
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| One of many amazing views from the summit. | Looking down at the biggest set of switch backs. There was a LOT of climbing above and below these, but this was the spot that really hurt. |
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| Rob leaving the summit (in a lot more clothes) heading down. The race officials carry a bag to the summit so you can pack lots of stuff for the way down. | Rob laughing at the switchbacks on the way down. They can’t cause any more damage than they already have. |
