Hello Altitude

Cycling at Altitude

After spectating and volunteering at a few local races, I spent this past week again familiarizing myself with huffing and puffing it in the mountains of Colorado. One of the climbs I rode was Squaw Pass, an easy to reach climb in the foothills near Denver. I soon remembered what climbing on a bike at altitude felt like. A few miles left to go into the long winding 19 mile climb to the sort-of finish at Echo Lake Lodge, I could feel the altitude. The lodge is only at 10,600 ft, some cyclists continued up to the summit of Mt Evans at 14,240 ft. I did not.

I was given some free jelly beans by a Jelly Belly team car and it's three team riders who passed me fast and steady on the climb. I began to wonder how many of the pro cyclists will be in Colorado this week to acclimate, post Tour of Utah and before the USA Pro Challenge. I feel the altitude going from 5280 ft where I live, to 9000 ft where I ride, visitors to this state must really feel it. 

Yesterday brought news that Todd Wells (the current US National Cyclocross Champion) won the Leadville 100. The 100-mile mountain bike race in Colorado is known to attract the toughest of the toughest endurance mountain bikers. Wells spent the month of July training at altitude in Silverton, Colorado at 9305 ft, Leadville is at 10,152 ft. Todd Wells of Durango adept at altitude, wins Leadville Trail 100. His own account of winning the race on his blog ToddWells.com

Do you want to know just how high our mountain passes are in Colorado? Read an earlier blog post I wrote (with altitude comparisons of the passes in Colorado vs France) on Sunday, August 15, 2010 Altitude is heady stuff
  

Some interesting articles by others on the topic of how much altitude affects power output and performance in cycling:

How does altitude affect power output? by Two Wheels Blog  

Altitude and Athletic Performance by Cycling Performance Tips 

Overcoming Altitude by Neal Henderson of Boulder Sports Medicine 

Altitude Adjustment  by Mark Harrison in Bicycling.com 

Acclimatization is key for high altitude mountain bike racing by Edmund R. Burke  

Lots and lots of information about Altitude and Acclimatization on Tradgirl. Climbers often know best about performing at altitude.

For cyclists planning to visit Colorado this summer, remember you will feel the altitude even at rest, or trying to rest - especially trying to sleep. The old sleep high train low, became train high sleep low, but you will have no choice if you are sleeping overnight in these towns. Read about the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness.

Breckenridge elevation: 9603 ft (2927 m) 
Crested Butte elevation: 8924 ft (2720 m) 
Vail elevation: 8022 ft (2445 m) 
Aspen elevation: 7890 ft (2405 m) 
Salida elevation: 7080 ft (2158 m)
Steamboat Springs elevation: 6732 ft (2052 m)
Colorado Springs elevation: 6008 ft (1831 m)
Denver elevation: 5280 ft (1609 m)

One last note about cycling in Colorado - we are chock-full of false summits and false flats. Even though a road may look steep to the eye, you might find yourself clicking into an easier gear, at other times you will beat yourself up mentally thinking your legs are no good when the road appears to be flat. This is because the Continental Divide rules all in Colorado and the engineering of our roads does not necessarily equate appearance to effort. If you are heading west, or straight east, the feeling of exertion will be intense. If the road turns at all north or south, the grade may appear steep but the effect on a cyclists legs is much easier. If you know you have a steady climb in the direction of the Great Divide, sit in, it could be a long glorious climb up. 

For more information about the bike climbs in Colorado read: Recommended Reading: Guide to Climbing The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) in Colorado.

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