Hardest Road Ride Ever

Mt. Evans.  The Highest paved road in the 48, and quite a shit road at that for riding fast downhill I might add. Matt and I left Denver early to get a start before the traffic of the day and to beat any potential storms in the afternoon.  I dropped off Matt a few miles up the road from the town of Idaho Springs.  I then drove to the gate to start my 14.5 mile journey, his 25 mile journey.  The gate is at 10,750 feet, the summit is at 14,130 (on the road, actual 14,240).  Matt started below 8,000 feet.

The ride took me 2.5 hours to complete, gaining 3,500 feet along the way.  My phone died on the summit before I could get a pic, but here is Matt and I on the way back down.   This was taken back at "Summit Lake" where it was a bit warmer than the top.  We were both shivering on top and the way back down.  We were told it was in the low 40's and a windchill of 23...burr!

A cool chart taken from; http://www.mountevans.com/MountEvansCom/Mount-Evans-Things-Bicycling.HTML

Miles (Grade)	Elevation	Gain		Miles (Grade)	Elevation	Gain
0 (Idaho Springs)	7,586			0 (Entrance Station)	10,750
1  (1.4%)	7,661	75		1 (5.0%)	11,016	266
2 (2,3%)	7,784	123		2 (5.6%)	11,311	295
3 (2.9%)	7,940	156		3 (6.1%)	11,631	320
4 (4.4%)	8,173	233		4 (5.6%)	11,926	295
5 (6.1%)	8,496	323		5 (5.8%)	12,231	305
6 (6.1%)	8,819	323		6 (4.8%)	12,486	255
7 (2.1%)	8,934	115		7 (3.1%)	12,650	164
8 (6.3%)	9,264	330		8 (3.9%)	12,858	206
9 (5.4%)	9,548	284		9 (1.2%)	12,920	62
10 (5.2%)	9,821	273		10 (2.4%)	13,045	125
11 (5.5%)	10,138	317		11 (3.7%)	13,242	197
12 (5.4%)	10,424	286		12 (3.9%)	13,447	205
13 (4.8%)	10,680	256		13 (5.2%)	13,722	275
				14 (5.1%)	13,991	269
Entrance (13,35)	10,750	70		Summit (14,65)	14,127	136

My Map My Ride to when my phone died on top.  I think the Calories burned are just a bit off though...Thinking close to 2,500.

Matt is an animal!  He passed me at my mile #9 and had almost the same overall time that I did for our respective trips.  DAMN!  

Never rode my bike to 14,000 feet before is it was quite fun feeling my lungs exploding at mile #10 and the cold wind in my face at the summit switchbacks mile 12-14.  I will have to do this ride again! just not the downhill, that really sucked.

Overall this has been a good training week in Colorado.  Three road rides, an 11 trail run around Lumpy Ridge, an alpine climb attempt on the Saber in RMNP, some dog walking and some SUP on Lake Estes.  And tomorrow...if the weather holds...The Diamond!  F'yeah!