How tough is Pikes Peak on a Harley
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 0
From: París, TX
All good advice. Paved is better than gravel. EFI solves the altitude issue. Avoid the afternoon is right. I've walked up the Barr Trail a bunch of times, and it's a shock to step up on to the summit and see a bunch of cars and tourists at the gift shop!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Twin Cities, MN
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,973
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From: Colorado Springs CO
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,470
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From: on the road
my first time was in 1977 with a girl friend who had the squirms on the seat.Miserable trip on the gravel fought vapor lock twice.Got to the top and got nailed by snow pellets(I called them hail)I paid a couple to haul her down to the room in manitou springs so I could wait for traffic to get the snow pellets beat down.Finally got down to find her in bed with the other 2.That wouldnt of been that bad but she had stolen out of the gift shop and her suitcase was full of stuff so I abandoned her there.
other trips have been better.I prefer it when CS is about 105 and you can go up and find the cool air
other trips have been better.I prefer it when CS is about 105 and you can go up and find the cool air
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
my first time was in 1977 with a girl friend who had the squirms on the seat.Miserable trip on the gravel fought vapor lock twice.Got to the top and got nailed by snow pellets(I called them hail)I paid a couple to haul her down to the room in manitou springs so I could wait for traffic to get the snow pellets beat down.Finally got down to find her in bed with the other 2.That wouldnt of been that bad but she had stolen out of the gift shop and her suitcase was full of stuff so I abandoned her there.
other trips have been better.I prefer it when CS is about 105 and you can go up and find the cool air
other trips have been better.I prefer it when CS is about 105 and you can go up and find the cool air
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graupel
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: along the Front Range in Colorado
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
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From: Coastal Carolina
Don't do it your first day or two out there. You're a "flatlander." The bike will do fine, but you need to adjust to the fact that they don't have real air out there. At 14,000 feet you can get light headed. Not good when there are no guardrails and long dropoffs. Colorado Springs itself is at 6,000 feet, so a few days of that and you will take the adjustment to higher elevations better. Drink LOTS of water. It helps with the altitude.
Picture this on a Harley:
Picture this on a Harley:
Last edited by TKDKurt; Jan 18, 2013 at 02:52 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
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From: SW Ohio
Manitou Springs (the base of Pike's Peak) is just over 6000 feet of elevation. Denver is 5280 ft on the 13th step of the State Capitol building. I said all that to say this. If you come from altitudes LESS than that you should do most of you sight seeing at altitude BEFORE hypoxia sets in. As the days pass, you will become tired, have a headache, become thirsty and lose concentration. In some cases, a pre-exsisting medical condition may make these symptoms worse.
When the body goes hypoxic it produces a hormone in the kidneys called EPO which stimulates the bone marrow to grow more red blood cells. More red blood cells carry more oxygen so the effect of hypoxia are diminished. That takes up to 6 weeks.
I have competed in cycling and running events at altitude for many years. I've raced up this particular mountain (on foot) many times. Your best best is to go to the peak as soon as the weather is good and reduce your exertion levels while at the top. No fast walking, no jumping or running around, no pushing the bike around without letting the motor do the work.
I apologize for the un-asked for biology lesson. I just didn't want someone to ride all that way and be miserable or possibly have an incident by waiting to "acclimate". It's a great view. I "highly" reccomend it
