Bicycle Pikes Peak

The city of Colorado Springs is reviewing an application to rent the highway out for a day for a group of cyclists who will pay for the privilege of riding to the summit of Pikes Peak.

Bicycling is prohibited on the city owned toll road to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but a group of cycling enthusiasts have submitted an application to Colorado Springs to rent the Pikes Peak road for a day and give 1500 cyclists a chance to bike the 18 miles to the 14,115 foot summit of Pikes Peak. The average grade is 6.7% with a maximum 10.5% grade.

Online registration will begin April 1, with a registration fee of $180 to cover the rental fee and other costs. The ride will be fully supported, according to organizers, with six aid stations along the route.

The only road bike accessible 14er I know of with a paved road to the top is Mount Evans in Colorado. Are there others?

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4 Comments

  1. It's not _quite_ as high, but Haleakala on Maui is paved highway all the way to the 10,000' summit. Bikes are common, without having to pay tolls.

  2. Oh yeah, I've heard of that! And on Haleakala you actually start at sea level, right?

    The highest elevation I've gone to by bike is 12183 feet above sea level on US 36 through Rocky Mountain National Park, starting at elevation 5,000 feet above sea level.

  3. Yeah. you could start at sea level, and ride up to 10,000' on paved roads, then ride back down. It's on my list of things to do. I've done the lame tourist bike ride down. Not the same.

  4. There's a similar tourist business for Pike's Peak — shuttle you to the top and then you coast down the mountain. That's the only way bikes are permitted, and only downhill.

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