Pikes Peak or Bust

[outlander]

I'm thinking about going all out and attempting to ride to the top of Pikes Peak on my PCX 150? Do you reckon it will make it?

[you you]

I'm thinking about going all out and attempting to ride to the top of Pikes Peak on my PCX 150? Do you reckon it will make it?

Any reason why it shouldn't?

[Valiant]

You'll make it. And unless you have to go up there at 60+mph, I don't anticipate any problems.

[kramnala58]

The bigger challenge may be the descent. Because you don't have gears to help control speed, you will need to be careful on the brakes and not let them heat up too much.

[kramnala58]

Any reason why it shouldn't?

Edited from Wikipedia .... The [road] measures 12.42 miles (19.99 km) over 156 turns, climbing 4,720 ft (1,440 m) from the start at Mile 7 on Pikes Peak Highway, to the finish at 14,110 ft (4,300 m), on grades averaging 7.2%

[DAB]

I'm thinking about going all out and attempting to ride to the top of Pikes Peak on my PCX 150? Do you reckon it will make it?

Should make it, just watch out for any flying Hondas.

[kramnala58]

... just watch out for any flying Hondas.

How in the world did he not end up going over the edge.

[sendler2112]

I rode my bicycle to the top of Mount Evans, right next door to Pikes Peak, and back to Idaho Springs. 14,300 ft elevation and 7,000 of climbing.

[outlander]

Altitude and cvt is why it may not make it. I live at 6300ft. Combustion engines run about 20% less power than at sea level.

I'm from Manchester, UK originally and there is no road in the UK that comes anywhere this high. Pikes peak is no joke, it goes up forever, the more you go, the more energy it requires to move.

Last December a friend and I hiked up it. When we got to 10000ft beyond the tree line the struggle became real. By the time we made it to the top the road had closed so we had to hike back down the road, all 18 miles.

I have been past pikes peak on 24 west into divide and florissant so thats around 8000ft with my wife on the back. Uphill sections I was maxed out at 35mpg.

Cycling up mount evans does not sound like fun, I nees to ride my buell up there soon.

[iceman]

... just watch out for any flying Hondas.

How in the world did he not end up going over the edge.

Cripes! Lucky that

[sendler2112]

Cycling up mount evans does not sound like fun, I nees to ride my buell up there soon.

Cycling and hiking seem to be quite different at altitude because of the gearing on a bicycle. I had never been any higher than 2,000 feet on a bike prior to that trip so I was actually a little scared of what it might be like to ride up to 14,300 but as it turns out, it was no big deal. 155 beats per minute feels the same at altitude and at sea level. The only difference is that you are making a lot less power in a slower gear at altitude. And you eat less. Hiking has no gearing so you feel the lack of power much more directly.
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I havn't been to Pike's Peak but I don't think a PCX would have any trouble riding up to Mount Evans since the steeper slopes are more toward the bottom and average vehicle speeds are only 35 mph.

[maddiedog]

Isn't Pikes Peak paved now? I don't see why you wouldn't be 100% fine. Even if it's unpaved, my PCX has miles and miles of travel in the woods on gravel and dirt roads, even some singletrack. It'll do fine.

[sendler2112]

it's paved. Evans used to be the highest paved road in the Continental US But now it's Pikes.

[you you]

it's paved. Evans used to be the highest paved road in the Continental US But now it's Pikes.

What is the world coming to?

The Grand Canyon would make a great ball pool

[FromMototoScooter]

It'll make it. I've ridden my PCX from the south of the USA east to the Appalachians, West over the Rockies, and now I'm in the Cascades in Washington State. It can do it.

And while the scoot doesn't offer much slowing at higher speeds going down hill, at slower speeds if you apply throttle and let go without braking the CVT will kick in and slow for you- if you apply a lot of braking power the engine goes into what feels like neutral until you apply throttle again. I do this every morning coming down a very steep mountainous area when I leave my camping spot for the summer.

Go have fun at Pike's Peak.
FYI Mt Evans is still the highest paved road, I'm not sure where that previous member is getting their info.

Cheers

[sendler2112]

I thought Pikes was 14,400 but I see they are listing it as 14,115 so Evans is a 150 feet higher.

[FromMototoScooter]

No worries, just thought I was in the twilight zone when I read that.

Now...where's my pen protector at?