Bicycling Pikes Peak: Heart-pounding, Fast, Majestic

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Bicycling from the top of Pikes Peak, known as America’s Mountain, offers a breathtaking ride. At 14,115 feet, the air is as thin as a whisper, and temperatures hover below freezing. Read on for an account of this two-wheeled adrenaline rush.
The last time I stood at the summit of Pikes Peak, I had arrived in the back seat of my parents’ Chevy Impala, squeezed between my brother and grandma. The three of us shivered in our summer clothes. Decades later, I stood at the 14,115-foot summit again. I was about to bicycle down Pikes Peak. This time I sported a puffer coat, knit cap, gloves, rain jacket, and long underwear under cargo pants. Still, my teeth chattered in the 28-degree temperatures. I would soon maneuver the 156 hairpin turns on two wheels and eight other daredevils.
Preparing to Ride
I had signed on for the trip with Adventures Out West , a Colorado Springs company that leads cyclists down Pikes Peak. The company outfits customers with a bike, helmet, and high-visibility vest. Most importantly, they guide riders and offer a lift in the support vehicle if someone needs a rest.
The morning began at 7:00 am when I met our guides and the other riders at a downtown Colorado Springs hotel. Our group comprised five men and four women from Tennessee, Toronto, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Our ages, weight, and bicycling experience were also all over the map.
Adventures Out West staff member John Thigpen handed us a crash helmet that looked worthy of a race car driver.
Ready to ride. Adventures Out West staff provide helmets for cyclists for their bicycling Pikes Peak adventure. Photo by Sherry Spitsnaugle
Easy Drive Up Pikes Peak Highway
We divided into three open-air vehicles, drove 30 minutes to the beginning of the Pikes Peak Highway, and began the drive up the mountain.
“It’s gorgeous in the fall when aspen leaves look like gold medallions scattered everywhere. Over there is the Continental Divide,” John said as we looked onto soaring, snow-clad peaks.
As we gained elevation, the temperature dropped, and the landscape became more barren, as did our conversation.
View from inside the vehicle driving up Pikes Peak Highway to the summit before beginning the descent on bicycles down the mountain. Photo by Sherry Spitsnaugle
At best, I’m a casual biker. Apprehension about flying down the mountain on two wheels started to creep in.
The driver slowed to make a tight turn. Even in the vehicle, I didn’t want to look over the sharp drop-off. One person gestured to the highway, with no shoulder or guardrail, and asked, “Is this where we’ll be riding our bikes?”
The answer, of course, was yes. We would be riding on the highway alongside traffic.
Summit Visitor Center
We reached the top of the mountain, piled out of the Jeep, and took turns getting our two-wheel mode of transportation: a standard hard-trail mountain bike with front suspension. We had each submitted our height and weight before the ride so staff would be prepared with the correct bike.
John suggested we explore the Summit Visitor Center before beginning our ride and asked us to return in 30 minutes.
“Make sure you use the facilities because there’s no place to go when we head down,” he advised. “You might see a couple of porta potties by the side of the road, but don’t get your hopes up. They’re locked.”
The recently remodeled visitor center was shiny-new and welcoming. But I couldn’t concentrate on the exhibits about the area’s climate, geology, highway construction, or even the schwag for sale in the gift shop.
The Summit Visitor Center sells everything from coffee cups to socks to tote bags with Pikes Peak logos. Photo by Sherry Spitsnaugle
High-Altitude Sweetness
I did focus long enough to order two of the “Pikes Peak World Famous High-Altitude Doughnuts,” made on-site, which have a reputation for deliciousness.
When management surveyed guests before the Summit Visitor Center was remodeled, two comments surfaced: The first suggestion was that the center needed more women’s restrooms. The second request? “Don’t get rid of the doughnuts.”
A friend who had visited the center months earlier asked me to bring a doughnut back to her. I purchased two sugar-covered doughnuts and asked the cashier to wrap one separately to take down the mountain. He explained that the doughnut—for scientific reasons—would deflate at a lower altitude. So I gobbled them both.
A couple of the riders and I posed for photos before heading back outside to receive last-minute tips before our ride.
Author Sherry Spitsnaugle, left, and comrades pose for a photo at the Summit Visitor Center before bicycling Pikes Peak. Photo by Tom Mesereau
What to Know When Bicycling Pikes Peak
One of the guides gave instructions as we each stood next to our bikes.

Ride at least 10 miles per hour. The limit is 30, but you could be a hazard if you go slower than 10.
Ride single file and do NOT cross the double yellow lines.
If you want to stop, we’ll load your bike, and you can ride in the Jeep. One person asked, “But, where would be the fun in that?”
If you want to pass someone, holler, “On your left.”
Stay relaxed, and you’ll have a better ride.
And watch out for marmots.

“Wait… marmots?” I asked.
“It doesn’t happen often,” the guide explained, “but occasionally, a marmot will cross the road.”
I looked around at the others in our group and was certain they were all fitter, younger, and surer of themselves.
“How’s everyone feeling?” John asked. “Good?”
I fibbed and nodded yes.
At last, we set off and established our place in line. Other than John, the guide, I brought up the rear. It was good to take off finally, but I wobbled on my bike. With so much gear on, I felt like I did as a toddler when my mom dressed me in a snowsuit where I could barely move. As we rode above the clouds, the treeless landscape resembled the moon’s surface.
Author Sherry Spitsnaugle and comrades bicycle down Pikes Peak with an Adventures Out West support vehicle following closely. Photo courtesy Adventures Out West
Pedaling Pikes Peak
Almost immediately, we declined at a rapid rate. I cruised so fast that my eyes watered, and I clutched the brakes as I maneuvered the twists of the road.
I teetered near a steep edge and remembered what one guy joked about on the drive up that morning: “Hey, do you guys have parachutes?”
We laughed at the time, but as I struggled to maintain my balance, I thought a parachute might be a good idea. I noticed skid marks on the paved highway but kept rolling and felt comfort knowing that the support vehicle was nearby at every thrilling twist and turn.
Adventures Out West vehicles can assist in any way as riders bicycle Pikes Peak. Photo courtesy Pikes Peak Region Attractions
We met the occasional car driving to the top, and passengers waved to me. I imagined one of them saying, “It would be nice to trade places with that lucky person.” Envying the people in their warm cars, I thought, “ It would be nice to trade places with that lucky person.”
Thirty minutes into the ride, we pulled over to regroup. I fumbled to get my cell out of a zippered pocket, but with the cold, gloves, and altitude, I decided it was more trouble than it was worth.
Author Sherry Spitsnaugle, with fellow riders, pose for a photo during their bicycle ride down Pikes Peak. Photo courtesy Pikes Peak Region Attractions
Bicycling from the Top of Pikes Peak—It’s Not All Downhill
Even though we were riding down the mountain, there were some serious uphills. After 45 minutes, we came to a steep incline, and my heart pounded as I struggled to pedal up the slope. The woman in front of me stopped and got off her bike; I did the same. Within seconds, George Benore, who goes by the nickname Gunner, pulled over in the support vehicle, loaded our bikes, and said, “Hop in, ladies!”
As we rode in the vehicle, Gunner told us about the people for whom riding a bike down Pikes Peak is a bucket list item, including one customer who was legally blind.
“He had always wanted to ride his bike down the mountain, and we were able to help make that happen,” Gunner recalled. “One of his friends rode beside him and talked him down. It was an amazing experience. His spirit kept us all going.”
Adventures Out West staff impressed me with their passion for the sport, respect for the mountain, and sense of fun.
Adventures Out West Staff left to right, John Thigpen, Laura Russel, and Gunner Benore, manage, guide, and support riders during bicycling Pikes Peak adventure, with expertise and fun. Photo by Sherry Spitsnaugle
Purple Mountains Majesties
The others who were still bicycling pulled over for a break. We got out of the Jeep and joined them, comparing notes on heart rates and hand cramps. After taking photos, we all hopped back on the bikes.
I was so far behind that I couldn’t see the biker in front of me. Still, I kept my snail’s pace and hoped I was going at least 10 miles an hour. But I was beginning to get a feel for the bike, my speed, and my tolerance for looking over the edge. (It was low.)
I remembered what John said about relaxing. I took a deep breath and began to take in the splendor of my surroundings: the different shades of jagged peaks, snow in the middle of summer, and aromas of foliage. The only sounds were my tires on the pavement and my steady breathing. I reminded myself how privileged I was to experience this adventure.
Author Sherry Spitsnaugle takes a break during her bicycling Pikes Peak adventure. Photo by Barbara Ramsay Orr
America’s Mountain
As I got into the zone, I saw another sharp climb ahead. We all pulled over on our bikes and took a vote to see who wanted to ride in the support vehicle over the incline unofficially named “Damn Hill.” It was unanimous: we would all ride in the van. We took one last photo and climbed into the Jeeps.
Author Sherry Spitsnaugle is left, and fellow cyclists take a break from their bicycle ride down Pikes Peak. Photo courtesy Pikes Peak Region Attractions
After we drove over Damn Hill, Adventures Out West staff unloaded the bikes again, and we coasted the remainder of the way on our bikes on a beautiful, gentle downhill.
When we reached the stopping point, we handed over our bikes, tipped our guides, and thanked them profusely.
Then, we fist-bumped one another and headed for the nearest watering hole.
Even though I had been apprehensive and, at times, terrified, I had bicycled Pikes Peak, the inspiration for “America the Beautiful.” I felt giddy with gratification. And, thankfully, oxygen.
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If You Plan on Bicycling Pikes Peak
Adventures Out West manages everything from gear to guiding clients on bicycles down Pikes Peak. Their expert guides provide logistical support, encouragement, and fun. The best season to bicycle Pikes Peak is May through October, but the bottom line is it depends on the weather. Rides begin early in the morning to avoid the most traffic on the highway and classic Colorado afternoon storms. Visit Pikes Peak Region for more information about Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region. Let Wander With Wonder be your guide when planning your next trip to Colorado or some other outdoor adventure .
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Bicycling Pikes Peak: Heart-pounding, Fast, Majestic
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