I also wanted to get a feel for the elevation gain.


The altitude at the crest of Rampart Range Road approaches 10,000 feet and this will be the highest I've ridden in over 20 years; my last two-wheeled trip above the tree line being in 1985, to the summit of Mt. Evans.


So I go slow and steady, trying to keep my heart rate below my LT, which is somewhere close to 145bpm these days - ensuring plenty of reserves for the return trip.