Mount Evans (Idaho Springs) - Cycling inspiration & Education
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- čas přidán 16. 08. 2016
- If there’s one climb that stands above all in Colorado it’s Mount Evans. Not only is it the highest summit of the Chicago Peaks, in the Front Range of the Rockies, but to top it off it’s the highest paved road in north America at a whopping 14,130ft (4,307m) elevation! To put that in perspective by the summit you’re just 1,640ft (500m) shy of being at the top of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, but to make it that high in Europe you’ll definitely need to trade your wheels for a pair of ice axes.....not so in the U.S! In cycling terms, it’s like taking the Galibier and sticking Alpe d’Huez on top, starting at an already oxygen deprived 7,526ft (2,294m) elevation and riding all the way until the air is so thin you swear you’re about to enter a vacuum.
Starting in the historic mining town of Idaho Springs you face a daunting 27.9 mile ascent, journeying through three life zones passing forests, lakes and ancient trees toward the unknown. Although the gradient is never too steep, averaging 4.6% and topping out at 10% it’s the combination of the altitude and elements working together that make this one of the hardest climbs there is. Period.
As you emerge from the Arapaho National Forest conditions can change quickly. In a moment the temperature dropped from 71°F (21°C) to just 39°F (4°C) and with the wind chill it felt bitter to the point my face was verging on freezing.
With 60% less oxygen than at sea level, and a ripping headwind, the final miles often result in nothing more than sheer bloody mindedness and a will to survive. Well, at least that’s what it felt like to me. We’d actually planned to ride Mount Evans later in our trip to give some time to acclimatise to the altitude but our original date happened to fall the wrong side of Labor Day (which is normally when the road is then closed after Summit Lake approximately 5 miles from the top). Not wanting to risk it we had to tackle this on day one, straight off the back of a long haul flight coming from sea level. I’d like to think that’s why I found it so hard but the reality is, even on the finest of days and with the best prep Mount Evans is, and always will be, an utter brute. And you know what? We wouldn’t want it any other way.
Start: Idaho Springs
Length: 27.9mi / 43.9km
Summit: 14,130ft / 4,307m
Elevation gain: 6,944ft / 2116m
Average gradient: 4.7%
Max gradient: 10%
Ridden in September
Thank you to our partners Mavic, Cannondale, Exposure Lights, Fi’zi:k, Haute Route, Lezyne, Map My Tracks, Muc Off, Scicon, The Sufferfest, TORQ and USE for enabling us to bring these truly special mountains to life for you all. If you're in need of new bike kit in the future and you enjoyed this video then bear them in mind and help keep the wheels turning :-)
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Stay well, ride safe and thank you for watching.
Mike Cotty
The Col Collective
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Thank you so much for coming to Colorado and filming the Rocky Mountains. looking forward to more! I've suffered up Evan's as well as Pike's peak. You've captured so well the emotion and struggle of these high altitude climbs!
More to come Tyler, stay tuned!!
I remember the last few turns before finishing it, had some extreme emotions.
I liked it so much that I watched it twice back to back
We love that - thank you!
Absolutely love this video. It's great to see even an accomplished athlete such as Mike found it challenging. Somehow I think seeing the record holder do it wouldn't be as inspiring. Thanks again for bringing to our attention some of the beauty that is around us while cycling
Thanks Adam, for sure this one is tough, like Mike said in the video, the altitude and elements play a huge part on this climb. Thanks for your support!
It was one hell of a climb, and I wanted to thank you Mike and the Col Collective team for inspiring me to give Mt Evans, my first ever ride up a mountain, my best go. I made it up to the Summit Lake a lot slower than expected, but still thoroughly enjoyed the climb, the views and the experience, especially the descent from Echo Lake down to Idaho Springs! Thank you again for the great and, more importantly, inspiring video! Keep up the great work!
Fun Tip: They start closing the road to car traffic after Labor Day. I road it this year the weekend after and had the road to myself past summit lake.
Hi Mike - My wife and I love your videos, and have created a bucket list of climbs to do as a result of your efforts! Thus far it's been Tiede, Mauna Loa & Mauna Kea (not ones you've CZcamsd yet, but perhaps in the future when the volcano slows down?). This past week was Pike's Peak and Mount Evans, which we completely agree, are epic climbs due to the altitude, length, and for Pike's Peak, the grade. I've got a few comments to hopefully compliment your video on Mount Evans that may help others who want to give it a go:
1) Assuming you're staying somewhere other than Idaho Springs, i.e. driving to go riding, free 12 hour city parking is available in a large lot between 15th & 17th Ave on Water Street (beside Hwy 70). Alternatively, there is a free 12 hour lot on the opposite side of Hwy 70, in the direction that the climb goes that allows you to skip riding the 70 overpass - it's right beside Chicago Creek and the EMS building.
2) Always check with Colorado DOT and the Mount Evans web site for road closures and events - I hadn't checked with DOT, and it turned out the first day we tried to ride Mount Evans, they were paving on the upper parts of the Mount Evans Access road, the Colorado 5 portion after the park gates, the toll road portion Mike mentions. They will not take any pity on you being from far away, a cyclist, or whatever. If the road says closed, it's closed. Speaking of a toll, there isn't one anymore for cyclists anymore, so that's good. The park gates open at 8 am on the access road, but they may let cyclists go early - my wife started from Echo Lake since she'd already done the lower portion the day before, and she was allowed to go prior to 8. She had the entire road to herself for about half an hour or more.
3) There is a very good weather resource from NOAA that has the forecast for several elevations on the mountain - google Mount Evans Tabular Weather, and it'll detail estimated surface wind, gusts, probability of rain, snow, lightning, and temperature for at least three different elevations on the mountain (same goes for Pike's Peak). It provides an hour by hour detailed forecast for the next 48 hours. That being said...
4) Take heed of Mike's advice about being prepared for the weather with clothing choices. Our tabular forecast was absolutely golden - sunny, low wind, no chance of precipitation, reasonable temperatures at the summit, etc. It started off absolutely wonderfully for the first 14 miles (22.5 km) or so; then a bit of hail just after the Mt. Goliath Natural Area (minor, rode through it). Then 20-30 mph (30 - 45 km/h) winds in the alpine zone, and finally a snow storm about 3 miles (
I did this ride yesterday August 13th 2017 thoroughly enjoyed it and I really enjoyed watching your video after I did the ride it helped me communicate to my family what I just experienced as I was feeling pretty speechless look forward to tackling this mountain again next year
"5% gradient feels like 15%"
Then resumes to footage of Mike blasting up the climb out of the saddle... :-)
OH....MY....GOD! I think this just made it to the top of my bucket list.
Today I'll ride up there. Thanks for the vid, without I wouldn't know of Mt Evans
I did this ride around the same time you did once you get above the tree line and fully exposed to the wind it can be downright terrifying. It was one of the most epic experiences of my life so I don't want to dissuade anyone else but be very mentally prepared what what could be a very harrowing ascent and descent, especially if the weather turns on you a bit.
So Brilliant Mike, thanks so much!
well done 🤘 Mike, what a heavy climb, the video is again great, I love to watch your climbingvideos
Thanks guys!!
I lived in colorado for 5 years and picked up a bike in europe after I left Colorado, let me tell you I did all these roads, hiking or in a car, and I did not do a single ride in Europe thinking about these two mighty climbs, Specially the one of Pikes Peak. This is truly Gods Country.Kudos to Mike Cotty for completing these two titanic Climbs
Oh wow..Mike you never cease to amaze and inspire me..Colorado is on the Bucketlist..great work again..
Looks epic. Great video as ever. Love it.
The Col Collective!! You guys are by far my Favorite cycling channel on You Tube. All the Cinematography, the editing of your videos, the music, the information. You have taken the discipline of climbing and through your videos present it in a very beautiful and artistic way. Magnifico!! Thank you so much for all your work. It is a blessing to us cyclists that love the climb.
holy! that's a beast of a climb.. and a beast of a climber.. great job cotty. inspiring stuff!!
Awesome ride and videos.
More reason to visit Colorado. Thank you for the great video.
There are so many reasons to visit Colorado, but this one is for sure a big draw.
Que maravilla.Enhorabuena
Amazing Mike! Love your videos.
wow, another great one. i do really love these videos. so inspiring... :)
wonderful video...excellent
Thanks for yet another great video Mike. Echoing what the others have said - inspirational
Thank you Stephen!
Fantastic!!
I love this, fantastic video
Another EPIC video mike! thanks for doing this awesome work you're doing :)
Thank you Nicolas!
epic climb great video congrats
great work mike!
Congragulations Mike, epic climbing and wonderful video and narration. Himalayas are calling you next :)
Yeh!! A ColCol upload day!!!! Holy-moly that's a loooong old bit of uphill!
the video looks so epic, especially with that music!
Too cool, Mike
Fantastic filming again you inspiring more and every time.I am training hard for two climbs next year once again Thank you
Thanks Nat! Good luck with your training!
Thanks for the inspiration. Just returned from Colorado where I climbed Mt. Evans. The road sure deteriorated near the top but I guess that is expected at that altitude.
Thank you for that....always wondered how the American climbs compared to Europe's. As always great film.
I would love to go there..
Mike, Great! I am looking forward to meet you at ticlio 👍
this is the only thing on my bucket list right now. I've been up there plenty of times but never with a bike.
It's a surreal experience even for seasoned climbers, incredible!
Chapeau! Would love to see the descent.
epic !
Great video, I had always wanted to do this climb until I drove it in a car last summer. I think I will pass, but glad you made it to the top.
A few times, I drove up climbs that I had done by bike. Most of the time, I found it pretty unbelievable that I actually rode up there on my roadbike. So I guess, most climbs look more intimidating out of the car. Just have a go at it!
Epic
AND GOATS!!
Epic.
Mount Evans is an absolute beast!!!
There is one error on the sign at the top parking lot. The large sign added a couple of years ago says Summit 14,130 ft. That is the elevation of the parking lot.
The summit of the mountain is 14,264 ft. A hike up from the parking lot of about 1/4 of a mile.
Fantastic video! I have been looking for a new location in the USA to visit. Thanks
This is a very worth while spot Louis - glad we could help with the search!
I've never encountered mountain goats right there at the summit! Always used to see them off in the distance along the face. Mt. Evans was the first 14er I hiked up as a child, age 9 or 10. It's been over 40 years since I was up there. I don't even recognize it as I follow your ride. Incredible ride, as always. Are you actually narrating as you ride? I can't imagine being able to talk while pushing so hard.
Just one word...AMAZING!!!
I'm contemplating on buying an evo now!!!
Good choice! Always makes me smile even on a tough day!!
great job man as usual ! Now nest step mauna kean in hawaî hardest climb in the world !
Man all that just to ascend the hill . Did it on my tank miyata w/tripple green chilli breakfest burrito ans beer.
I would love for you to do some himalayan col collective videos on Khardung and Tanglang passes (plus a few others around them). I think they'd be a good experience. Absolutely need to acclimatise for them though ! And you will need at least a gravel bike to be able to do them (though an MTB is most likely better)
wow
Yass finally it's been an age since last Vid
I would like to start hiking.
Just curious: Were you running higher or lower tire pressures than normal? Does the extreme altitude change change the way the tires feel/roll?
the altitude we reach on earth does almost nothing to the tire pressure - that's a myth! Simple physics: even if you ride on the moon the tire pressure is only 1 bar higher than at sea level
Hi Mike, it's understandable to question, the tire pressures were ran as normal. We'll go with explanation on this one, and will remember to adjust the pressure if we ever get to ride the moon ;-)
Love it Mike. I remember attacking my group 3 switchbacks from the top and not being able to breathe or recovery. there just isn't any air. The descent is a bugger too with the goats and the wind. Thought I was dead more than once. How does it compare with Pikes Peak? Lastly now you should do "Going to the Sun Road" in Glacier.
That sounds like one for our list! The two climbs are equally challenging in their own right, Mt Evans gave Mike (and the crew) a real battering with the wind and cold, and it's much more of a wild experience plus it literally was the first day in Colorado, so the altitude had a bigger affect than by the time they made it to Pikes Peak, however the gradients on Pikes Peak are steeper, so this added to the difficulty. Either way, both are incredible experiences.
Wow Mike!! some day some how from now this is my target on epic mountain!!! thx for the hard work and inspiration!! keep well dude! keep rolling too ;D
Thank you for your support Fran - get yourself out there!
If someone stole your saddle, you would probably not even notice it ; )
Next time we're taking Mike's saddle off, we'll see how far he get's before he realises ;-)
Just did this climb with with the Dura ace 7800 crank 53/42 and 11/30 casset at the back this year, brutal, but best accomplished I done of my 3 years in cycling so far.
i'm spanish. Angliru and Ancares from pandozarco and Balouta please
Great video and ride; how did you create the route graphics (1:10) that you interspersed thru the film?
Well done Mike. This isn't as pretty as The Alps but the height is staggering.
Your work is incredible; thanks to you and your team. How can we support your channel?
Thanks Ras! Just keep on watching, and give our sponsors a thumbs up, without them and our loyal audience we couldn't do what we do.
Excellent video..are you going to post a descent version?
We are working on descents for as many climbs as possible, the light actually got too dark to film the descent on this one, but we have many others in the archives!
Mike....what chainring/crank are you running on your bike?
Hi Matthew, It's a Cannondale HollowGram SiSL2 crank with their SpideRing one pice chainring (34/50 compact). Super light and stiff so makes getting up the cols that much easier! Ride safe, Mike
@mikecotty, is this realistic to do unsupported? Looks like you needed a fair bit of clothing, also the bottles and food situation? 3W/kg FTP probably won't cut it....
Hi, yes it's absolutely realistic, you would need to have all the usual clothes you would take for a summit approach and descet, jacket, gloves, arm warmers, cotton cap, choosing items with wind protection would be very wise, and you can rest and re-fuel at Echo Lake Lodge.
How long (time) was the total ascent and descent? What time did you begin, I am planning on doing this with a very early start and hit the summit about noon to avoid the afternoon storms.
It's very wise to start early in the day. If you start at around 8am you'll have good time to reach the summit by around midday (or before depending on your level). It's such a long climb that pacing is absolutely crucial. Keep it consistent and most of all enjoy the journey. It's a life changer!
Spiciness Mike! Great choice of music too. What time of year did you climb it in?
Hi Rixter, we filmed in early September, we were there the day before Labor Day, glad you like the music, this can be a tough one to get right!
What is the music at the beginning?
What size tires did you use?? Once you get towards the top, does it get rough enough to use 28's??
I was using 25's. It's pretty bumpy in places but the 25's were ok. If you want a touch more comfort and control (especially coming back down) then 28's would be a great choice. Hope that helps. Mike
The Col Collective yeh, coming back down would be the worry, I have 23,25, and 28.
Very cool video as always. What was your time compared to current record holder?
Thanks!
Oooh this is a tough one, we make Mike ride up and down various sections as we shoot and can spend up to 8 hours on the mountain so we would need to send him back up there to put in a time busting effort. We would say Tom Danielson still holds the top spot....for now ;-)
What kind of bike are you riding..
It's like halfway to airliner cruising altitude
Falls jemand aus Baden-Württemberg Lust hat, lass uns nach Colorado fliegen.
Hardcore
Wish I could of road it with you
pico veleta next? i thought that was pretty amazing. do it from granada-monachil-up.
Yes indeed it's on the list!
+The Col Collective great! keep m coming. peace, plants ;-)
Peace and plants indeed Thanas!
............ THE RIDE itself is nothing if you're seated................6xs
No mention of the unbelievable terrible road on the downhill?? :)
You are right, the road from the summit is not in the best condition, wind, goats and lack of safety barriers can certainly make this a thrilling/hairy descent - handle with care!
The descent is miserable, and every time I ride it, I've had the misfortune of snow (even in July). On the plus side, after Echo Lake, the trip down to Idaho Springs is fantastic (just did that section yesterday).
Mm BMC IS PART AMERICAN WONDERING IF THEY NAMED THIS FAMOUS MOUNTAIN AFTER CADEL EVANS 😀🚴
Why is America not producing better cyclists? We have the technology. We have the terrain. Where are we failing? #gcn #usacycling
You have way too good drugs :) (See Lance Armstrong or Floyd Landis) ... just joking. The real problem is car culture.