-
Posts
-
-
I hate high altitudes, just saying. Ok, So I made a trip to New Mexico and took my bike. I picked out an easier and shorter trail than what I usually ride. I’m used to about 20 miles and some fairly difficult stuff. So, 3 miles in I’m about to pass out. Stupid altitude and its lack of oxygen. 😆 What do y’all do in this situation?
-
New Mexico is low altitude for me…I ride even harder! 😆
-
There was at least a 6000 foot difference between where I’m from and where the trail was. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to ride the day after I got there…
-
There are things you can do to help with acclimation, but I’m not sure how well they work.
Drinking LOTS of fluids and avoiding alcohol are the two big ones.
-
Ohhh… I got that backwards….
-
Haha +1 on the fluids. A buddy of mine went to Denver for training with his business and his station at the training room ha 4 bottles of water at it… he was encouraged to drink them all, and keep drinking throughout the day.
-
When riding at higher altitudes, never ride up. Only DH. 😄
-
I’m planning a trip to Crested Butte, and I’m kinda worried about this. Oh well, we’ll see what happens!
-
"mtbgreg1" wrote
I’m planning a trip to Crested Butte, and I’m kinda worried about this. Oh well, we’ll see what happens!
Lotsa water, avoid alcohol. Also stay a day or two in Denver if you can.
That being said, my friend came out from Wisconsin last fall and smoked me on the trail. The altitude didn’t seem to bother him at all.
-
"maddslacker" wrote
[quote="mtbgreg1":2ozbm140]I’m planning a trip to Crested Butte, and I’m kinda worried about this. Oh well, we’ll see what happens!
Lotsa water, avoid alcohol. Also stay a day or two in Denver if you can.
That being said, my friend came out from Wisconsin last fall and smoked me on the trail. The altitude didn’t seem to bother him at all.[/quote:2ozbm140]
Yeah I think we’re planning on a day in Loveland and moving up relatively slowly. I don’t know about totally avoiding alcohol though… what’s a good camping trip without a beer or two?
-
Avoiding alcohol? Pure blasphemy! A man in the woods with no beer is like a pot head with no ZigZags. Please be realistic. 😄 Later,
-
Don’t ask the question if you’re not going to like the answer.
It’s ok though, us locals will point and laugh when you’re hung over after those two beers you had to have… 😏
-
Haha lol true I suppose he did ask!
-
"Dorado" wrote
I hate high altitudes, just saying. Ok, So I made a trip to New Mexico and took my bike. I picked out an easier and shorter trail than what I usually ride. I’m used to about 20 miles and some fairly difficult stuff. So, 3 miles in I’m about to pass out. Stupid altitude and its lack of oxygen. 😆 What do y’all do in this situation?
WE REST! 😆
-
"Dorado" wrote
Ohhh… I got that backwards….
Easy to do. I’m sure I would have made the same mistake 😆 😆 😆
-
You know I rode just a few mile and was about ready to pass out. I laid down on the side of the trail. Some woman stopped thinking I was hurt. All I could do is pant and say " Altitude..(pant)..Sucks..(pant)". lol
-
Take more time to enjoy the veiws,lol. 😃
-
Living at about 5,500 ft elevation in Utah, I cannot say that I notice any difference at all due to elevation between sea level and at least 8,000 ft. On the other hand, I was in Colorado last weekend, where my rides (road bike this time) started at 8,500 ft and went to well over 10,000 ft, and I did notice that my heart rate was considerably higher. But I could still climb at much the same rate.
I can imagine it would be different were I not already acclimatized however.
For certain, hydration does become an issue though. Not just due to the elevation, but also because the air in much of the western mountains is extremely dry.
-
I was wondering if taking small cans of recreational oxygen to help with acclimatization would be helpful. I live at around 350 ft.above sea level. When I go to CO. I am usually around 6500-8000 ft. Walking(even joking up to 11k) and riding level is no problem. When I start to gain altitude on mtb my lungs are scorched. If you take a few breaths of 95% oxygen before ride and a few more later when you are anaerobic, would this help recovery.
do any of you have any experience with this? -
I’m trying to travel through all 50 states. I’ve got 7 left. Colorado’s being left for last for a hopefully 1 month of mtbing. Reading this thread’s made me iffy on the idea now.
-
Not to worry, Ginny, you’ll be fine.
It might be especially helpful if you have other high altitude states left in the queue right before Colorado. I wouldn’t go straight from Florida or Delaware to Co if I could avoid it. Maybe work through Wyoming, Utah, or New Mexico right before CO.
Also, CO has tons of riding that isn’t at extreme altitude. If you have a month to spend here, you’ll be able to acclimate fine, especially if you take it gradually.
-
"John Fisch" wrote
Not to worry, Ginny, you’ll be fine.
It might be especially helpful if you have other high altitude states left in the queue right before Colorado. I wouldn’t go straight from Florida or Delaware to Co if I could avoid it. Maybe work through Wyoming, Utah, or New Mexico right before CO.
Also, CO has tons of riding that isn’t at extreme altitude. If you have a month to spend here, you’ll be able to acclimate fine, especially if you take it gradually.
The other states I’m missing at North, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. lol. I’m gonna storm chase through those states. Not exactly high up.
I hurt my lungs before, and though I patched ’em up, my lung capacity and breathing’s not great. Gotta keep it slower or I hyperventilate. So, I do more endurance 6+ hour rides than going fast. I probably should just loop around and go through New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah again before hitting Colorado. Work my way up. I wanna re-do a lot of states anyways. We’ll see how much money I’ve got to work with when I get there, lol.
My team mate’s shipping my new bike out from CO. They were suggesting I just fly out, ride, and them bring him home. Only if I had the time to stick around for more than a weekend I would. I want to spend a proper chunk of time out there.
-
"Ginny_Tory" wrote
[quote="John Fisch":3r550y5j]Not to worry, Ginny, you’ll be fine.
It might be especially helpful if you have other high altitude states left in the queue right before Colorado. I wouldn’t go straight from Florida or Delaware to Co if I could avoid it. Maybe work through Wyoming, Utah, or New Mexico right before CO.
Also, CO has tons of riding that isn’t at extreme altitude. If you have a month to spend here, you’ll be able to acclimate fine, especially if you take it gradually.
The other states I’m missing at North, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. lol. I’m gonna storm chase through those states. Not exactly high up.
I hurt my lungs before, and though I patched ’em up, my lung capacity and breathing’s not great. Gotta keep it slower or I hyperventilate. So, I do more endurance 6+ hour rides than going fast. I probably should just loop around and go through New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah again before hitting Colorado. Work my way up. I wanna re-do a lot of states anyways. We’ll see how much money I’ve got to work with when I get there, lol.
My team mate’s shipping my new bike out from CO. They were suggesting I just fly out, ride, and them bring him home. Only if I had the time to stick around for more than a weekend I would. I want to spend a proper chunk of time out there.[/quote:3r550y5j]
Ginny,
The best riding in South Dakota is in the Black Hills Altitudes there are around 5,000 feet. That would be a perfect intermediate step to Colorado.I used to live in North Dakota, so I know a good bit about the best trails there. If you’re looking for fun in the southern plains states, check out these articles:
http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-tr … in-biking/
http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-tr … ngletrack/I know what it’s like to have diminished lung capacity. When your time in CO gets nearer, let us know if you need any trail recommendations. In fact, it might be a good excuse for a few of us Singltracks folks to get together.
-
"John Fisch" wrote
[quote="Ginny_Tory":3bztsm0k][quote="John Fisch":3bztsm0k]Not to worry, Ginny, you’ll be fine.
It might be especially helpful if you have other high altitude states left in the queue right before Colorado. I wouldn’t go straight from Florida or Delaware to Co if I could avoid it. Maybe work through Wyoming, Utah, or New Mexico right before CO.
Also, CO has tons of riding that isn’t at extreme altitude. If you have a month to spend here, you’ll be able to acclimate fine, especially if you take it gradually.
The other states I’m missing at North, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. lol. I’m gonna storm chase through those states. Not exactly high up.
I hurt my lungs before, and though I patched ’em up, my lung capacity and breathing’s not great. Gotta keep it slower or I hyperventilate. So, I do more endurance 6+ hour rides than going fast. I probably should just loop around and go through New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah again before hitting Colorado. Work my way up. I wanna re-do a lot of states anyways. We’ll see how much money I’ve got to work with when I get there, lol.
My team mate’s shipping my new bike out from CO. They were suggesting I just fly out, ride, and them bring him home. Only if I had the time to stick around for more than a weekend I would. I want to spend a proper chunk of time out there.[/quote:3bztsm0k]
Ginny,
The best riding in South Dakota is in the Black Hills Altitudes there are around 5,000 feet. That would be a perfect intermediate step to Colorado.I used to live in North Dakota, so I know a good bit about the best trails there. If you’re looking for fun in the southern plains states, check out these articles:
http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-tr … in-biking/
http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-tr … ngletrack/I know what it’s like to have diminished lung capacity. When your time in CO gets nearer, let us know if you need any trail recommendations. In fact, it might be a good excuse for a few of us Singltracks folks to get together.[/quote:3bztsm0k]
Thanks. Those trails look nice. Will definitely keep them in mind!
I usually get weird looks when I’m the slowest person in a group even though I’m the one who rides the most.
I promised myself I’d finish getting my college degree first before I run off again and travel. So I haven’t planned much other than what states to hit. It would be fun to meet some of yall along the way. It’ll be a good year or two before I’m free to run off again.
-
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.