Cycling at Altitude - What to Expect

I live in Colorado half the year at around 6000ft and have cycled up to 11000ft. At first you feel very breathless and it will be like cycling with diving boots on after short while you may get headaches. Takes me 2 weeks acclimatisation to cycle well at 6000ft and longer to go up the mountains and be comfortable.

I got altitude sickness at 3500m ( trekking not cycling though). I MTBed to 2200m no bother.
But your trip will be different, depending on your daily itinerary - what your start elevation and sleeping elevation is.
The maxim climb high, sleep low helps the body acclimatize to altitude.
However, no two people are the same, one person may be affected at a lower altitude, another may not be affected by an even higher one. There is no way of knowing.
Having good fitness does not guarantee avoiding altitude problems either.
The best thing you can do is remain well hydrated and listen to your body.

1000m is not high, we have hills that high (low) here at home, and altitude issues will never arise.
Your bigger problems abroad on these type of trips will be water and food borne illness.

Bristolscale7 wrote: »

Quoting deleted post

Responding to medical advice

I just noticed this, sorry for the necro-bump of sorts... I hike a lot as well as cycling and to date have done two of the 7 summit mountains, Mt. McKinley and Kilimanjaro. Since I've been at altitude a lot I will say BRING DIAMOX! It cures altitude sickness which is common above 1500is metres. Only take it if you need it. As you go higher, take your time more. The higher you get, the thinner the air. Especially when you're exerting a lot. You should be fine though. Just remember to drink more water at altitude.

GOOD LUCK AND TAKE PICS!

pprendeville wrote: »

Have 2 really epic routes planned so i hope the weather stays fine. Day 1 has about 2000m of climbing and Day 2 about 3500-4000. Hope the legs will handle it. Will be doing it all at an easy pace and breaking it up as much as possible especially on day 2.

if you ascend 2000m at altitude without proper acclimatisation you run a very very probable risk of serious health 'complications'... generally if you ascend a little over 1000m in one day, over 3000m whilst acclimatising, you should be thinking of descending around 500m to sleep that night... high altitude, ie above 4000m (3000m for some if feeling side effects) should be taken very seriously, its usually fine for most people but iv seen very fit very experienced people collapse and get seriously ill and in one case die (at 5000m)... enjoy it but be very attentive to your body, drink gallons of water and discuss how you are feeling with your companions regularly and as the nepalese say 'slowly, slowly, always slowly'

Have been to the alps hiking on summer hols this past 10 years and with bike this past 5. Never felt anything unusual when going up to 2000m, walking or cycling. I am far from super fit.

Did the Galibier (2630m) this summer and did notice altitude a bit but less than expected when riding tempo, but when I tried to increase speed I was out of breathe in seconds.....and yes I went slowly, slowly.

My understanding from my mountaineering days is that 3000m is considered a threshold where acclimatisation is generally required, Especially if you were planning on staying at the heights mentioned.