Colorado passes are occasionally mentioned on RBT.
Here's a picture of one of the highest passes with the local peloton
racing down:
http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1186036105/7
Here's a long article about the race, filled with technical details:
http://www.chieftain.com/sports/1186036107/2
Most striking is the minimum 33-lb equipment weight. Since this is
about twice the UCI minimum, we may deduce that the ideal racing
weight is about 16.5 pounds per pair of legs per jack--
Er, never mind.
Given the current learned thread on political economy, I was somehow
reminded of a significant gesture in one of Bierce's fables:
The Mine Owner and the Jackass
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WHILE the Owner of a Silver Mine was on his way to attend a convention
of his species he was accosted by a Jackass, who said:
"By an unjust discrimination against quadrupeds I am made ineligible
to a seat in your convention; so I am compelled to seek representation
through you."
"It will give me great pleasure, sir," said the Owner of a Silver
Mine, "to serve one so closely allied to me in - in - well, you know,"
he added, with a significant gesture of his two hands upward from the
sides of his head. "What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing - nothing at all for myself individually," replied the
Donkey; "but his country's welfare should be a patriot's supreme care.
If Americans are to retain the sacred liberties for which their
fathers strove, Congress must declare our independence of European
dictation by maintaining the price of mules."
http://www.americanliterature.com/FF/FF13.HTML
Cheers,
Carl Fogel