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I will be away Aug 18-21 to Colorado Springs to run (and hopefully complete) the Pikes Peak Marathon. (26.2 miles hozirontally - 1.5 miles vertically :eek: ) While I have lost some weight, 15 more over the last few months would have helped......want to talk about my Insight doing moutain climbing....

One of the worst automotive climbs I've seen is I70 on Denver's western city limits to Idaho Springs, Colorado. That's 20 miles and a climb of about 2,000 feet (1,000 feet higher if I travel another 12 miles to Georgetown). It's so bad my 1988 CRX HF had to downshift to 3rd and could only manage 50mph. I've tried my 2000 Insight and done 65mph without doing a recal.

What I'd like to do if time permits, is drive this streach and see what kind of FE I can get, preferably in light traffic. I'd almost think going east back to Denver could be a coast....until you see some of the pictures (very steep - 6% grade) :eek:

I will be away Aug 18-21 to Colorado Springs to run (and hopefully complete) the Pikes Peak Marathon. (26.2 miles hozirontally - 1.5 miles vertically :eek: ) While I have lost some weight, 15 more over the last few months would have helped......want to talk about my Insight doing moutain climbing....

One of the worst automotive climbs I've seen is I70 on Denver's western city limits to Idaho Springs, Colorado. That's 20 miles and a climb of about 2,000 feet (1,000 feet higher if I travel another 12 miles to Georgetown). It's so bad my 1988 CRX HF had to downshift to 3rd and could only manage 50mph. I've tried my 2000 Insight and done 65mph without doing a recal.

What I'd like to do if time permits, is drive this streach and see what kind of FE I can get, preferably in light traffic. I'd almost think going east back to Denver could be a coast....until you see some of the pictures (very steep - 6% grade) :eek:

That drive west on I-70 is where good tanks go to die. On the eastbound trip, my battery fully charged so fast. It is mostly coasting. At times, you will even have to use your real brakes.:eek: There are a few places where I was in the far left lane going 85+mph stepping on my brakes because the person in front of me was going to slow. (How often does that happen with a hybrid?) I turned my AC on because I felt like I was wasting all of the battery charge.

The last time I drove up that way in my HCHII, I had just gotten to the point where I was getting 60mpg tanks. I was in the upper 50s when we left and by the time I got to the Eisenhower Tunnel, I was almost down to 50. I filled up on the western side of the tunnel for a 53.5mpg tank. It is fun going down, but I do not think you can make up what you lose going up. With lesser inclines, I think you can, but these roads are way too steep.

Good luck in the marathon.

Mr. Kite,

Thank you for your wishes. That little I70 segment is probably about as hard on a car as the Pikes Peak Car Race they have every year - very hard on cars and for that matter, 18-wheelers. Really can't hypermile on it - can't FAS on the way up - do it on the way down and you fly off the highway. :eek: :eek: :eek:

time to kick in the green bars of regen on a hill like that :D

let us know how you did!