Higher yet above Hell's Gate, I look back behind me again as I approach 3000-feet elevation

Yes, I'm still rising.

I notice that I'm getting a bit fatigued and wobbly on the steeper parts of the road here. There's practically no shoulder on parts of this fast-speed road and it would be unsafe to ride so close to the edge that I might slip on the edge of the pavement and fall in front of traffic coming up behind me (I've seen this happen).

So I ride here out in the traffic lane a bit, being careful to give myself enough space to ride safely (with my wobbles), which forces cars to pass me widely.