The rules say it’s OK and LeRoy Popowski was game, so the 35-year-old Colorado Springs optometrist won two times on Saturday in the Cheyenne Canyon Hill Climb time trial bike race.

Riding for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, he captured first place in the college “A” division, pounding up the grueling 3.1-mile climb in 15 minutes, 13 seconds.

About two hours later, he put his wheel to the starting line again and won the Pro/Category 1 race with a blistering 14:43.

(More photos here)

The ride from the Starsmore Discovery Center to the finish above the base of Helen Hunt Falls is one of the toughest road climbs in the area. When he was done, Popowski (above and left) smiled as if he’d been out for an easy Sunday pedal around the neighborhood. It was his first race of the season and Saturday was his first time to make the climb this year.

“You just have to stay within yourself,” he said. “I went as hard as I could (in the pro race).” The course climbs at an average of 8.5 percent. One stretch tilts to 18 percent, the kind of grade that makes good bike racers wish they’d have chosen a different sport.

Popowski said he tried to keep it real on the big efforts.

“Some people use power meters and heart monitors,” he said. “I guess I’m old school. I just go by how I feel.”

Tom Danielson, one of the best climbers in the world, holds the course record of 13:34. Popowski’s best is 14:19, recorded last year.

Popowoski insists he doesn’t spend hours in the saddle training to climb so well. He gets most of his training during his commute to work and home, sometimes stretching his round-trip to 50 miles.

“I just ride a lot for fun, actually,” he said.

Gabriela Ferrat (right), who rides for team Evergreen, captured the women’s open race with a time of 20:30. But it was not the fastest time of the day among the women. That title went to Colorado State University rider Natalie Koch, who finished in 20:21.