Yes, although several things also come from practical experience:
- Altitude definitely varies by person
For some it can even vary by trip. Just because you’ve done rides at altitude before doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll react the same way in the future as seen below
- There seems to be a fairly sharp effect at what point it cuts in for individuals. For example, taking out of town guests to Frisco (elevation ~9000ft) rarely had much effect. There is a surprisingly large difference in effect between Frisco (9,000ft), Cameron Pass (10,300ft), Hoosier Pass (11,500ft) and Trail Ridge (12,200ft). The worst scenario seems to be flying into DIA and then immediately going to altitude - did that once with a friend flying from LAX and within 12 hours we went up Longs Peak. He was in good health and had hiked up Whitney but still needed time to adjust. Next trip after he visited we did Longs Peak but spent a few days around Frisco first.
If you are just going to Frisco to walk around, what you say is true. But if you are going to Frisco as a start to a loaded tour or any other aerobic activity, where you are putting in more effort than just walking, the lower altitude at Frisco is still going to have an impact.
- So assuming going up Cameron Pass all in a day from Fort Collins - particularly if you hadn't adjusted to Front Range altitude by cycling via Eastern Colorado would be a stupid assumption but I don't see you need to make that assumption - particularly given distances involved.
I’m pointing out that the rise from Pueblo to Hoosier is a gentler climb over all. Similar altitude rise over a longer distance equals an easier climb over all.