Great Lakes - 2008 Horribly Hilly Hundreds - Registration on 1/19

Looks like registration is earlier this year for the HHH. Get your broadband ready. Hopefully they are not starting registration the same day as some gigantic marathon or triathalon like last year.

I think I'm going to volunteer this year and ride the course some other time.

From the www.horriblyhilly.com site:


The Sixth Annual HHH Challenge Ride will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2008.
Registration will open on Saturday, January 19, 2008, at 9:00 AM CST. We will be using www.bikereg.com for online registration.
We are accepting the first 1,000 online registrants. The registration fee is $65.
New for 2008 is a registration lottery. We will be allowing an additional 300 registrants to the ride through a lottery system this year. If you are not able to secure an online registration slot for the ride, you may download and print the following lottery form and send it to us postmarked between January 26 and February 2, 2008.

thanks for the heads up. with my wife pregnant and due july 5th, i have a feeling i'll have to do the HHH instead of the Dairyland Dare this year

I am considering riding the HHH this year although it may be a little early in the season for my abilities. Either way I'll probably be there, as a rider or as a volunteer. See you all there.

I think I'm going to volunteer this year and ride the course some other time.



I'd like to do that again (I volunteered in 2006). You know how-to other than emailing them? They are notorious for not answering emails.

thanks for the heads up. with my wife pregnant and due july 5th, i have a feeling i'll have to do the HHH instead of the Dairyland Dare this year

Hey, I rode the HHH in 2006 one week after our second was born. Help was still at our house at that time, so it was a good time for me to escape to a ride. :)

Just make sure your wife delivers before the date of the Dare. Because you know you're in control of that situation, right? Right....? Hello? :p

I'd like to do that again (I volunteered in 2006). You know how-to other than emailing them? They are notorious for not answering emails.

I don't see a volunteer form out there, but I assume they will put one out soon. Maybe after the first wave of registration.

The contact pages shows: Horribly Hilly Hundreds Phone: (608) 437-HURT (-4878) and NEW e-mail address: horriblyhilly@gmail.com

Maybe they answer there?

Sweet. I am in again, but I don't anticipate doing the 200K. I think the 100K is still OK. Who knows, maybe I might be talked into the 200K, but I doubt it. I have different goals for this year. Don't necessarily feel the need to kill myself on epic rides.

I'll still hang out afterwards though to wait for 200Kers...especially considering how much fun that was last year....
...as long as someone else drives home. :D

nietsmas....with a due date about 2 weeks from this event...you'll find that you probably won't make it. 2 weeks is well within the delivery window. I want to see you there, but dude, you don't want to be in WI when you get that call.

Also...ride your butt off and drink/party/surf internet/watch TV/see movies/go out to eat/buy bike stuff/enjoy life now as much as possible.

I still fit a lot of that in now, but keep in mind 2 things:
1. I am a horrible husband.
2. I am a bad father.

I'm in for the 100K. I'm not feeling a sadistic need to torture myself with anymore than that, plus that leaves more time for sampling the brew :D Besides, how can I say no to such an awesome jersey? :)

nietsmas....with a due date about 2 weeks from this event...you'll find that you probably won't make it. 2 weeks is well within the delivery window. I want to see you there, but dude, you don't want to be in WI when you get that call.

Also...ride your butt off and drink/party/surf internet/watch TV/see movies/go out to eat/buy bike stuff/enjoy life now as much as possible.

I still fit a lot of that in now, but keep in mind 2 things:
1. I am a horrible husband.
2. I am a bad father.


hmm, thanks for being brutally honest, i think. my only real hobby is cycling, so while i know that a lot of my free time will be spent caring for baby nietsmas, i have a pretty understanding wife. but you are right, i definitely don't want to be in WI when I get that call. i'll probably have to re-think things. maybe i'd have better luck doing the Dairyland Dare.

Or just arrange for your wife to get an OB/GYN in Madison and plan the delivery there.

If she loves you, she'll understand.

;)

hmm, thanks for being brutally honest, i think. my only real hobby is cycling, so while i know that a lot of my free time will be spent caring for baby nietsmas, i have a pretty understanding wife. but you are right, i definitely don't want to be in WI when I get that call. i'll probably have to re-think things. maybe i'd have better luck doing the Dairyland Dare.

I feel the need to clarify. I needed an ;) on that one.

I actually get in more cycling now, but I have to arrange rides much further in advance, bargain for weekends, and had to resort to commuting in order to get rides in during the week.

The first few months will kill your form. You'll wake up one morning and be like, "WTF - when was the last time I rode??!!"

Oh...and understanding wives become less understanding under the battle like conditions presented by a newborn. Fair warning. :D

CyLowe97*,Psimet2001* and Aham23 you guys are planning (for sure) to do the Dairyland Dare, right?

I feel the need to clarify. I needed an ;) on that one.
I actually get in more cycling now, but I have to arrange rides much further in advance, bargain for weekends, and had to resort to commuting in order to get rides in during the week.
The first few months will kill your form. You'll wake up one morning and be like, "WTF - when was the last time I rode??!!"
Oh...and understanding wives become less understanding under the battle like conditions presented by a newborn. Fair warning. :D

Results as above are not always the way things shake out.

I ride more now that I have two kids than when I had none at all.

One tip that has helped me: Get your wife reading bikeforums. Seriously. I have missed threads about rides and my wife will ask if I'm planning on riding. She's a gem. (Hi Sweetheart! :) )


CyLowe97*,Psimet2001* and Aham23 you guys are planning (for sure) to do the Dairyland Dare, right?
I hope to tackle and finish the 200k this year. I thought you and aham23 were going to conquer the 300k route, right?

Hey guys, give me a rundown. How good of an event is this?

PS. I've been off the bike for over a month. Having knee trouble that started with moving my daughter's ballet show props. Damn. I'm going in for an MRI. :(

Hey guys, give me a rundown. How good of an event is this?

Grab a drink and a snack and then click here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=310318).

:)

Pricey as midwestern events go, but always a memorable and challenging time. Plus, the past couple of years the Capital Brewery has been there to dispense much needed carb replacements after the ride. See Psimet2001's avatar for how this will make your face look after a while. :o

Check out the ride website (http://www.horriblyhilly.com), too, for the course maps. Great for training missions.

Results as above are not always the way things shake out.

I ride more now that I have two kids than when I had none at all.

One tip that has helped me: Get your wife reading bikeforums. Seriously. I have missed threads about rides and my wife will ask if I'm planning on riding. She's a gem. (Hi Sweetheart! :) )


I hope to tackle and finish the 200k this year. I thought you and aham23 were going to conquer the 300k route, right?

14 hours in the saddle and conquer we will. Maybe a pre ride in southwest Wisconsin is in order!

i can not make this ride. my "stupid" in laws are taking (meaning paying for) the family on a cruise. something ridiculous like 10 days. note the lack smiley faces. i am not interested in being on a boat for that long during prime time cycling season. i have lost this battle though.

i am in for the DD and it will be the 300K :) :) . i see it now, the back of dave342's jersey and i cant wait.

i would be up for some training rides in that area too. i think CyLowe has mentioned that before.

later.

No thanks. Maybe next year. Though I do see they've made some corrections after last year.

I am looking at The Brute (http://spreetouring.com/Brute%20Challenge%20Ride.html) and the Kicker (http://spreetouring.com/Kicker%20Challenge%20Ride.html) in the same general area and distances, however.

I am going to try and get in the HHH for the 100k. I did it last year and it was the hardest ride I have ever done. If I can't get registered I will volunteer. I still plan on making sevral trips up to that area this spring to train.

I am going to try and get in the HHH for the 100k. I did it last year and it was the hardest ride I have ever done. If I can't get registered I will volunteer. I still plan on making sevral trips up to that area this spring to train.

We'll have to carpool. If you are in Sleepy Hollow now then you are within a mile or two of me, CyLowe, and cyclepsycho.

CyLowe97*,Psimet2001* and Aham23 you guys are planning (for sure) to do the Dairyland Dare, right?

What about me Dave?? After all we did ride the first block and a half together last year. I can almost here the silence of heavy breathing and heart monitors going crazy now.

Kenal0, heck yeah. Bring Smokinmiles with you too. Besides you have my staple. I hope CyLowe97* dosen't get upset with us for kinda stealing the thread from HHH to DD.

i can not make this ride. my "stupid" in laws are taking (meaning paying for) the family on a cruise. something ridiculous like 10 days. note the lack smiley faces. i am not interested in being on a boat for that long during prime time cycling season. i have lost this battle though.

i am in for the DD and it will be the 300K :) :) . i see it now, the back of dave342's jersey and i cant wait.

i would be up for some training rides in that area too. i think CyLowe has mentioned that before.

later.

The worst 7 days of my life were spent on a cruise ship. Never again. I feel your pain dude. They should probably have spin cycles on the boat so you can torture yourself even further. :p

i can not make this ride. my "stupid" in laws are taking (meaning paying for) the family on a cruise. something ridiculous like 10 days. note the lack smiley faces. i am not interested in being on a boat for that long during prime time cycling season. i have lost this battle though.


The worst 7 days of my life were spent on a cruise ship. Never again. I feel your pain dude. They should probably have spin cycles on the boat so you can torture yourself even further. :p
Remind me and I'll loan you my copy of David Foster Wallace's A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again. It's the reason I never want to go on a 7 day/night cruise, but am somehow fascinated by the idea of it, anyway.

Just realized that the registration is on a Saturday. Someone be sure to call me early that morning so I don't forget.

Maybe? How fast does it fill up?

Maybe? How fast does it fill up?

Last year filled within a few hours of registration opening. It was a bit of a mess on active.com, but looks like they are going with a different registration system this year. And they are adding the +300 lottery after online fills.

Last year was a nightmare.

R900 - as CyLowe mentioned they fill wicked fast. Not exactly sure why. It's a nice ride, but not like "OMG, I'll just DIE if I can't get in" kind of thing.

You should swing up and ride it with us. If it is like last year you can sign up for whichever route and then ride what you want day of. You get lots of time to ponder before making the decision.

The worst 7 days of my life were spent on a cruise ship. Never again. I feel your pain dude. They should probably have spin cycles on the boat so you can torture yourself even further. :p

in protest i will likely run in circles and spin away the entire time. just to show them. :p

stupid in-laws.

later.

I'd like to do that again (I volunteered in 2006). You know how-to other than emailing them? They are notorious for not answering emails.

OK, as proof positive of my stupidity:

I emailed HHH yesterday and they replied yesterday; for volunteering, on the home page, the huge red link that says "Volunteer Like a Viking!" in the upper right corner, click that pinhead. OK, I added the pinhead part, but they should have. :)

For volunteering, on the home page, the huge red link that says "Volunteer Like a Viking!" in the upper right corner, click that pinhead.

:lol:

I'm in to lend a hand. I think I'll take the Friday off before and ride some of the course.

Are the entries still non-transferrable? I'd do this ride, but not if it conflicts with a race, but I don't know the schedule yet.

I think that I will make the drive from Michigan this year. Last year I debated and decided not to do it, Then I regretted my choice.

Should I look for a group to share the time up front with and help block some wind, or does this become a solo event because of the hills?

Should I look for a group to share the time up front with and help block some wind, or does this become a solo event because of the hills?

It's nice to have someone to talk to, but there's not a lot of drafting or chatting going on when you're grinding it out at 5 mph up hills and zooming down the other side at 40 mph all day. There are a couple of flat sections, but those are usually to connect the hillier side roads.

The best thing to do on the flat sections is just go slow. Wasting energy trying to paceline to a faster time comes back to haunt on this ride. The final climb up to Blue Mound is a serious butt kicker.

It's nice to have someone to talk to, but there's not a lot of drafting or chatting going on when you're grinding it out at 5 mph up hills and zooming down the other side at 40 mph all day. There are a couple of flat sections, but those are usually to connect the hillier side roads.

The best thing to do on the flat sections is just go slow. Wasting energy trying to paceline to a faster time comes back to haunt on this ride. The final climb up to Blue Mound is a serious butt kicker.


correct. i pulled this from my blog write up on the ride.

"That last climb went like this; 3.45 miles, 24.54 time, and 900 feet of climbing. It hurt."

for a flatlander like me, this last climb, after some 11,000 feet and 125 miles already, was a tougie.

later.

Are the entries still non-transferrable? I'd do this ride, but not if it conflicts with a race, but I don't know the schedule yet.

The ride is tougher.

The ride is tougher.

recursive did the 300k course at the first Dairyland Dare. He knows from tough.

Though I dare say that the HHH will be a more entertaining ride with him along. He could laugh at the rest of us while he floats up the double-digit grades.

One other thing for me this year. I'm not sleeping on the Mt Horeb HS gym floor again, even if it is free. Two years of cheapskating it to save a few bucks and I'm through with that.

It's going to be a hotel in Madison somewhere this year. Now I just need suggestions for beer drinking and a good meal the night before. :)

The ride is tougher.

Tougher than what? Than it used to be? I thought they did a good job of picking all the toughest hills in the area. I'd be impressed if they managed to improve it somehow.

One other thing for me this year. I'm not sleeping on the Mt Horeb HS gym floor again, even if it is free. Two years of cheapskating it to save a few bucks and I'm through with that.

It's going to be a hotel in Madison somewhere this year. Now I just need suggestions for beer drinking and a good meal the night before. :)

Even if I don't do the ride, I'm definitely coming out for that.

One other thing for me this year. I'm not sleeping on the Mt Horeb HS gym floor again, even if it is free. Two years of cheapskating it to save a few bucks and I'm through with that.

It's going to be a hotel in Madison somewhere this year. Now I just need suggestions for beer drinking and a good meal the night before. :)

Yeah that was a great idea you had last year :rolleyes:. I'm dropping a few dimes this year for a room. If we aren't doubling up on rooms then we need to make sure we are at least in close proximity so that we can get together the night before.

As for:


Though I dare say that the HHH will be a more entertaining ride with him along. He could laugh at the rest of us while he floats up the double-digit grades

All I can say is I won't know what that's like. The HHH will be a solo ride for me this year. Just like last year. Difference is that this year I know it in advance.:p

One other thing for me this year. I'm not sleeping on the Mt Horeb HS gym floor again, even if it is free. Two years of cheapskating it to save a few bucks and I'm through with that.

It's going to be a hotel in Madison somewhere this year. Now I just need suggestions for beer drinking and a good meal the night before. :)

I just cleared it with the wife. We should definatly set up a BF gathering, of course beer would be involved.

It's nice to have someone to talk to, but there's not a lot of drafting or chatting going on when you're grinding it out at 5 mph up hills and zooming down the other side at 40 mph all day. There are a couple of flat sections, but those are usually to connect the hillier side roads.

The best thing to do on the flat sections is just go slow. Wasting energy trying to paceline to a faster time comes back to haunt on this ride. The final climb up to Blue Mound is a serious butt kicker.

Are you kidding me! by the end of the DD I was doing 5 mph on the flat sections!!

Kenal0

Are you kidding me! by the end of the DD I was doing 5 mph on the flat sections!!

What flat sections??

What flat sections??

Hello????!!! The parking lot! DUH!



:P

We'll have to carpool. If you are in Sleepy Hollow now then you are within a mile or two of me, CyLowe, and cyclepsycho.

I will know a little closer to the event whether or not I will be able to get up there the day before. I hope my divorce will be finalized and my house sold.

Hmmmm.... I'm seriously thinking about giving this a go.

How safe is it with the high speed downhills and many riders?

Hmmmm.... I'm seriously thinking about giving this a go.

How safe is it with the high speed downhills and many riders?

You're pretty spread out after the first 2-3 hills.

That said I was always log jammed on every downhill. People don't know how to descend and honestly I think it scares most.

Unfortunately one of the only things I can do very well is descend. I found myself blocked up everytime right around 50mph. Never seemed to have an open road to let me get any higher.

Squirrells only made my stomach jump once - during a gravel section on a downhill. The dude I was behind totally freaked when he saw the "gravel" section (actually a section that looked more like this except with hills and trees:




...and the guy jumps on his brakes, get squirrely, and noobish. I'm a pretty modest rider, but I just about laid into the guy on that one.

Then again I can look at it as though I had an opportunity to show the world thats I'ze gotz madz han-lin skillz. :D

Honestly the ride is pretty clean. A challenge ride like this that requires 6 month pre-registrtion and a hefty entrance fee means you end up with people who have some substantial saddle time.....for the most part.

I'm seriously considering this ride, even though I am vertically challenged.

I love downhills, but when I hear gravel I would rather be on my MTB. Are there many unpaved portions of the ride?

I think the part that would be the most fun, would be blasting past Recursive on the downhills, although he would have to stop and wait for me after the climb.

I'm seriously considering this ride, even though I am vertically challenged.

I love downhills, but when I hear gravel I would rather be on my MTB. Are there many unpaved portions of the ride?

I think the part that would be the most fun, would be blasting past Recursive on the downhills, although he would have to stop and wait for me after the climb.

There was only one very short section, and it was mor like gravel over pavement. It was a small road repair and not indicative of the course as a whole.

BTW - your bike can handle Paris-Roubaix....it can handle Wisconsin.;)