Great Lakes - Anyone up for the Hilly Hundred?

Since I enjoyed the Hilly Hundred 2 years ago and couldn't go last year because of my flooded house I have signed up for this years Hilly Hundred again.
2 days 50 miles each day with a night stayover in a tent. Wife and kids are going to the Brown state park not too far while I'm riding my heart out.

Anyone going as well?

Thomas

Details? Link?

Details? Link?


http://www.hillyhundred.org/

I'm not sure why this would be a 2 day ride, if it was 100/10,000 in one day it would be really cool.

Yep, I'll be there...did it last year and had a great time! It could be "really cool", especially being later in October then before. ;)

Anyone going as well?

I nominate ColorChange. I'll even adjust his seat height for him :D

:roflmao2:

Ughh . I'm thinking about it. ;)

Ughh . I'm thinking about it. ;)

Thinking about it won't hurt your knee any further.

Think about that.

Ughh . I'm thinking about it. ;)

That-a-boy :thumb:

Don't forget to pre-ride the big hills ;)

I'm considering it also.

I'm not sure why this would be a 2 day ride, if it was 100/10,000 in one day it would be really cool.

There are of course a few who do both legs on Saturday. No food stops or support on the second half, but those guys don't typically stop more than a couple times anyway.

The Hilly is a two-day party disguised as a bike ride. Traditional food at the Saturday lunch stop is fried chicken, although they've added a pasta line in the last few years. IMO if you don't stop at every sag stop, listen to the live bands, visit the vendor tent, chat with other folks on bikes, do some people/bike watching, and attend the show Saturday night, you're missing the point.

That-a-boy :thumb:

Don't forget to pre-ride the big hills ;)

:roflmao2:

CC got a classic stalker who is quite a smartass :roflmao2:

There are of course a few who do both legs on Saturday. No food stops or support on the second half, but those guys don't typically stop more than a couple times anyway.

The Hilly is a two-day party disguised as a bike ride. Traditional food at the Saturday lunch stop is fried chicken, although they've added a pasta line in the last few years. IMO if you don't stop at every sag stop, listen to the live bands, visit the vendor tent, chat with other folks on bikes, do some people/bike watching, and attend the show Saturday night, you're missing the point.

Yep yep. Just like RAGBRAI is more of a party than a ride.

Ahhhhh, I see. Then the decision will be made for me, by my wife. :rolleyes: Somehow, I think I know the answer.

Does anyone have a route map or cue sheet from prior years?

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/1129873
There ya go

my wife and I are doing the Hilly this year. I have heard great things about the ride. We are doing the Indy marathon the weekend before so I am glad it is broken up into 50 miles each day.

This will be my 4th straight year. I'll be going with my wife, parents, and a familly friend.

2 years ago I only stopped briefly at the lunch stop and skipped all of the others, it was kind of a waste and I missed out on the whole experience.
Last year I went pretty hard, but stopped at all of the SAGS and regrouped with the familly at each one. It worked out well, but the stops come up often and quickly. I think anybody who rides regularly will probably feel the same way. My father-in-law rides his mountain bike, and has tried to convince me that this is the way to go for a good workout, but I really just wish they had an optional longer route.

I was considering getting out a little earlier and trying to ride the course twice, hitting the SAG stops the 2nd time around, but being that it is a week or two later then past years, it will probably be freezing at 7AM.

Great ride. Last time I did it was 1993. I used to help out with it when it started out of Bloomington North High School in the 80's.

25th - day 2 is Bartlett cross. Who knows. Might be a good excuse to go see the family in Indy on Friday and then ride the Saturday. Back to Chi for the Sunday cross race at 2:30.

I rode it last year! I loved it! The second day is the better course, IMHO. It is truly for fun. I had such a great time.

I might try to go again this year....gotta check the calendar.

It will be my 4th year as well. For those of us without large hills or mountains in easy reach, the climbing is a welcome change. Nice big tent sale with some good deals there too. Another draw is the hoped timing with colorful leaves in the hills. It's a great crowd with a wide start time window so its not too crowded.

Garysol - if you plan to make the ride, let me know and we'll the ride we didn't manage in Georgia.

I'm not sure why this would be a 2 day ride, if it was 100/10,000 in one day it would be really cool.I have two near-contradictory thoughts on that, one is "snippy", the other is decidedly not.

Snippy:

"why . . . a 2 day ride":

Same idea as when people ride 100 miles on consecutive days and refer to that as a "double-century". (A double-century is 200 miles in one day / one ride. 100 miles on consecutive days would be "back-to-back centuries".)

Not snippy:

"if it was 100/10,000 in one day it would be really cool":

Not everyone that likes riding hilly terrain can ride 100 miles with 10k climbing in one day. There are plenty enough "1 d / 100 m / 10 k" rides around for people that have the ability / time to ride enough to do those; a two day affair allows for those not so lucky on the natural skill continuum or for those whose family and life commitments limit their normal weekly ride time to just a couple / few hours probably works out nicely.

I have two near-contradictory thoughts on that, one is "snippy", the other is decidedly not.

Snippy:

"why . . . a 2 day ride":

Same idea as when people ride 100 miles on consecutive days and refer to that as a "double-century". (A double-century is 200 miles in one day / one ride. 100 miles on consecutive days would be "back-to-back centuries".)

Not snippy:

"if it was 100/10,000 in one day it would be really cool":

Not everyone that likes riding hilly terrain can ride 100 miles with 10k climbing in one day. There are plenty enough "1 d / 100 m / 10 k" rides around for people that have the ability / time to ride enough to do those; a two day affair allows for those not so lucky on the natural skill continuum or for those whose family and life commitments limit their normal weekly ride time to just a couple / few hours probably works out nicely.

Wasn't trying to sound snippy, but I'm the only cyclist in the household (my wife's idea of a ride is <10 miles), and a two day commitment (when my work generally consumes a lot of weekend time) would be difficult to make.

I just didn't realize that in addition to the ride, it's also a party/get-together. It does sound like a fun ride. :thumb:

2 days 50 miles each day with a night stayover in a tent. Wife and kids are going to the Brown state park not too far while I'm riding my heart out.

Anyone going as well?

Thomas

Nice to have your family along, Thomas.

I'm going this year w/a small contingent from my area, and it will be my first time. I wasn't sure about it at first. Same kind of concerns others have raised, it's a big time comittment, only 50 miles each day, and a long way for me. But my friends who have done it recommended it so highly, I've made time for it.

We are staying in a hotel, though, not the gym or camping. I'm not that much of a stalwart!

Colleen

Can't vouch for camping (especially that time of year), but the gym is not that bad...especially since the area hotels are relatively expensive during the Hilly.

Well, my mom and I have decided to ride the Hilly again this year if the weather is decent that weekend.

Looking forward to it!

I have the fortunate option to simply stay at home, but the gym must be ok since tjspahr is just as close by car as I am and chooses to stay there.

I have the fortunate option to simply stay at home, but the gym must be ok since tjspahr is just as close by car as I am and chooses to stay there.

I guess over the years at the Hilly I've hoteled, slept in the gym, camped in a tent, and slept in an RV. Hotel is the best sleeping but then you have to drive to the school in the morning and find a place to park. Best overall was probably the RV. Tent camping and the gym are kind of a toss-up. The gym tends to be noisy and with the tent you have weather to deal with. Since I don't own an RV, I'll probably do the tent this year.

Tent FTW. Hell, if it would be warmer I would sleep in my sleeping bag only, without a tent. Under the stars is the best!

Anybody riding from there hotel to the HH? I think I saw some people doing that last year, maybe we could get a group ride going to the school from a central location.

There's always a stream of cyclists from Bloomington to the high school. Stop somewhere along SR 46 and you'll be able to pick up a few people.

I have the fortunate option to simply stay at home, but the gym must be ok since tjspahr is just as close by car as I am and chooses to stay there.

I went to IU, so at least half the appeal is going to Bloomington and hanging out after I'm done riding. You're in the gym such a short amount of time, $8 is a bargain.

Heck, this year I might even ride sober. :beer:

Anybody riding from there hotel to the HH? I think I saw some people doing that last year, maybe we could get a group ride going to the school from a central location.

The registration booklet has a map on page 5 with a specific route from the Bloomington hotels to the start

Yippee...my brother is coming from Arizona, too. It's a family affair!

I'm riding my first Hilly this weekend, and would welcome any feedback from experienced participants. I've only ridden one other group ride, so my primary focus is going to be on staying out of other riders' way and not becoming the cause of a pileup.

I'm riding my first Hilly this weekend, and would welcome any feedback from experienced participants. I've only ridden one other group ride, so my primary focus is going to be on staying out of other riders' way and not becoming the cause of a pileup.

No worries about pile ups at all. Even tho there will be around 5000 participants, you won't be riding in a group unless you decide to.
So you can go on your own or choose to ride in a group if you feel comfortable. Now the normal etiquette if you want to latch onto a group of people you never met before is to ask them if it's OK to ride with them since you are introducing an unknown factor that some people do not like to deal with. But that really depends on the group.

Thomas

I'm riding my first Hilly this weekend, and would welcome any feedback from experienced participants. I've only ridden one other group ride, so my primary focus is going to be on staying out of other riders' way and not becoming the cause of a pileup.

This is a terrific ride. Except for Mt Tabor, the hills aren't really that bad. Mt. Tabor is reported to be around 23% at the top (I'm not sure where that came from, but it is very steep), so it's a little bit of a challenge. I currently use a 34/25, but I'm 67 and doing the 39/23 thing doesn't work for me anymore. I've done Mt. Mitchell and "Leakey Death" at Hellweek and the hills around Bloomington are pretty good, just short.

Frank

Thanks a lot Frank, I have to admit, I've been a little worried about having to push my bike up many of them. I'm 47 and been riding since mid-Summer, I do a couple of 28-mile training rides a week but they're on mostly flat terrain. Used to live in Bloomington, so I'm familiar with the area and just hoping for decent weather.

Thanks also for the advice on hanging with groups Scummer, I'll remember that.

No worries about pile ups at all. Even tho there will be around 5000 participants, you won't be riding in a group unless you decide to.
So you can go on your own or choose to ride in a group if you feel comfortable. Now the normal etiquette if you want to latch onto a group of people you never met before is to ask them if it's OK to ride with them since you are introducing an unknown factor that some people do not like to deal with. But that really depends on the group.

Thomas

There will be crashes and ambulance rides. It happens every year - a few people unaccustomed to high speed descents will go down on a curve, a dip in the road, sand, or after clipping someone's rear wheel. Keep to the right, ride straight, listen to people coming up behind you, and keep your descent speeds within your ability. When you do need to dismount for a hill, be as right as possible, and warn people if you can. The guy right behind you will be struggling as well, and doesn't need to deal with an unexpected pedestrian.

All of what I'm saying will be covered in the mandatory safety video. Pay attention to the video and follow the instructions, and you'll have a great weekend.

If you do have to walk some hills, don't worry, you'll have company. Plenty of people walk the hills. Just remember that if you do, get to the right as you slow down and stay to the right while walking the hill. Mt. Tabor is a tricky spot at the top as the 40 and 50 mile routes split there and the longer route goes to the right. This causes some people of different levels to be crossing each other if it's busy there at the time. Otherwise it's pretty easy to keep out of trouble.

Great - thanks again guys, really helps knowing what to expect.

I'm going to do it.

Now, are there any experienced Central Indiana Cyclists that are willing to take me under their wing for training? Right now I'm sucking big wind after a 13 mile ride. Given it was 90F and Humid, but that doesn't bode well for a 50 mile > 5000ft first day.

On a related note, I told my wife if I pull of the Hilly Hundred this year in Indiana, I'm going to try the Horribly Hilly Hundred (http://www.horriblyhilly.com/home.html) from my home state of Wisconsin in 2011.

Please PM me if you're interested in offering suggestions, guidance, group rides, etc. I really could use the help!

Thanks :)

I'm going to do it.

Now, are there any experienced Central Indiana Cyclists that are willing to take me under their wing for training? Right now I'm sucking big wind after a 13 mile ride. Given it was 90F and Humid, but that doesn't bode well for a 50 mile > 5000ft first day.

On a related note, I told my wife if I pull of the Hilly Hundred this year in Indiana, I'm going to try the Horribly Hilly Hundred (http://www.horriblyhilly.com/home.html) from my home state of Wisconsin in 2011.

Please PM me if you're interested in offering suggestions, guidance, group rides, etc. I really could use the help!

Thanks :)

Attend the Dairyland dare this year: http://www.dairylanddare.com/

It's interesting, it appears they have changed the route for the first day this year. Might be worth contacting Skip to see what's up.

Haven't done the Hilly since '04, and the last time before that was (I think) '94. I'm thinking I will do it again this year, and will go with my double chainring bike (I've always used a triple before). If I end up walking some hills ... well, that's cross-training, isn't it?

Out-of-state people reading this thread may not realize that Bloomington is a great town, with more good restaurants and music clubs than you might expect due largely to the presence of Indiana University. If you happen to like beer, Upland Brewery is a great place to visit -- their beer and food are excellent, the people who work there are very personable, and you can get bike jerseys featuring their different brews. (Full disclosure: I'm not connected with Upland, other than being a satisfied customer.) And if sleeping in a gym doesn't appeal to you, there are plenty of motels and some B&Bs in the area, as well as a nice state park (with inn, cabins and campground) not too far away.