nacbikeguy

I race at HHH each year. EVERY year I see the same idiots that start hours early and totally disrupt the race categories because they can't hold their line ride and plain ol get in the way.
look I realize it started as a fun ride and I rode it before I raced it. PLEASE if any of you ride the HHH PLEASE start at the proper times. It's rude and plain stupid to get in the way. I actually heard one of the riders that does this tell a guy that was pulling a break to SLOW DOWN! We just laughed at the fool. Please just obey the rules of the ride, one of these days these folks will cause a wreck and the rider may help you remove your teeth from your mouth. Sorry for a rant thread but this forum has many texas riders and tons of threads about this very topic. 'Have fun' is key but not at others expense. Please obey the rules if you can't finish the century because it's to hot by the time you finish then don't do the f-ing century.

crdean1

Agreed, I don't race, but after 3 years of riding, I invited some folks to ride the 100 mile ride this year. One of the guys had mentioned that he knew some 'guys' who started early 'on the bridge'. I discouraged that for this very reason, and he agreed. Plus, I told him that he would not want to miss the experience of starting with 12K riders (and I mentioned that he would probably be detained by the Highway Patrol if he did start early). As long as you are near the front, it is an excellent experience.

His 'friends' started early (I think), and we ended up passing them at about the 50 mile mark anyway. So, there's no real point in starting early....unless you want to be a MORON!

Thanks for the post. Maybe others will see it.

Butterthebean

I feel you...I just wanna know why you feel the need to call other people stupid because they do something that impedes on what you're trying to do? Maybe leaving earlier in the day is the only way they can make it. Maybe they don't think they should have to stay home just because they aren't as good as you. Maybe you should consider you're own words about having "fun" at someone else's expense. Maybe a little more "live and let live" mentality would suit you.

Maybe...just maybe...it's not all about you and your petty little race time....or are you trying to qualify for the TDF?

superdex

Instead it's about his and other racers' safety? Maybe, just maybe, you're wrong, and getting in the way of a race, any race, is a poor showing, if not downright dangerous. The HHH organizers are crystal clear about starting early. Maybe, just maybe folks actually obey those guidelines?

slowpace

Hey, I agree with starting where you belong and not getting in front of the racers. I think the start line is half of the experience. I don't mind taking 20 minutes to walk to the start line. I know I will finish my ride on my own. So, to stir the pot somewhat, what about the guys who are always late to start and come hauling butt by the ones who started on time, yelling on your left, on your right, move over to the right so we can pass. They are just as dangerous as people starting early. I had one yelling at me Saturday because he came speeding up on the right side of the road and boxed himself in, and expected me and a few others to move out of his way. That ain't gonna happen. One guy beside me told Mr. Speedy that he should have started earlier with his pace group. He had a few choice words for us, we got a good laugh out of him.
So we all have pet peeves. I do agree with the original post here, but it isn't us slower riders that cause all of the problems.

StephenH

I've read several posts here and elsewhere on this and wrecks in general at the HH100. It seems to me that the problem is "they" need to change the behavior of a large number of riders, and it just isn't going to happen. They could run the race the day before, but then have 2 days of traffic control they'd have to do. They could start the race earlier, and let y'all run with lights. That'd look neat, especially when cartwheeling over bottles dropped by riders that started still earlier anyway. But I digress. They could do away with the race, but they'd still have the issue of the "fast" riders running up on slow earlybirds. The problem is not new, and I expect the HH100 organizers have been scratching their heads over how to work it better for quite a few years.

bjtesch

I've done the ride a lot of times, always experiencing the mass start. I've also been almost blown into the weeds by groups coming by me at high speed. How can I get to 80 miles and have a paceline going 5 mph faster still end up behind me. I've also wondered how I can get to 80 miles at a good pace and find someone in front of me pulling a trailer at half my speed. But they all have the right to do the ride. They also have the obligation to be as safe as they can be, and I have the obligation to be as safe as I can be. If they want to start early and know that there will be 10,000 people passing them, they need to ride on the righthand side of the road and hold their line. And if I'm passing them I try to do it safely and not belittle them. I still think a slow rider should consider what they are doing and start later to minimize exposure to faster riders.

The worst things I've seen on the ride were people that were going slow and refused to hold their line when faster riders approached. There are a lot of kids that do this. They don't understand about riding in a straight line but their parents could help them with it. I've also seen adults weave back and forth a lot. This year there was one guy that cut from the righthand shoulder all the way over to the lefthand shoulder right in front of me.

Before the ride I usually drive partway into Wichita Falls on the old Iowa Park Rd, the part of the route that is from about 7 miles to 11 miles. It is dark at that time but I usually pass at least a dozen riders heading west with lights on. I always wondered if they just wanted to get a 1.5 hour head start or what.

yeamac 

This is a nice place to vent, and find others who will agree with you, but I'm afraid you are "preachin' to the choir."

I'm in full agreement people shouldn't start early in the HHH and disrupt the race. My question would be are the organizers doing all they can to provide a safe environment for the race?

Does the ride waiver riders sign include a statement that riders can be removed from the ride if they start before the racers?

Do they send vehicles out ahead of the race to "clear the way" and make anyone who has started early pull off to the side and stop? Do they/would they actually remove someone from the ride for starting early?

Doesn't sound like they have these type of rules in place, or if they do, it doesn't sound like they enforce it.

2592

We started early, and when the "clear the way" vehicles came by we pulled over and watched the racers go by. After that we stay to the right as faster riders go by.

We will probably do the same next year. I don’t see a problem.

The only solution to your problem is to limit the number of riders.

hammond9705

What's the point in starting early? I don't see the point in doing this ride if you don't want to do the start with the 12k riders. Otherwise you could stay closer to home and ride any other charity ride.

2592

Two reasons:
1. We are slow, 14.2 mph for the 100m course, we like to start early so we finish before they close the course.

2. Our "hotel" is half a block from the course, about two miles into the course; It's much more convenient to start there.

3. To stop and cheer the racers on as they go by.

StephenH

I started with the crowd in the "Hells Gate Hopefuls" section, took a half hour to get to the start line, averaged 13.7 mph riding, spent 20 minutes fixing a flat at the 13 mile mark, and still managed to make Hell's Gate.

Roadplay

I signed up as a Scorcher with the goal of riding a sub 4:30 for the 100m course. I lined up 25 yards behind the start line, got there an hour early. As I passed the start line I could see up the road to the bridge, I could not believe how many people where up a head of me, it was an endless wave of riders. Of course, none of there folks had timing chips because they started after the chip scanner, so I new the majority of these folks were leisure riders and realized this could be a bit dangerous. I stayed all the way to the left, basically the fast lane, behind other riders trying to make good time. Last year when we hit mile 20/25 things thinned out a little. This year at mile 25ish it was still wall-to-wall riders. This was then things turned BAD for me. I was all the way to the left edge of the road when apparently something up ahead caused the group to bunch. As I was all the way to the left I had no where to go when the guy to the left moved in on me putting his pedal/foot into my front wheel. The next thing I remember was kind folks were all around me trying to help. Long story short… I was ok, a little road rash all over (face, hands, knees, elbows) but no broken bones. I was so thankful I didn’t go down in the middle of the pack and hurt someone else. I new better than to get in the middle of a pack with some of the riders I saw up front. Anyway, as it turned out, my day turned out to be a great day. I found a buddy doing the 100K, so I partnered up with him, we took our time, visited several rest stops and the best part was going through the Air Base. Turned out to be a fantastic ride.

Oh yeah, I got to thank the very kind medical folks that took care of me at the rest stops. At every rest stop they actually came to me and dragged me in for medical care. Really great folks to volunteer their valuable time. I was also amazed at how many other people were being attended to for medical care at EVERY stop.

H-Bear

From your perspective, you did absolutely nothing wrong. You paid to ride and should be able to start anywhere that's convenient for you, regardless of what the organizers say. Since you yield to the far right, then the early start is justified and no worries.

Other perspectives believe what you're doing is reckless, inconsiderate, and not only risks their safety but fellow riders as well.

Funny how opinions can be complete polar opposites.

WalksOn2Wheels

To be fair, H-bear, if the rider and his friends pulled over (I'm assuming he means stopped and off of the road) to let the racers go by, then he isn't one of the riders that the OP is talking about.

I'll tell you what, though. I live not too far from the event and have contemplated doing it next year. After reading all these posts (this one as well as many others), it sounds like a nightmare. I guess I'll just have to ride 100 miles by myself.

nacbikeguy

hey everyone thanks for actually seeing my point. i plan on 2010 HHH and if anything I hope the doscourse here will net some results. It's for everyone including the people I critiqued, but for the sake of safety you know we should push the Bod to act on this. Again thanks for the great replies!

nacbikeguy

*sigh* then do not start ahead of people and do a smaller loop. making other people risk injury because you think you own the course is f-ed up. if you cause an accident in your eyes it's our fault. You make the event look bad by ignoring the RULES. you SIGNED a waiver STATING you would OBEY the rules. So don't kepp your word, but try to remember that when you cause a wreck it's your fault for ignoring the rules. And if you get hurt after the wreck don't expect anyone to sympathize with you.

nacbikeguy

You part of the problem
One day you will cause a wreck. You are pretty selfish for ignoring the rules you signed up to agree to. I hope DPS does detain you and you get DQ-ed from the ride and banned. If racers were disrupting packs of riders you'd have a problem with that, genuinely so would i. But since it's you disrupting others it's fair. We rolled up on people who didn't see the rest of the break and started pulling BACK into the road and nearly hit a racer. So your gimmick will fail at some pont and really your lucky you do not cause a wreck.

nacbikeguy

Hard to enforce.
Lirterally hundreds of riders do this every year and it's becoming a fad. the WFPD is small compared to 14,000+riders. See when HHH was organized most riders respected and appreciated the ride enough to simply play by the rules, but sense of entitlement has arisen with people who think because they pay a 24 dollar fee and get a t-**** that the ride owes them something so they can pretty much do whatever they like. I actually commend the event organizers and the DPS and WFPD on how well they police an event that size. most of the people who do what i am talking about are very aware of what they are doing and many times rest stop personell tell them they are wrong. It's about the rider ethic, if you don't give a **** about other riders, or wether or not your riding is causing undue risks then you see no problem with breaking the rules. basically.

nacbikeguy

Listen up .
There is a sanctioned race and people unlike yourself like to compete against one another. You cause risk by ignoring the rules you said you would obey. it's not about who is better and who is worse. it's all about safety. you cause risk. If a race group was disrupting a ride group I would side with the riders. If a break is causing risk then the break is at fault. Your immature comments makes you not me look like an ass. What are you mentally 15?
If leaving earlier in the day is the only way you can cheat the rules to makes hells gate, then you can't do the century based on the rules of that organized ride. See that's why people do smaller rides. And because you want to rights to say you did a century? then earn it and train properly or if you are physically unable then a century is not for you, at least the organized HHH ride. Nothing stops you from doing the course next week and stopping in burk and other places for fuel. I rode the HHH on solo centuries three times last year prior to HHH it brought my time down so much and I SPUN those miles. SPINNING I averaged 15-16 and finished well enough to make hells gate. So man either own up to the 60k or shut up the insults. You'll cause a wreck and then blame others for you lack of wisdom. If this keeps up eventually they will either eliminate same day ride and race or do away with the race which will cause the ride to eventually loose revenue. You work against the ride not for it which only illustrates the nature of your attitude as a whole. Selfish, narrow minded and ignorant.

nacbikeguy

hey I did the ride every rest stop one year and spun with some freinds so i hope i did not imply that slow riders go home not at all! I am saying that just begin when and where you signed and agreed to. When I stop racing? Times only important in terms of hells gate. i love slow paces when i do not compete. The ride is FUN. So please ride or even walk I just say be where you should so the wheel keeps rolling safely. Is that a better way to put it?

trophyoftexas

THIS IS WHAT I ORIGINALLY POSTED ABOUT HHH LAST WEEK BEFORE THE RIDE......
Originally Posted by trophyoftexas...."I've said it before and I'll say it again.....I can't even BEGIN to figure out why anyone would want to ride 100 miles in and around WF,TX at ANY time of the year, let alone in late August and especially with 12,000 other people, most of whom, according to most of the posts here, have almost no idea of what they are getting themselves into! Most of the posts on this ride are about bad experiences, a crash or two, and a ton of rules that I'm sure are pretty important for most of the 12k to know about and almost any experienced rider would already understand and follow anyway!

That ride has always sounded to me like a good one to be too busy to go to.....which is why whenever I get tempted I head for the Hill Country.....if I'm gonna be hot and ride 100 at least it's gonna be in a pretty location with hills and trees! Sorry for raining on the parade but this ride makes NO sense to me what-so-ever!....riding in the WF area has to be at least a boring as riding out here in Sulphur Springs!"

THIS WAS THE IMMEDIATE RETURN-POST AFTER I MADE THOSE COMMENTS (which I later somewhat "softened")
Originally Posted by PurpleFender...."Maybe you should try it to get an idea of how fun huge rides are instead of thread ****ting?"

Now, after reading all of these ride reports I think my original position has been at least a LITTLE vindicated! I'm glad that those that enjoyed the ride had a good time....I'm sorry that those that didn't enjoy the ride had a bad-poor-disappointing ride...but all of the comments serve to show me that, for me at least, the choice I've made to NOT ride this ride is the right one for me.

And perhaps PurpleFender's comment about me "thread ****ting" was sort of apropo since there appears to have been a LOT of bu!!$hi+ going on out there before-during-and after the ride!

Rammer

I can't believe your sponsors make you race in what everyone else knows is a leisure ride.

Maybe if you also podium in RAGBRAI and the local MS150, you can be the first to win the Grand Open Triple Cycling Hundred Annual!

Jokes aside, HHH should drop the race until they can control the start with a closed course (no jumpers or bandits).

crdean1

That's ridiculous. The HH 100 offers a race option for several race categories. Are you saying that because this is the largest ride in TX that we shouldn't have racers? Really?

With a ride this large (and this popular), you will always run into the folks starting early, racers getting mad, etc.

I am assuming the purpose of this thread is to raise awareness for those that start early that it is not cool to do so. Otherwise, this is the largest, most popular ride in Texas' history. Would you really want to not allow a race option? Threads like this will raise awareness to the issue, and hopefully improve conditions in the future, for racers and riders alike.

chevy42083

With that said, those that "get it", will. Those that have heads up there azzes, won't change without force (e.g. removal or penalty)