Hey Dean,
I am not sure if you were directing this at me. I never advocate the elimination of racing from HHH it's one of the things that make this ride and race unique. Mainly it was as you said to communicate to those that admit they do this that it isn't cool, it's dangerous etc.. As you can see I expected most of the people that do this to be assinine about it and to ridicule the fact that all I am asking is to respect the rules of the ride itself. So you can lead a horse to water but as we can see from some of the most uninformed and base riposts to my point that no matter what some idiots out there simply refuse to share this experience safely by simply obeying the rules. I was using a sarcasm to make a point maybe this is where I was confusing people. I realize that no matter what some people just feel entitled to make a complete ass of themselves and to endanger other riders but maybe some of the people who have read this thread will simply see my point. I guess my biggest concern is that one day somone is going to get hurt and maybe even killed by this type of behaviour. It's a ride there's a race. It's not 'just do whateverthe****youwant' Some here think it is unfortunately.

So how does the race end? With the 25 milers wobbling across the finish line just ahead of them, or do they have their own finish line, or what?

You gotta admit it just doesn't seem that intelligent to have a race at the start of such a huge ride.

So is your pathetic rant RUDE. When the HHH gains authority to close the roads for a closed race course then come back and try again.

Public road = well, public. So STFU

I'd like to see some of you say some of these things to each other in person.

:popcorn:

:fight:

I don't disagree with nacbikeguy, in fact I heartily agree with his request to not
start early, it is dangerous for the racers and for the recreational riders.
However the tone of this entire thread really bothers me, calling riders
f'ing idiots, and tossing around lots of *s to bypass the filters does nothing to forward
your argument, only draw attention to the words.
If you'll note, there was another thread that discussed the same issue in a more
civil manner if you will, I would suspect more folks would take the advice if they weren't
insulted throughout the thread.
I also agree to an extent with Sam above, until the course is closed from start to finish there
is no way to fully enforce this rule, and that its just something that unfortunately we have
to live with.

Marty

Reminds me of a political debate. Two sides so extreme that each side thinks the other is completely nuts and unreasonable. And in many ways, both sides are right. Kind of like how Ted Nugent wouldn't be the best gun rights advocate to have a civil discussion with Nancy Pelosi, you know?

It seems like you are the one throwing around the insults my friend...and on what, your first post here on BF's??? You just signed up and already start blasting everyone? Take it easy and relax. The board typically has a friendlier vibe. We can all get along and we can agree to disagree, but don't come in here brand new and start blasting people with your insults and expect everyone to just agree with you.

In the main, I agree with your point. I have never started early...I like the big crowd even though I know it can be treacherous.

I'm just saying...take it easy with the attitude, and you might get a little better responses.

On another point, I am not a racer. But I have to say, if I was, I would stay away from this thing. Aren't there much better races out there without all the hassle of the massive group ride? I'm not being sarcastic here, I'm legitimately asking because I don't know much about the established races.

Sup Tex?

I think after a fashion you were right, but not through any point that you argued. Besides, you made that comment really close to the beginning of the ride when I was all nerves and hopes that I would at least make hell's gate. Shoot, I blasted through there with 2 hours to spare. I was on the ride and thought that the way the riders were distributed across BOTH LANES of the road was simply amusing. Pretty much everyone at the start crowded left, just like the highways around here, leaving the right lane for much slower riders, kids, and people keeping something of a pace.

I was puzzled at some of the mile marks since I started with the big group as to how some of these really speed challenged riders could possibly be on the course before me, when I'm banging down the chip & seal at 20 mph? It hadn't occurred to me that so many people cheated and made their own start line. I agree with the OP that people should start with the rest of us. If you want to make 100 miles, train for it. Don't cheat and give yourself extra time, sheesh. I've been brutalizing myself on weekday and weekend rides for weeks to make the century. The least the speed challenged can do is do a shorter course, start with your speed group, or train harder.

to the trolls and or detractors here.
1) Public roads blah blah blah. Sorry buit once they are CORDONED off as they are during the race and CONTROLLED as far as traffic etc.. they cease to be 'public' for the intent of the race and ride.
2) to the nasty trolls, man just shut up. I did not come here to debate or start flame threads. the problem i am talking about is because of people like you. You think it's ok to break the rules i don't. Period.
3) just forget posting about it if all you are going to do is defend and indefensible position. You are breaking the rules and endangering other riders plain and simple.
Butterbean, maybe we need to start this over.

I actually would and no not the internet tough guy bullsht but it's frustrating and I think most agree that it is.

You realize by saying this that they are going to troll you harder now, right?

definitely. Calling people trolls and telling them not to post doesn't work around here

Interesting you said that. I ride the Houston to Austin MS150 every year. I am not fast...avg about 16 mph. And every year, I pass slower riders all the way there. But, I'm also still getting passed by speed demons and pace lines 50 or 60 miles out. I often wonder how they could be so far behind that they are just now passing me. I wasn't riding fast and I didn't leave early. I wonder if they are asking themselves if I cheated (like you could cheat on a charity ride).

It seems there is more to it than most folks realize. Not every slow rider in front of you cheated.

agreed

One simple solution would be to move the start line out from the center of town far enough to where anyone riding their bike to participate must come the start area from behind or via side roads, but not from the front (in town starts are okay with <10K riders, but >14K, not so much). So many people came from hotels located up the ride route that they simple stopped and waited for the event start at the closest distance on the route from their respective hotels. These people were not worried about chip timing as they most likely just wanted to participate in the rather large group start. I swear, there must have been at least three thousand (leisurely riders) people up ahead of the official starting area. Just say’n.

Actually, yes... In past years it wasn't uncommon to have Bubba and the kids come wobbling across the finish line right as the race was sprinting for the finish ;-)

Beginning last year, and continuing this year, the race course splits off about a mile short of the beer stop, and finishes on a different street than does the endurance rides.

But then, this is the HHH... think of Critical Mass on steroids, for 102 miles or so. The only real difference is that most riders will be in "bike clothes", and going a lot faster.

That's an interesting idea, but a couple of problems immediately arise. First off, if the start point is some FM road 5 miles out of town, where does everyone park? Or do you ride 5 miles to the start point? Secondly, unless you also move the finish to that point, you no longer have a 100 miles.

Not sure where everyone came from, but if you extend the start out anther mile, mile half you would probably put a good numer behind the start coming from the high concentration of hotels. Still have a 100 miler. Just say'n.

I'm throwing this out there, I'm sure it's been though of before, and there is a reason they can't do it, but.....


I know it's a HUGE event, but would it be possible to maybe do Saturday for the 50 mile, 100 mile, 100K "fun" rides on Saturday and then run all the races/crits or whatever on Sunday?

Just curious. I'm sure there is a reason it won't work, or they would have done it already. Probably just the logistics of closing off those roads for two whole days, police, volunteers etc. But as this thing gets bigger and bigger, surely something has to be done.

I don't know that it's necessarily growing. They had a bumper crop of riders this year due to the weather. Had it been 100+, probably would have been smaller than last year.

How bout this for an idea? Put all the 25 milers in front, then the 50 milers, then the 100k's, then the slow 100 milers, the medium 100 milers, and the fast 100 milers in the very back. Then 30 seconds before ride time, announce "Everybody please turn around. We're riding in the opposite direction this year!"

: standing-freaking-ovation :

The bumper crop is something amazing to me. It took a lot of planning for me to make it up to Wichita Falls. I had everything booked weeks ahead of time. It took me 7 hours of driving to get from Houston to Wichita falls, and another hour of driving to get from there to my hotel in Vernon. How is it people can just up and decide to ride a ride in such a remote place? Are there really that many people that live that close to WF? It seemed pretty lonely out there to me. The fact that you could register the day before was amazing to me.

I wonder if closing registration a couple of weeks before the ride could do something to 'cull the numbers' ? I mean shoot, the BPMS150 registration this year closed a few days after it opened because so many people signed up so fast. It was closed months before!

Maybe a fundraising requirement could step back the number of 'bleh' riders? I mean if you're riding for a cancer of some kind maybe it would change things?

I don't believe the idea is to reduce the number of riders.The HHH steering committee did exactly what the are supposed to do. Bring in the cyclist and their familys and handle the crowds once they arrived in Wichita Falls. Maybe the MS150 has set a number of riders they can handle safely, and close registration once that number has been achieved.I have already started my trip for next year by booking my room a year in advance. Some hotels won't take reservations until Jan. 01, but my hotel lets us reserve early. Maybe you should start your planning early to make your nextHHH more enjoyable.

You are correct about the fund raising.... it will limit riders. Take it how you want... I will be one of them. i don't think cutting numbers will solve anything... you'll still have the same number (at least %) starting early and getting in the way of the other riders.

The start LOCATION isn't the issue, it's the TIME. I could care less if you start 3 miles into the course... just don't start 1hr early.

As for fast riders passing you late in the ride. Some riders ride at 30mph for 100mi. Some ride at 30mph between EACH stop, and stop at EACH stop. They'll leap frog and be passing people all day. Can't stop that... it's the actual race, which is a... ummm... RACE that I don't think should be effected.

With that said, you will NEVER get people to agree to follow rules.


Think of speed limits on public roads.

Limit of 70mph.
People creeping along (for good reason or not) at 40mph makes it VERY unsafe and causes lots of congestion.
People drive 69mph to get all they can, and not break the rule.
People drive 90+ to limit time on road, enjoy the drive, get there on time, because they have prepped the car for it, etc etc.

Everyone has an opinion, everyone can be considered dangerous to others. No one will change. And that is WITH police enforcement ;)

"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..."

I went to the Saturday morning bike ride this morning, and I think half or more of the guys there had been at the HH100 last week. Generally, the comments were that it was a great ride (unusually nice weather!). One guy had knee problems and had to sag in, etc., but overall, they were pretty pleased with the day. They did comment on seeing a few wrecks and on slow traffic on the first hill, but still felt positively about the ride. So I think perhaps this and other threads get a skewed perspective on it. Reading all this, you would assume that no one will ever ride it again, and it'll just be cancelled next year due to lack of interest, which is not likely to be the case.

My morning auto commute takes about 45 minutes. If I remember right, on Thursday, I saw one or two wrecked cars, and same on Friday. So if I drive a couple of hours on the freeway, and see a wrecked car, I don't think much about it- fairly normal. Riding the HH100, I spent about 7.5 hours on the bike, and saw the results of 3 or maybe 4 wrecks. IE, the "wrecks per hour" were about on par with what I'll see while driving on congested roads. Which helps to put it in perspective.

I enjoyed it a lot. Downed a beer at the starting line and one at the end.