Trek760, just wondering where you heard that about police cracking down on the early starters. Its a good idea but I don't see how it can happen. The police are spread pretty thin as it is.

"How are the hills?"
There's not too many, and they're not very steep. The last two years, I've ridden the 100 mile course on my single-speed cruiser, if that tells you anything. If you're used to the coast, it may seem hilly. If you're used to DFW or other non-coastal areas, and don't intentionally seek out the flat parts, you should be okay. As I recall, there's some hills from about mile 20-27 or so, then some others scattered along.

"but I'm really worried about making it to hell's gate."
There again, I made it on that cruiser. Last year, I had a flat at about mile 20, and just barely made it to Hell's Gate. Anyway, if you can maintain an average speed of 14-15 mph and don't just camp out at the rest areas, you should be fine. If your average is below that, maybe watch the timing a little closer. When figuring scheduling, keep in mind that you have up to a half-hour at the start before you really get rolling.

I hear about the police thing from an organizer. It needs to happen for the safety of the racers. People who leave early are selfish. Sorry if that offends anyone.

They need to have the racers leave at 6:45. The HHH 100m riders leave at 7. The 100k riders should leave at 7:30 and have the 50, 25 and 10 riders departing at 8. There also need to be fenced in corrals like you find with big marathons, they force people into the areas they are supposed to be in and it works much better than the chaos normally found on HHH morning.

I love this event and only want to see it get better.

The early starters aren't selfish, they are lazy and stupid. Lazy because they don't want to go the start line and wait for the official start with the rest of us. Stupid because they don't realize what could happen to them if they get tangled with the pros or the pack of 100 milers. I don't care if I offend on this topic. On the rest of the start, I think the organizers had got it figured out. It has worked great the last two years. Besides, you try to hold the pack back very long and you will have more of the early jumpers.

You have important information regarding the people leaving early impeding a race. Due to this information I would not leave early, because I would not want to be an impediment.


I was hoping for this type of information in a more friendly reply to a newbie post. This will be my first HHH 100 mi event. I was hoping to avoid an accident at the start of the event being in a huge group.

I would not consider myself stupid or lazy for wanting to leave early. I would be selfish after knowing your information that I would imped racers and still plan to leave early. I would not lazy by wanting to make the Hells Gate cut-off and being able to complete the whole 100 mi. I would not be stupid for wishing to avoid an accident at the start. I am not stupid for wanting to obtain information from others who have ridden prior HHH 100 events.

There was a very helpful person who has done 26 HHH 100's. He didn't advocate leaving early, and he mentioned that I would be passed by many riders. I was suspecting that by leaving at 6 AM, it would be ~ 9AM before I would be passed by faster riders leaving at 7 AM. Faster endurance riders would most likely be strung out by then. Racers would probably still be in one or more large pelotons at 9AM.

Hey, this is just my opinion. It's your ride, plan it as you will. Don't let my coments ruin it. If you are going to start at 6:00 AM, you better have some good lights, it's pretty dark on that rode to Iowa Park. One thing though, you may be off on your math just a bit. I don't think it will take those boys leaving at 7:00 two hours to catch you.
Just be careful and have a good ride.

I'm guessing they would catch you within an hour. I'm not a hot dog myself but I remember when I was younger the adrenaline of the start would keep me above 25 for almost the first hour.

There are also the tandems that leave early, and the racers.

You have made really good points, and I think I should wait and leave with the horde.

For the math:

If I left at 6 AM and rode 17 mph, I would be at mi 51 at 9 Am.

If the racers left at 7 AM and rode 25 mph, they would be at mi 50 at 9 AM.

They could catch me at 8 AM if they rode 34 mph and I rode 17 mph with the assumption I left at 6 and they left at 7.

I do know that 34 mph is possible for world class racers, but I wasn't thinking there would be that many in Wichita Falls.

This is all hypothetical because you have convinced me to wait.

There were 700 USCF riders last year, up from 600 the previous year. This year the pro men leave at 6:50, the women leave at 7:06. They expect the pros to be through in a little over 3 hours. Anyone doing the 100 miler may want to plan on getting to the start line early. I know a few guys who want to be at the line no later that 6:00.

Thanks for providing the additional information. In addition to your information being useful it is interesting. I value any additional tips you can give a first time participant.

I may be riding the 100 mile. Would be my first HH100

Sorry to report- I crashed a week ago so I won't make it to HHH this year. My first miss in 27 years.

We are sorry to learn of your misfortune. Please keep us posted on your progress!

I'm in. Registering today. Going with group of about 6 or 7 guys from Fort Worth. Probably eat at Johnny Carino's as always, usually no wait on a Friday night.

I'm in. This will be my first HH100. Not sure if I want to do the century or the shorter route which goes through the Air Force base. Being retired AF myself I thought it would be cool.

The route through the airbase is pretty neat. There is a spot where you crossover a section of what looks like taxiway and they usually have some static displays set up there. They also have static displays set up throughout the base (airplanes on pedestals). They will have lots of soldiers out controlling traffic, and at least the past couple of years they had a long line of soldiers cheering as the riders went by. (I always wanted to write a letter to the base and tell them that even though I appreciate the support from the soldiers, we should really be applauding them.)

I'm now registered and staying at Katie's Kids Camp on Friday night. If anyone around Dallas is planning some training rides I'd love to join. White Rock lake gets a little boring by yourself.

Phillip

bj, sorry to hear about the crash. Hope you feel better soon. (ps, they are Airmen not soldiers. I served for 8 years in the 90's)

Hmmm...I'm new to the distance rides, but I'm tempted to go. I might have to jump on the 100km ride. There are so many options though...what are the differences?

Of course some routes are longer than others...
Everybody starts at the same place, at least for the 25 mile and above routes. Everybody ends at the same place, although some of the routes don't come back together until right at the finish line. Some of the course is shared by different routes, but the shorter routes typically peel off early and loop back to the finish. All of the routes have similar scenery, all of them have regular rest stops. The 100k and 100m routes get a little more scenery and small rolling hills on the southwest side of Iowa Park. All but the 100 mile route go through the airbase.

Where are the 25 mile races? Or are those just the kid races?

There is a 25 mile route (not a race). Naturally there are a lot of people with kids on this route, and in fact I did it once with my daughter when she was younger. The route would also be appropriate for someone that is a beginner to cycling or someone who has not been able to train much. The 25 mile route breaks off from the other routes fairly early, goes by its own rest stop, then rejoins the other routes just before going through the airforce base.

I'm in! I just did the WildRide 64miler and that was my longest so far. I'm excited to test myself in this and can't wait to ride with so many people! I think it's time to buy some proper bike shorts though.. lol

Most definitely!

And don't forget good glasses and especially a good helmet. Then some jersey's, then cycling shoes with cleats. But whatever you do don't forget the good glasses and good helmet.

If you don't have an opportunity for some shopping before the event, there are plenty of vendors set up at the HHH that will sell you everything you need before the ride.

i'm broke as a joke rocking a centurion ironman from 88 with tax refund check mavic kyseriums. i got some shoes and that was a crazy step up, shorts will hopefully happen tho. giordana or bust!

I figure bike shorts are made to solve specific problems, and if you don't have the problems, then it's just a matter of style.

If you ride enough you will have those specific problems.

Evidently 11,499 miles is not enough riding, then. I shall press on.

slacker (lol!)

I've just spent the past 2 weeks visiting my parents in Sausalito CA where it is unseasonably cold right now. I rode in leg warmers, arm warmers, beanie and a windbreaker every day. I need to do some afternoon rides in the next few weeks so I can get used to the heat or HHH will be miserable!

This will be my wife and I's 1st HH100. We are from Tyler and can't wait to experience this event. Our longest ride to date(1 month) is 32 miles at TMS. How different will it be at HH100??