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Hotter n Hell Hundred - Wichita Falls, TX

August 25, 2007

Great ride again. Not as hot or windy as years past. I will say you dont do this ride for the scenery which is, well...lots and lots of nothing. But the riders are great, the volunteers are even better, and its a great challenge/goal every year. Train for it...this is not a ride to be taken lightly. Electra, once again, how you come up with homemade cookies for 13,000 riders is beyond me...but Ill take 2 more for the road.

This year's HHH was like most other years that I have done the ride. It really is hard to compare this to any other ride because it is the whole package that you get to experience,not just the ride itself.
If you get to Wichita Falls on Friday afternoon you start seeing one bike carrier after another.Then it's off to the MPEC to sign up.It's here you discover just how many different types of cyclists there are out there.And you walk into the trade show to pick up your packet.No cyclist is going to walk into this place just to pick up the packet! Something is going to catch your eye and your wallet.But it is FUN!
The ride is the usual polished event that it has been for years. Problems in the past- of course,how many event organizers can boast of 13to 15,000 riders in their event. Not many if any. I don't do the HHH for the scenery cause there ain't none. It's cyclists coming together and sharing hot weather,crazy rest stops,the best medical people on hand for what we do,and meeting with people from all walks of life who happen to share our crazy sport.I got to see the pro riders pass us this year and all any of us could say was wow,amazing and holy #&@% !!! Our group happened to be doing around 30mph when the pros came by and we got to see them for maybe 30 to 45 seconds,and then it was over.They were gone.
The heat and sun made their usual appearence but not as much as in other years. Plenty of everything at the rest stops.One of the staff at R-5 held my bike while I took care of my needs and then handed me an ice cold paper towel and said good luck,enjoy the ride. Pretty neat.At the finish there was more of everything plus the fire hydrant sprayer which in itself has become an HHH tradition.Then its food and live music and maybe back to the trade show to buy the stuff you were drooling about the night before.Every cyclist worth his or her salt should try this event at least one time.It just changes the way you look at the sport.
My biggest problem with this event is the hotels.I have been doing this ride since the 80's and it's hit or miss with these guys. This year we missed the mark and had to get another hotel because they forgot to clean the room and all their help quit that morning! Oops. Can't blame the HHH for that one. As for the ride---" like a bad hemorrhoid"---I"LL BE BACK!!
Joe,Abilene Tx

Great ride and excellent organization. I really liked the airmen cheering us on at Sheppard on the 100k route. HHH ROCKS!

Great ride as usual _ NOTE to slow riders leaving early - DONT leave early - You are creating a serious hazard out there - going 15-18 while groups are going 24-26 passing you - You slow guys cant hold line well enough not to cause a crash - Just because you are staying right doesnt help because you slow guys veer left to pass even slower riders going 12-14.

The ride, as usual, was exceptionally well executed by the HHH folks. My only issue with this (and nearly every other) ride is the need to "educate" some of the riders for whom this is apparently their first mass ride. There are always far too many riders passing on the right, weaving through traffic, failing to ride their "line" until well past the rider they were passing, etc. Perhaps HHH could "deputize" some long-time riders as ride marshals and delegate to them the power to have those who won't abide by the rules of courteous riding removed from the ride. If not, I am afraid that someone will be seriously injured because of some knucklehead ignoring rules that make us all safe.

This was my first HHH experience. The expo was fun to walk around and the meal was good. The on-site RV camping was great to be near the start line, to have air conditioning, and to have a newspaper delivered right to the trailer. It was truly amazing to see that many people on bikes lined up at the start. The F-16 Flyover was a nice touch. I did the 50 mile route and the course was flat and smooth for the most part. The rest stops were all great and the cool towels felt great in the heat. I enjoyed riding through the Air Force base right through the planes and the service men and women cheering us on. The wind picked up after about 30 miles. I enjoyed riding through the fire hose after the finish line. More than just a ride, this was a great experience.

First year rookie and did the 50 mile route. This is my 5th group ride ever and is right up there with the Richardson Wild Ride for me. Same party atmosphere over a weekend frame, but with a cycling theme. I am very impressed with how it is organized and was quite impressed with how Wichita Falls accommodates the mass infiltration of so many cyclists. The ride through Sheppard Air Force base was simply awesome and the best part of the whole ride. Not sure if all the airmen were out to cheer for us because of the USAF 60 year anniversary or because Gen. Devereaux and Team Sheppard were riding this year. Either way it was totally cool to have them out there. Great rest stops and many thanks to all the volunteers. Only complaint with the rest stops and other rides that do the same thing, please offer more than one flavor of “power drink”, ie gatorade, powerade, etc. at each rest stop. I have to keep dumping and rinsing my bottles to accommodate a new flavor. It’s a minor annoyance, but with as much revenue and planning for the HH100 they could coordinate this one easily. Might just be me and if it is I can get over it and pack my own mix :) I am thoroughly hooked and will be back next year to do the 100K and spend way to much at the consumer show again.

My FIRST HHH and my FIRST Century!
My Ratings Organization:
9/10 my only complaint is if they could get riders to line up properly. If you are going to ride the 100k get to the back, riding the 100m but in 8hrs...go to the back. This is more on the individual than the organizers. With electronic timing there is no need to cross the start line as soon as the cannon blasts. It would be safer for all if everyone lined up in the correct area! Registration was super fast and easy!
Route: 9/10 I am not sure...didn't really notice. It was very flat and non descript but fine
Roads 8/10 Some really nice roads and some average roads but good! All intersections controlled by the Police.
Rest Stops 10/10 I only stopped once on the 100 mile route to refill my bottles and the rest stop was UNBELIEVABLE! Refilled my bottles with ICE COLD and ICE FILLED POWERADE! My bottles stayed cool the rest of the ride! Ultra Friendly and Ultra HELPFUL! A perfect score!
The Experience: 10/10 Consumer show great, t-shirt and bottle great! Pin given to finishers GREAT! If you have yet to ride HHH you must put in on the calendar...you don't have to ride the 100mile to experience HHH just go ride any distance and you will truly appreciate this great event! The Air Force fly over before the start made my hair on my arms stand up! Great Job HHH I look forward to driving up next year! PS You can easily drive up from Fort Worth in the early morning the day of and ride! Registration is a fast and very efficient! Leave at 3:30 get there by 5:30am and you would have plenty of time!

The rest stop on Shepard AFB blew me away. First is was a great rest stop and then those airmen standing on each side of the street for a block and cheering us on. That was great. I ride every year and the AFB rest stop this year was the greatest.

Another great weekend in Wichita Falls. The temperature did not get up too high, but the wind did. The last 10 or so miles up the service road from Burkburnet is always fun into the south wind. The final count for attendence was 10,205. I was hopeful that promised changes to start would prove to make for a faster start, but the hope dwindled as I saw a steady stream of riders walking passed where we staged behind the second pylon. I thought same o, same o. But when the canon finally went off(late I might add), I checked my watch when we went under the start banner, and it was 7:18. I was more than impressed. We usually don't start moving toward the start until 7:30. In my opinion the new start was a success. The ride itself was again great. The rest stops were stocked with every thing needed. The people who man them are the best. Nothing but smiling faces and support for the weary riders. The enlisted people at the Air Base was to me one of the most impressive shows of support I have ever witnessed. People who are training to go who knows where to protect us were cheering us for simply riding a bicycle. We should have stopped and cheered them for what they do. Having a son in the Military, this was an emotional moment for me. I wish I knew some way to thank them for their actions.
As always, the people of Wichita Falls and surrounding communities were great. Other than a SNAFU with the Comfort Inn, it was a great weekend. We will be back next year.

This was my 3rd year riding and my first century. The people of Wichita Falls did a fantastic job, as usual, and were out in full force cheering all the riders on. The rest stops were not only well manned with many enthusiastic volunteers, but I would be surprised if they ran out of anything. There seemed to be endless liquids and food to handle the numerous riders. One suggestion I have for the city leaders, considering the amount of income this event brings to their area, is to repave some of the roads on the 100 mile route. It would only make the ride that much better. And lastly, a big thank you to all the residents of Wichita Falls who open their homes to riders. They deserve a big THANK YOU.

AHHHH! The annual pilgrimage to cyclists' mecca! The warm fuzzy starts while driving from F.W to W.F.early Friday afternoon, seeing all sorts of vehicles toting their wheels on the inside and outside (who's the dude with the '60's white VW bus named "Ethel"? Loved it!) making their way west. Hit the already crowded MPEC parking lot at 3:20, saw Gene with REI maintenance van & Dana with RBM working hard in the heat to help folks in need. Registration a 30-second breeze, trade show always great, getting stoked for the big event!
Who ordered the awesome weather? Volunteers were in their usual great form: Deb & Dorman at 20-mile rest stop (carnival), Gilligan's Island gang at the Delphi plant and everyone else throughout the route are super! And how about the cheering crowd at Sheppard AFB? Can y'all believe it! We didn't stop at the rest stop there, but boy, what a nice welcome!
Sure did enjoy meeting new folks from near & far (guys from Kansas City and several folks from St Louis, American Airlines mechanics from Tulsa) and seeing old acquaintances.
Stayed at the after-ride event (we all sure can suck up the cold beer after all is said and done, eh?); excellent music, well done! Had an exceptionally great time this year.......see y'all in 2008! Kathy "Duck"

I rode this event for the 1st time in 15 years, 100M route. It has grown so much - bigger and better. Everything was perfect - the route, the rest stops (ice filled pitchers of water and gatorade - wow), the people from registration to the rest stops (and the folks who came out in Burkeburnett), the flyover, the cannon, the expo, the Friday night Criteriums.
The only complaint I have is the slower riders leaving early, which the organizers can't do anything about. I started about 25ft behind the start/finish banner, and we probably passed about 800 people the 1st 25 miles, all with cross winds and people echeloning across the road - very dangerous and nervous, both the passers and passees were getting annoyed. Note to everybody - begin at the start/finish area at the right section - its safer for everybody.

The HHH 2007 was another huge success....Starting on Friday with the medical symposium, it was very informative and Dr. Williamson deserves a huge thank you for all the hard work that he and his team do in putting this all together, plus thank you for allowing nurses to get CEU's...Everyone should consider attending this next year!!!! Then Mr. Christy and his team did a absolute A +++ rated ride, Shepherds Air Force Base was very inspiring to ride thru with the airmen out there to cheer us on...Rest stops were quickly moving riders in and out BUT could we have more mens makeshift bathroom like rest stop #2 by the trucks, it makes for the girls to be able to get in and out of the portapotties quicker also...Once again thank you to everyone at the HHH, we'll be back!!!!

While I will agree that the HHH ride itself is one of the best managed around, especially considering the sheer size of the ride, lets not get all emotional about the good folks of Wichita Falls. I'm speaking specifically about the hotel room rates. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm getting a little tired of being gouged for $120.00 to $150.00 a night, and a minimum two night stay, for a hotel room that would cost $49.99 a night any other weekend of the year. And before I start hearing arguments about "supply and demand", I overheard the desk clerk at the hotel I stayed at checking in another customer. Since that customer wasn't in town for the HHH, he got to pay the regular $50.00 a night rate. It seems the $120.00 to $150.00 a night rates and two night minimum are reserved specifically for the bike riders. That's why, starting next year, I'm going to be staying outside of Wichita Falls and driving into town that morning for the ride. As soon as the ride is over, I'll be leaving town. I don't plan on spending 1 penny more in Wichita Falls than I have to. I encourage everyone else to do the same.

August 26, 2006

The 25th Anniversary ride lived up to its name. Hell’s Gate closed 1 ½ hours early (11:00 vice 12:30) due to the heat. We had started toward the front of the pack, made only two rests stops and averaged almost 17 MPH and were some of the last ones let through the gate (at 60 miles) to complete the 102 mile course. I am sure there were hundreds if not several thousand behind us who were turned away for safety reasons. One thing we did not see at or after the 50 mile rest stop was ice. Warm water refills were the order of the day, but the volunteers did have enough ice to give you a cold rag when you stopped which at least let you get the salt out of your eyes. That might be why every SAG wagon we saw was full of people packing it in for the day, with people stopped under every tree to get out of the sun. We stopped at the 78 mile stop to plenty of fresh fruit and watermelon, and the 84 mile stop for a hot dog, fajitas, and cookies. Rest stop volunteers were very apologetic about the lack of cold drinks, but it just seems the organizers were not ready for 11,800 riders and 104 degree heat (we heard they had 100 tons of ice at the start). Our computer temp gauge stayed in the 115 – 120 degree range from the 65 mile point to the finish…. Will we do this next year…you bet!!

Absolute mayhem. If you're not a racer or distance rider, save your time and money. You can ride neighborhood and freeway service roads at home anytime (we rode the 50 mile route). And all the motels require you to pay for Friday and Saturday night. And with 10k-11k riders, there's not enough real parking. With the possible exception of Southlake and Red Hot Chilli Pepper, this is the worst ride of the circuit. Only the marketing makes this ride popular. Go ride a rally with real scenic routes and no hassles like Mineral Wells or Glen Rose.

I hadn't ridden the Hotter n Hell since 1991 and was pretty surprised at how it had grown. The trade show was great! And, as for the ride, it was everything that you could hope for. There was atmosphere (even though the atmosphere got to 100 or so by the time I finished!), enthusiasm and plenty of fun. I did the hundred miles and found the course a good one. The first 60 miles went by in what seemed a breeze...the group with which I was lucky enough to ride got the Hell's Gate at 9:59 and, so, made the cut off. The rest of the ride, though, seemed to go on forever. If the rest stops had not been so well stocked with water, powerade, food and enthusiastic support staff I'm not sure that we would have made it to the end. We were lucky enough not to follow the bogus directions (not a part of the official ride staff) at the 80 mile point (they led to riders adding an extra 13 miles to their ride). The end was a most welcome sight. I had finally gotten a century under 5 hours! Taken, all-in-all, the Hotter n Hell was an athletic event, a cultural event and a chance to ride with almost 12,000 riders. From my point of view, it was flawless in execution from start to finish. This is the Crown Jewel of Texas bike riding....

I did the 50 mile ride and I thought it was excellent. The organization of the ride, rest stops and volunteers was superb. I really enjoyed the aircraft lined up on the AFB and the trade show was great too. All the rest of the rides this year will now be anticlimactic. When does pre-registration open? I'm ready to sign up!

This was my sixth year to ride in the Hotter N Hell ride in Wichita Falls, Texas. Every year has been astonishingly fun and exciting for me. It’s not only a ride that is sponsored and supported in extremely good fashion and carried off with incredible finesse, it’s a grand challenge coming toward the end of the summer at just the right time before starting into fall. It’s also a chance to meet a multitude of fellow cyclists and even make lasting friendships. As a teacher I find it a great capstone to the season. However, this year I must lodge one unfavorable comment, and I do so with sadness and reluctance. The “Hell’s Gate,” a point at 62miles into the race through which all cyclists must pass to complete the 100 miles, was closed to riders at 11:30. The diverting of riders from this point back toward town had always occurred at 12:30, and such was suppose to be the case this year. Apparently, an official declared it too “hot” for the “Hotter n Hell” to continue, such that large numbers of riders who spent a summer of sweaty riding to gear up for this ride, including me, were effectively let down. I would even venture to suggest that the day wasn’t really all that hot, at any rate. Some of us were forced to begin behind the huge crowd of 13,000 riders bunched up at the start and then cope with that handicap by riding hard to reach the aforementioned Hell’s Gate. In my case, an aged, sickly mother was waiting at the finish line to see her middle age son wheel in, and considering her health, this might be the last opportunity for that shared experience. If the riders are ever treated in this way again, I will cease driving up from San Antonio to participate, and though I will miss the wonderful people, good vibes, and riders there, I will concentrate on other rides officiated by less timid persons.

This was my first time to ride the HHH. I did the 50-mile route, and was impressed! One word comes to mind with this ride: organization. When you have 11,000+ people in one place, it requires organization, and the hosts did a perfect job. I learned the benefit of pickle juice at this ride, and I’m grateful that the rest stops had it. Everyone was friendly and helpful. One suggestion I have is to add signs approaching each rest stop that say how far it is to the next rest stop. That helps in deciding whether to stop now or later. I would have appreciated that for the rest stop at mile 25. That is just one minor detail that does not dampen at all the joy I received during this ride. There is an energy an enthusiasm at HHH that is unmatched at any other ride. It really is “the” ride of the year. I’m glad I could bike it this year, and I’m looking forward to giving the 100K a go next year.

My first time to ride this and most things were great. Signup was incredibly well organized and the exhibits in the convention center were awesome. One disappointment was that I had a series of flat tires between 55 and 65 miles and NEITHER one of the the two rest stops in that area had a pump. Two sag wagons went by and neither of THEM had a pump. I had changed my tube and pumped my tire up to about 100 lbs but needed a non-portable pump to take it up to 140. I finally obtained the use of a pump from the third sag wagon (REI). It would seem that a pump would be a pretty basic piece of equipment for both rest stops and sag wagons, but maybe I'm misinformed. As for the early closing of Hell's Gate, I think people should have been given the option to take the longer route. If they are planning on closing the Gate early in case of extreme heat (It IS the "HOTTER 'N Hell"), they should publicize and have a policy such as, "If the temp goes above XXX degrees by XXX time, then we will close the Gate at XXX time." As it was, they disappointed and angered a lot of people. On the other hand, a lot of people turned around at the finish line and rode back the 13 or so miles and back to the line to get 100 miles in so you can't say you didn't have the opportunity to get your desired mileage in. All in all, a good experience and a good ride, even with some minor problems. I'll do it again next year.

I was one of the lucky ones that got to ride the HHH 110 miles this year. Someone changed the course marker where the 100 mile and the 100k routes link up and a large number of us missed the right turn and proceeded to add an extra 10 miles to the route. I am not sure how the arrow got changed, but it was very disappointing that this happened this year especially given the fact the HHH lived up to its billing for this first time in 3 years with the heat and the head wind we faced for almost 25 (those of us who got off course got a nice challenge). It was pretty demoralizing to think you have less than 10 miles left and are then told the course marking got changed and you now have 20 miles left. Having ridden this ride numerous times I should have known better but I was in a group of riders who all blew right past the correct turn. I do want to thank the individuals who created at least 2 "emergency" rest stops for us. These guys brought trucks with ice and water for us to re-fill our bottles up while on this route as well as trucks and trailers for those who decided to abandon the ride at this point. If they hadn't done that I would guess there would have been a number of people in real difficulty out there on that route. I am not sure if this error was the HHH organizers fault (some prankster I guess thought this would be a funny joke to switch the signs up), but it did leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I will say the ride prior to this was fantastic. The people who sponsor the rest stops do a wonderful job. I will be back next year and I will be sure to know where to make the correct turn!

First time to attempt the Hotter-n-Hell 100. What a great ride with great rest stops. All the volunteers were wonderful. The only problem I had was they closed Hell’s gate so my ride was shortened to 75 miles. This was suppose to be my first century ride. I completely understand the organizers reasons and agree with them 100%. Safety is the most important thing on a ride. Just the sheer number of riders was amazing. I’ll be back next year hopefully a little faster and leaner to get my century.

HH 100, 2006, 100 mile route
BOOOOOOOOOOOO
No ice at 50 mile rest stop.
Closed Hell’s Gate MUCH too early.
Race was commandeered by pansies. Why train your rear off in the heat only to be denied the opportunity to achieve your goal. VERY aggravating.

I think the HHH has outgrown its management. I pre-registered by mail, but on Friday evening, I had to spend a half-hour in two lines to get my ride packet, and then had to wade through heavy crowds in the vendor area to find the T-shirt table.
The spaghetti dinner was good, but the pancake/egg/sausage breakfast seemed on the meager side.
I rode the 100K course. I went this year partly because they started recumbents up front with the tandems, and the start did indeed go well. In the past, I had to walk my bike for about a half-hour after the "start" before I got to the starting line.
The rest stops would do well to work like R1. They had several people roaming the area with pitchers of PowerAde and ice water. At most other stops, I had to wait in line up to five minutes to get to the cooler. I also learned to go to the cooler to find out if it was water or PowerAde before I went to the end of the line.
R12, the third rest stop for me ran out of PowerAde. I can live with that. R13 and R14 (my fourth and fifth) ran out of ice. I cannot live with that. Fortunately R14 got more ice before I left. I sure wish they would clearly label the pickle juice, especially when the PowerAde is the same color. Yechhh!
Signage left a lot to be desired. Most of it was spray paint on the road. I missed a turn in Burkburnett and wound up taking an altroute to the I-44 service road.

This was my 15th straight. HHH was hurt this year by limp wristed staff that decided it was too hot and closed Hells Gate at 11:00. They need to change this ride to the Bait N Switch 100. I guess you can ride a century if it is a cool day.

This ride lived up to it's billing. This was my sixth year in a row to do this, and it had to be the toughest. Luckily my pace was fast enough to make it through Hell's Gate before it closed. It was a shame to close it early, but I understand that the organizers have to put safety first. I also understand why the other posters would be upset, but fortunately, they were not the only riders on the course and the staff needs to do what is best for EVERYBODY. This was purely a medical decision made by the medical staff and NOT a decision made by the HHH staff. I think the physicians manning the medical tents have a better idea of what the heat, humidity, wind, etc have on the body during an endurance event such as this. I am no speedster by any means, but I made it though Hell's Gate with plenty of time to spare. Perhaps these people will realize there ability or lack of, or possibly train harder for next time. The HHH website does explain about Hell's Gate and the potential to close it early if the weather gets extreme. All in all this was again an excellent event. Perhaps the organizers were not totally prepared for the huge increase in riders, but I think they did a great job. I was disappointed in some of the rest stops running out of ice, but the heat, the demand for ice, and the 12000 riders may have had something to do with this. Thank-you to all the volunteers who braved the heat to attend to ALL of us. You guys put on a very organized and well run event and I appreciate all you do

If you can’t get to Hells Gate by 4 hours then you are going too slow and the management should be concerned about your safety. I’m shocked that people are complaining about this event. As a bike rally, HHH is the big leagues versus the charming but modest bike rallys in other small towns. HHH has become a great weekend: The drive from Dallas, the people watching at the consumer show, setting the tent up in a parking medium just outside the MREC center, a quick bike tune-up and a nap, the early morning thrill of 10,000 cyclist riding all manner of bikes, the superlative support during the ride, the pacelines, the excitement of finishing, driving to Lawton to rest and ride in the Wichita mountains the next morning (if you have not ridden up Mt. Scott, 3 miles of 8-12 percent grades (I think there should be a time trial up it on Sunday). Back to Wichita Falls for some real exciting crits that were woefully ignored by the Saturday throngs.

This year’s HHH lived up to it’s name!

I echo the sentiments of the reviewer who used the term “Bait and Switch”. When I rode through Burkburnett at 11:25 a.m., the Bank sign there flashed up that it was 95 degrees. That seemed pretty normal for Wichita County in August. The Hell’s Gate closing should have been communicated to bikers at one of the earlier rest stops, particularly the one in Burkburnett because it was so close to Hell’s Gate cutoff. Also lost in this equation is the fact that cyclists are penalized one hour at the start because it takes that long to filter through the starting gate. The only reason to do this ride is to say you did the HHH and 100 miles. I didn’t get what I signed on for. Happiness last Saturday was Wichita Falls in my rear view mirror.

Feedback re: Sat.'s Hotter-N-Hell 100 Ride in Wichita Falls, TX: I've ridden the HHH 12 to 15 times over the past 25 years, but this year seemed to have more problems than in past years. Rode 102 mile course in 2000 in extreme heat - Were the rules different then re: closing the course early?
1. I disagreed with decision to close Hell's Gate an hour and a half early, but understood reasons due to high heat index. Organizers should have announced the early closing time at rest stops with bull horns so riders could have adjusted their ride to get thru the Gate on time. I trained for 6 months to handle the distance and the heat, so I was very disappointed to not get to ride the full 102. The race started late which just aggravated the situation.
2. Organizers need to really emphasize the "basics" at the rest stops, espec. early in the ride. Riders had to stand in line 10-20 minutes to get bottles filled at early stops. Rest stops also seemed disorganized re: handling riders and refilling bottles; more so than in the past.
3. Needed lots more Port-A-Potties espec. on the early rest stops when demand is higher.
4. Needed "ride marshalls" at the early rest stops. Getting thru the 20/40/50/60 mi. stops was a real nightmare. Needed someone to help clear stopping riders out of the thru-lanes so other riders can pass thru the stops w/o colliding w/ the riders who are stopping.
5. Lacked ice at several stops: Espec. critical on hot days like Sat. 8/26/06
6. Traffic control was excellent, as always! HHH has the best traffic control I've ever seen.

This was my eighth HHH going back to the early '90's. I wish to defend the HHH medical staff's decision to close Hell's Gate early. With the heat and headwinds, I feel it was the right call. Every year I know going into the ride that the first 60 miles are essentially a massed time trial with a variable cut-off; it's part of the experience of the HHH to work on strategy, on the fly, on how to get to Hell's Gate before the cut-off. I know some people will get what mountaineers call "summit fever" and press on beyond what their bodies are truly capable of. I fell short of getting to Hell's Gate before the cut-off, but I had decided some miles back I would voluntarily take the short-cut even if the gate were still open when I got there. However one factor that the organizers need to work on is policing the start. There was a huge numbers of riders who were obviously going only 25 or 50 miles who lined up with the 100 milers and even the fast 100 milers. I believe a large number of riders lost their chance to make the cut-off because they had to carefully pick their way through these slower riders. I feel many of these 100 milers had the hot weather conditioning to make the full ride, but gave away their chance in the name of safety early in the ride.

What a ride ! Fourth year in a row, second 100 miler. As a rider who made it to Hell's Gate and finished the 100 miler, my thanks to all the support staff. Would not have made it without you. There was ice at the rest stop 8 and loads of cold compress towels to cool-off & wipe down. To all the criers about Hell's Gate Closing early, count yourself lucky, you missed out on a nasty hot head wind from 80 to 90 miles. Cannot wait till next year. My thanks to all the organizer. And to all rider on all rally's, please stop the litter. You can carry it in, you can carry it out.

I personally liked the ride - I expected the heat and got it - took just under 5 hours to finish - off from last year due to heat and strong south winds excellant service and help at the two rest stops 70 & 92 mile. For those complaining about the early closing of Hells Gate - it was for your safety and your safety only - if you could not get to by the 11:10 - then you werent in good enough condition to continue safely. The 11:00 closing is still only a 15mph pace. sorry for the blunt comment but there likely would have been some fatalities had they kept it open to just 12:00. I strongly applaud the race organizers for the early closing. PS for the dilly dallying at the rest stops and not making it - they did announce several times over loud speakers that hells gate was going to close early - they did not say how early but the did say it was going to close early several times. The second safety point deals with those leaving early. If you can hold a decent pace 20ish mph, then ok, but many of those leaving early had trouble holding a 15 mph 20 miles into the ride and become road hazards for the groups riding past at 20-25 mph. . .

The Hotter N Hell 2006 was quite a ride. I can't tell you how disappointing it was to have missed Hells Gates early closing by just minutes but appreciate that the medical directors decision to close it was for riders safety. In the future a loud speaker at earlier rest stops announcing important information like, "Hells Gate closing at 11:00" would allow riders to make necessary changes to their ride. A few of the rest stops ran out of ice another unfortunate issue. One rest stop wasn't able to make anymore Gatorade cause they had a water problem another unfortunate issue. Coming over the finish line was hectic with all the spectators standing all over the place, almost hit a couple of them. THANK YOU to all the volunteers who worked all the rest stops, I know it was a very long hot day for ya'll and you did a GREAT JOB!!!!

RIDE DIRECTOR AND DR WERE CORRECT IN SHUTTING THE GATE EARLY! Come on, people, riders were dropping like flies. I trained in the heat and I was disappointed not to make the 100, but the Dr. probably saved someones life, and Im not going to be a baby about it. I got to the gate at 11:20, but that was my fault...I had the speed but I was taking way to much time at rest stops enjoying the shows, taking pictures with mermaids, and eating wonderful homemade cookies (Electra cookies ROCKED!). You could actually say I was having to much fun. I like the comment above about the HHH being a 62mile time trial to the gate...thats the way I will ride it in the future.
Note to ride director- post boards with Gate status on it at rest stops, then by 9:30 or so commit to a decision on closing the gate early. Riders could have adjusted rest stops/speed to try to make it. Great, fun ride otherwise.

A great time, as usual, with my beloved fellow "Ducks" and other friends and acquaintances I'm happy to see!
Sure was nice to have the 44/287 service road freshly finished and smooth.
My only beef was the woeful lack of ice at 40 mile rest stop on 100K route.
I was also a little disappointed at the lack of mechanical vans on the route itself. They were stationed (I think) AT the rest stops...gee, if mechanicals only occurred AT the stops, how convenient! Otherwise, a fun time. Kathy G

What’s that ole saying: If you cannot stand the heat the get out of the kitchen. This year the HHH-100 kitchen was hot, but manageable of you trained for the ride. This was my 12 HHH-100K ride. Most of my training was Saturday organize rallys and Sunday afternoon rides. It paid off. I rode the 100k with no problem. Saw a lot of riders walking their bikes, mostly after 11:00 am and a lot of flats. I was at reststop R13 by 10 AM and met a friend for 45 minutes and while I was there, the reststop ran out of Ice. When arriving close to the 50 mile reststop, their were 100’s of riders seeking shelter from the sun at the road side park. No comment for closing hell’s gate early. But if the supplies were getting low (ice, water, poweraide), then I agree. Rider safety is a must. Kidos to all the volunteers sponser, etc for supporting all riders. With out them HHH-100 would not be the same. I think the HHH committee did a great job planning for the 25th year ride. There are some short comings. The main one is running low on ice. Which can be improved next year. Not near as many signs as years past, which would help the first timers. Good paint job and road markings. The festivities at the finish lines was a great improvement from years past. The new surface on the frontage and the short strip leaving the base was a big plus this. See ya next year. Rock-N-Roll Duck. Quack Quack

This was my first HHH and my first century ride! I guess I did not have near the adventure most riders did. I registered on-line and brought my waiver with me so buzzed right through the packet pickup process on Friday evening. Paid cash for my HHH merchandise so got to go to the shorter checkout line at the expo. Got to the MPEC early on Saturday morning so got a great parking space. Got to the start line early so lined up where I was supposed to be (fast 100s) with no trouble. Made Hell's Gate by around 9:40. Only stopped at two rest stops, both very well staffed and stocked with ice. In fact I did not even have to get off my bike at the Margarittaville stop, they brought it to me! Did not get misdirected at the 80 mile spot. Hated the headwind for the last 20 miles. Finished in just over 5 hours. My only complaint is the number of riders we had to pass that should not have started anywhere near the fast 100 group. My only regret is not getting to ride through the Air Force Base. At least there there was something to look at!

This was my third year in a row to ride the Hotter n Hell Hundred and I look forward to it all summer long. Unfortunately, it was a victim of its own success this year as the increased number of riders created some organizational problems. Most of the problems could easily be remedied with a little better coordination and planning. First, find a larger room to pick up race packets for pre-registered riders and assign more volunteers to distribute the packets. The line to pick up race packets was way too long. Second, as was previously mentioned, assign volunteers to keep the roadways clear at the aid stops. Way too many traffic jams. Third, expand the size and number of volunteers at the aid stops to accommodate more riders. They were simply too crowded and disorganized. Additional or larger tents would’ve spread things out and made it easier on riders and volunteers alike. Finally, when it became evident that Hell’s Gate was to be shut down an hour and a half early, it goes without saying that word needed to get out to the riders either at the aid stops or via signage so riders could be informed and modify their ride plans accordingly. Race organizers should plan to observe next year’s Mesquite Rodeo Ride so they can pick up some pointers from the most well run ride in the state. From the glitch-free race registration and packet pickup to the color-coded signs, to the incredibly well organized aid stops, the Mesquite rodeo Ride has it down pat. I’m looking forward to seeing improvements in next year’s Hotter n Hell Hundred.

This was my first H3. I loved it. Ice was in short supply from R5 to R8 but what else could the people at the rest areas do fo us? One time I even got my bottles refilled from of a water hose. These people tried their best to support us in our crazy decision to ride 100 miles in the heat! Let’s spend more time saying thanks to the people at the rest areas and less time talking about a decision made on our behalf: Closing Hells Gate.
The push off and long lines in front of the porta-potties at the early rest areas slowed us down, but I do remember a Radio Station announcing the possibility of the gate being closed early at the start of the race. We adjusted our ride once we got to pedal and stopped pushing .We made it to Hells gate in time and we will make it back next year.

Hotter N Hell lived up to it's name for 2006. I've ridden it several times in the past, but this year was ridden with a First Time 100 mile friend. We made the cut off at Hells Gate and spent the last 30 miles chasing clouds (for their shade) and chasing the ICE truck (never caught that one). It definitely ranks in the Top 10 Century Rides in the US.
One drawback, the local LODGING industry take advantage of riders by charging two nights. They wanted to charge for three nights but the HnH organizers voices enough complaints to make them back down to just TWO nights.
I will be riding the HnH 100 again and again, wonderful & challenging ride, and the support is great. But NEVER again will I stay overnight and I will limit my spending off the HnH site, to the bare minimum. I would encourage as many of the other Over Night riders to voice their complaints to the Wichita Falls BBB and to limit their spending in the Wichita Falls business community.

August 27, 2005

This year was my 6th HHH in a row. As in the last 5 years everything was well organized. Thanks to all the people at the rest stops, couldn't have made it without you!!!!!!!

Well, this was the first year to attempt the Hotter Than Hell Hundred. We did the 50 mile route and was please with all aspects of it. It lived up to all of the hype. The weather was great. The temperature on my cycling computer stayed right at 84 degrees, if not 82 degrees the majority of the time. The rest stops were well stocked and positioned just right. It was a good ride all the way around. The little jaunt through Sheppard Air Force Base was a good touch. The last 10 miles just flew by there was so much interesting stuff to look at. The t-shirt was especially great. The design was really top notch. The start of course was slow but you can't start 9,000+ people and all take off at the same time. It all worked out. My compliments to the ride director and all the MANY people that helped him.

By far the best organized ride this year. tremendous support throughout the ride. thanks to all the volunteers. Now a strong reprimand to those riders that leave early. At least three crashes (one very severe at mile 17) were caused by less experienced and by slower riders trying the ride in front or with the faster riders. Therefore, If you are a slower rider ie not one of the fast ones - DONT leave early, DONT start in front of the start. DONT try to ride with a pack greater than your capabilities. For example there was one rider at the 6 mile point struggling to keep up , weaving and ready to take someone down with him. I told him to slow down before he took some one out. At most of the rides, the riders do a good job of self regulating their placement at the start. For some reason, at the HHH, numerous riders decide to be in front of the start to beet the rush and instead put them and others at risk. I did the ride in 4:45 and was still passing peolple that obviously started early at mile 40. Why clog up the road if you are slow.

Well as usual the event was an easy 10 out of 10 as to roads, traffic control and route markings. Nobody is going to get lost on a course like this unless they are trying to. Rest stops were marvelous as usual and you couldn't ask for better weather ...at least for the 100K. The wind was 0-5mph, the temps kept in the high 80's and the clouds held off the sun. Perfect!
The speeds were fast and furious with unfortunately many bone breaking accidents. These are caused by newbies who insist on trying to ride pace lines with the big dogs.. but blow it. They overlap wheels, wander back and forth and even go down on aerobars in the line! These dorks need to be controlled but I don't know how.
The big problem are the motels and hotels. They are gouging the riders big time and are a disgrace to Witchita falls. They demand inflated prices and a two day minimum. Really leaves a bad taste in your mouth. They will even cancel your reservation out to give it to a higher bidder. What creeps. Something ought to be done with these semi-criminals by Witchita. Nothing will probably happen though.
If you missed this one...too bad...it was a real winner!

The gold standard of bike rides. I did the 100k and the route markings were great, the intersections were staffed, the rest stops were well stocked, the roads were decent and the weather cooperated. I really enjoyed cycling through Sheppard AFB - that's something you don't get to do everyday. Many thanks to the volunteers and the people of Wichita Falls for putting on such a fantastic event! I don't see how it
could have been done better. I heard there were approx. 9700 riders. Loved the trade show and love this ride and I can't wait to do this all again next year!! Great t-shirt too.

I really like this ride but it may just have become a victim of it's own success ? It only takes a few riders with bad manners and poor etiquette to make it unsafe for so many but HHH seems to attract more and more of these and they have more potential to cause havoc in these big events. SAG support was not as visible as I would have liked, maybe the logistics are just too much in a big ride like this. The less popular and smaller rides are now more fun which is too bad because you can tell how much time and effort the organizers and volunteers put in, thanks guys.

This was my 7th time to participate in the HH100 and as always, the organizers and the citizens of Wichita and Clay Counties, did a wonderful job. To have people way out in the country (i.e.; outside of Electra, Burkburnett, Thornberry, etc.) cheering for you from their farm house porches as you ride by is a real treat. The ride has built some great community spirit. Can't say it was as hot as predicted but that made it all the more enjoyable. Even the winds changed direction, coming out of the west during the morning and blowing us along on the 100-mile route from Electra back to Burk, but then shifting almost 180-degrees in the afternoon and pushing us back into Wichita Falls from Clay County. Talk about divine intervention! My compliments on the rest stops being very well stocked, having plenty of port-a-potties and even providing dill pickle juice to drink. Pickle juice is a bit tough to choke down, but with 20 times the sodium that Gatoraid or Poweraid has, it really will prevent cramps! You can bet I'll be back next year for the 25th anniversary of the HH100!

The 2005 Hotter N Hell 100 was another great event this year. Thank you to all the many volunteers who put countless hours into making this event as successful as it was...I think that anyone riding in the 100k ride will agree that "Snoopy and the Red Baron" rest stop was excellent from the snap shots that we continued on with to all the fresh strawberries, grapes, avocados and the usual rest-stop food...then the rest stop with the misters was a excellent reward before finishing the last 10 miles...BUT a couple of little things for next year, first of all when we pickup our packets can you please add our requested sized shirt, I arrived over at the shirt pick up Friday afternoon and was told that they were out of sz. med...thank heavens I had spoke to someone at that table earlier on Friday and they put one to the side for me, how many other people this happened to would be interesting to know...ALSO please no more black t-shirts, after riding in the heat, sweating etc. the thought of putting on a black t-shirt is painful....LASTLY, please don't use the skull/handlebars again if you look at it, it closely resembles the anatomy of a womans uterus and fallopian tubes....

The ONLY bad reputation this ride might get is that it is not hotter than hell the last 3 years. I have done this ride the last 7 years and the last 3 years the weather has been great. The temp at the start was 81° and was down to 78° at the bank in downtown Burkburnet (59 miles). It did reach 92° by time I finished around noon. This is a bicyclist's paradise from the Expo displays, racing, start, roads, rest stops, very simple courses, home town support and the grand finale finish. No wonder people come from all over the country for this event. The only complaint I could ever think of would be the drab scenery but when it is a typical 100+ day year, what difference does the scenery make when your objective is to get off the course as soon as possible

I have read all the great things everyone has said about the HHH and I agree that it is well organized in most aspects BUT....I have to be the whiner I guess. The 7 dollar dinner was gross...salad leavings, no bread, no cookies. I was dying at the rest stops for some carb that wasn't fruit and talk about anticlimactic endings!! There wasn't even water at the finish!!! After 6 hours of riding, a free hot dog or cookie would be nice too. This was my 3rd HHH and I couldn't miss the excitement but there is definitely room for improvement. Also, I'm not one of the really fast riders and I started pretty far back (40 minutes just to get to the start line), but all those guys saying slow riders are unsafe remember this is a rally for 99 percent of the riders, NOT a race, so be kind,,,you are often the ones who are unsafe.

Very well organized. All rallies should be like this. Last year was my first year and I did my first 100K. So I decided that this year would be my first century ride and I had the best ride I have had since beginning cycling over a year ago. I read the reviews so far and agree with a few comments but not all. Even though I have only been to HHH twice, I have learned a lot. Do not eat the slop-ghetti dinner. I gave it a chance again and was not pleased. But if you do eat it, get there early so that you don't miss out on the bread and cookies. I always appreciate receiving a shirt in any other color than white. I do agree that the logo this year was quite strange. The first thing I thought of was my reproductive system. Bad logo! Get there early to get your properly sized shirt. The hotels are....well....what can you say. I booked our room for next year when we checked out and negotiated the same rate as this year. Even though it is a two-night minimum, we don't mind really because we make a weekend out of it. Shopping at the expo, visiting friends, eating out, just basically treating ourselves to a fun time. The hotels will work you, but you have to work them too. Know what I mean? The Snoopy stop was the best by far. I have never seen so much great fruit in one place. What a nice assortment. I did see lots of pickles, cookies, fruits, hot dogs at other stops. If you ride the 100 miles, then the next best stop was the unofficial beer stop. You can stop here and feed your face because they had all sorts of BBQ'ed meats and beans and chili. There was a nice shade with a misting system to cool you off and the folks here were so friendly. The entire community was friendly! I enjoyed giving a shout-out to all those I passed. I figured if they could get up that early to watch us and cheer us on, then the least I could do was respond. I don't know what was at the finish other than music because I didn't hang around too long. At the other stops, I believed them to be well stocked and I never had to ask for anything. It was right there when I needed it. In my short time cycling, a little over a year now, I have learned that there are all skill levels at these events. I have also learned to ride my own ride. If I am going to ride with a person, it is going to be someone I know. I don't just jump in a line because I don't know those people and I don't know their skill level and they don't know mine. The new riders are dangerous and so are the accomplished riders. I have learned to be even more observant during rallies because of the varying skill levels. For those that are newer to cycling, I recommend finding a local club that has novice rides so that you can learn more about riding with a group. I also recommend sticking with the shorter routes. For those that are more experienced, perhaps you can share your knowledge with the newbies. And as an experienced rider, you should be setting the example by using your cycling etiquette. I have been fortunate to find local cycling clubs and have had the opportunity to ride with some who are more experienced than I and they have been very helpful. They are always giving me encouragement and constructive feedback. That has helped me become a better cyclist. Remember, we all started as a beginner at some point.

This was my first HHH and was by far the best and fastest century I’ve ever done. The weather was great, outran the storm by a little bit and the tailwind was absolutely insane. I only stopped at two rest stops, but both were very well stocked. I have already made reservations to go back again next year.

August 28, 2004

Same song, many verses. Another great Hotter N Hell in the books with the great work and preparation from all the volunteers being the norm. I especially liked the idea of the folks at the 50 mile rest stop offering polish sausage and hot dogs. Unfortunately, that is something I would not want to eat in the middle of the century ride but nice touch anyway. We had one added treat to this ride. Great spring like weather with little or no head wind to speak of. Just like Hot Rocks, I am willing to bet that a large number of riders probably did their "personal best" rides this year!

This was my first HHH100 and I was totally spoiled. Wichita Falls dubbed it Cooler than Hell and for the 8300 plus people it was a god send with only 1 IV being used for dehydration. Much love for the weather, the sponsors, the city, the volunteers, and all the people strung out over a 100 miles cheering us on. Rest stops were awesome and I almost could not pass them up just so I could chat with the other cyclists. Congrats to RBM for having the largest footprint (and the busiest) besides the HHH crew in the consumer show. By the way, great discounts abound in the show on anything cycling so save your dough up. I am looking forward to HHH 2005 and maybe, just maybe the weather will be as forgiving (doubt it) as this year. Livestrong.

HH100 of 2004: Well the Hotter 'n Hell 100 didn't live to it's namesake. Sure it was a hundred miles, sure it was August in Wichita Falls, but what a departure from the norm it was. 3:15, I was awakened by a huge crash of thunder. It was followed up by a torrential downpour. Roads were transformed to streams and it looked pretty hopeless as the rain continued through the 5 o'clock hour. As silly as it sounds, we actually debated whether to ride or not. Seeming this was the focal point of the entire year for me, it was a tough decision. Just as soon as you thought it was a "go" a huge flash of lightning would try to sway your decision. 5:45, the decision to go stand in the rain and hope to not be hit by lightning was made. Once there, there was a croud of others who in various stages of dress. Some were roughing it in just a jerey (and shorts) and some had the full rain setup. Once things got underway, things were fabulous. The rain that interfered with sleep didn't bother interfering with the ride. The roads were wet, then damp, then dry as the day progressed. Usually busy rest stops were transformed in to cheering sections and it seemed that only roadside service was needed for a quick fill of the water bottle anyway. As usual, this ride is the measuring stick which all others are compared to, fabulous community involvement and support. Though not a technically diffficult ride, the elements that seem to show up to chase the Dallas Cowboy training camp away have subsided for the last couple years and have made this in to a really "nice" ride to do. I really enjoyed this ride but I know that the reality will be back soon and the Hotter 'n Hell will once again be just that.

What a perfect day for a ride! The weather was a little questionable at first but it turned out to be perfect being slightly overcast and low to mid 80's. I rode the 100 miler and had a blast. All along the route people were very supportive and enthusiastic and not one time did a motorist yell or honk at us. The major intersections were well manned by the local LEO's and State Troopers.
I didn't stop at any of the rest stops so I can't comment on them, but judging from the crowds they must have been pretty good. The few complaints I had was with a few riders in our pack, one idiot was trying to take a picture of himself and a buddy while traveling at 27-28 MPH and almost lost control of his bike with 30-40 riders behind him. In the end it was all for naught since he dropped the camera when he mistakenly put in back in between his number and jersey pocket (serves him right). Another was a guy who cursed at a paceline of consisting mostly women only because they wouldn't let him break in the middle of their paceline. I've ridden or raced HHH for 15 years and as the popularity of cycling increased so has the number of idiots who lack or don't know any cycling etiquette.

This years HHH was really mild compared to the last couple I have been on, the temps were low 80s and the wind was really light. I cannot stress enough how great the organizers are on this ride!! There are so many rides that could benefit from watching these guys and if you read these reviews you know who they are. Thanks again for the HHH its the highlight of my summer. Olson/ team bennigans

Well this is what I had trained for all year...my first 100 miler! I made it just fine, I just wonder how well I would have done had the oven been on. I had a few glitches, first lost my computer in the first 10 miles, don't ask me how... The second glitch was coming up on the 20 mile rest stop I kept hearing a tink noise coming from my crank. I stopped at the rest stop and after carefully going over my crank found that my air pump had slipped ever so slightly and was hitting my crank as I peddled...problem solved. Being that this was my first HHH the start was intimidating but I managed to get underway just fine. I did find that the transitions at the rest stops had to be planned carefully as not to run over anyone or their bikes. I could not say enough about the service at the stops, everyone was helpful and very friendly. One memory that I will hang onto for a long time was while going through the various towns the amount of people that were setup with lawn chairs watching and waiving as we went by. My only disappointment was all of the GU, PowerBar and various wrappers that were disposed of on the road...not to mention the tire tubes that were also tossed. As a guest I think we should do a better job of not polluting our host home. Anyway, I plan on doing this ride again as I want to experience the heat! - Kevin

2004 HHH! Besta Rida!

This was the third time I rode here and by far the worst--even with the nice cycling weather. Why? The rest stops except for #2 and #5 were just terrible. All the other stops had only oranges and bananas! In previous years, #4 has given out potato chips and Goldfish crackers, and #8 has had watermelon and cantaloupe slices--- and all the rest had great cookies. I stopped at #3 at 9:15 a.m. and was told "All the cookies we had are already gone." There were many people complaining about the rest stops and I would like to know why the sparse offerings? The volunteers used to have themes for the rest stops and even dressed up in costume in previous years making for a festive feeling. Not this year. Also, I found out the races were back, but the women's prizes were half that of the men's. What is the reason for that? Just plain ol' sexism rearing its ugly head? I had told several people that this was the ride to be at for the great rest stops alone--but no more! I might not even bother to come back next year.

A great ride as always. But surly a ride of this stature deserves a live performer for the National Anthem at the beginning. Anything other than a recording by Celine Dion would be an improvement!

Another great bike rally, and what a change in the weather from my previous years experience. The cooler weather made for a much faster ride. I did the 100KM, actually 67 miles according to my computer, there was a slight detour due to a bridge being out of service, but no big deal. I was able to average 18 MPH for the distance not too bad for a 60 year old. I only stopped at two rest areas at the 30 and 50 mile markers; they were adequately stocked with friendly helpful volunteers. The mass start was a mess as usual, it takes at least 20 minutes to sort it out and actually be clipped into your pedals and get going. As a recreational rider, my only complaint is the other riders; do they not know what the right hand side of the lane or road is for? Answer: For slower riders.....I witnessed several close calls where faster riders almost wiped out, because a group of slower riders were strung out across the road, merrily chatting and oblivious to anyone or anything else around them. Come on people show a little courtesy......move to the right hand side of the road, out of the way. The trade show had a different feel to it this year, I wonder if anyone else noticed that. There appeared to be less exhibitors, and the "sale" prices were not all that attractive....not too many great deals to be had this year. See you all next year....Allan

August 23, 2003

As usual, the support and organization on this ride was first class. This reflects very well on the entire city of Wichita Falls. This year, we were also treated to relatively mild weather (for Wichita Falls in August) and light wind. All in all, this year was my best Hotter N Hell experience ever.

I finished the HHH in good shape. This year's weather was better and the wind not nearly as strong as the last time I rode in 2001. All in all, a very smooth ride with experienced volunteers and lots of help from the communities involved. Could it be better? I don't know how...maybe candy bars at the rest stops

Is there such a thing as "the perfect hundred"? If so, the 2003 Hotter N Hell was it. The year round efforts of the Hotter N Hell Hundred Steering Committee paid off in 2003 with what , in my estimation, was the perfect ride. From the web site to registration to rest stops to aid stations , nothing was left to chance. And what a perfect day for a ride...no wind , no hills , and the temperature was moderate this year , even though the forecast for cloudy skies didn't pan out. The start of the ride was initiated by a low level passover of two fighter jets and a cannon . It was awesome , to say the least . Traffic support was great , and the countless volunteers ,police officers ,MPs ,and all the others, really did their job. Unlike other rides, which shall remain nameless , the police officers were not sitting in their air conditions cars , they were "out there" , giving riders a feeling of safety and support . Since I had the HHH breakfast , full "Camel Back" and water bottle I did not stop at rest stops till the 52 mile stop (# 5, I assume) , but I did not hear any complaints along the way ,except of aching muscles . I was pushing my pace , and did not take in adequate electrolytes, and ran into a terrible cramping problem somewhere just short of the small town of Dean. The unofficial rest stop put on by the Dean Fire Department was a welcome stop, and gave me a place to sit and recoup a little . I was forced to stop at the 85 mile stop , however ,and I thought I was all "cramped out", but the aid people "laid me out", fed me pickles , cooled me down , monitored my pulse , and best of all , worked the knots out of my legs , and , in short , got my spirits up , so I could limp in the last 17 miles. Had it not been for their wonderful support , I have no doubt I would have ended up a casualty on the side of the road. I crossed the finish line in my best time ever , by 1:25 , but my heart went out to all the others out on the road , because the temperature was climbing. I heard many stories of personal triumph, as many finished up their first HHH . If I had one suggestion , it would be to put just a little food out at the finish line ...it would really be nice . All in all , this was the best HHH experience I have ever had , and I'll just have to wait another year to experience anything like it. DeWayne Shepard (Roadkill)

Fantastic as always. Roads: Superior, fast, traffic control flawless, rest stops excellent, signing superior. Temperature only warm. No wind to speak of...D-day for all of the disk and HED-3 riders...they Banzied the course like crazed Valkeries. But...why such sparse facilities at the finish line?? Where's the food...just oranges and bananas? Come on...open the pocket book some...or allow hot dog and hamburger venders. Where was Marathon Photo??? What gives? No criterion and 100 mile road races? Trying to maximize profits? Didn't feel right. Anyone else have the same feelings? Friday night vender show great as always...forget Friday night Spaghetti dinner at Center...really wretched this year...again...how come??? Riders limited to "one cookie" at dinner. Strange beyond belief...for this event. By the way ...don't stay at "Kings Inn". We who did nicknamed it "Hotel Baghdad" Wretched beyond belief.

Well, what can I say except that this ride still sets the standard. This is the first time I rode the HHH in 15 years. It was excellent then and it is even better now. I like it better since they moved the start from Memorial Stadium years ago. Access to the Exhibition Center for packet pick-up, the consumer show and the ride start was no problem for me. Packet pick-up was flawless with no long lines to stand in. The consumer show was really good and of course the traditional carbo dinner was good too. I rode the 100 miles. At the start, the jet fly-by was really cool. I was glad how fast the 8000 or so riders spread out after the start. I think the long, straight, wide and newly paved road immediately after the start helped that a lot. The road surfaces were outstanding. They were nice and smooth, not too much of the chip and seal surface to contend with. Rest stops (I stopped at Burkburnett and at the rest stop with 17 miles remaining) were well stocked. The tradition of the volunteers putting cold towels on your neck without even asking is great. I heard a volunteer asking someone who was more crazy; the riders for riding in this heat (my bicycle computer registered 103 degrees F) or the volunteers for standing in this heat encouraging the riders to ride in the heat. I think we were all crazy, but that is exactly what makes this ride the classic that it is. I hope to return next year.

My first HHH100 - excellent road conditions, great turnout of support in Burkett, one of the finest turnouts for volunteers. My only two complaints is that the PowerAde could have been stronger. It would have been nice if rest stops kept a spare pump. I had flat at 60 mile stop I borrowed a small hand pump, was only able to air up to app 80lbs. I went from 23mph avg to 17 avg the last 40.

My first HHH. weather was mild compared to past rallies (99degF and light winds). By far the best organized ride I've ever been in. Pros- to many to mention. Checking was a breeze, great show, dinner was very good considering its made to feed 5000 or so riders, the start and flyover were inspiring, rest stops frequent and friendly, police and MPs controlling traffic...fantastic. Cons- only the breakfast, which sucked eggs (get someone else next year...skimpy and NOT good riding food). The rest stops were moderately dangerous (no fault of the organizers, they did everything right...riders, keep your bikes on ONE side of the road, OFF the road at the stops. I was knocked of my bike once and saw several other minor crashes due to riders entering from both sides and 'squeezing' thru riders. We can do better than that, people...for our own health). judges say...9.9 (1/10th off for the breakfast). ill be back.

Fantastic..really wonderful. This was my third time, I am 59, the second for my son (27), and I enjoyed it the most so far. I am impressed with how well everything is organized. Rest Stop #2, is a delight and my son and I, plus two of his friends appreciated the photo op. The light winds made travel easier and the roads were smooth. No flats this year, I bought new tires just for the occasion. My only concern is the start; once you can get over the bridge then that is fine, (20 minutes) but why do some riders who are only doing the shorter distances insist on being at the front and not moving to the right to allow others who would like to go a little faster to get on their way. The rest stops were really fun and lots of friendly helpful people, well stocked and refreshing especially the wet towels. The start with the national anthem and flyover brought tears to my eyes, we live in a great country and enjoy such wonderful freedoms. Excellently done and a special "thank you" to Sheppard AFB. I wish a few more riders would remove their helmets for the anthem. I will ride next year just to celebrate my 60th.

This year was as GREAT as it has always been. The fly over before the start - awe-inspiring. The support is beyond words. Can't wait for next year. With no place to stay but a tent, God's grace found a quaint little place in Henrietta with all the essentials, Cold AC, good TV, and shower (good ol' lime green shag carpeting never looked so good!) The weekend was unforgettable.

Although the support and the rest stops were excellent, I have 3 little complaints. (1) We were late starters and as we were heading out the 25 milers were already heading back in. This caused confusion as to the route out of town. The maps didn't help. (2) There was no post ride food, unless you count the greasy expo food. As we were strangers from out of town, not knowing where to get a decent meal, we drove all the way back to Dallas before eating. Organizers: Get post-ride food (preferably with vegetarian options). (3) The Air Force base routed us over a section of dirt and gravel. Most rode it but I walked it. As I was getting back on my road bike, another cyclist came riding through exclaiming "That really sucked!" The fly-over was cool (saw it from our campsite) and I do appreciate the Air Force's support. I'm sure we'll be back again but it won't be annually.

I thought this ride was on my top 5 best rides of the season. This ride was full of super experienced riders and excellent pace lines. The best I've seen in a while. The rest stops were brilliantly spaced out and very well stocked. Also, whoever came up with the huge fans out there...you are a genius! I'm definitely doing this ride again.

2004 HHH! Besta Rida!