Wichita Falls, TX- Hotter N Hell Hundred?

[Righteousbabe]

I am doing it again this year. I have lost track, but this may be my sixth year. And honestly, I have no idea why. I know that sounds ridiculous...but the last couple years I have said "this will be my last year," and then I register again. It is definitely not the scenery. It is flat, and dry with old oil wells dotting the landscape. And really...the support is not all that great. One year at HHH, my rear derailleur broke, and I waited for an hour and a half for a SAG to come by.

The one thing I do think is nice about HHH is it seems a majority of the town comes out to support the cyclists. This ride pumps a lot of money into the Wichita Falls economy, and the town seems to appreciate that. And there is the camaraderie aspect to it. Thousands of cyclist taking over a small Texas town and hanging out at the Expo. But I think the main reason why people do it is the chance to say they rode 100 miles in extreme heat....like you said, "to live and tell." I guess the ride has become legend because of the summertime temperatures in Wichita Falls, and I have to say I find that amusing. Out of the 5 years I have done it, only one of them the temperature got above 100 (2006). It was brutal, and I can say I finished it...but really what does that get me?

If you live in Texas, you almost feel obligated to do the ride because it seems everyone is doing it. I have already started saying "this is my last year to do HHH." Let's hope I stick to it

[PscyclePath]

Out of the 5 years I have done it, only one of them the temperature got above 100 (2006). It was brutal, and I can say I finished it...but really what does that get me?

At least they're up front about it on the events web site ;-)

People ask what you get when you register for the HHH. It is a grueling day in the sun so what does a rider get besides sore muscles, tired posterior, sense of accomplishment and several hours of pure cycling madness? There is no answer that fits all. Riders pit themselves against the road and elements for different reasons.

Last year was my first time at the HHH, as well as my first century ride. At first, it was the challenge of riding a hundred miles at one whack, especially at an event that calls itself what it does. At first it was the idea of toeing the line with 10,000 other riders, and the energy that seems to pull the pack along for the first thirty miles or so. After the cookie stop at Electra, things thinned out a lot, and it was just you and your bike, against miles of Texas chipseal.

I never can figure out why some folks want to go run marathons in commemoration of some Greek dude who did it a couple of thousand years ago (and it killed him...) Maybe it's the same sort of whacked-out craziness of a little town in Texas turning itself over to the bikes for a weekend...

[denda]

We do it because we have fun! That's the only reason I need.

[denda]

We have also done Enchanted Circle. I did not like it as much as HHH.