Hotter 'n' Hell

**Kvixen23** · 08-15-2008, 02:06 PM

Are any of you going to ride in HHH this year?? It's next weekend, Aug 22 - 24. It will be my first century ride and I am trying to convince my husband to go with me. He's skeptical that he can do it but I'm certain that we can at least give it a go....No shame in not finishing if it's our first time (right

)!!

If anyone is going to be out there, be safe and have fun!! I'll give it my best effort and will post on how well I do after I recover

**Angy** · 08-15-2008, 02:09 PM

Good luck!!! Have fun! Hope it's not too hot! Wait are you actually riding through Hell? I used to live in Michigan and there is a little town called Hell. Always got a kick out of driving through it.

Sorry haven't read up on HHH, so not sure where it is being held.

**Smilie** · 08-15-2008, 02:12 PM

Have a fabulous ride! I am sure you and your husband will do just fine. Hope it cools down in Hell for your ride.

**Kvixen23** · 08-15-2008, 02:12 PM

It's in Wichita Falls Texas. It's not Hell but it will be hot!! I'll drive down the night before and camp out (Yes!! In a tent, in the sweltering heat!!). I'm really looking forward to it. My friend, a long time cyclist has done it before and loved it. She also told me that it is really well supported. So, I don't expect to run into any problems....

**BabyBlueNTulsa** · 08-15-2008, 03:27 PM

K - Hope it isn't a blistering heat like it was in 2006. That 25th anniversary year ride was an organizer's worst nightmare (had to be). They had to close Hell's Gate 90min early because of the rising heat index. Since it was the 25th Anniversary, people all came out of the woodwork for it - there were way more people signing up the day/night before than they had bargained for. I think somewhere around 12,000 people were on the start line that year (me included). It took me nearly an HOUR to even get past the starting line. Talk about an awful situation..weather, the number of riders, the lack of enough supplies (ie: ice, water, gatorade, snacks - everything). I did not make Hell's Gate due to the starting line fiasco AND b/c it closed 90 min early. By the time I crossed the finish with my disappointing 75-77(?) miles, it was 107 and WINDY!
Some of my friends who got through the gate told me the rest stops ran out of ice and water! I ran into some of that before the gate (lack of ice and gatorade, no food)...but couldn't imagine being stuck out on the 100mile route and not have ice/water... GAWD!
I saw a lot of folks both seasoned and non-seasoned (should not have been out at all) go down on the road and at the rest stops. It was scary.

Because of that year, it'll take me a long while before I'll go back to HHH.

I can't imagine that this year will near match my horror story...but I will be putting in a little prayer for ya - just in case!

My best memory of 2006 (besides finishing) was the valet parking at one of the rest stops. What a great idea... they had students out by the road serving as bike stewards. So..we didn't have to lay our bikes down in the brown grass or dirt.

The kids did a great job holding the bikes and/or fetching anything we needed (and still had).

P.S. I'd done HHH 2x before (1996-1997) and it was GREAT!!

**TxDoc** · 08-15-2008, 04:49 PM

Enjoy your ride!!!
I will be on-call so I cannot go...

**denda** · 08-16-2008, 04:39 AM

This will be our 4th year. We have never had any problems with them running out of water, ice maybe, but not water. The weather forecast looks like it will not be a scorcher this year, Yea! We have never had a problem getting started. Just get there early and get toward the front. We barely missed Hell's Gate in 2006 because they closed it so early! I was not happy! It didn't feel that hot to me.
Have fun and be safe!

**IFjane** · 08-17-2008, 04:45 PM

Best of luck, Krista! You will do fine - it doesn't matter how far you ride or how long it takes you - just go and have fun.

Remember how hot and humid it was in Baltimore? It WON'T be like that

Post a ride report after you get back! -jane

**TexasMermaid** · 08-18-2008, 11:14 AM

post bump - 4 days and counting!

Planning to be there with 3 boot camp buds - a girl power weekend! We're going to do the 50 as only one of us has done enough time in the saddle to attempt the 100. We're just looking forward to the excitement of the event, riding together, and the unusually low fore-casted temps! Should be awesome this year.

I'm planning to wear an Amici Veloci jersey, so stop me and say 'howdy' if you see me!

~ Jennifer

**Tiffany** · 08-18-2008, 11:32 AM

My girlfriend and I will be there. Neither of us have ridden the ride before so we're really looking forward to the experience. I have lots of century rides under my belt but this will be her first. She's more than ready though so she'll be fine.

I do have a question though - how early do you get to the start in order to get a decent place in line?

**chicago** · 08-18-2008, 12:04 PM

I saw a Hotter'n'Hell jersey this past weekend in Dodgeville, WI... at the Dairyland Dare. I'd like to make it down to TX one day to do a ride like this... sounds like a blast

**kenyonchris** · 08-18-2008, 01:51 PM

My husband and I will be there! Me doing metric century, and him doing the full 100. I am going to go out with him but I am sure will stick to the metric.
Last year it was relatively cool...here is hoping for that this year too....and calm winds. A couple of guys from my department will also be there, but I am sure will go much faster. I average 14-15 mph which is fine but slow for them.
I will be wearing a goldfish Sugoi jersey on black and gold Specialized Ruby Expert. Say HI!

**BabyBlueNTulsa** · 08-18-2008, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by Tiffany

My girlfriend and I will be there. Neither of us have ridden the ride before so we're really looking forward to the experience. I have lots of century rides under my belt but this will be her first. She's more than ready though so she'll be fine.

I do have a question though - how early do you get to the start in order to get a decent place in line?

Tiff - I'd start heading down there before sun-up! Seriously! If you don't get as close to the front as you can, you'll be waiting a LONG time to cross the start line. That can mean the difference between getting through Hell's Gate or not.

Can't wait to hear everyone's ride report!!!

**Kvixen23** · 08-18-2008, 05:08 PM

What am I going to do...??? I want so badly to go down there this weekend and ride. However, I woke up Sunday morning with pain in my right ankle. I don't remember hurting it at all...??? The most strenuous thing I did saturday was vacuum my 5' by 7' carpet!!!! I finally went to the doctor Sunday night and he said it was tendonitis after touching it 2 times and asking if it hurt (

). Thanks for your time, here's my credit card.......My ankle is still swollen and sore (Monday night).

Any ideas out there as to what I can do to be prepared to ride Saturday?? I'm really bummed just thinking about having to miss and reading all of the posts from you guys.......

Any help would be greatly appreciated.