Here’s a few hints. Twelve hundred cyclists for the inaugural ride in 1982. Endurance riders numbering 12,650 in 2009 with 14,205 total event participants. And weather that’s, you’ve guessed it, Hotter n’ Hell.
Get ready for the next installment of Wichita Falls’ Hotter’N Hell Hundred (HHH) on the weekend of August 26-29, with the flagship Endurance Ride of 10K, 25 miles, 50 miles, 100K and of course 100 miles kicking off in downtown Wichita Falls at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 28. Described as “a regional, family ride” by HHH Executive Director Chip Filer, the event attracts riders from all across the nation and overseas. Even doing just the 10K will let you experience the “dynamics and human energy unleashed at the starting line.”
HHH has grown to a three-day weekend event over the years. In addition to the Saturday endurance race and ride, Friday features a 13-mile NORBA-sanctioned mountain bike race on the in-town Wee-Chi-Tah Trail along the Wichita River just outside the Expo Center. A full range of Texas Bicycle Racing Association sanctioned criteriums are held on Friday evening and Sunday. Sunday morning also features a trail run of 10K and Half-Marathon distances. Full weekend information is available at www.hh100.com.
Century riders need to be aware of “Hell’s Gate”, a supervised checkpoint at 60 miles. The gate generally closes at 12:30 p.m. and riders arriving after that are directed to complete an 84-mile route. Conditions can result in an earlier closure of the gate, and riders can check on the gate status at preceeding rest stops.
Chip expects another record-breaking attendance level in 2010 with more vendors at what is the largest bicycle consumer show in Texas and the region. BikeTexas has its largest annual booth at the HHH Expo thanks to the generous support of HHH as a BikeTexas Event Member.
Stop by the BikeTexas booth this year and register for a drawing to win a TREK bike with BikeTexas membership signup or renewal (early renewals welcome). BikeTexas members on month-to-month memberships can just register for the drawing. The winner will be directed to his or her nearest TREK dealer for a personally-fitted bike. You need to be present to register but not to win.
