Hotter 'N Hell 100
Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Sorry, this is long.
This was a
GREAT event! I highly recommend it to all cyclists. It's one of the largest cycling events in the nation and there were over 10,000 participants this year. Just imagine a Disney marathon but with bikes.
We arrived in Wichita Falls, TX on Friday afternoon. Just like Disney, the expo opened on Thursday and ran through Saturday. The expo was huge - probably twice the size of Disney's. However, not too many freebies.
The great thing about it was that a lot of merchandise was offered at really discounted prices. After the expo, we attended an all you can eat spaghetti dinner at the convention center where the expo was being held. Of course, I loaded to the max.
The race/ride was held on Saturday morning. The racers (for the 100-miler) started at 6:50am - elites only. Next was the Hotter 'N Hell ride (most of the particpants). The riders for the 100-miler started at 7:09am. Just like Disney, everyone was grouped in waves. After the racers, the 100-miler Scorchers were up next. These are the fast riders but not participating in the race. Next came the 100-miler gate-keepers. These are folks intending to finish the race but not "scorch" the roads. Next came the 100-miler hopefuls. As you can guess, these are the wannabes and maybes. After that, the 100Kers, the 50-milers, the 25 milers and then the inline skaters. My DH, Steve, was a 100-miler gate-keeper and he did finish.
My ride was a lot of fun. I was going to do the 50-miler but the friend I was riding with hurt her knee a week ago and could only do the 25-miler so I stuck with her. We had a blast. There were 2 rest stops for us and both were like parties. Huge! At the first rest stop, there was a DJ playing music for us. There was a long table with bananas, oranges, gatorade, water, pickle juice (I stayed away from that!) and homemade cookies. This stop was at mile 7, I think.
The roads were fairly flat and I made good time on my lil' old comfort bike. I kept having to slow down for my friend but that was ok. I was just there for the fun. We saw all kinds of bikes. Tandem bikes for two and three, a few of those old-fashioned bikes with the huge wheel on front and the little bitty wheel in the back, dressed-up bikes and bikes that had attachments for their kids to ride on. We also saw a few riders on those old, banana seat bikes.
At around mile 18, we got to ride through Sheppard Air Force Base. We rode past several big planes and there were airmen out cheering us on. What a thrill. THis was probably my favorite part of the ride. Awesome! The 2nd rest stop was at the air base. Those servicemen volunteers were great. As a matter of fact, all of the volunteers were super friendly and accomodating. And, there were a ton of volunteers throughout the ride and policeman at all the major intersections. I was quite surprised.
Coming into the finish like was much like a big marathon event. We got to ride under a big setup with several announcers calling out our names. I guess they had a computer readout of our ride numbers because they called out my name with my city and state but all I had on my bib was my number. Cool. They even did the Razorback call for me.
After the ride, we loaded up on water and food and then watched some of the other riders come in. We got to see the first racer come in. It was like watching the Tour de France with the rider's backup car with bikes on top following him, the policemen escorting him in, etc. It was great. A little while later, some more racers were coming in going around 30 miles an hour at the finish line. Sadly, a drunk guy stepped out in front of one of the riders, causing the rider to fall and another rider to crash into the first rider. The first rider suffered a concusion and had to have stitches in his forehead and in the back of his head. It also totaled his $5,000 bike. I don't know the fate of the 2nd rider or drunk guy but the 2nd rider had to be air-lifted out. Really, really sad thing to have happened.
DH, Steve came in around 2 hours after the racers. He managed to get through Hell's Gate at the 68 mile marker. This is kind of like a sweeper station for those attempting the 100-miler. Because of the heat in the Texas afternoon, the "gate" closes at 12:30 am. Anyone reaching the "gate" after this time will be routed a different direction. These folks would end up having a 75 mile ride instead of a 100....still a long ride in my book! Steve said there were several rest stops between Hells Gate and the finish line. Some served beer, pickles, pickle juice, ice-cold towels, chocolates, cookies, hotdogs, lots of goodies.
At the finish area, there was a huge party with lots of different tents offering free stuff. At the expo, I bought a Gutr headband ($14.99) that is supposed to catch sweat as you ride or run so the Gutr folks hosted a tent after the ride and anyone who bought one could get free beer and a massage. Michelob sponsored a tent, Cliff bars had a tent, Trek bikes had a tent, the list goes on. It was great!!!!!!
I highly recommend this even to all WISHers. There were people of all shapes and sizes doing these rides. Even little kids. The 25-miler was definitely a family ride. I think we need to have a
WISH riding team. I would LOVE to have a WISH jersey. Anyone interested?
Sorry, so long! I can't wait to do this next year. I'll be going for the 100K then.
GO! WISH Team GO!
. Congrats to your DH!! Now we need a bike riding smiley! How horrible for those riders involved in the wreck. Glad YOU didn't have any incidents! 
Anne
