Win 2 Entries to The Hotter’N Hell 100 Ride
Are you ready to bake in the hot sun while riding along 100 Miles of beautiful terrain in Wichita Falls, Texas? The 2012 edition of the Hotter’N Hell ride (HHH) is taking place on August 25th, and over the past 31 years it has become the talked about cycling event to take part in. The HHH is one of the oldest and largest cycling events in the United States and we’re here to motivate you to join in this year’s events.
Have a look at what Bethel Strong and Sherry Potts have to say about this ride….and if their testimonials don’t entice you to take part, then we’re offering up two free entries so that you and a friend can get registered and ride together. Oh, and in case 100 miles of riding in the heat scares you too much…they also have shorter route options as well.
For more information on how the Hotter’N Hell 100 got started and about all the other events that go on in Wichita Falls during the week of August 23 to 26, visit their website at www.hh100.org.
Bethel’s HHH Experience:
I entered the 2011 Hotter “N Hell 100 (30th Year Anniversary for the ride) and had never ridden it before. I was 55 years old at the time and always want to push myself to stay in shape. I want to do as many things possible while I’m still in good enough shape to do it. My body and father time will let me know when to stop.
I went there on Friday, one day early so I could get a good night sleep to be ready on Saturday morning start. In the morning they gave us the option to start at 6:30 (normally starts at 7:30), due to the expected EXTREME HEAT. Well, I opted for the 7:30 start because I wanted the full experience of the Sheppard airforce base jets flying over. Now that was cool. Glad I waited.
We finally got started and there were, my best guess just under 14,000 riders, all sized, shapes and ages. Never doing this before I wanted to stay in as straight of a line as I could to avoid a crash. I also wanted to ride at 15 mph, to pace myself and conserve energy for the entire 100 miles.
The heat reached 109 degrees and it became the Hottest Hotter ‘N Hell in their 30 year history. Lots of people were having heat issues with their body, and had to be taken from the ride. I thought, PEOPLE IT’S CALLED THE HOTTER ‘N HELL FOR A REASON–ITS HOTTER ‘N HELL OUT HERE!!! Oh well, more road for me to ride on with them all gone.
It was real cool that when you ride through all the small towns, the business and the people at their homes will all wave and cheer you on, plus they will SPRAY YOU WITH THEIR WATER HOSES, of course I made some circles and went past them a few times, they thought that was funny. Felt GREAT!!
I found out that the cold dill pickle juice they handed out at the rest stops is pretty good. Seems like the rest stops were all in competition with each other and had several themes at the stops.
The ride is mostly a flat road surface and very small inclines, maybe a 2%-3% grade for about 2 miles. Really not a bad ride at all, just Very Long and Very Hot.
When I finished, it was real hot, but I had cold chills on my body, because I felt so proud of myself for doing it.
I was keeping my family informed by text during my ride and my oldest daughter (Amy) was actually crying throughout the day, because she said that she was so proud of me for doing things like this. She said I was the coolest dad. My whole family praises me for what all I can still push myself to do at my age and also having asthma.
Bethel Strong – Forney, Texas
Sherry’s HHH Experience:
It was Christmas, 1982 when my grandmother gift wrapped everything needed to ride a bike, except the bike. She was 60 years old when the first Hotter’N Hell 100 started, and true to her spirit for adventure and devoted love for Wichita Falls, she bought a bike and entered the ride for 25 miles. Standing in her company, I found myself purchasing my first road bike and joining her that Saturday morning in August for her second 25 miles and my first 100K. The morning of the ride, I had no idea what was coming. Not hundreds, but thousands of people and bikes were everywhere! The energy that comes from the crowd and the single purpose to all ride together, I would learn later, is what catapults you through the first 20 miles.
My grandmother passed away three years ago, but the feeling I felt on that first day has never left. It remains a constant in the ever-changing world that is my life. Today I ride road, off-road and trail run. At 49, I am signed up for my first Triple Threat. Without any further delay, I look forward to what adventure I will be tackling when I turn the same age as my grandmother on her first HHH!
Sherry Potts – Wichita Falls Resident
Win 2 Entries to Hotter’N Hell 2012
This contest is now closed. Thanks to all of you who entered and congratulations goes out to Moctavius who was selected by random.org as the winner. I hope you all still register for the ride and have a great time in the hot, hot sun.
If you’ve always wanted to take part in the Hotter’N Hell ride, or just heard about it for the first time….we’re making it easy for you to register and ride. The folks from HHH are giving one of our readers 2 free entries to this year’s event so that you have no excuses for not taking part.
Simply leave a comment as to why you’d like to do this ride and you’re in to win. Contest is open until this Thursday a Noon and winner will be announced soon after.
If you can’t wait and want to register right now, head over to the HHH Registration Site.
I did the ride in 2005 & then again in 2006, I have not riden the HHH since I had a stroke in 2007, I think I’m ready now.
oops, I left the wrong email should have been @gmail,com ot hotmail.
I did my first hh100 in 2002 after Bicycling called it one of the 10 toughest rides in the country. I told my wife I had to do the ride and flew down from Maryland. It was so much fun that my wife and I have been going down every year since then with missing only two years. Last year was HOT! My fastest year ever…sub six hours including rest stops. Not bad for a 60 year old! Of course we are going this year….I certainly recommend it to everyone….it is an event not to be misses!
My wife and I have done the ride and it was everything it was cracked up to be. The aid stations awesome, the crowd at the start awesome, the heat ridiculous. It is a really great event, I loved it, would like to do it again some day but our schedules will not allow it to happen this year so,,,, dont include us in the contest but, I would recommend this event to anyone that has a solid base of fitness.
I would be careful not to take it to lightly, The first time I did it I was in fairly decent shape and still had a lot of trouble with the heat.
I was relatively new to bike riding in 2009. I attempted a century that spring in Salado. A blue norther came in that morning with gale force winds…bummer. I rode 70 miles that day but didn’t have the endurance to go the distance in that wind. I worked on my endurance that summer.
December 13, 09 I fell off my bike in a dog event and broke my right femur. Big bummer! I spent three days in the hospital and 14 days in a special treatment center to repair the break and begin to walk again on a walker with a titanium rod down the middle of my right femur. As I began to walk again one of the upper screws holding the titanium rod in place worked into my hip joint. The surgeon went back into my hip to adjust the screw and place a set screw on that screw to secure it. The rehab clock was set back to zero. I worked that spring learning to walk again. It’s amazing how quickly one can lose muscle tone and endurance.
I was able to get back on the bike the summer of 2010. I’ve regained muscle tone and worked on endurance. I’ll be 65 years young this August. It’s time to make HNH my first century!
I ride the HHH almost every year. I missed two due to bicycling injuries. What makes this a favorite ride is the people both during the ride and around Wichita Falls. One of the most touching moments is when the jets fly over Scott Street just before the start.
I always seem to come up with an excuse for not making the ride. I’m determined to do it this year. At my age, I don’t know how many more chances I’ll get.
It’s been on my ‘to do’ list for quite a while. Haven’t had a chance to get it done yet, and this year sounds like a perfect time to ride with my best friend!
I’ve wanted to ride the HH100 for a few years now, but could never get the time off work. This year, I’m working a temporary gig in Wichita Falls and will be here in August. Besides, how many other people are gonna attempt this on a steel single-speed?
Congratulations….you were selected as the winner in our HHH giveaway. Please send us your contact information so we can get this set up for you.
I would love to do this ride for the challenge and to do it with my husband back in Texas when he’s not in an army training environment! 🙂
1: I would love to do this ride because my old training partner would have to do it with me. 2: it looks like a blast. 3: I have yet to ride in texas.
I’ve always wanted to do this one. Just haven’t yet. Maybe this will be my year. Please pick me.
RAGBRAI is older at 38+years … and longer, too … 🙂
My boyfriend (Kevin Vasconcellos) who posted below has been working so hard to find a job, and I know he would love to enter this ride, but doesnt have the $$ to do it right now. He bought me a hybrid for Christmas/Hanukkah and this would be such a great adventure if one of us were picked to win this and we got to ride it together!!
I’ve completed my goal to run a marathon several years ago, and now after getting a new bike and recently buying one for my girlfriend too, this is my next goal (and it would be awesome to invite her along for the ride). I’ve also only lived in Texas for 2 years now, so this would be an awesome way to explore 100 miles of Texas road I’ve never seen before. Last August one of my coworkers did this ride with his girlfriend and father, and said it was one of the greatest things he ever did (once they crossed the finish line). I’d love to experience that too, but since I’ve been unemployed the past 6 months I am unfortunately unable to pay the entry fee for the two of us….so please help me out and pick me (Kevin Vasconcellos)!!
I actually don’t mind the heat so this ride is good for me. I want to win because I’ve never cycled in Texas before.
+Art, to win, you’ve got to race. There is a race component at the HHH, but I think this free entry offer is just for the (much larger) ride, which is not a race.
I’d like to make this my first ever Century.