bjtesch

Today being Thursday Aug. 16, the msn.com 10-day weather forecast extends through Sat. Aug. 25 and has a high temp that day of 93F. I realize that anything can happen between now and then and the forecast can change 10 times, but 93F would be a good temperature for a century day. It is certainly much better than what it could be.

Creakyknees

Yup, I'm in, racing the 40+ open. Thankfully us old guys only do 100k, that's enough for me. I mainly enjoy the whole scene, from the expo to the Friday night crit to watching tired but happy riders roll in on Saturday as I sit a cold beverage, having already changed and showered.

SA_Brak

I'll be there. It will be my first time. Coming up from San Antonio. Looking forward to it. 93 degrees would be great but I'm not going to get my hopes up.

lotek 

not doing it this year, first time in 8 years that I'm not.
To quote an old TV show
"Lets be safe out there"

marty

jlynnbob

I'm in. Bringing a friend... we'll be rolling the full deal.

Halfast

I am going for my 6th year to do the whole thing. I still want to know if we will get free beer as in the 98 mile rest stop. I am looking forward to going through the Air Force base for the first time and the new route, but am really going to miss the 98 rest stop party!

Anybody heard anything about the 98 mile RS group?

texbiker

There have been a couple of "cool" fronts move through Wichita Falls so it might not be over 100 degrees. I remember many years ago when it was in the 50's at the start and only mid 80's at the end. I did not bring my cool weather clothes then and shivered for awhile. I am riding the 66 mile route since they changed the 100 mile route and done away with the Hell's Gate turn in Burkburnett.

slowpace

I'll be there. 22 or 23 in a row. Can't remember exactly what year we started riding it.

daithi2

My wife and I both will be doing the full ride.

rainycamp

I will be there for my first time. Probably doing the 100K, but still considering the full ride.

bikepro

I'm pretty sure that was in 2005 and the cool weather was due to Hurricane Katrina.

I've always referred to this one as the "Warmer than Heck Hundred".

But seriously, without the heat the HHH is pretty easy since there are few hills.

bikepro

If anyone wants to go to the HHH but hasn't made reservations yet, the Budet Inn in Nocona still has vacancies -- I just reserved a room there. It's not fancy and is about 50 miles out but it's probably the only place you'll find. I've stayed there numerous times in the past.

texbiker

I am not sure about 2005 but the year I had in mind was August 29, 1987. The temperature was 61 at the start and the high was 85 degrees. Back then I think the start was from the stadium on the southwest side of town.

bjtesch

Yes, park at memorial stadium, line up on all 6 lanes of Southwest Parkway and ride the length of that road then out of town to the east.

bjtesch

Forecast watch- today's msn.com forecast for Saturday is a high of 96F.

SA_Brak

I have a few questions about getting to the event Satuday morning.

How bad is the traffic getting into the MPEC ? Is there plenty of parking or should I plan on parking in the surrounding lots/streets? How early should I plan on arriving? Thanks!

Creakyknees

It's an early-morning backup, for sure. Last time I drove to the start, we got to downtown about 5:30 and there was already a long backup on the freeway for the exit, coming from both directions. There's a lot of parking but you may have to search a while to find it. I recommend scouting some back ways into the area (Friday's a good day to do this), or better yet, pedaling in from further out (bring lights).

Check the website for a parking map:

https://www.hh100.org/wp-content/uplo...C-Main-Map.pdf

bjtesch

Yes. Look for the areas marked "overflow parking" to the south side of the map. If you stay on the lower level of the freeway and don't take the elevated deck, and exit something like 8th street or 10th street you can get in pretty easily. Getting directly to the event center itself will be difficult. Notice that the numbered streets are mostly one way in or out of downtown. Definitely scout it out ahead of time, even if you just look at the aerial photos on google.com maps.

bikepro

Still not bad for the HHH.

bikepro

If you want to park at the MPEC, need to get there around 6 AM.

lotek 

my understanding is the mile 98 beer break rest stop is no more... sigh

cbuddy2005

And the wife is staying home, so mores the pity. She can't smell beer on me when's she's in Austin.

bjtesch

Almost 12,000 riders, sunny, temps topped out somewhere in the mid-90's, very strong winds out of the south. I would have preferred hotter with less wind.

bikepro

The cooler temperatures were deceiving. With the dry air, I misjudged my hydration requirements and had some cramping before the end. With the dry wind, the sweat evaporates so fast you don't realize how much you are loosing. And the 10 or so miles riding south from Burkburnette, with a slight uphill into the headwind -- that was my least favorite part.

About the temperature and winds -- we could of had both. I've seen 100+ with winds that felt like they came from a blast furnace.

texbiker

Coming from the high humidity Houston area you are right about not noticing the loss of water. I tried to keep hydrated and when I stopped at 41 miles (100K route) I think I drank about a gallon of different fluids plus refilled my Camelbak. The cold drinks felt good but the snow cones at the 57 mile stop were even better. The tailwind until 50 miles had a huge payback from then on.

Rick Ankrum
www.texbiker.net
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