Hotter N Hell 100 - CycleCentury

So we make our way to the front, and none of us are really sure what to do because there are cyclists everywhere. I thought we were pretty close to the front, but there are cyclists as far as they eye can see in front of me and behind me. Thought about trying to make my way closer to the front but decided it would be more trouble than it was worth. Chatted with Tahressa and Edward until the flyover. Brandon went to use the bathroom and we lost him.

Heard a cannon go off, but I didn't realize that was the start of the ride. Saw people trying to go in front of me, but there was just too many people. Finally get rolling and I take it easy for the first 4 or 5 miles. I'm in for a long day, so I want to get comfortable. After the crowd thins out a bit, maybe mile 5, I drop into aero and start getting ready for work. My goal was to not let my HR get above 145 until the last 20 or so miles. So I stay around 145, pumping out about 22-23 mph early. Feels good, and I notice somebody on my tail. I'll pull you all day buddy! Take him about 7 miles and he creeps up to my right and says "Great pull! I'm not going to make you go all day. Hop on!" At this point I slow down a bit, and realize I'm pulling like 40 people! Holy sh1t! That was awesome. This is the beginning of what turned out to be a bit of my later demise. But I was faced with a dilemma. Draft like a cyclist, or fly solo like a triathlete. Forgive me, for I have sinned. I jumped on the line. After a mile maybe of drafting, I realized that it sucks. I know you're saving energy, but it restricts me. I desire my freedom. And I love dropping to aero. It is so much more comfortable. So I get out of the line. This was drafting penalty #1. Really smooth riding to mile 30. Weather is cool. Pretty nice roads.

Stop at the mile 30 rest stop to refuel with water, and I grab a couple of cookies. This really took much longer than I expected just due to the enormous amount of riders trying to get water. Take off again, hoping to get another 30 miles out of my resources. At this point we were on the other side of Electra, and this is the best stretch of road I have ever ridden on. Period. Smooth, smooth road. No hills at all. Maybe a slight downhill. I don't know what came over me, but I was pounding out 30-32 mph like it was nothing. Just clockwork! I was so amazed there will still people in front of me at this point, but like I've said already, there are just so many people at this ride. At one point I hear a lady say "Oh, look honey. Let's jump on him." So I pull them for maybe 7-8 miles. Just a few more friends I made that day by pulling. Eventually she says she can't keep up, but thanks me. I reply that it's the roads. That is the best stretch of road I've ever witnessed. But I noticed my HR jumping up into the high 150's, which is not where I wanted it. And I considered slowing down, but my head is getting larger with every down stroke. Bad, bad, bad. I sure had the big head and I didn't care that my HR was creeping. Shrugged it off and did more pulling. It was at this point that I really got excited about my time, because not only was I shooting for a sub-5 century, but I was also trying to finish as fast as I could because I had a date later that night. Man, life is good right now!

Pass Hell's Gate, which wasn't too impressive, with a total time of 2:46:xx. I was really expecting something cool, like riding through Satan's mouth or something. But it was just a sign with a few people yelling. Oh, and there were people everywhere in the small towns. They were so excited to see all the cyclists. It was really cool. Back to Hell's Gate. 2:46:xx. That registers to just shy of a 22 avg as I crosses Hell's Gate at 60.3. Keep in mind this is total time, not time in the saddle. Once I saw this, all you guys back in the metroplex might've saw this big thing appear in the northwestern skies. Yes, that was my head. Where I developed this ego from, I do not know. But I was ready to blaze the rest of the course.

Stopped around mile 70 for my second and last rest stop. Tried to get in and out quickly, but just so many people. Refueled with 2 powerade bottles and 1 water bottle here since I only had 2 gels left. It's really thinned out now, and you'll still see pace lines occasionally but for the most part it's stragglers like myself. My days of pulling are over as the legs start wearing down, and at mile 80 - BLAM. I got nothing. No juice is left. I'm running on empty. And it's a slight uphill on this endless damn road that runs forever. Yes, hell's gate did in fact take me to hell. I feel like I'm in a time warp. Everything just looks the same, and it's like I'm not going anywhere. How in the hell did I go from feeling so good to so bad in a matter of 15 miles? I know I did a decent job of providing nutrition up to this point. I had about 200 calories every hour. Probably should've upped this to 250, but it was sufficient. Plenty of hydration. I had gone through 7 water bottles up to this point. Maybe should've made one more rest stop for a bit more water, but I was sufficiently hydrated. There was only one cause for this disaster, and that would be my pride. I'm so embarassed to be saying this, but it's true. I let the compliments and my ego get to my head, worked harder than I should've in the middle miles, and crapped out in the end. Miles 80-100 were hell, simply put. And I couldn't get the thought out of my head that I wasn't going to make it back to Longview until really late. Man, did I screw up. I stared at my computer...questioning myself and why no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't see 20+. This is where I gave in to tempation. Forgive me a second time, for I have sinned. I jumped on the pace line. Oh man, I regret this so much. I know I could've finished without. I told myself I was going to finish without after I gave in the first time. But no, hell got to me. Only drafted for about 2-3 miles really, because I couldn't keep up. This makes my regrets even worse. I probably stayed around 15-16 mph until mile 95, when I finally got a downhill. Oh, thank heaven! Hit something like 22 and it was pure bliss. But 97-99 got back to the horrid hell. I've never counted down the miles until a ride is over before in my life, but I did this day. Turned the computer on distance, and stared. This older gentleman actually yelled at me, "Wake up!!! What are you doing sleeping". Ha! I felt like I was asleep. Nope, just counting miles. And then we hit 100, and I'm like where's the finish line??? Well, it turns out this isn't a century. It's a century plus 2. These last 2 miles were so hard, because they weren't expected. Cruised on in finally, and saw a 5:09:xx. Until I get my chip time, I really won't know if I rode a sub-5 century. That will be so cool if my first century is a sub-5 though. I'm guessing it's not, but I'm positive it would've been if they wouldn't have thrown in the 2 cheat miles. What the hell, I'm going to claim it. :)

Not get the big head and ride smart within my meager abilities. Finish strong.

Got off the bike, and walked. It really felt good to walk again. Ate a banana and some oranges. It then struck me that I had to get back on the bike to get to my car. 2.5 more miles. And this had hills. This was the most casual ride of my life. I'm not sure I exceeded 10 mph! Got back to the car, and hightailed it to Longview. I had to make sure I didn't have to cancel on this cute girl.


I hate this question. I really do.


HHH is the best cycling event I think you can go to in Texas, hands down. Of course, I haven't been riding long enough to know any different. But if I have my way, I'll be making the trip out to Wichita Falls year, after year, after year.