The Hotter'N Hell Hundred celebrated its 29th Annual event in 2010. The 29th Annual HHH was a huge success. Larger numbers of riders and racers along with our largest Consumer Show topped the weekend along with the largest finish line village in history of the HHH. The Hotter'N Hell Hundred grew out of efforts to find a special way for Wichita Falls to celebrate its centennial in 1982. Roby Christie of the Wichita Falls Bicycle Club proposed a bicycle ride - 100 miles in hundred-degree heat to celebrate 100 years. The original HHH committee promoted the idea as a unique and fitting event to honor the spirit of Texoma and the people that first settled the area. A consulting company from New York City proposed a rocking chair marathon. After lengthy discussion the Centennial Committee agreed with the HHH committee that early settlers were not rocking chair people. Gritty people capable of riding 100 miles in Texoma heat were a more fitting symbol of the tenacity of early settlers. Mark and Jo Alice Davis, now of Weatherford Texas, coined the name, Hotter'N Hell Hundred. The rest is Hotter'N Hell History. Some of the original committee members have moved but Roby and many others remain involved in planning and implementing the event in each of its now 28 years. The committee started with 7 people and is now in excess of 90.
During the first year of HHH, there were 1200 riders. Endurance cycling was relatively new to Texas but 1200 riders celebrated the first year as the largest single day 100 mile ride in the nation. The HHH committee has been a constant pupil in the school of hard knocks. Rest Stops during the first year were operated by members of the Good Sam's RV Club. On board water, toilets and built in shade made these RV land yachts appear to be the perfect rest stop-mobile. The event emptied the water tanks, filed the toilet tanks and wore the small crew of volunteers out. Tired or not, the Good Sam's remained an important part of road support for many years.
The early years of medical support would be a nightmare for current day medical volunteers. There was one medical unit at the finish line. Now days there are MASH units at each rest stop and at the finish. Medical volunteers treat everything from bees embedded in rider's ears, to emu bites, road rash, under hydration, over hydration and hard landings.
The Hotter'N Hell grew geometrically for several years. The Hotter'N Hell Hundred is now the largest single day 100 mile bicycle ride in the nation - and possibly the world. In 2010 more than 14,000 registrants again participated in the Hotter'N Hell Hundred weekend events.
During the first year of HHH, there were 1200 riders. Endurance cycling was relatively new to Texas but 1200 riders celebrated the first year as the largest single day 100 mile ride in the nation. The HHH committee has been a constant pupil in the school of hard knocks. Rest Stops during the first year were operated by members of the Good Sam's RV Club. On board water, toilets and built in shade made these RV land yachts appear to be the perfect rest stop-mobile. The event emptied the water tanks, filed the toilet tanks and wore the small crew of volunteers out. Tired or not, the Good Sam's remained an important part of road support for many years.
The early years of medical support would be a nightmare for current day medical volunteers. There was one medical unit at the finish line. Now days there are MASH units at each rest stop and at the finish. Medical volunteers treat everything from bees embedded in rider's ears, to emu bites, road rash, under hydration, over hydration and hard landings.
The Hotter'N Hell grew geometrically for several years. The Hotter'N Hell Hundred is now the largest single day 100 mile bicycle ride in the nation - and possibly the world. In 2010 more than 14,000 registrants again participated in the Hotter'N Hell Hundred weekend events.
