Milder ‘n Hell ‘09
But wait! What happened to last years update? Did you go? What it hot? Where are the pictures? The last one is probably the key as to why there was NOT a story.
HHH ‘08
Bobby, Chris, David, & Sean rode the 100 miles in ’08. Yes, one name changed from the previous year. Rich couldn’t make it. The trip was fairly eventless compared to the first year. We got a nice hotel in Wichita Falls. Everybody finished. A good time was had by all J. We did have a few things notable things.
First, the reason for NO pictures. I dropped my camera about mile 17. I saw it shatter into pieces and decided not to stop and pick it up. By the time I did think I should pick it up I was WAY too far down the road. I wish I would have at least snagged the memory card.
Early in the ride the lanes narrow from four to two. David was letting some guy come in and this guy still hit the curb. All I could hear was a crunching noise behind me. I called back after a few feet “David, are you still there?” Luckily he was.
Neal Diamond. Everytime we saw David he would sing “Hello, my friend, Hello”. A bit disturbing and yet comforting.
The high that day was 97 which matched the previous year.
MHH ‘09
The headline in the local paper the next day read “Milder ‘n Hell” the next day. The high temperature was expected to be 92/93. I’m not sure it got above high 80’s. It felt hot a few times. One of the great things was the number of riders; which was about 14,205. That is 2000 more than last year and a record turnout.
This year Barry, Chris, David, and Sean (me) went to the HHH. We changed one name again. Bobby went with his wife and Rich (from ’07). Now I’m wondering which name will change in our group next year. We started a bit more in the front than before. That made the start a bit easier. Chris and I thought maybe too easy. Not as many slow people to have to weave around. I guess it was safer.
Shortly into the ride I could hear a clicking noise. I tried to ignore it. I thought it might be my front magnet on my speed sensor. I stopped once to fix the front magnet. I stopped again to fix the back magnet. And then I was bugged that my cadence sensor wasn’t working. I had to stop and adjust that magnet too. Luckily that was the extent of my mechanical issues.
Max capacity for my little Tacoma.
Chris, Barry, David, Sean
I found Marsha before the ride began. She was lined up about a block behind our group.
Barry, Chris, David, Sean before at the start.
Rest stop #3 had great cookies
Somewhere before the 40 mile stop I got hit by a bug in the cheek and STUNG. That hurt for the next 15 miles.
Chris and Barry at rest stop #4.
Fuel from rest stop 5. Smoked Sausage! Yum! I also had a fried apple pie. I really didn’t need both of those.
Rest stop 5 is Margaritaville. Easily my favorite stop.
Hell’s gate.
Finish line 2:04PM
We had crossed the finish line at 7:16AM. I finished at 2:04PM. Average riding speed was 19.1 MPH. Overall average was 15.1MPH. Very much a personal best for 100Miles considering I was not in much of a paceline for probably 40 miles.
Chris ride ended at mile 90. He fixed his tire at mile 83 with a hammer gel packet. That lasted 7 miles. After the second blowout he decided his day was over.
