Hotter'n Hell 100

[Safeway]

The main 100-mile ride is Saturday, August 29th. I'll be there.

Anyone else?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Nope. Good luck though

 

[dougp]

Haven't done it in a few years, exhausting ride.

 

[Safeway]

I'm hoping it isn't 108F like previous years. A toast 97F would be appreciated.

No other cyclists?

 

[MrPickins]

Considering how hot this summer has been so far, no chance in hell.

 

[vailr]

Start out at 4:00 AM & you'll be finished before the heat of the day sets in?

 

[dr150]

Remember..........take a lot of salty snacks and alcohol with you.

It's about about being in top race performance shape during the long haul.

 

[BabaBooey]

You're insane.....:laugh:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Screw the heat, how much climbing is there?

<--Completed 2 centuries.

 

[nanette1985]

I bow with respect to those who accomplish this.

I remain in my air-conditioned home while I bow.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Gonna be sitting in the pool all day with a cold beer in hand, but good luck to you.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: vailr
Start out at 4:00 AM & you'll be finished before the heat of the day sets in?

The ride starts at 7:00am, no early birds allowed.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Screw the heat, how much climbing is there?

<--Completed 2 centuries.

I've completed multiple centuries and a double century, but usually in mild weather. I am training up to competitive racing fitness. Thankfully, CAT 5 races are short stages. If I gain traction, the stages hit century level.

 

[Dirigible]

As long as there are no sustained hard climbs, it's not too bad. I've never done an organized century on an over 100 degree day, but I've done a number of 100 mile rides on days like that. Some were on self-supported bicycle tours with all my gear.

I'm not nearly badass enough to do one right now though. Go for it, Safeway!

 

[arrfep]

Originally posted by: Dirigible
As long as there are no sustained hard climbs, it's not too bad. I've never done an organized century on an over 100 degree day, but I've done a number of 100 mile rides on days like that. Some were on self-supported bicycle tours with all my gear.

I'm not nearly badass enough to do one right now though. Go for it, Safeway!

I rode my fully-loaded touring bike from Vegas to Baker, CA a few years back. It was 122 when we got into Baker. The next day we rode 160 miles into Riverside in the same weather.

These days I'm lucky to do 20 minutes on the spinning bike in the gym without being winded. Man I gotta get back in shape.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: arrfep

Originally posted by: Dirigible
As long as there are no sustained hard climbs, it's not too bad. I've never done an organized century on an over 100 degree day, but I've done a number of 100 mile rides on days like that. Some were on self-supported bicycle tours with all my gear.

I'm not nearly badass enough to do one right now though. Go for it, Safeway!

I rode my fully-loaded touring bike from Vegas to Baker, CA a few years back. It was 122 when we got into Baker. The next day we rode 160 miles into Riverside in the same weather.

These days I'm lucky to do 20 minutes on the spinning bike in the gym without being winded. Man I gotta get back in shape.

20 minutes of sprinting on a spin bike is quite a bit different from a long, slow 160 mile ride.

 

[Spineshank]

Id rather do that than ride in 85 degree weather with 100% humidity that we get here in PA.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Yo man yo. Good luck on tha race man yo.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Screw the heat, how much climbing is there?

<--Completed 2 centuries.

I've completed multiple centuries and a double century, but usually in mild weather. I am training up to competitive racing fitness. Thankfully, CAT 5 races are short stages. If I gain traction, the stages hit century level.

You should be fine then. Just make sure you keep your electrolytes up and drink plenty of fluids...but you probably know all this already.

I've done a few 50-60 mile training rides in 100+ heat. It's fun taking a swig of your water bottle and tasting 100 degree water...not very thirst quenching.

 

[dougp]

Have you ever ridden the HnH100 Safeway?

I've done it 2 times, the 50 mile and 100 mile. 107F would be easy compared to what the temperature was on my 100 mile ride - I believe we hit 115F in the hottest part of the day during that ride. They had to close down the Devil's Gate (this is the entry onto the state highway, which occurs around the 70 mile mark - if you don't make it here before it's closed, you end up doing 87 miles) because tires were blowing out - they recorded 140F coming off the pavement, which was causing tires to overheat way too much.

My friend doing the 50 mile ended up with 2 IVs, and was unable to finish - but he didn't really train.

 

[Safeway]

@doug: Holy shit. In Michigan, 94F ambient temperature + sunlight produced 102F rider-level temperatures and even hotter pavement temperatures.

I've ridden the HHH once before, but I have a friend partaking in this year's sanctioned race. I will pay the $5 to have chip timing, so I will post my rank if it is respectable.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Safeway
@doug: Holy shit. In Michigan, 94F ambient temperature + sunlight produced 102F rider-level temperatures and even hotter pavement temperatures.

I've ridden the HHH once before, but I have a friend partaking in this year's sanctioned race. I will pay the $5 to have chip timing, so I will post my rank if it is respectable.

I did a training ride in Palm Springs in early July two summers ago. It was 110 degrees by 11AM when I was heading back to the house we were staying in and the heat coming off the pavement at stop lights was ridiculous.

 

[DrPizza]

I've done quite a few centuries, and the worst by far was on a day with high temperatures. It was the worst because the volunteers manning all the support stations were lost. Route 19 IDIOTS! NOT ROUTE 19A! On level ground, I don't think it would be too bad, depending on the level of support you had - people with water refills, etc. It was kind of funny to us - me and the other leader waited at the 50 mile marker (a painted line on the ground, next to which there were supposed to be a bunch of people with water, fruit, etc.) for the rest of the century riders. We mapped out an alternate route back for the last 50 miles, because we didn't want to be out in the middle of no where with no support in case of any medical problems. About 20 miles later, the state police found us, but those were the best 20 miles. People were outside with hoses & we'd stop to get hosed down, we were able to refill our water bottles, etc.

Right now, I'm not sure I'd be in good enough shape to handle 100 in the heat. On a day like today outside, I'd happily attempt it for a good cause. But, there's no way in hell I'd do it if there were any significant climbs - I'm not in good enough shape to handle climbs AND the distance.

 

[Safeway]

This year, there are apparently "substantial, sustained inclines." Ugh.

I went out to get in 25 miles today, and felt sick once I got home. Not from the distance (I did 4 x 70+ mile days last week), but from the heat and excessive speed.

@DrPizza: There are 14 rest stops alone the century route, each with: shade, 500 gallon water tanks, Gatorade, bananas, oranges, watermelon, pickles, etc.