Hi. Just a couple of questions for anyone that has raced in the hotter than hell. First off, I have never done a race before and I want to race in the hotter than hell but it looks like I can only race in the 100K. Looking at the HH100 site, it looks like only 100 riders can race in the CAT5 race. Is this correct? I’m afraid to register for the CAT5 race and then all of the sudden, oh it’s full, sorry NO REFUND. I would assume that this would fill up like a year in advance. I am just really confused as no one ever ever ever ever ever answers the freaking phone number that they gave if riders had any questions. Am I limited in my gearing? Can I use a 11-23 for instance? One more question. My helmet. I want to use a LG Proloque helmet in this race. It says that it is CPSC certified approved or whatever. I had no idea there were such limitations and I would be very appreciative if anyone could help me because the last thing I wnat to do is drive for 6 hours and then find out that I can’t ride because of my helmet. Thanks
The course is flat, an 11-23 will be fine. Your helmet is fine too.
Their website is a little confusing, but most people do the endurance ride, not the race. There are usually around 10,000 people riding the 100 mile endurance ride, compared to only 100 doing the cat 5 race. If you are really looking into getting into road racing then go ahead and do the cat 5 race, it’s likely not sold out–I don’t think it sold out last year… Otherwise you will probably want to sign up for the endurance ride. There’s no limit on the endurance ride so you won’t get shut out there.
Firstly, most bike races aren’t like big tri’s. They don’t fill up a year in advance. In fact, they don’t usually open up registration until 2-3 months in advance, sometimes even later.
If you want to really race, do the Cat 5 race. I don’t understand what you’re saying about being afraid to sign up. That doesn’t really make sense to me. If online registration for your category is still open, then you’re guaranteed a spot if you register. They will close it when the race is full. There are 70something signed up right now, so go ahead and sign up. It will probably fill up soon.
There are no limitations on gearing unless you are a junior. You can wear that helmet but I’d really, really advise against it. And just making sure you know - if you are doing the race and not the ride, leave the tri bike at home
Hi, thanks for the advice. I am going to register for the race now. I am just curious why you advise against this type of helmet for a 100K. I could see why for 100 miles but 100K is relatively short. Thanks
I am just curious why you advise against this type of helmet for a 100K.
The event name is not a joke. One guy died doing the 100mi ride from a heart attack the year I did it. Unless you are used to riding in 100+ heat with rolling hills and no shade, I’d also recommend against an aero helmet. If you’re doing it as a road race, why use an aero helmet anyways?
Hi, thanks for the advice. I am going to register for the race now. I am just curious why you advise against this type of helmet for a 100K. I could see why for 100 miles but 100K is relatively short. Thanks
PandJ
In the Cat 5 race there will be roughly 100 riders in a tight group spread across the road. Most of the time you will (or should) be somewhere in that group. The aero benefits of the helmet just won’t have merit in that situation and of course since you’ll be on a road bike, you’ll sitting fairly upright where an aero helmet isn’t as effective.
Can I ask a stupid unrelated but related question on this ride…
I’m doing it as a training ride of sorts for IMAZ as a friend talked me into it before I signed up for IMAZ. I will be on my tri-bike and don’t plan to wear an aero helmet and ride aero all the time etc etc. so don’t blast me yet!
However, am I going to get blasted if I decide to ride aero assuming that I’m not in any type of pack and just riding out there minding my own business once it thins out past the first or second turn off? Am I going to get blasted even further if I show up to the start with an aero bottle in front for when I do get out there on my own? Again, if traffic is heavy or I’m in a pack, I don’t plan to go aero, but if I can I will and would like to have my liquid right there.
If you are doing the ride and not the race, no worries about aero, sort of. The first few miles are dangerous in the ride because people think they are sprinting off the front and riding like idiots. You will see crashes. Stay out of your aero bars until the crowd thins out. If you are doing the race, bring your road bike.
Another thing: DO NOT leave your bike at the finish area. I had a Look 386 and it was stolen in the 5 minutes it took me to go get a drink and come back.
The cops could not have cared less. They just shrugged their shoulders and said they have 20+ bikes stolen at the event every year.
You will be fine on your tri bike, but unless you are quite fast, don’t expect it to thin out enough to actually be able to go aero much. Just to put it in perspective, the course is shorter than an IM with about 6x the riders, and not even a swim start to break things up…
Hi, thanks for the advice. I am going to register for the race now. I am just curious why you advise against this type of helmet for a 100K. I could see why for 100 miles but 100K is relatively short. Thanks
PandJ
Well, look at it this way. You’ve probably seen bike races. Myself, I’ve seen hundreds of them from local Cat 5 races to Euro Pro races, and never, not even once, have I seen someone wearing an aero helmet in a mass start race. Even if you don’t overheat, you are going to get many, many strange looks and probably people talking about you behind your back(if you care about that sort of thing). Besides, as Justin already mentioned, there isn’t any strategic advantage to wearing one in a mass start race.
I did it last year on my tri bike w/ aerobottle. It’s no different than any other rally other than more squirrelly riders in over their heads. I road pulling a weaker friend. after about 45 miles, it thinned out and I pulled him just staying aero. I looked back at 1 point and there were 20 people sucking off of me.
Wearing an aero helmet in a road race screams triathlete and someone to stay clear. Especially in a Cat 5 race with a bunch of other new racers. You may be fine in a tight pack, but there’s a perception in the road racing scene that triathletes are strong, but lack the handling skills. I’ve seen some triathletes go off the front and still manage to crash.
I don’t know if I’d make HHH my first race though. I’m sure the race has a rolling closure, but there are plenty of non-racers that start early and generally get in the way. Might want to check out Chappell Hill in a few weeks near Houston. Great road race with plenty of rollers to test you.
Oh, and I wouldn’t worry too much about being in the aerobars for the ride. I see lots of folks doing that once it thins out a bit. Just be careful as there’s a forecast for rain.
Well, I guess I’m stuck with it anyway. I bought Elites, dura ace shifters, dura ace this, dura ace that… stuff ads up. I honestly don’t have the money to look around for another helmet on such short notice even if I wanted to. Besides, the prologue isn’t that rediculous, it’s not like say totally over the top like my Advantage 2. I bought the red one and sometimes I look at it and think it might as well have flames on it and say '57 Chevy. As far as overheating goes, I am used to the heat, I live in Austin and have been training the entire summer. I rode today probably 60-70 miles today (once again another cyclometer bites the dust as it is like the Bermuda triangle when it starts to get hot), and I reguraly do 40-60 miles like every freaking day. Besides, I plan on being done before it even starts to get really hot anyway knock on wood. As far as people talking behind my back I could care less. The prologue feels fast. Other helmets feel like there is just too much wind coming through the vents. The LG blocks the wind very well and I honestly don’t know why they took it off the market. I don’t know what the big deal is. Before I got into cycling some years ago I wanted to be the next Kevin Schwantz. Try riding around Texas in this heat all day on a GSXR750 with a full face lid on and leathers, now that’s HOTTER THAN HELL! LOL!
Forget about how much endurance and resistance to the heat you have developed while training in Austin and all that other stuff! Everyone has sugested to you not to wear the helmet for a road race yet you refuse to heed their advice. While there is nothing in the rules that prevents you from wearing an approved helmet in the road race, you are overlooking the fact that if the officials deem that you would pose a risk to the safety of the other riders - and all it will take is for one of the other riders to complain to a race official - based on the limitations on hearing and peripheral vision typical of wearing an aero helmet, the officials will not allow you to while wearing the aero helmet! One more thing, sleeveless tri-tops/suits are not going to cut it because sleeves are required for all USCF sanctioned road events. So if you intend to race next Saturday and don’t want to make a 5-hour drive for nothing, you should do your best to acquire a road helmet (and a roady top with sleeves) for the event and if you cannot find one, then PM me - I will be at the race next weekend and I have the wifes old orange/yellow Giro Pneumo collecting dust after it was surplused when we switched to Lazer helmets a few years back that I will let you use/have for free!
I’ve done it a couple times with tri bike, and wasn’t a big deal. Plenty of chances to be in aero position once you get going (especially if you don’t stop at first couple of rest stops). Aero bottle is fine (actualy preferrable in my opinion, holds a bit more liquid and you tend to drink more frequently).
Just don’t get in aero position when drafting in a pack…
Hang on, I think folks are a little confused here. You are planning on racing on your road bike, not your tri bike, correct? We just want to make sure.
Forget about how much endurance and resistance to the heat you have developed while training in Austin and all that other stuff! Everyone has sugested to you not to wear the helmet for a road race yet you refuse to heed their advice. While there is nothing in the rules that prevents you from wearing an approved helmet in the road race, you are overlooking the fact that if the officials deem that you would pose a risk to the safety of the other riders - and all it will take is for one of the other riders to complain to a race official - based on the limitations on hearing and peripheral vision typical of wearing an aero helmet, the officials will not allow you to while wearing the aero helmet! One more thing, sleeveless tri-tops/suits are not going to cut it because sleeves are required for all USCF sanctioned road events. So if you intend to race next Saturday and don’t want to make a 5-hour drive for nothing, you should do your best to acquire a road helmet (and a roady top with sleeves) for the event and if you cannot find one, then PM me - I will be at the race next weekend and I have the wifes old orange/yellow Giro Pneumo collecting dust after it was surplused when we switched to Lazer helmets a few years back that I will let you use/have for free!
yet another dumb question, but the “sleeveless” shirt rule is just for the racers/pros or whatever right? If I’m just doing the century ride on my own I can wear whatever I want huh (sleeveless or tri top). I’m assuming the answer is that yes I can wear sleeveless but I’ve never done a regular bike ride before, just tris?
Wear whatever you want if you’re just doing the endurance ride. Hell, you can even go shirtless if you want. Sleeve rule only applies to the USCF race.
