How to survive the Hotter than Hell 100 bicycle race and live to tell about it – Part 2

Part 2:  Tips and tricks before the race

1. SLEEP!!!! Make sure you get plenty of sleep from Thursday/Friday night.  The day before folks usually have a hard time sleeping.  So make sure you give your body the maximum amount of rest you can.
2. Pack your gear the night before:  Logical right?  You’d be surprised how many riders freak out in the morning because they realize they left that extra tube at home.

Quick Checklist:

• Bike
• Helmet
• Headband/do-rag
• Gloves
• Shoes
• Socks
• Bottles (filled with water)
• Heartrate monitor/GPS/whatever you use
• Sunscreen
• Extra tubes, patch kit, emergency bike tool
• Gu/Shotblocks/whatever you eat during the ride

3. Talking about tubes, make sure you have at least two extra tubes with you on this ride. For some reason, the combination of heat and awesome Wichita Falls road conditions is really tough on them.
4. Whatever you do, do not wear underwear under your riding shorts.  It’s a ‘sensitive’ subject but we speak from experience when we say that saddle sores, ingrown hairs and blisters full of puss… well, you get the picture. Some of the real manly guys use Chamois/Butt Butter.  Yeah, yeah… but it works!
5. Sunscreen: You are going to be in the sun for at least 5 hours or longer at 90+ degrees.  Nuff said.
6. Don’t listen to one of the Wheelbrothers called Wade.  There are more then one gears on your bike. Use them!
7. Find a great group to ride with and draft, if you are experienced enough to do that. Remember to ask for permission to do so before hand. 99% of the time it’s fine but there are anal retentive goobers everywhere.
8. Draft wisely: If you do not know the folks you are drafting of be careful. Figure out if they know what they are doing and if they can hold a steady lane.  If not, the potential couple minutes you are shaving of your overall time, might not be worth the road rash.
9. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: Read part 1 – yesterdays story on how to survive the HH100.
10. Keep your head up and have a great time.  ENJOY the ride.  Don’t take it to serious and relish in the experience of riding with 13,000+ other riders.  Make new friends and most importantly, if you see one of the Wheelbrothers say ‘Hi’!!!!