The History of the Horribly Hilly Hundred(s)
Contents: 2003 2004 2005 NEW: 2007
The Beginning of the HHH and the 2003 Ride
In 1993, Blue Mound State Park manager Karl Heil rode Greg Krystek's first Abomination ride, which started and finished at the highest point in southern Wisconsin, 1,716-foot West Blue Mound, the focal point of the park. This cue sheet ride was one of Greg's famous super-challenging rides around SW Wisconsin that he previews every year with an article in Silent Sports magazine, followed by an informal group ride. Fifteen people showed up for the first Abomination; it was 117 miles and just over 10,000 feet of elevation gain.
Karl went on to ride the 200K Copper Country Color Tour in Houghton, MI, in 1997, and North Carolina's challenging Bridge to Bridge ride in 1998. A long-time bicycle commuter and hill climbing fan, Karl began to dream that there were enough others like him to support a ride that would feature the fine climbs in the area, promoting both his state park and the nearby community of Mount Horeb.
In 2002, Karl approached the Mount Horeb Area Chamber of Commerce, who enthusiastically embraced the concept. He then recruited his friend Stuart, who had designed touring centuries, as one of his partners in crime, and with Abomination designer Greg K., they put together a fine 119-mile route -- which was supposed to be a "long" 112-mile century, but that's another story. Criminally sadistic it was!
Karl recruited a great staff of volunteers for the first year, including Viking Goulash master Linda D., food stop coordinator Shelby F., Lysianne U. at the registration desk, Don M. as Ham radio master, and Thomas M. as graphics designer. They patiently waited, hoping to fill 250 slots in what was billed as the "Toughest Century in the Midwest" (and also the longest century anywhere!).
Ride day came on June 14th, 2003, and 400 people showed up! Karl got the shuttle buses loaded up, Stuart barked out directions on the bullhorn at the mass start, some people got lost, everybody got challenged, and everybody loved the Viking Goulash!
A good time was had by all, even though less than 50% of long option riders finished the entire route. Tim Valley, an Ironman from Madison, finished the event first in 7:05. (He went on to place 16th overall in the Idaho Ironman competition two weeks later.)
The riders were happy, and went home talking about what they would do differently next year, whom they were going to tell about it, and how to convince more of their friends to train with them. Madison's Isthmus newspaper voted the HHH as the "Sufferfest of the Year" for 2003. Karl, Stuart, and the rest of the volunteers were beaming with delight. An event was born. An event not to be missed by serious riders anywhere. An event destined to go down in history as "The Toughest One-Day Challenge Ride in the Midwest!"
The 2004 Ride
For 2004, we were pleased to announce the addition of creative brand director Paul V. and webmaster Chris D. to the volunteer committee, along with Nolan C., a veteran rider who says the HHH is the hardest thing he's ever done in one day. Harder than the Assault on Mt. Mitchell, which he has done several times. And we had Melissa T., the new director of the Mount Horeb Area Chamber of Commerce, to keep us in line.
In 2004, the number of riders expanded from 400 to 750, and the route was expanded slightly into the 200K and 100K concept, hence the slight name change to Horribly Hilly Hundreds with an "s." Plus, we added some hills. Our percentage of completers was up slightly from the year before. Our website and logo took the current shape. We added an additional rest stop in the last stage at a private home on County Road K, and it turned out to be a welcome addition. We got lucky with another year of great weather, and we had plenty of Viking Goulash and cold beer at the end to feed all the riders.
After the event in 2004, we were once again mentioned in Madison's Isthmus newspaper, this time in a list of "50 Ways to Loose Your Blubber." The HHH was listed as "the most crueling public bike event in the US!" We're not sure if "crueling" is a real word, but we know what the author means! HHH organizers Karl and Stuart went west to ride in the 16th anniversary version of the Triple Bypass in Colorado, a 124-mile, 11,300-foot elevation gain ride. Although they certainly thought it was hard and challenging, they came back satisfied that the HHH was just a tad bit harder due to the constant unrelenting hills, versus the long steady climbs in the mountains. Several of our riders who have done both have agreed.
The 2005 Ride
OK, can we brag about the absolutely PERFECT weather for the 2005 ride?? Whoever ordered it up had better be here again in 2006!!
The 2005 HHH had some great changes, the most significant being the change of location for the ride start. Starting in the Village of Blue Mounds and ending at Blue Mound State Park eliminated the need for bike valets and early-morning shuttle buses! That means life got much easier for riders and their families. The morning started with packet pick-up in the shelter at the top of that (infamous) hill in the park. Riders could have their bikes' mechanics checked either at the park or at the bottom of the hill by the trusty techs from Eric's Bike Shop and REI.
We fed you, filled your water bottles, got you all psyched to face climbing thousands of feet of Southwestern Wisconsin hills, then sent you on down, yes, down the park hill to pick up your timing chips and head into Blue Mounds for the start of the ride.
Along with moving the start of the two routes to the Village of Blue Mounds, we amended the first 14 miles of stage one. The change to the route took riders up Mounds Park Road within the first 6 miles. This climb of over 500 feet in elevation early in the ride not only pushed many riders into an anaerobic state, but also helped thin the mass-start group into reasonably-sized packs.
The first Mounds Park Road climb served all of us well as it aided in thinning the mass start into smaller groups of cyclists early in the route. Smaller packs lead to more respectful riding in general, and we wish to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to all 2005 riders who took to heart our "Ride Hilly Not Horribly" plea for cooperation in this vital aspect of survival for the HHH event. The 2006 Horribly Hilly Hundreds routes remain unchanged from 2005.
An additional and very significant change to the 2005 HHH was the option of chip timing. No, the HHH is NOT a race, but it certainly IS a great accomplishment to finish such a ride in one day! Many past riders expressed an interest in an "'official" time of completing the ride. So we brought in Accu-Split to offer chip timing to those who wanted it. We'll offer chip timing again in 2006.
Growing, growing, gone. We also increased the rider limit to the first 1,000 cyclists crazy enough to commit. And the ride filled up fast, within 8 weeks. If you are planning to ride in 2006, avoid disappointment by signing up soon! Registration anticipated to open through active.com in early February, 2006. Moving to online registration with active.com has helped keep things running smoothly both before the ride and during packet-pickup the day of the event. Nearly 1,000 weary but happy riders from 26 states (and the rumored Canadians) hammered, weaved, or pushed their bikes up the final torturous grade in Blue Mound State Park where they were greeted by cheers and shouts of encouragement from spectators and loved ones alike. REI staff welcomed each and every rider across the finish line. Riders were then able to enjoy the finish line festivities. Viking goulash and a vast array of food and beverages helped replenish riders' depleted energy stores. Free massages were provided by Blue Sky School of Massage. Some exciting additions to the finish line party made the afternoon exceptionally festive. With a DJ, a live local blue-grass band, some awesome Culver's custard, and of course, outstanding craft beers from Jeff Donaghue's Brewery Creek Brewpub in Mineral Point, WI, riders, friends and family lounged around enjoying the beautiful weather and relished in the pride of the riders' achievements. Great random prizes were given, including a new Salsa bike frame as well a bunch of other terrific stuff donated by REI and Erik's Bike Shop.
All in all, we had a fabulous day with a fabulous ride. The safe and courteous behavior of this year's riders made a big contribution to our efforts in continuing with this great event in 2006.
The 2007 Ride
For the fifth year running, the organizers, extraordinary efforts of the team of volunteers, township cooperation, and valued safe and good conduct of more than 1000 participants produced another memorable Horribly Hilly Saga. While not as warm as the mid-90s heat of 2006, the 2007 edition was the longest in HHH history with a 6-mile addition due to road construction and was replete, as always, with its own lurking and leering trolls peeping and popping up around corners and hilltops at their beleaguered prey.
Building through these early five years, the epic, larger-than-life 200-km and 100-km courses have conjured up challenges for riders of all levels, with 10,700 and 5,700 feet of elevation gain respectively. Each year has produced its own personality. Beginning in 2003, when about 400 riders signed up, the event grew to 750 in 2004 and then to a sold-out limit of 1000 (filling in merely hours) the past three years. The rides have become an immensely popular non-race challenge ride, testing the spirit, grit, and determination of all comers.
Taking on Norse-like fabled story lines of conquering heroes haunted by the daunting giants Barlow, Scherbel, Reeve, Fessenfeld, and Zwettler, the three-stage howling twists of Pinnacle, and the enchanting, troll-encamped, two-time climb up Mounds Park Road, all riders rise against the whispers of these gravity-laden spirits to finish their task at hand. It’s not just the large, slow, lumbering trolls that wear riders down on these steep beauties of Wisconsin’s Blue Mound Range; it’s also the constant up-and-down change of tempo on the moderate climbs. The rolling baby trolls such as Moe, Vermont Church, Indian Trail, and Far View taunt and are ever-present, hinting to your most inner ear, "I'll be here with you all day, and so too will my big brothers and sisters." One carries these trolls all day long as they appear and disappear at moments most unasked for and at their free will, only to be combated by the human spirit and moved aside with Viking-like resolve.
Capturing the imaginations of riders from around North America and other continents, the ride continues to gain in popularity. Growing out of a 1990s effort by Greg Krystek of Milwaukee to devise a ride gaining 10,000 feet over 100 miles, it was found that even in this densely structured driftless area, a challenge of this magnitude required 20 more miles to accomplish. With the cooperation of 11 townships and the logistics of presenting a satisfactory plan to each of those agencies by the organizers and with the appreciated and increased cooperation, road manners, and safety of its riders, the HHH continues to thrive. Future success, local support, and acceptance of the event are in the hands of not just the organizers and volunteers, but with all riders to further the real-life stories of our troll-induced adventures worthy of the best Norse mythology.
Marty Zens
5-Time 200km Finisher
