Velonews.com reminds us that the Frisco Suprdrome has been around for 10 years.
Located on the Preston Ridge Campus of Collin County Community College District, the Superdrome in Frisco is a joint partnership between the City of Frisco and CCCCD. In the early 1990’s as the city of Frisco was preparing for future growth and infrastructure for residents and visitors, it was approached by EDS with a vision developed by its Global Sports Marketing Division Manager and world-champion cyclist Nick Chenowth for a premier sporting venue that would bring attention to Frisco, provide a showcase for technology and positively impact the community, particularly in regards to youth sports development.
While thousands of cyclists put their feet to the pedals in the Wichita Falls area for the Hotter’N Hell Hundred today, a mixed group that includes soldiers, airmen and sailors and another group of airmen in two different locations overseas — one in Iraq and one in Kuwait — will have their own events in conjunction with the Ride.
After HHH Executive Director Chip Filer received requests from soldiers and airmen overseas who wanted permission to ride the Hotter’N Hell Hundred on their bases or in their camps — and also wanted HHH T-shirts and water bottles — he asked Maj. Brian Young, medical services flight commander at Sheppard Air Force Base, to coordinate these overseas events.
Yesterday was the annual Hotter’n Hell Hundred ride in Wichita Falls. I was among the estimated 11,260 riders leaving the starting line. The four T-38 jets streaked over Scott Street about 7:06AM following the Star Spangle Banner. My heart beats proudly when I see those jets in a tight formation zoom by.
This year’s ride was well organized as almost every one has been. Each year there is something extra. This year the ride map came with the GPS coordinates for each rest stop along each of the routes. This is the first ride where I have seen this feature.
In spite of the name, this year the temperature was only 95 degrees when I finished at 1:27PM. My group had started at 7:20AM because we were some ways back from the starting line where the cannon sounded at 7:09. Wind was not a factor since it was light at 6mph and from the southeast. While I was waiting to start riding I spoke with another rider who was from Burkburnett, just north of Wichita Falls. This was his fifth time to ride. He told me about his first ride five years ago when he was going to ride with his daughter and son-in-law on the 25 mile route. A week or so before the ride his daughter called to tell him she was not going to be able to ride because she was pregnant. His son-in-law had planned on riding the 100k and he did not think he could make it that far since he had only been training for the 25 miles. They compromised and rode the 50 miles without incident. Since then he has ridden the 100 mile route one time.
The ride went smoothly for me. I was trying a new twist this ride. I bought a Flip video camera with the thought of recording some of the ride. While riding and shooting video would be tough my wife did shoot video at the start line and I did some of the rest stops. (Once I figure out my Youtube.com account I will upload several videos.) This is a video of the women’s criterium on Friday evening.
An anticipated 3,500 cyclists will ride toward a cure for multiple sclerosis in the 19th Annual Valero Bike to the Beach, presented by H-E-B, the weekend of Oct. 4 through 5.
This year’s event, a two-day, 160-mile ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi, has a set goal to raise $1.7 million to support research to end MS and fund programs through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter. As of Aug. 13, 2,194 cyclists had registered for the ride, marking 63 percent of the chapter’s participation goal.
