Here's a photo report on Hilly Hundred. Hilly is a two-day ride, each day having a 50-mile loop or a shorter optional loop (40 miles on Saturday and 30 miles on Sunday.) This year there were all of 5000 registered riders, which means the roads got a bit crowded at times.  If you get mired in the main mob, plan on  travelling at about 14 mph.

The 100 mile weekend features about 5600 feet of climbing, including a couple of 400 foot chunks. Hardly mountainous, but hilly enough to let you know you've done some climbing. It also has some screaming downhills for those riders ahead of the crowds. Each 50 mile day has three rest stops, each rest stop with food, drink, and a live band. The short 30 mile route on Sunday bypasses the long route's lunch stop.

As I drove south to Bloomington, Indiana, I travelled right into the remains of hurricane/tropical storm Lili. The headwinds were ferocious, the rain light to medium. Luckily, the rain moved past and the wind abated somewhat, leaving clear skies and moderate temperatures for the weekend's riding.

Registration started on Friday night. Everyone got to watch the Hilly Safety Video before claiming their rider packets. Then, it was out to the sales tent. Saturday evening activities included an optional spaghetti dinner, and a show in the auditorium. I made it into the Hilly Video again this year. Must be the bike! Although the Baron did 'OK' on the hills, I think the V-Rex is more suited to the hills and heavy traffic of this ride, so that's what I'll take next time.
 
 

Driving to Hilly in the rain. The rain stopped when I  got south of Indianapolis. As you can see, I'm already  practicing. On your left!	Saturday, stop #1. The treeline looks a bit sparse, because a wind storm about 2 weeks prior took down a lot of trees.
Saturday lunch stop traffic. This is before 'rush hour.'	Than Cramer and his superstreet P-38
Than holds my bike, too. The patch on the back reads, "No Draft Aft."	Cyclists roll in to the third rest stop on Saturday.
After the stop, a nice downhill to get you moving again!	Back at Hilly HQ, the clown band strikes up a few tunes. These guys were pretty good!
Inside the sales tent	An unidentified Terratrike rider I met in the parking lot
Sunday stop #1: cookies, donuts, muffins, and cider	Riders take in the band at the first stop
Sunday: signs mark the split between the  30 and 50 mile routes	Preparing for a downhill. I hit 51 mph on this one,  without pedaling a lick.
The band's view of Sunday's lunch crowd	Bikers coast out of the trees after the last stop. Rainclouds are starting to threaten.
The worst of the last climb over, riders dodge sprinkles as they ride past the golf course. As you can see by the  little wall, they're still climbing at this point.	The last stretch up... up... up... to the high school and the finish. That's not a flat, it's the up direction of a 30+ mph downhill.