As it was my first HHH all I can say is WOW that was fun!
 
I ended up with two bents blasting through everybody until right after Electra and had a 23.8 average but had to slow to avoid burning out.  Hit 3 rest stops to get the strength back and ran into Greg with about 20 miles to go, that last 25 miles were tough and even saw into a guy named Fritz on a Bacchetta from the Hostel Shop rally a few weeks ago with about 3 miles ago.  
 
Finished with a 22.2 average in 4 hours 34 minutes, an amazing ride!

A friend of mine claims a friend of his says they DID have an Air Force fly-by at the beginning, anyone see it?

Yep, that was a good 'un!!!  Met a bunch of 'bentriders I hadn't been introduced to before....  Only bought some new "cooling sleeves" at the Expo for $15, so got out cheap.  Had fun talking with Andy Baker from Pro Cycles OKC, and for once, slept well at the Lamar  (Note:  it gets COLD in that place, bring an extra blanket!)
 
I purposely went around saying hi to the various 'bentriders in the start area, and re-encountered RBENTers sstexex and wife, as well.  I had planned to paceline (along with Bud) with Beertruck(Rick) and the Houston gang, John, Tuan, John #2, and a couple others, and I saw Greg, Kent, and Mark L taking off the front, immediately, and figured I'd never see them again...  We were cranking along at 23-25 through the first 15 miles or so, and other 'benters joined in - I think we had at least a dozen in line at one point.  Then we hit the snag on that first major hill, and I would up continuing on to Elektra with just four of us, including an older guy from Kansas City who was cruising very nicely as well.  Got to Elektra with a 22 average, fast enough that there were no lines at the portajohns!
 
We regrouped a bit there, taking off again with John leading us at 25 mph...  we turned west into some wind, DJ and John 2 fell off after about 40, and I fell off after about the 45 mile point -- the other John was apparently on a mission to make the beer stop (or finish) in under 5 hours, and Tuan and Rick were hanging with him.  I kept catching Bud along the way -- I figured he wasn't hitting any rest stops, as usual...  I stopped again at 60, rejoining the three of them again plus John2, essentially making HellsGate by 10AM.  Tuan and John2 fell off again shortly after that, so the whole "paceline" concept really didn't last past 60 miles overall, and BeerTruck decided to wait for another rider, losing about 30 minutes.
 
Hornsmw passed me around mile 70, and we chatted for a while...I stopped again at 78, and devoured some PB&J sandwiches, and walking off some starting hotfoot issues.  Met Dan Schaaf there, just as I was about to pull back onto the route, who was wearing the XL RBENT sample jersey, so we got a photo together sporting the new colors.  And sure enough, the turn southbound into the wind was ugly, although it wasn't the typical blast furnace effect, and very, VERY few groups passed me along this stretch -- I was able to hold 18-20 all by my lonesome...  Had to stop briefly at 92 because of hotfoot issues again, then continued on, catching DJ in that stretch, and made it to the Beer Stop at around 12:30, with a 20.0 average showing on the computer -- which I was surprised at, given the winds of the previous 20 miles!  So I was pretty happy with that.
 
Spent a good hour at the beer stop, and Beertruck was the only one of our fractured paceline group that showed up...  then cruised the rest of the way in  -- no flats, no accidents, no muscle cramps, and no speeding tickets driving in either direction, carpooling with Lynn...  Got some fun pics, which I'll put up soon...  It seemed less crowded on the road than last year... and was a very nice ride!

Completed my first century!  I was feeling pretty good all the way to Hell's Gate.  After that was a really long ride - I wasn't in a good place around mile 75 but seeing all the sag wagons full of riders and bikes motivated me to keep moving.  At about mile 80 I felt like I got a second wind.  Unfortunately it didn't last until the finish line.  Finished in 6:58 after guessing it would take 7 hours (am I good at estimating or what!!) tired and glad to have that accomplishment past me.  Now I can wear the HHH jersey I bought at the consumer show in pride!

Way to tough it out, Tony!!!  You earned the jersey....
 
Dan, your extra Sunday miles ride doesn't come as a surprise at all...  well done, Sir!

Well this year's HHH turned out as good as I could have expected.  My mileage is down this year compared to last year having not done a single ride longer than 32 miles to date in 2010.  At the start of the ride I still hadn't decided to do the 100 miles or 100K.  Hooking up with the early bent pacelines, I went for the 100 miles with hopes of making a sub 6 hour run.  Was able to do that to include 3 quick stops ending up with an 18.1mph for 104.5 miles which includes getting to the starting line.
 
I appreciated the company of Bud on the ride up and back.  Didn't seem like it took much time either way.  I did impose on Bud just a little bit, making a customer visit for a few minutes in Windthorst.  That and I hope Bud didn't mind going "through the woods" via Jacksboro Highway and 281.  It's a prettier drive & I much prefer it over 287.
 
It was great to see familiar faces and meet new folks.  Am looking forward to next year!  DJ      

I'm still sick, but dangit that's funny.  I hope to god I have some semblage of clothes on under there.  I honestly have no memory of even getting in the door.  DJ guided me home and that's about all I remember.