Grab your helmets and knee pads, Hilly Hundred is back for its 56th year in Monroe, Morgan and Owen counties October 4 through 6.
“It started 56 years ago from a small group of people in Bloomington meeting in Bloomington wanting to ride through the turning leaves in the fall,” Hilly Hundred Weekend Managing Director Mark Bettinger said. “That was the whole goal, it was probably 40 or 50 people that wanted to ride with them to see the leaves. It has since grown considerably, it grew and then shrunk a little bit. We are probably 1,800 riders or so now. We would like people to see the turning of the leaves, but with changes we don’t see as much of that so it’s still riding through some beautiful countryside mainly in Monroe county. The goal is enjoyment. Yes, it’s hilly, but we have three rest stops on Saturday, three on Sunday, we try to feed everyone well, we also have music at each stop.”
The rest stops will include donuts and muffins, lunch and snacks.
The stops will be open all day until 3 p.m. and the event will not have a mass start time, but riders typically begin each day between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., according to Bettinger.
“Our goal is to get people out there enjoying themselves, listening to the music and reuniting with friends they met the past year,” said Bettinger. “Make it a group event and come enjoy yourself.”
While they expect around 1,800 participants, at the time of this riding there have been 1,100 people registered for the weekend event. Registration is only available online at ciba.redpodium.com/hilly-hundred-weekend-2024 and will end the first week of October. On-site registration will not be available.
Registration for the entire weekend is $90, one-day is $75 and the Little Hilly is $40 per person. Camping space is also optional for an additional fee, $10 per person and $25 for an RV space. Camping prices cover the entire weekend.
Riding is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday each beginning and ending at Edgewood High School (601 S Edgewood Dr, Ellettsville) with registration pickup starting on Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. also at the school.
The weekend will consist of two routes, the longer route totalling around 50 miles per day and the shorter totalling around 35 miles. An additional 100k route is also on the books for Saturday and is optional for participants. Little Hilly is another additional option with flatter terrain and family friendly appeal.
Money raised from the event is used to cover payment for reserve officers that will be directing traffic at critical intersections. Profits will be donated to Central Indiana Bicycling Association (CIBA), Bicycle Indiana and Edgewood High School in the form of scholarships, said Bettinger.
Emergency medical services from IU Health are also contracted to be stationed at each of the rest stops.
“Although we do allow e-bikes during the event, we ask that they be pedal-assist and not a throttle,” said Bettinger. “Those with pedal-assist compart themselves much more like normal cyclists and we feel it is much safer.”
More information about Hilly Hundred weekend can be found online at www.hillyhundred.org.
