The Hilly Hellacious Hundred has a long and illustrious history. The links below go to pages about their respective years. If you have any information about years not listed below (or more about those that are), please contact the webmaster.
In 1979, Mike and Claudia Nix, owners of Liberty Bicycles, were participating in the League of American Bicyclists GEAR Rally in Nashville, Tennessee. On the way home, they talked about how much fun the rally was and how enjoyable the century rides were that they'd participated in. During this drive back to Asheville, they decided that there should be a century ride in their town. As they were brainstorming, Claudia thought of the name for this ride. The funny part was that she didn't know how to spell 'hellacious'. As she says, "I first spelled it without the 'i'!"
The first Hilly Hellacious Hundred was in 1980, shortly after the opening of Liberty Bicycles. It started in the Biltmore area of Asheville from the State Employees Credit Union parking lot. There were 17 cyclists. Each rider signed a clipboard, which was left on Claudia's car, and then signed again upon their return. Claudia's parents ran the rest stop at a school in East Flat Rock, which all cyclists passed twice on their way out and back.
This year, 2004, is the 24th year that the Hilly Hellacious Hundred event has been held in Western North Carolina. Over the years, the routes have expanded and start locations have changed several times. There have been eight different coordinators, and SOARS volunteers have added a professional touch by providing the radio support for the past 20 years. The past three years have seen a marked increase in the number of participants, so the WNC Bicycle Dealers Association was brought in as a co-presenter to organize all of the six rest stops. In 2003, there were 659 cyclists from all over the country who participated, and over 60 volunteers who kept the event running smoothly. Needless to say, cyclists were not asked to sign a clipboard left on Claudia's car!
The Hilly Hellacious has come a long way since that first gathering of 17 riders. Thanks to Mike and Claudia's brainstorming on that trip long ago, there have been many, many cyclists from all over the country who have enjoyed participating in the Hilly Hellacious Hundred bike rides during the past 24 years of this event's history!
© Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Inc. 2005