Welcome to the Hampshire 100

New 2013 video:

Spring has arrived, and so has the homegrown version of the 2013 Hampshire 100 video. Put on your headphones, turn up the volume, and enjoy! More 2013 memories are documented at various places:

• DirtWire.tv video and interviews
• Hampshire 100 formal photo album
• EFTA photo galleries

A sample of comments from 2013 participants:

• Hampshire 100 was a beautiful course
• Fast, flowy, tight, up and down singletrack
• Superbly marked
• Support was top notch
• The care that the race supporters had at each station was really inspiring
• Ton of fun
• Ain't saying I didn't go home feeling like I was in a bar fight…but that's ok!
• Great food
• The short track and cyclocross racers the day before were a great addition
• Event is awesome, but it sure is brutal
• The support throughout the event was tremendous
• My favorite endurance MTB event
• Post race meal was awesome
• Painful but great singletrack
• I loved all the mileage marker signs
• Another great year at the Hampshire 100
• The volunteers rocked!
• Totally worth it

2014 Calendar of Events

The Hampshire 100 Sports Weekend will feature various sporting events on Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, 2014. Please note the following dates for specific events:

2013 Hampshire 100 Hardcores Posted

The third class of Hampshire 100 Hardcores is now posted here. If you know these guys, convey your awe and congratulations on their accomplishment.

Photos of 2013 Event

Photos are now posted on the Photos page.

Stay in Touch

Be sure to stay in touch with the Hampshire 100 by friending us on FaceBook. Many photos and post-event stories are being swapped there.

Back to Back 100 Mile/100K Finishes — With a Twist

Matthew Dewitt rode to a solid finish at the Hampshire 100 on August 18th. An admirable accomplishment of strength, endurance, and fortitude by any standard.

However, Matt took it further, as he had just come off from a finish at the legendary Leadville 100 the weekend before the Hampshire 100. Now we're looking at the truly rare accomplishment zone — one occupied generally by top pro riders.

Here's the twist: Matt is not a pro, but he does ride a custom made bike, with features like no other. He is a middle of the pack type rider, but one on an extremely special mission. Matt served our country in the Iraq war, and suffered significant injuries, including the loss of two hands. He now rides on the Ride2Recovery Team, with his custom bike designed and built by top engineers supporting the Ride2Recovery mission. It is well worth a visit to the Ride2Recovery website. The Hampshire 100 race director asks that you follow your heart to the donation page, in recognition of Matt's back to back 100 mile/kilometer finishes.

The Good, the Ugly, and the Bad

The Good — Participant comments are being submitted, and most are raves about the event experience this past weekend. Even the gentle constructive criticism is good, as it is what makes the event better each and every year. Please keep the feedback coming.

The Ugly — There seems to have been a significant increase in litter on course this year. Littering is not only against our rules of racing, but it is also illegal in most jurisdictions, as well as being just plain rude and irresponsible. We are experiencing negative fallout from this for the first time ever. Gel wrappers, used bike parts, and empty water bottles have no reason to be left on course. While we are confident that most participants used utmost care in adhering to this policy, it only takes a few to make it appear that we collectively do not care about the properties we cross.

The Bad — Volunteers who are clearing the trails post-event of any evidence of passage have experienced a higher level of extra work to clean the trails. Landowners are sometimes beating us to the trash, and that is not a good thing. One immediate result will be that there will no longer be a water bottle station on course. It was implemented on a trial basis 2 years ago. Regrettably, the trial has ended in failure.

Thank You to All!

Wow — great participants, volunteers, sponsors, landowners, and weather all came together this past weekend for a tremendously spirited and fun weekend. Thank you to all.

Event Notes

• Saturday evening $5 great pasta w/salad meal available at venue (other food options also).
• There will be a led ride Saturday late afternoon of Greenfield Trails Association's trails. Some will be included in Sunday's event.
• Cyclocross training race and short track mtb race are held on Saturday evening, right at Oak Park. Don't miss the fun.
• Hey---the "sweet Candy Trail" is all buffed. Must mean it's almost race day!