Welcome to the Hill Country 600

Texas Hill Country is over! Thanks to racers, crew, officials and supporters for making this a wonderful event in 2010! Please check out the photos on the comments page!
Looking for results from the race? CLICK HERE

Also – check out the Twitter Feed for up to the minute updates and pictures!
On Twitter follow @raogeorge by clicking HERE or look for click HERE for all tweets about the Texas Race from racers, crews and officials! (This is #hillcountry600 at twitter.com)
Dates for 2010:

Pre-Race Meeting: Friday March 12, 2010 6PM at Roger Soler’s Tri-Shop 14405 Old Bandera Rd Helotes TX 78023.
Hill Country 600 Saturday-Sunday March 13-14, 2010
There will be some updates to the route around the final town of Boerne – new route book to posted by end of November, 2009.

New for 2010 – Finishers Jerseys from Voler!

New Start Times for 2010 – Solo and tandem racers will start at 7:00 a.m. Saturday. Both 2 and 4 person relay teams will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday. Course closes at 7:00 p.m. Sunday giving solo and tandem racers 36 hours to finish and teams 33 hours.

The Hill Country 600k will be held March 13 – 14. This race is a qualifier for the Race Across America. Follow vehicles are required for all divisions. I have wanted to put this event on for a number of years. I grew up in NE San Antonio not far from Helotes and have logged thousands of miles over this route. Terri and I are happy to be able to share it with you!

The rules are the same as for Race Across Oregon.

The waiver is available here

Course Description (mileage recorded using Garmin GPS):

Helotes to Medina “Hill Country Phone Co-op” TS #1 42.6 miles After a neutral start of 4.2 miles I will yell “Go” and the race will be on. Support crews may begin leapfrog support at 15 miles. Hwy 16 is in good shape. The shoulder is wide in most places though it does vary with climbing lanes. Racers will go through downtown Bandera and follow 16 all the way to TS #1 in Medina. There will be moderate traffic to Bandera which will become much lighter once through town. The terrain is rolling and I expect you will riding fast over this section.

Medina to Leakey Post Office TS #2 Miles thus far 79.4 This is a very challenging section featuring frequent steep climbs, steep and winding descents and intense rollers. The scenery is beautiful. After TS 1 racers will turn left on hwy 337 toward Vanderpool. There is an unforgettable climb featuring 3 false summits beginning at mile 54.7. A few miles after the screaming descent racers will turn right on 187 north then pick up 337 again toward Leakey. The hills are constant and steep through this section. TXDOT laid down some chip seal that will unfortunately slow your speed over what used to be a quick 8 miles to Leakey. Once past this the road surface improves considerably.

Leakey to TS #3 Rock Springs – Miles thus far 129.7 This section starts with a big climb out of Leakey followed by a road which resembles ribbon Christmas candy – roller after roller after roller which finally ends with a nice descent (though there is a big roller just after you think you’re facing a relaxing coast). Once out of the hills the road is great to Camp Wood (99.9 miles). Racers turn right on TX 55 at 100.4 miles. Pace vehicles may begin following at this point or 6:30 pm whichever comes first. TX 55 is in excellent shape featuring rolling (a few of them pretty big) terrain all the way to Rock Springs

Rock Springs to TS #4 Junction (your choice – pay phone is at Exxon on left or, if you have your cell phone you may call as you pass the Shell Station on the right or a tenth of a mile further to the Valero and McDonalds on the right) Miles thus far 178.1 More of the same. As you continue straight past the time station TX 55 becomes hwy 377. Though a different number the road maintains its quality and you’ll ride the rollers to a traffic light in Junction where you’ll turn right following hwy 377 North. If the winds are favorable Camp Wood to Junction will go by quickly!

Junction to Llano TS #5 Miles thus far 254.9 Hwy 377 briefly becomes 83 when crossing under I-10. A mile down the road you’ll turn right onto 377 North. The road is in good shape with an equally nice shoulder. Terrain is flat to rolling though more exposed and could be windy. You’re riding through mesquite country here. I saw three javelina hogs, some armadillos and deer while mapping this section. 5 miles from Mason you’ll get on 87. There is a tricky intersection in Mason. Be sure you stay on 87/29 bearing left. The big court house will be on your right if you make the turn correctly – if it’s on your left go back. Follow 29 all the way to Llano. The road is 2 lane with a relatively narrow shoulder but it is in good shape. TS 5 is located at the Fina Gas Station on your right – conveniently next to a traffic light where you’ll turn right toward Fredricksburg.

Llano to Fredricksburg TS #6 Miles thus far 300.1 After going straight through a few traffic lights you’ll come a number of options for directions to travel. At mile 256.5 turn right on Ranch Road 2323. This is a lightly traveled road with no shoulder. It’s small but in good condition and is kind of a rolling descent. After 33 miles you’ll come to a stop sign at hwy 87. Turn left and enjoy the van wide shoulder all the way to Fredricksburg. Follow 290/87 through town. This is Main Street and you’ll go straight through a number of traffic lights. Say hello to the Hell Week riders! At mile 300.1 you’ll come to the 290 Gas Mart which is TS 6.

Fredricksburg to Boerne TS #7 Upper Balcones Starbucks Miles thus far 340.28 Now that you’re a bit sleep addled and feeling tired the real navigation challenge begins. Follow 290 out of town and keep a close eye on street signs to your right. At mile 304.1 you will turn right on Cain City Road. This is a small deserted farm road and will be easy to miss though there is a notification sign just before your turn. Your next turn is even trickier. There is a stop sign at mile 306.1 Cain City Road continues straight however you MUST TURN RIGHT on Luckenbach/Cain City Road. After a mile the road will come to a T intersection with a stop sign. The road has no street sign. It is Old San Antonio Road and you will turn left. Landmarks are few and far between so make sure of that earlier turn on Luckenbach/Cain City. Old San Antonio Road changes names to Old #9 Highway. It’s still small and winding with a number of low water crossing dips. At mile 321.5 turn left on hwy 473 toward Sisterdale. Again look for street signs on your right because at mile 322.6 you’ll turn right on Waring Welfare Road. This is another winding small road very popular with the local cyclists. Follow Waring Welfare to the I-10 frontage road. Follow the I-10 East signs under the Interstate and proceed up the east bound frontage road. DO NOT get on the Interstate! You’ll take the frontage road to a left turn at mile 336.7 on to 87 Business and cross over I-10. Look for School Street on the right because you’ll turn right on it at mile 338.4 – there’s a traffic light there but School is a bit hard to see if you aren’t paying attention. This may have some traffic if you’re riding through on Sunday afternoon so be aware. Just before a traffic light you’ll bear right through a Yield sign and cross over I-10 for the last time. There is a traffic light at the frontage road where you’ll turn left. Upper Balcones Road is less than a 10th of a mile past this turn. Turn right on Upper Balcones. Time Station #7 is the Starbuck on the left of Upper Balcones. Just call from your cell phone as you roll past or stop for some coffee if they’re open and you’re sleepy.

Boerne to Grey Forest TS #8 Miles thus far 353.9 You will have a blast on this section. Upper Balcones has some tough rollers but the road ends with a sharp curve to the left through a low water crossing. It changes names to Toutant-Beauregard. There’s a climb out of the crossing but then you’ll enjoy a long descent to a stop sign at Scenic Loop Road (mile 350.0). Turn right onto Scenic Loop. When you reach the sign announcing that you are entering Grey Forest call on your cell phone. You’ll call my number rather than Race HQ so I’ll know you are rapidly approaching the finish line.

Grey Forest to Helotes Finish Line Total Mileage 357.7 Well the original route was 394 miles but I much prefer this route which has better road surface and misses some traffic. Hopefully you and your crew will agree with me upon arrival. Scenic Loop is flat through Grey Forest then has a slight climb to a traffic light at Hwy 16. When the light turns green cross 16 to the stop sign at mile 357.45. Turn left and you’re staring at the finish line about 100 yards away. 80 of those yards are downhill and you’ll most likely be able to coast across the white paint. Plan to stick around for the award party at Floores Country Store (right nex to the start/finish line) for a memorable post race celebration!

Below is a tentative race map and profile. (You can download a full-resolution map here [pdf])

Hill Country 600 map





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