From a Broken Tour to the Struggle Bus: My Palo Duro Canyon Prep Ride for Hotter’N Hell

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From a Broken Tour to the Struggle Bus: My Palo Duro Canyon Prep Ride for Hotter’N Hell

That's me in the canyon

Two weeks before the Hotter’N Hell 100, where I will be doing the half, I decided to test myself with a 50-mile ride in one of Texas’ toughest places to cycle — Palo Duro Canyon. I knew it would be hot. I knew it would be hilly. But I didn’t know that the final six miles would turn into a fight just to stay upright.

The Base That Made This Possible

I’ve ridden over 6,000 miles in the last 12 months, much of it challenging and in the Texas heat. Living in Lubbock, I’m used to triple-digit summer rides. I would never have attempted this canyon ride without that base. Even so, this day proved that sometimes, even with years of experience, you still get humbled.

My goal wasn’t to ride in extreme heat. I got there early enough that I expected to finish when temps were in the mid-90s. The morning was pleasant. But when things started going wrong mid-ride, my stops stretched the day, and by the end, it was 100–101°F. I never planned for that — but I got it anyway.

From a Broken Tour to Big Goals

This ride was part of a bigger picture. I started the year attempting a tour from San Diego to Las Cruces, but a freak accident on day one broke multiple bike parts and forced me to end the trip. Rather than restart, I shifted focus to single-day events and hard training rides. My eyes are now set on the Day of the Tread Ride in Albuquerque in October — a hilly challenge that will require serious climbing legs. The Hotter’N Hell 100 is my next step toward that goal.

Why Palo Duro Canyon?

Palo Duro isn’t just beautiful — it’s brutal. The signature challenge is the 1¼-mile climb out with an average grade of 8.2%, including sections over 10%. Add wind, heat, and rolling canyon roads, and you’ve got a course that will expose any weakness.

The Ride Begins

I started at 8:00 AM. The first 25 miles were uneventful and smooth. I tackled the big canyon climb and felt strong. On the descent, I was feeling confident. But at mile 30, my neck started to ache — something I’ve battled before on long rides.

The First Stop

By mile 35, I decided to stop at my truck. I refilled my bottles, grabbed a bite, stretched my neck, and sat in the AC for a few minutes. I still felt like I could finish without too much trouble.

Boarding the Struggle Bus

Then came mile 44. The heat was now at its peak, and my neck pain was sharp. I was dizzy. Every part of me wanted to stop, but my stubborn side wouldn’t let me quit. On flatter stretches, I rested my chin on my hands with my elbows on my aero bar pads to take the pressure off my neck. It helped — enough to keep moving forward.

The Real Culprit

After the ride, I realized what happened. I take a diuretic for a lifelong medical condition. After losing a lot of weight this year, I cut my dosage in half, and it worked perfectly. But two days before this ride, I decided to take a full pill again because my body was making too much fluid on my shins. Big mistake. In the heat, it accelerated fluid loss, which likely caused my dizziness and fatigue. Even with my strong base, it was too much for my body.

Lesson Learned

  • Even experienced cyclists with a solid base can be humbled by a combination of factors.
  • Know how your medications interact with heat and effort.
  • Training in tougher conditions than race day builds mental toughness — but ride smart.
Palo Duro Canyon Ride at a Glance:
• Distance: 50.7 miles
• Elevation Gain: ~2,350 ft
• Climb: 1¼ miles at 8.2% avg, over 10% in sections
• Heat: 100–101°F at finish (108°F recorded later in the park)
• Lessons: Even with 6,000+ miles in the past year, a medication misstep can derail a ride.
Gear I Recommend for Hot, Hilly Rides:

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Final Thoughts

I finished — not my best 50 miles, but one I’ll remember. Sometimes you train the body. Sometimes you train the mind. On this day, I trained both.

Me in Palo Duro Canyon

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Location: Lubbock, TX, USA

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