The Story of the Hancock Horizontal Hundred
Ohio's flattest and friendliest century ride — since 1974.
Every September, cyclists from across Ohio and beyond gather in Findlay for a ride that has been part of the Midwest cycling calendar for more than fifty years. The Hancock Horizontal Hundred isn't the hilliest ride. It's not the most technical. But it may be one of the most enduring — and for many riders, it's the ride that showed them what a century feels like for the first time.
The name says it all. “Horizontal” because the roads of Hancock County are about as flat as Ohio gets. “Hundred” because the full route covers one hundred miles of smooth backroads, open farmland, and small-town quiet. And “Hancock” because this ride was born here, built by people who live here, and kept alive by a community that refuses to let it fade.
Where It Started
The first Hancock Horizontal Hundred was held in 1974, organized by the Hancock Handlebars Bicycle Club — a local cycling club based in Findlay, Ohio. What started as a small group ride through the flat country roads of northwest Ohio grew, year by year, into one of the region's most recognized century tours.
The Hancock Handlebars operated for more than fifty years. They organized weekly rides, youth cycling education, and community events — but the HHH was always their flagship. The club built a reputation for smooth, well-marked routes, fully stocked rest stops, SAG support, and post-ride hospitality that kept riders coming back decade after decade.
The ride earned a particular reputation among century riders: if you wanted to attempt your first hundred miles on a bike, the HHH was the place to do it. With minimal elevation gain across the entire route and a supportive atmosphere from start to finish, the ride removed many of the barriers that make a first century feel intimidating.
Growth and Traditions
At its peak, the Hancock Horizontal Hundred drew over 1,000 riders annually. Cyclists came from across Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and beyond — drawn by the flat terrain, the well-organized logistics, and the small-town hospitality that defined the weekend.
The event became known for its traditions: commemorative patches for registered riders, an ice cream social the evening before the ride, a hot pancake breakfast from Chris Cakes on Sunday morning, and the satisfaction of finishing certificates and complimentary ice cream at the line. The University of Findlay served as a longtime host venue, providing a central start and finish point with ample parking and campus facilities.
For many riders, the HHH wasn't just an annual ride — it was a fixture on the calendar, a tradition shared with riding partners, friends, and family. Some riders came back every year for decades. The ride's flat, forgiving profile made it accessible to a wide range of cyclists, from serious century riders to families on their first group ride.
The People Who Built It
The HHH was always a volunteer-driven event. The Hancock Handlebars Bicycle Club provided the organizational backbone — marking routes, staffing rest stops, coordinating SAG vehicles, and managing registration for what became a major regional event.
Among the club's leaders, Mick Gould served as both HHBC President and HHH Tour Director. In 2006, Gould established the Hancock Parks Bicycling Fund through the Findlay Hancock County Community Foundation — a fund dedicated to building and maintaining bicycle trails, safety classes, and recreation programs in Hancock County. That fund continues today as a lasting piece of the club's legacy.
The full history of the people behind the HHH spans generations, and we know that many stories have not yet been told. If you were part of the early rides, helped organize the event, or know the names behind the work — we want to hear from you.
The Hiatus
By 2019, the Hancock Handlebars Bicycle Club was winding down. Many of the founding members who had kept the club and the HHH running for decades were aging out of the work required to organize a major cycling event. Combined with the uncertainties of the pandemic, the club made the difficult decision to close permanently on December 31, 2020.
All remaining club funds were donated to the Hancock Parks Bicycling Fund. The HHH was not held from 2020 through 2024 — a five-year gap, the longest in the event's history.
For riders who had made the HHH an annual tradition, the absence was felt. The ride that had been on the calendar for nearly fifty consecutive years was simply gone.
The Revival
In 2025, Making Miles Matter — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Findlay — brought the Hancock Horizontal Hundred back to life as the 51st edition. The nonprofit, led by Brandon Glomski, is focused on improving cycling access, safety, and community wellness throughout Northwest Ohio.
The 2025 ride drew 202 riders — a modest number compared to the event's peak, but a meaningful start. The ride returned to the University of Findlay and featured four distance options: a free 15-mile community ride, a 30-mile introductory route, a 62-mile metric century, and the full 100-mile century that gives the event its name.
The revival wasn't just about bringing back a bike ride. It was about reconnecting with a tradition, proving that there was still demand for a well-organized, beginner-friendly century on flat Ohio roads, and creating a new foundation for the event to grow from.
What the HHH Means Today
The Hancock Horizontal Hundred survived generational change, a pandemic, and a five-year absence — and it's still here. That's not something most cycling events can say.
Under Making Miles Matter, every HHH registration directly supports families in Hancock County. You're not just riding a century — you're funding community programs, cycling infrastructure, and youth education across Northwest Ohio.
15 mi
FREE
Families & first-timers
30 mi
$49
Scenic farmland loop
62 mi
$65
Metric century
100 mi
$75
The full Horizontal Hundred
HHH by the Years
First Hancock Horizontal Hundred held in Findlay, Ohio
Mick Gould establishes the Hancock Parks Bicycling Fund
Over 1,000 riders annually at the height of the event
University of Findlay hosts the ride; patches, ice cream socials, and Chris Cakes breakfast
Hancock Handlebars Bicycle Club begins to wind down after 50+ years
HHBC permanently closes; five-year hiatus begins
Making Miles Matter revives the HHH as the 51st edition — 202 riders
52nd Annual HHH scheduled for September 12
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Help Us Preserve the History
Were you part of the early HHH rides? Do you have old photos, route sheets, jerseys, patches, finish certificates, or printed programs? We're building a permanent archive of the ride's history and we need your help.
Share your memories, photos, and memorabilia — every piece of the story matters.