The boyz ride in Poor Farm Cup race

Ashland, VA April 2006

After what seemed like an eternity of winter and many months of winter rides, the first big race of the season was finally upon us. The Poor Farm Cup hosted by Richmond Multisports. The weather forcast was not looking too promising for Saturday...rain, heavy at times w/the threat of severe storms, hail, etc, etc. Great...perfect weather for driving!... We awoke Sat morning to a thunderstorm. Things subsided by 9:30 a.m. or so. After dropping off the spoiled pooch, we met Skip & Moe, piled into the Jeep and headed for Ashland. As we drew closer to our destination, the rain got heavier. We thought it may stop once we arrived so we could pre-ride. Mother Nature had other things in mind.

We arrived in Ashland approxl 4 hours later. Still raining hard so the pre-ride was not going to happen. Plan B. - Find a bike shop. We dropped in on a local bike shop by the name of Agee's. Skip wanted to get a fender and some 29r tubes. Warren & I needed some tubes as well. I had a flat on my bike from the Thursday night ride w/ the boyz at Explore Park so I decided to get a tube to fix the flat just in case I decided to pre-ride. Back to the hotel we went to start fashioning fenders and fixing flats. After the bikes were ready to roll, we wandered over to Applebee's so the guys could load up on their pre-race meal.

Upon returning to the hotel, the skies opened up again. Yuk more rain! Sunday was looking more more like it would be a soupy, sloppy mess! Boy am I glad I'm not racing this one. (previous post..Stupid Knee, yada, yada, yada...can't race the first race) We settled in for the evening. We flipped between the NASCAR race and the NHL playoffs to pass the time. The hotel was hooked up w/ internet access, so Skip kept us informed on the race status. Lights out. I don't think anyone slept great that evening. Around 3:00 a.m we were awakened by the loud people in the room next door! Great..don't you people understand that these guys have to race in a few hours? They need their rest! Geez.......

The alarm went off way too soon Sunday morning. We awoke to foggy skies, temps in the 50's and mist. Skip went downstairs & ran into some folks organizing the race. They needed people to preride & check the course conditions. Skip volunteered himself & Warren. After breakfast, we loaded up and headed to the race course. Skippy & Warren pre-rode while Moe & I hung out in the Jeepster. We did some reconiscance to locate a hose but that was about the only time we left the vehicle. It was pretty nasty out. Skippy & Warren came back with a full report. Surprisingly the conditions were not too bad. The race should be pretty fun. Skippy even said I might be able to race! Nah..not this day...I know I'm not quite ready to race & did not want to risk another injury. Instead Moe & I headed back to the hotel to check out and returned to meet back up w/ the boyz.

Ron & Todd met up with us. The boyz went on to warm up while Moe & I staked out our viewing spot among the other wives & girlfriends. I told the guys I'd play water girl. Moe was their timer. I had pre-race jitters waiting for the start & I wasn't even racing. I can't imagine what the boys were feeling. Although they all seemed pretty relaxed & ready to go. My advice to them was "Go get em!"

Expert class went off first. They did a LeMans start. This is when everyone lays down their bike on the ground & then they line up approx 20 feet or so behind their bike. They count down, tell the racers "Go" and everyone runs to their bike, hops on & gets going. Ron & Todd looked very strong at the start. Ron got tucked into the 1st half of the pack but he would work his way up.
The Single Speeds were next. "Go" Skippy got a great start running but once everyone was up and running, it was clear he would have his work cut out for him. Warren also had a strong start.
Following the Single Speeds were the Expert Women. I knew a couple of the girls racing. Celeste from Conte's & Dilcia from Innova Sports (not sure of the team name) I had raced with these girls in the Virginia State Championship Series in 2004 and at Douthat in 2005. I hoped they would place well in the field of 8 or so women. They had some stiff competion so they would have a tough day ahead of them.

Approximately 35 minutes into the race, the announcer started rattling off numbers of some of the experts coming through. We kept our eyes peeled for Todd. Sure enough, up he came. looking very strong. I handed off a bottle to him & Moe shouted his time check. He was looking good. Ron was along shortly after. He was looking very focused. He did not take water & I'm not even sure he heard the time check b/c he had his headphones on. We waited a little while longer and up came the single speeders. Skippy was in second and looking very strong. After Skippy went through, we thought Warren would be along shortly. 2minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes...where is he? Finally he came along. As I handed off the bottle, Warren informs me he had a crash. I look down to see his knee bleeding. Ewwww...Just hang on honey..keep moving! On came some of the women. The first few looked strong & fast. One was even riding a Single Speed. You go girl! When Celeste & Dilcia came through, they looked spent. Maybe the course was tougher than anticipated. EEEK

After a couple more laps, time checks & fresh bottles, the leaders start coming in. At the last time check, Todd was in 3rd but we were not sure how far back. As the leaders came in, it turns out Todd was able to get into 2nd position which is where he finished. Rock on! Ron came in around 6th. Skip came in 2nd for the Single Speed dudes & Warren placed somewhere around 14 for the Single Speeders. Not a bad day for our first major race of the season. 2 on the podium. Woo hoo. Great job Boyz! Next up for some of the guys...Greenbriar, MD. Warren & myself are working towards the Tour de Tomlinson to be held in West Virginia in May. I've got lots of base miles to go to get back into shape from the knee injury but so far so good. I think I'm right on track.