Saturday, May 31, 2008

Tour of the Valleys Road Race History


Wearing the Putney/West Hill jersey and racing in the Master's field last season inevitably brought questions from other racers, such as, "How's Neil?" "Is the shop still without plumbing?" "Where's Scott Wade?" "Is David Bradford here?" along with comments, such as," The Tour of the Valleys was a great race." I trained with Doug Dale at Incline Training this winter, and he would reminisce about the TOV race. I rode the Tour of the Valleys course on May 17th, and noticed the usual landmarks (the water spigot with the cyclist sculpture on Kurn Hattin Hill; the sheep in the meadow with the sheep dog near the fence on the Patch Rd. at the Major farm) and realized what a great course it must have been, since it had two climbs, and a hilltop finish (Green Mountain Orchards on West Hill Rd.), and unlike many of the road races today, it did not consist of several laps around a shorter course. So I asked Neil to give me a little history about the race, and here is the first installment regarding the first three years.

"The first TOV was a point to point starting in Lebanon, NH, and finishing all the way up at Putney School, at that last turn up to Elm Lea Farm. John Allis led for most of the race, but was passed right at the last turn by Doug Dale, a savvy drafter and sprinter, who took the inside line. The next race was on the current loop, except the finish was at the Putney elementary school. We thought all the hills would spread out the field but there was a bunch sprint, at 30+ mph, of over a dozen riders for the win! We had to ask the racers where they thought they placed. So the next year we changed to a "promoter's finish", that is, after a steep climb. So most racers remember the finish at Green Mtn Orchards. Yes, there was cold beer available after the first events. We often, in the first years, had some hot Canadians come down who would take the best prizes home"

Ride Leader Needed for TNR on June 10th

Weatherhead Hollow Road
Franklin Farm
Leyden

Colrain
Leyden

Arne Hammarlund will not be able to lead the TNR on Tuesday June 10th - it starts at the Guilford Fairgrounds, is a 37 mile ride through the towns of Leyden and Colrain and Guilford. Please contact me if you can lead this ride.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Recommended Road Races in June

Waterville Valley Time Trial
Campton, NH
Saturday, June 07, 2008

Register here.

Cyclonauts Road Race
Monson, MA
Saturday, June 14, 2008

Register here.


Housatonic Hills Road Race
Southbury, CT
Sunday, June 15, 2008

Register here.





Cox Charities Cycling Classic
Providence, RI
Saturday, June 28, 2008


Register here.