Race Day

In 2023, I (Gary Bentley) met Keegan, the owner of Turtleback Ridge Brewery through a mutual friend and Lexington, KY based bike shop Broomwagon. I had just recently gotten back into riding after taking a couple of years off focusing on my business and farm. While training locally I realized that the local area had an abundance of small rural roads that were lightly traveled and perfect for riding. That fall we planned an unsanctioned and loosely organized race, Farmhand’s 40. There was an excellent turnout of 70 riders from all over the country and it luckily tied into the Fount Cycling training camp. The event was a success in our eyes and numerous people asked if we were going to do more in 2024. Folks came to know me as Smokerspeed a moniker of me smoking cigarettes and riding bikes(I have since quit) and my alter ego Ricky Dale(ex con, redneck, and retired stock car racer switched to bikes) so I answer to all three names and hope you come experience grass roots road racing in the farmlands of Central Kentucky.

In 2026, we made the decision to add new venues and new towns to our series to create a more diverse set of race courses and show off other great areas of Kentucky 

We strive to change the course and make each individual race a new experience. Course maps are always linked in the race notes on the registration pages via BikeReg. You can expect a few double lane roads, but mostly 1.5 lane rural roads with no lane markers. These roads are open to traffic. We ask every rider to be responsible by following the rules of the road. We do not have the capacity to close roads. We work closely with the county and state to inform the locals of the events and the course we are using. We have volunteers at intersections to help manage traffic and cyclists but the responsibility falls on the individual rider to look for oncoming traffic before turning. These races are hosted in very rural areas where there are no enforced leash laws, dogs can run onto the course and have. I personally ride the routes numerous times in advance and try to talk to dog owners and encourage them to keep their dogs inside or fenced in during races, but have no legal authority. Some owners are more willing to help than others. Farm work and equipment such as tractors, moving cattle, and Amish buggies have halted my own rides, but have yet to affect a race. This doesn’t mean it won’t happen. So be respectful, these farmers are living their daily lives and doing their work. It is our responsibility to be understanding and respectful of them.

with all that being said, I would like each person to take this information into account before registering to race. If this event does not feel safe to you and you do not feel comfortable with these circumstances, do not race. 

In 2025, we joined USA Cycling and became a sanctioned series. We adhere to their rules and licensing policy. All riders are required to hold a USA Cycling license or purchase a one day license which can be done on the registration site.

We do not offer day of registration. If you do not meet the online registration deadline, you will not be permitted to race.

Race Penguin will manage our scoring and timing. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. I try to respond as quickly as possible. Email through the contact page or visit our social media @kentuckyorrs on Instagram or find our Facebook Group Kentucky Open Road Racing or send a text to 502-542-1837, I own a small business and have a family farm so I am usually very busy so please do not call, I rarely get to answer my phone and my voicemail is more often full than not.