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Tommy Gleim and Matthew Thomas wait for the ride to begin.

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Bikers, others support event

by Wanda Combs
Editor

“It’s all about helping kids,” said one Blacksburg man as he prepared for the motorcycle ride on Saturday. He and approximately 100 bikers were participating in the Cruisin4Charities benefit for Medical Charities of Floyd County, an organization helping with medical expenses for families in Floyd County. The ride was one of three events of the day. A classic car show and concert featuring singer Rhonda Vincent, Nothin’ Fancy and local talents rounded out the day.
Sponsors Jeff Dalton, Chris Bower, and Mike Bishop were remembering local resident Robert Pauley this year. Pauley, a local well driller who worked in the family business, died in a motorcycle wreck October, 2007. Members of Pauley’s family came to see off the motorcyclists in the Floyd Food Lion parking lot Saturday morning. “This is really making Robert smile in Heaven,” said Betty Underwood of Check, Robert’s sister. “He just really loved his bike.”
David Underwood, another relative, from Roanoke, and also one of the bikers, said when Robert first bought his motorcycle he talked about how long he had wanted one.
“He liked his bike, and he stayed on it,” commented Robert’s nephew, Brian Underwood. Robert had planned to drive his motorcycle down to Virginia Beach, where Brian was working then, and let him see it. Robert never got to make that trip due to his accident. Riding his motorcycle was Robert’s way of relaxing after working all day drilling wells, added Brian, who has since moved back to Floyd. Saturday, Brian said, would have been Robert’s “cup of tea.”
Mabel Dehart, Robert’s mother, was also present Saturday, and she and others were wearing t-shirts in memory of Robert. She said she was pleased with the day.
Area residents Billy Bishop and son Gary, driving Harleys, returned for a second year to participate in the ride. “We had a good time last year. We really enjoyed it, and it’s for a good cause.”
Duane Nichols was riding a motorcycle for the first time in the benefit this year. Before he left the parking lot, his daughters – Karlie, 4, and Olivia, 5 – climbed on the bike for a picture. Nichols was riding his father-in-law’s bike.
Floyd resident Matthew Thomas was back for his second year in the event. He and others remarked that it is fun to ride with other people. The event is also worthwhile, he added. “It’s a good time…and to help somebody out.”
“I had a blast (last year),” remarked Tommy Gleim of Check, “being with all the people and what the cause is for.”
A couple from Floyd was riding on a Suzuki Katana. Saturday’s event was the first of its type for her; he rides in other places.
Donna Byers and Michael Gillespie from Christiansburg were riding in the Cruisin4Charities event for the first time Saturday. Bike runs “are fun” especially when helping other people, they said.
Woody Crenshaw, a Floyd business owner and motorcyclist, was also riding Saturday. Living in Floyd County, Crenshaw has always enjoyed riding his bike on the Parkway. This was his first time riding in such an event.
The Blacksburg man, whose license plate read “Gomez” but was known as Gomer, observed there was a good turnout Saturday. Bikers, he noted, never meet a stranger, and and they enjoy helping others, especially kids. “Every biker that rides a bike has a good heart.”
Although the sun was shining in Floyd when the bikers left, they did run into rain in Christiansburg, Dalton said, “but they got back safely.”
Local musicians took the outdoor stage at the high school at 2:00 in the afternoon, but lightning and rain forced them and spectators to seek shelter inside the vocational school building. The rain delayed events about an hour and moved the music indoors, but Nothin’ Fancy and Vincent sang on the auditorium stage that evening. Vincent even signed autographs for her fans.
Even though attendance was down for the day, those who attended voiced their appreciation. “We had a lot of compliment on it,” Dalton said, “even though we dealt with the rain. We had a good show in the gym.”