These are the rules for the Revolution Wheelworks World Final (and Beginning) of Poker Cross at the 2010 New Jersey State Fair SpectaCross.

General Rules:

1. This is a fun race held as a no-extra-cost bonus event on August 6, 2010 for racers who compete in the Friday Night Sprints (and friends/crew that might not otherwise have a chance to compete during the weekend). 
2. There is a 150 rider limit, unless we decide otherwise, which we won’t -- probably.
3. There will be 100-150 people on a 3 ½ minute cyclocross track.  People will be in your way.  Deal with it. 
4. Most of you will lose.  Poker Cross is winner-take-all.  Second place gets nothing, nada, zero.
5. The winner gets a nice set of cyclocross wheels from Revolution Wheelworks, the  manufacturer of the wheels that Valentin Scherz used to win two MAC championships and a fourth-place finish at the Swiss championships.  You should check them out at www.RevolutionWheelWorks.com
6. Rules on clothing: 
1. Please wear some. 
2. It would be particularly helpful if the clothing you wear has pockets so you have a place to put the cards you collect during the event. 
3. We’re not uptight if you want to wear “unusual” during Poker Cross (what? It could look more ridiculous than a skinsuit?).  But please don’t wear overly revealing or offensive clothing because this is a state fair with lots of regular people and kids walking around.  (Male roadies, please be aware that anything that shows your preternaturally under-developed pectorals and/or bizarre tan lines qualifies as “offensive”.)

Specific PokerCross Rules:

1. Read Wikipedia’s description of winning poker hands so you understand the various kinds of poker hands.
2. The Revolution Wheelworks Poker Cross will be a timed event lasting 45 minutes.  This should give the faster riders enough time to assemble two complete hands.
3. Competitors will receive a poker card as they complete each lap.  There will be a “tollbooth” system with race staff handing out cards.  Pick a lane, get your card, put it in your pocket, keep on moving.
4. At the end of the time limit, all riders will gather in front of the bleachers to determine who has the best hand. 
5. In case of a tie for the best hand, the first tie breaker is who has the best (full or partial) second hand.
6. In case of a tie following the first tie breaker, the second tie breaker shall be order of registration.
7. Hands must be regulation poker hands (for example, NO “five-of-a-kind”).
8. A Field Limit may be imposed, based on the order of registration (see General Rules #2).
9. In the event of any circumstance not covered by these rules, management reserves the right to make-up a new rule on the fly.  In such cases, new rules will probably appear to be arbitrary because they are.  Deal with it (see General Rules #1 & #4) 
10. Additional Cards: Competitors may receive additional card(s) through any of the following:
1. Winners of each of the Friday Night Sprints receive two additional cards
2. Runners-up of each of the Friday Night Sprints receive one additional card
3. Additional cards may be available through pre-registration advertising promotions
4. Following the end of the time limit, but before the determination of the best hand, truly desperate, and somewhat pathetic, competitors will have the opportunity to earn one additional card by dancing the Macarena in front of the bleachers.

Poker Cross FAQ:

Question: Will you be using “Bicycle” brand playing cards?
Answer: Are you a dork, or are you planning to bring your own cards so you can cheat?  As a matter of fact, you will be competing with very classy, custom-made SpectaCross poker cards that you can take home as souvenirs after the race (really). 

Question: I’m a guy with hairy legs.  Can I participate in Poker Cross while wearing a tutu and angel wings?
Answer: Absolutely, but leave the thong at home.  Maybe bring along a handbag also, so you have someplace to store your cards.

Question: This Poker Cross thing seems too silly and frivolous for a very serious Cat. 3 Masters rider like myself who shaves his legs daily and wears only officially-licensed Pro Tour team kit or vintage wool pro replica jerseys even to weddings and funerals.  I want to save my legs for the following day’s races like the Europeans do.  Can I enter just the Sprints on Friday?
Answer: Yes, but we suggest that what you really need to do is clamp a baseball card onto your carbon fiber fork with a clothespin so it makes faux motorcycle sounds as it rubs against your spokes.  Then you can remember how much fun you used to have on your bicycles before you became irritating.

Question: If I enter just the Sprints on Friday and not the Poker Cross, does it cost less to enter?
Answer: No, and this is what we meant when we said you were irritating.

Question: Can I enter just the Poker Cross?
Answer: No, sort-of (see below)

Question: My Significant Other usually spends cyclocross season in the pits.  Can I let her/him do Poker Cross in my place so she/he gets a chance to ride?
Answer:  Possibly, IF you promise that YOU will clean the bikes afterwards -- and you agree to pay a small, somewhat random, fee to cover insurance and administrative costs.  Email us at info@SpectaSport.com

Question: What if I can’t get off work early enough for my class for the Friday Night Sprints but I still want to enter the Poker Cross?
Answer:  Enter both, show up when you can.  If there’s room, you can join one of the faster sprints later in the evening.  If not, you can just ride the Poker Cross.  You don’t have to ride both the sprint and the Poker Cross, you just have to enter both of them so that everybody understands that you’re paying an entry fee, not a making a wager.