by Benjamin Nunnally
I
t’s time for the Noble Street Festival to come rolling back through fair Anniston, and that means
we’re back again this year to give you the skinny on where you can go, what you can eat and who
you can meet at the festivities. 2014 has a great entertainment lineup at the Hot Blast Music Cafe,
fine foods served throughout the festival area under the Taste on Noble banner and, of course, some
of the best bike racing you can see nationwide.
“The better the talent is, the more fun
a race is to watch,” said Patrick Wigley,
owner of Wig’s Wheels on Noble Street
in Anniston. “Women and men that are
hitting speeds of 45 miles an hour and
kicking up a bunch of wind, even if you
don’t know cycling it’s fascinating seeing
them power the bikes through the track.”
The Sunny King Criterium attracts
nationally-ranked professional cyclists
from all around the country, bringing
with them high levels of skill and amazing
riding prowess. As the tight groups of
riders, or pelotons, come around the
bends of the .7 mile course, spectators
will feel the wind come off of them as hard as midday traffic. Riders draft one another, break away to
take the lead and use team tactics to overtake the opposition. It’s similar to NASCAR, but the vehicles
are human-powered. It’s one of the most incredible things Anniston can offer the rest of the country,
and combined with the Noble Street Festival, it’s an unbeatable combination.
There’s a lot to do and not nearly enough time for everything, so let’s get started!
8
April 2014
INSIGHT