Cycle NC to visit Saturday

About 1,200 visitors are expected to flood the streets of Sparta on Saturday for the official beginning of the sixth annual weeklong Cycle North Carolina; this year’s event will take the riders from the mountains in Sparta to the coast in Oriental.

Bob Bamberg, the executive director of the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, commented that he sees the event as a benefit for the community.

“I think the immediate benefit is you’re going to have 800 plus riders and almost as many family members eating out, and that money will be deposited here,” he said.

He also noted that most of the lodging facilities in the area are already booked to capacity.

Despite the influx of people and bicycles, Bamberg stated that there are no planned road closures.

“Bicycles have a legal right to the road like cars and they need to conform to the rules of the road; they won’t be any attempts to block off roads,” he said. “I think the town police will be on the lookout for any traffic problems.”

Bamberg stated that the cyclists are scheduled to begin their journey between 7 and 9 a.m. on Sunday beginning on Trojan Avenue.

Bamberg said the cyclists will then turn left onto Main Street, go to Grandview Drive, followed by Pine Swamp, Tedder, Mahogany Rock and Dewitt roads. The cyclists will then cover a short stretch of U.S. 21 to Glade Valley Road, follow that road to N.C. 18 and then continue onward to N.C. 89 and enter Surry County bound for Mount Airy. Bamberg said Cycle N.C. is a way to introduce Sparta to people who could potentially return as tourists or future property owners.

“If they like the experience, they will return,” he said. “It’s a way to introduce ourselves to people who could return as tourists. They will come and bring their bikes and be happy to ride and enjoy the scenery.”

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