Uptown Wadesboro’s town square was abuzz with the hum of bicycle wheels as about 1,100 cyclists from all over the U.S. — and even two from Canada — made a pit stop in town as part of Cycle NC’s “Mountains to the Sea” ride.
The ride started in Brevard at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, and is set to finish in Carolina Beach Saturday. Wadesboro was one of the main stops on Wednesday morning, with the first riders arriving around 10:15 a.m. from Matthews. Cyclists trickled in and out of Wadesboro’s town square throughout the day until about 3 p.m., with the largest “rush” coming around noon.
The first to arrive were Julie and David King of Apex, and Paul Taber of Wilmington. When asked if they were the fastest cyclists in the bunch, Julie said, “I think it just means we got up earlier than everyone else.”
Her husband, David, said the ride had been wonderful so far. “We started out in Brevard and stopped in Lake Lure. It was so beautiful there. We climbed Chimney Rock. It was just wonderful.”
The Kings said the “Mountains to the Sea” ride took a more northerly route last year, starting in Elkin and ending in Corolla.
When asked what they thought of Wadesboro, Taber said, “It’s a nice little town. I love it here.”
A team of volunteers helped provide snacks, beverages and friendly chit-chat with the riders as they came through town. Don Altieri, who was helping head up the volunteer effort, said that Rocky River Baptist Church provided chicken and dumplings in a cup, as well as chicken sandwiches, while Brown Creek Baptist provided homemade cookies and Poppin’ John’s Homemade Ice Cream handed out some free frozen treats for the cyclists. Students from Anson New Tech were also on hand to help out, and a group of volunteers provided peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bananas and other snacks for the riders.
The volunteers’ work didn’t go unnoticed. “This is the best sandwich I’ve ever had,” Julie King told one of the volunteers, while several of the cyclists could be heard thanking volunteers for the hospitality.
The riders also received information about the Chamber of Commerce’s Discover Anson Bike Ride, to be held Nov. 3.
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