Biking in the Kids Zone

By Cindy Phillis
Kids Zone Chairperson

What goes better with bikes than kids? Let’s face it, when someone mentions a bicycle, our minds think first of young, scraped legs pedaling through the neighborhood, not the shaved, lean stems of professional riders.

The Noble Street Festival has not forgotten how most of us got our start riding. And here is the chance for all kids to show how capably they spin their wheels. For the second consecutive year, the Noble Street Festival and Sunny King Criterium will feature races designed with kids in mind, May 6, in downtown Anniston.

More than 80 children participated in last year’s Kids Zone race. Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m. for the children’s races. Participants 4 years old and younger will kick off the action at 5:15 p.m., followed in five minute intervals by each grade from kindergarten to sixth. All of the races will be sprints, though the length of the races will vary with the ages of the riders.

Medals will be awarded to the first-place, second-place and third-place riders. The first 100 children to register will receive Jelly Belly water bottles and bags of jelly beans. The first 200 registered riders will receive Kids Zone T-shirts. All riders must have on helmets!

So, all of you kids out there, grease up those chains, pump up those tires and strap on those helmets. With just over a month until race day, get outside and start pedaling! Who knows, this year’s Kids Zone winner may be tomorrow’s pro, racing under the lights for the big money!

Other Kids Zone activities include:

• Free Bicycle Skills Rodeo
  
• Hands-on Art
  
• Kids Food Area
  
• Kids Activities
  

For more information, check the Web site: www.NobleStreetFestival.com or email Mike Poe at .

Cindy Phillis is the mother of three girls and owner of the Mellow Mushroom. She is a triathlete, cyclist, runner and tennis player. Cindy is chairing the Kids Zone section of Noble Street Festival.