Cycles UK pits Olympian against pubic at Kent County Show

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Bike retailers Cycles UK are offering visitors to the Kent County Show the chance to win a Raleigh Airlite 400, worth £949…

To win, they need to achieve the fastest time over 250 metres on a training bike at the Cycles UK stand. The challenge is that at the beginning of the day, Olympic gold medallist Jamie Staff will be setting the time to beat. There will also be £500 worth of accessories to win, which will be given to runners-up.

Cycles UK are running the competition in conjunction with Kent County Council and the Cyclopark project – a new multi-sports park due to open in Gravesham in 2012.

Alan Gifford, Commercial Director of Cycles UK, says: “We’re all about getting people out on their bikes, so we’re very happy to be working with the council and Cyclopark on this. What’s happening is, Jamie will be around on the Friday and Saturday of the show, and on the first day he’ll set a time for cycling 250 metres. Anyone can challenge him – free – and the winner will take home this pretty special training and racing bike. We’re also giving away £500 worth of accessories, so no-one goes away empty-handed.”

Jamie Staff won gold in the team sprint at the Beijing games in 2008, and was responsible for the fastest ever first lap in a team sprint. He says: “I may have retired from racing in March, but I’m going to set the best time I can. It’s going to be some challenge!”

The Raleigh Airlite400 retails at £949, and is designed for sport cycling, and comes with Shimano 105 20Spd gears, FSA Gossamer compact chain-set, Xero wheel set and Michelin Orium tyres.

Cycles UK has 16 stores across the southeast of England, including one in Harrods, Knightsbridge. Other stores are in Norwich, Greenwich and throughout Essex and Kent. For details of store locations, see www.cyclesuk.com or call 01268 745556. The company focuses on offering great customer service and product knowledge in a modern retail environment. Their stores stock a wide range of cycles catering for all cyclists’ needs, recognising the importance of the right bike for the right job.

Cycles UK stocks leading cycle brands including Specialized, Trek, Marin, Cube, Wilier and Mongoose and accessories from Giro, Cateye, Assos and Shimano plus many more. All stores have full workshop facilities with qualified mechanics and offer a same day service where possible. The company was founded in 1997 by Richard Schofield with its first store sited in Southend. Cycles UK has sold over 300,000 bikes in the past 10 years.

Cyclopark will be opening in March 2012, offering a skate park and games area as well as mountain bike and BMX circuits in 43 hectares of parkland near the A2. It will be up to three times bigger than the Olympic velopark, and feature a pre-school ‘cycle play park’, education and training resources and a grandstand for spectators, as well as being able to host triathlons, horse riding, walking and running events.

Jamie Staff is a World and Olympic cycling champion, and has also won medals at World Championships, World Cups and at the Commonwealth Games. He has now joined USA Cycling to manage their track sprint programme.

The Kent County Show runs from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th July at the Kent County Showground, Detling.

www.cyclesuk.com