Event News: Pump up the Pier Pressure!

Test your speed and stamina by cycling up Pier Hill, Southend, in team and individual timed sprint trials from 11am on Sunday 23rd September.

This popular event called Pier Pressure, attracts riders of all kinds – including those in fancy dress – to get pedalling. There will be a host of fabulous prizes to be won for timed trial successes, and other on-the-spot prizes will also be awarded on the day.

Local businesses, sports clubs, associations and even groups of mates are once again invited to get together a four rider team to take on the 190 metre, 1:10 slope of Southend’s Pier Hill overlooking the town’s iconic pleasure pier – the longest in the world! – and their rivals in a head to head knockout relay.

The winners will need to have stamina as well as speed as they progress through the elimination rounds to the final.

Last year’s champions Basildon Timber are unable to defend their title, but runners-up Cycles UK face some stiff competition on their quest to go one better in 2012, and they’ll face an added challenge as the four-rider teams need to have a female member or they will face a time handicap on each run! The competition is limited to 16 teams but a few slots are still available.

And, if that isn’t enough, individual riders can then test their mettle against the clock to claim the title of Bianchi “Re & Regina della Collina”. Riders will get one run to try and become the King or Queen of the Hill and claim a fantastic prize of a Pista fixed-gear bike from the legendary Italian bike manufacturers Bianchi who have been setting the standard of cycling cool since 1885! The winners of the men’s and women’s categories will also be awarded a retro winner’s jersey.

Defending Men’s Champion Martin Canes who won with a time of 21.913 seconds was pushed hard last year… winning by just 2/100ths of a second! This year could be even tougher! Plus, the fastest time of the day will win the Cycle Southend Jackpot of £500! Based on last year’s winning time, that equates to an hourly rate of nearly £82,000!!!!

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste and Transport, Councillor Tony Cox said: “With Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France 2012, and with the London 2012 mountain biking track installed in Hadleigh, there is no better time to get cycling!

“As we have seen from these recent sporting events, it’s amazing what can be achieved with a goal to aim at and a challenge to rise to. So come along to the Pier Pressure day and test your capabilities. Or have fun with a silly bike and a fancy dress flourish – it’s not all about speed! Or just come to watch and share in the excitements!

“We hope this will encourage even more people to continue discovering or re-discovering the exhilaration and health benefits of cycling. Set against the historic backdrop of Southend’s world famous Pier, our Pier Pressure event is unique with categories for all ages and abilities. We are encouraging companies, businesses, clubs and organisations to enter teams of four people (with at least one female in each team).

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. It costs £5 for individual entrants, and £20 per team – but this also entitles you to enter individual races. To book visit: https://apps.southend.gov.uk/af3/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=ktsXq7TPe7x or call 01702 215338

For more details about Pier Pressure and other cycling events, visit: www.cyclesouthend.co.uk; www.facebook.com/cyclesouthend; or follow on twitter@CycleSouthend