Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon and Vitus Road Sportive - Marshbrook: 14th – 15th July 2012
For our third marathon of the series we are travelling to another exciting location which was introduced to the series in 2011. We are heading to Marshbrook in Shropshire, England. Last years event was one of the best events in the history of the series and it took us now time at all to decide if we wanted to go back to Shropshire. We will be heading once again to the new ‘Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike and Outdoor Pursuits Centre’ in Marshbrook - an area of outstanding natural beauty that boasts the longest single-track in Shropshire, possibly the longest in England.
Course designer John Lloyd has once again put two fantastic road sportive courses and three superb mountain bike courses together.
Marshbrook was the busiest event in 2011 and we are awaiting big crowds again. So if you are keen to join us at the Marshbrook round then make sure that you get your entry in quick.
Vitus Road Sportive:
The second round of the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Series will be a double-header with the Vitus Road Sportive kicking things off on Saturday morning, 14th July. Once again Saturday is all about riding on skinnies. Around 400-500 riders will take up either one of the two superb and challenging road courses. John, excited by the still new location will be going all out to demonstrate the fantastic roads Shropshire has to offer – get geared up to be amazed and rewarded with long, challenging climbs, fast rolling roads and the most breathtaking scenery the area has on offer.
After the Marshbrook round we will have two more road sportives left in the series, firstly at the new location of Abergavenny in August and then at the series final in Ruthin (September). Both are also likely to be popular and bring in a lot of pre-entries. So get your entry in quick. For more information, visit the event page or go straight to the entry page to secure your entry.
Start time:
The Vitus Road Sportive will have an open start between 8.30am – 9.30am
Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike and Outdoor Persuit Centre.
Distance:
The sportives will have only two distances to choose from:
standard sportive - approx 50mile course
classic sportive – 85mile course
Registration opens:
Friday from 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Saturday from 7.00am – 9.30am
Entry fee:
£27 or reduced price of £47 if you take part in the discounted ‘weekend ticket’.
Tea, coffee and cake will be served at the finish line of the road sportive.
Campground:
Camping will be available (included in the entry fee) from Friday night through to Monday morning (Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike and Outdoor Persuit Centre). Riders will benefit from all facilities provided at the campground and event village across the weekend. It will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards.
Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike & Outdoor Pursuit Centre
Marshbrook
Nr Church Stretton
SY6 6QE
MTB Marathon – Marshbrook 15th July 2012:
Following the Road Sportive on 14th July, we turn our focus to the Sunday marathon, the ‘headliner’ of the activity line-up, which takes place on 15th July The route leads initially through a small area of forestry, then up onto the Longmynd (meaning long mountain), The long route, immediately descending off the Longmynd, making its way to the Stiperstones, a hill west of the Longmynd, here you will ride some interesting single and twin tracks up and over the hill, after a short section of tarmac to get your breath back, you soon reach the Forest of Eastridge, which has been used in the past for NPS races.
After enjoying the technical single track descending, and beating the tough climbs you return to the Longmynd an area of outstanding natural beauty, where there is an endless amount of exciting single tracks and bridleways, interspersed with short stretches on minor roads, and then, just when you think it can’t get any better the course finishes with the longest single track descent in Shropshire, possibly the longest in England.
The route will cover the following three distances:
The MTB Marathon will start at approx 10.00am on Sunday 15th July (Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike and Outdoor Pursuit Centre).
Registration opens:
Friday from 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Saturday from 7.00am – 8.00pm
Sunday from 7.00am – 9.00am
Entry fee:
£32, £27 (for Mini Marathon) or £22 (for Mini Marathon if under 16 years old) or reduced price of £47 if you take part in the discounted ‘weekend ticket’.
For a full list of entry fees, visit the entry page.
Campground:
Camping will be available (included in the entry fee) from Friday night through to Monday morning (Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike and Outdoor Persuit Centre). It will be signposted from Friday afternoon onwards.
Don’t forget our event photographer Jon Brooke will be at the event taking photographs of you all! The photos will be up on www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk to view and purchase a few days after each event.
For information about local services and accommodation, visit the local info page.
The local town of Church Stretton is only 2 miles from the Marshbrook event, you can visit the town website here: www.churchstretton.co.uk
CycleActive Skills Clinics and Coaching Rides –
Saturday Programme:
Free skills clinics and coaching rides set off from the CycleActive stand at 2pm and 4pm.
At each time there will be two levels:
• Advanced skills clinic/ride for experienced riders.
• Easier warm up and coaching ride for novices and intermediates.
The advanced sessions are strictly for confident, competent riders who want to gain speed, control and improved flow through all parts of their marathon ride.
Spaces are limited so advanced booking is recommended, by email, to admin@cycleactive.co.uk. The sessions are completely free, making this a unique chance to get video feedback and personal skills advice, from basics up to advanced moves, from some of the top skills coaches in the UK. All sessions are supported by Buff, the original headwear company.
Junior Skills Activities – Sunday:
To support the younger riders who are not yet old enough to complete a marathon, the CycleActive team will run a morning and afternoon skills session for juniors (ages 4 to 14). The first of these will run half an hour after the marathon start, the second will run at 12:30pm, and youngsters are encouraged to attend both sessions as they will cover different skills. Sessions are free and there is no need to sign up in advance.
