For our second 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. The introduction event in 2011 was one of the best events in the history of the series and even the challenging weather conditions of 2012 did not impact the fantastic atmosphere and riding the area has to offer. 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 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.  

Don’t forget! For 2013 we are changing the running order of the activities over the weekend. The MTB Marathon will be run on the Saturday followed by the Road Sportive on the traditional sportive day Sunday. In between we will have some live music and our events bar open to relax after the long day mountain biking. 

SCHWALBE MTB Marathon – Marshbrook 13th July 2013:

Kicking off the event weekend the SCHWALBE MTB Marathon will take place on Saturday the 13th 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:
Middle marathon – approx. 75km course
Half marathon – approx. 45km course
Mini marathon – approx. 25km course

Start time:

The MTB Marathon will start at approx. 10.00am on Saturday 13th July (Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike and Outdoor Pursuit Centre). 

Registration opens:

Friday: 6.00pm – 9.00pm (MTB Marathon)
Saturday: 7.00am – 9.00am (MTB Marathon)
Sunday: 7.00am – 9.30am (Road Sportive)

Entry fee:

£35, £30 (for Mini Marathon) or £20 (for Mini Marathon if under 16 years old) or reduced price of £50 if you take part in the discounted ‘weekend ticket’. The ‘weekend ticket’ includes entry for the MTB Marathon and Road Sportive over the same event weekend / for the same person.   
  
We have also added a family ticket to the events for 2013. Kids (12-15 years old) ride for free if they are accompanied by a paying adult (one child per adult). The family ticket is available for the MINI and HALF marathons.

For a full list of entry fees, visit the entry page.

SCHWALBE Road Sportive - Marshbrook 14th July 2013:

The second round of the SCHWALBE MTB Series will be another double-header with the SCHWALBE Road Sportive following the MTB Marathons on Sunday morning, 14th July 2013. 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 last year’s new location of Abergavenny/Crickhowell at the beginning of August and then at the series final in Ruthin (end August/beginning 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 SCHWALBE Road Sportive will have an open start between 8.30am – 9.30am on the 14th July 2013 at the Shropshire Hills Mountain Bike and Outdoor Pursuit Centre.

Distance:

The sportives will have only two distances to choose from: 
standard sportive – approx. 50mile course
classic sportive – approx. 85mile course

Registration opens:

Friday: 6.00pm – 9.00pm (MTB Marathon)
Saturday: 7.00am – 9.00am (MTB Marathon)
Sunday: 7.00am – 9.30am (Road Sportive)

Entry fee:

£27 or reduced price of £50 if you take part in the discounted ‘weekend ticket’. The ‘weekend ticket’ includes entry tom the MTB Marathon and Road Sportive over the same event weekend / for the same person.   

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). 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. 

To enter the event(s), visit the entry page. 

For information about local services and accommodation, visit the local info page.