Long Mynd Batch Burner

48km Mountain Bike Challenge - Saturday 11th May 2013

Entries are now Sold Out, thanks for the support

Plush Hill Cycles are proud to be involved with creating and supporting this exciting new Mountain Bike challenge event right here on the Long Mynd. This is a charity fund raising event in support of Norbury Primary School organised by mountain bikers and friends of the school.

This inaugural event covers 48km of excellent mountain biking terrain over the Long Mynd taking in the best of the singletrack descents and the most challenging climbs.

A mass start challenge event with no prizes for first place.  The emphasis is all about riding the best bits of the Long Mynd’s natural trails at your own pace with plenty of strenuous climbs and technically demanding descents.

A good fitness level is required and off road handling skills.

£25 entry fee includes:

•    Full route marking and marshalling
•    Mechanical support and broom wagon
•    Event centre facilities and parking
•    On site catering
•    Free BBQ for all participants
•    Feed station on route
•    Rider public liability insurance
•    Event photography
•    Spot prizes
•    Ltd edition Batch Burner mug for all entrants
•    Goodie bag for all entrants

More Batch Burner information

Entries are now open but limited to 250 riders enter via the British Cycling Website

 Follow the link below to enter, you don't have to be a member of British Cycling to enter this event

Church Stretton, Centre of Long Mynd Mountain bike trails

Based at the foot of the Long Mynd, Church Stretton is ideally placed to explore the natural trails of the Shropshire hills. Other than a big sign that says “Mountain Bike trail Centre” the town has everything you would expect and more for an mtb base. Geographically the town puts you right in the middle of the trail network; you can be on the Long Mynd bridalways within minutes. With the Mynd to the West and Caradoc and Lawley to the East MTB routes can be selected to suit ability and weather conditions. As the hill top is exposed and without trees you don’t want to be pedalling into a headwind or do you want to end up on a busy road just to get back at the end of the ride.

Cycle friendly facilities

Church Stretton offers a fine selection of cafe’s, pubs and restaurants that are happy to welcome muddy mountain bikers. Looking to stay a little longer then the town and surrounding area has plenty of cycle friendly accommodation providers covering campsites, b&b’s, hostels and a hotel. The town also has a good choice of shops including outdoor shops, newsagent, bookshop and supermarket if you need supplies. The town offer plenty of parking too plus is well connected via train and rail links.

Community Trail champions

In 2010 The National Trust brought together a group of trail users including local cycle shop, Plush Hill Cycles, local trail users including mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers plus other businesses that operate in the town including mountain bike Shropshire. Since then that group has been coming together for trail maintenance work parties and trail user meetings. As a forum and financially supported by Saracen bikes the group have produced the Long Mynd mountain bike map. These maps are available from the local bike shop, and National trust at Carding Mill. The map costs £1 with all funds raised getting put back into trail maintenance, map production and signage. In 2012 www.strettonhillsbiking.org was established, a cycling website and forum has been set up by cyclists for cyclists and will be the go to place for cycling information for Church Stretton and the Long Mynd.

Cycle shop, hire and repair

With such fantastic trails being available locally we support local cyclists with cycle repair, parts and accessories sales plus cycle hire.

A number of options are available if you are looking for a mountain bike guide or course. Skills or cycle leader training courses are regularly available plus our in house cycle maintenance skills course.

Magazine reviews

The Long Mynd remains a favourite with mtb magazine such as MBR, Singletrack, MBUK and WMB regularly printing ride guides from Church Stretton.

July 2011 MBR’s route starting from Church Stretton “Shropshire’s Long Mynd punches well above its weight when it comes to mtb’ing.” MBR readers went on to award Minton Batch the “trail of the year 2011”

Long Mynd Bike Hire

We offer Mountain Bike hire for £22 a day including helmet, all our bikes have hydraulic disc brakes, front suspension and aluminium frames making them ideal for the Shropshire lanes around Church Stretton or the Long Mynd. See our Hire page for more details.

We also have 20 and 24" wheel mountain bikes for hire to suit smaller riders (6-9 and 8-11 years). Geared, aluminium mountain bikes with v-brakes and off road tyres for just £15 per day. Plus adult MTB's from size 14" or for the smaller rider you can take a tag-along or child seat at no extra charge.

Want something a little easier on the legs? how about an electric bike? Now ready to hire, same price as the Mountain bikes at £22 per day, these are pedal assist bikes that make the Shropshire hills even more accessible. Contact us for more details.