Sunday 17th September 2017
Wirral Ark Mow Cop Challenge
‘The Friendly Sportive’

Wirral Ark Mow Cop Challenge is the perfect Autumn event. The route is fast, fun and at 60 miles is just right for September.

The sportive  covers some stunning Cheshire countryside including Jodrell Bank following quiet country lanes.So whether you’re a pro or beginner it’s the perfect biking day out. The one big climb of the day is the infamous Mow Cop or ‘Killer Mile’ as it is known to many. If you don’t know it this great little video will give you an insight https://youtu.be/T8HpUZmzIV0.

Overall it’s a modest 2040 feet of climbing which will allow you to really kick on or alternatively saunter graciously through the day taking the lovely views and stopping for coffee.

We promise you a really well organised event. This is what you get for your entry fee:

• Hot drinks, toast and flap jacks at start
• Signage along the route
• Marshalls on Mow cop 
• Marshalling at key junctions
• Hot drinks and soup and bread at feed station along with usual snacks
• Hot drinks, Hot pies, and homemade cake at the finish
• Support/Pick up vehicle
• We’ll do our best to snap you on Mow Cop and email your picture to you. So smile
• Smiley people

Registration: From 8.00am to 9.00am

Starting: We will trickle start riders after they have registred

Start Venue: The Hall at Marthall, Sandlebridge Lane, Marthall, Knutsford, WA16 7SB

Why This Sportive: It’s a great challenging route but that’s not all. This event is for a really good cause which we hope you cyclists will support and understand. Wirral Ark is charity based in Birkenhead that works with people who are homeless or at the risk of homelessness. People find themselves in this position for all sorts of reasons from family bereavement to mental health issues and Wirral Ark works to help people restart their lives and build a more positive future. Wirral Ark has established a small cycling club to help people do what so many of us cycling enthusiasts do – go for a ride. Empowering through pedalling!

Please join us on Sunday 17th of september and help us raise much needed funds for Wirral Ark. In turn we will try to give you a fun, and friendly day.

To find out about the work of Wirral Churches Ark visit: http://wirralark.org.uk/

Regards

Ark Events Team

Route Notes

The 60.02 mileroute is a fairly fast course with 2040 feet of climbing over 60 miles most of which is on the back lanes of Cheshire.
Following country lanes from the start at The Hall at MartHall the route Heads towards Mobberly then Lach Dennis and on to Holmes Chapel. From Holmes Chapel the route heads SE to Mow Cop for the big climb.

The 60.02 mile route will start between 08.30am and 09.00am

The feed station is Mow Cop Community Hall ½ a mile from the highest point of the route. From there it is downhill and over the A34 at Scholar Green onto country lanes weaving toward Swettenham. From there the route runs on to Goostrey and through back to Marthall.

See the ridewithgps link for route at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14993830

Safety Stuff
The big climb is the Mow Cop ‘Killer Mile’. We will have Marshalls on the hill but if you are not a confident climber get off and push! The hill is extremely steep at various points. Care will need to be taken up and down the other side.

Please note we are using many rural lanes and care will need to be taken particularly in the wet on these lanes as they are rural and can be slippy; mud etc from fields, potholes.

There is some riding on A roads and the route crosses a number of busy lanes, again care needs to be taken; though we have kept this to a minimum.

You are responsible for your own safety on the road.

Info for Riders

Please see event overview for a full explanation of the event

Entry fee is payable through British Cycling and made payable to Wirral Ark. The fee is £35.00 for the 60 mile route.