British Cycling Fundamentals of MTB Leadership Award is ideal for anyone who wants to lead groups using mixed road and off-road environments. This might include rides that are already taking place but require development and insurance, or perhaps you are looking to organise activity for your school, college, activity centre – or simply a group of friends. Your remit would be to lead on terrain that ranges from the urban fringe and gravel tracks through to open countryside, woodland and most trail centre blue routes.
We are an accredited provider to run this 16 hour training and assessment course and we make the most of our excellent British Cycling approved trainer, onsite bike tracks & skills park, training rooms and our fantastic location in the heart of the Peak District. The majority of the two day course is practical and you will be riding in both the limestone White Peak and gritstone Dark Peak areas; giving you a great variety of terrain to learn new leadership skills.
Course Content
- Learn leadership principles and skills from the most experienced mountain bike tutors in the country.
- Get the most out of your route planning with a dedicated module.
- Keep rolling with the knowledge to fix simple trailside repairs.
- Be prepared with plans to manage accidents and emergencies.
- 3-4 hours of elearning via British Cycling Learning in addition to the 16 hours training and assessment course.
Training Course Pre-requisites Set by British Cycling
- The minimum age to attend a course is 17 years old. Note, you will only be able to lead independently once aged 18.
- You must be able to ride a mountain bike (or another appropriate bike for the terrain) comfortably on roads with some traffic, off-road and mountain bike trails up to blue grade, be regularly riding and have an appropriate level of fitness.
- Complete a logbook to evidence your recent rides. British Cycling recommend a minimum of ten rides of at least 1 hour and five rides of at least 2.5 hours duration (inclusive alternatives are available by request) over the last six months. British Cycling have a downloadable Logbook that can be saved electronically or printed if needed.
To Complete the Award Candidates Need to
- Hold a current two-day outdoor first aid certificate – such as our Outdoor First Aid.
- Undergo and evidence safeguarding training appropriate to the country you are leading in.
These can occur after your Fundamentals of Mountain Bike Leadership course.
In order to benefit from British Cycling’s Insurance for Coaches, Leaders and Instructors, in addition to the above you are required to be a current British Cycling Member.
Personal Equipment
Candidates should arrive each day with their own bike, food and equipment for a day of riding whatever the weather, along with a change of clothes for the indoor sessions.
Course Dates
Please note that British Cycling have set a minimum number of candidates for a course to be able to run. The deadline for bookings for this course is 2 weeks before the course start date. Please see our list of upcoming course dates.
Please see the British Cycling website for more information about the award.
