British Cycling Off-Road Leader

Overview

British Cycling, Scottish Cycling, and experts in the outdoor industry, have developed a course that combines online learning with face-to-face training and assessment to give you all the skills you need to lead mountain bike rides.

Though you might already be a regular on group or club rides off-road (and therefore wondering where this award fits in), there are a few important elements to the qualification that will both empower and protect you for future activity:

• 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 – plus you’ll undergo first aid training in order to qualify.
• Get protected with leader insurance.

The course 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.

The Objectives

On successful completion of the training and assessment, you will be qualified to lead groups of mountain bikers.

What to Expect

What to Expect Two days of guided riding in and around Snowdonia What does the course include? 3-4 hours of e-learning via British Cycling Learning 16 hours training and assessment course with a British Cycling Accredited Provider

Experience Required

The minimum age to attend a course is 17 years old. 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. We 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. What else do I need to do to achieve the Award? In order for your award to be accredited in addition to successful completion of your Fundamentals of Mountain Bike Leadership, you are required to : hold British Cycling Membership of Ride level or above attend and evidence a two-day outdoor First Aid course undergo and evidence safeguarding training appropriate to the country they are leading in These can occur after your Fundamental of Mountain Bike Leadership course, but your award will only be provided on receipt and acceptance of these.

How Should I Prepare?

Be able to ride the equivalent of blue mountain biking terrain and fit enough to ride 20 kilometres.