British Cycling Mountain Bike Night Leader Award

The Mountain Bike Night Leader Award is for qualified British Cycling Mountain Bike Leaders who wish to extend their skills and provides further opportunities for your groups by riding through twilight and darkness.   

Utilising your existing mountain bike leadership experience and knowledge, this course focuses particularly on safe and effective leadership skills used during dark conditions including those of communication, motivation, organisation and decision making coupled with detailed route planning and navigation.  It expands on the development and implementation of robust emergency action and late back procedures. The course also covers additional risk factors when leading in the at night and highway factors comprising legal lighting requirements.

What does the course include? 

• One-day training course with at least 3 hours on the trail during darkness 
• One-day practical and theory assessment with a British Cycling accredited provider. 

The course also covers additional risk factors when leading in the dark and at night

• Environmental and social responsibilities
• Impact on riders of being active at night,
• Lighting with battery theory and additional equipment,
• Reflective clothing and highway factors comprising legal lighting requirements and managing groups on the road in the dark

 The assessment is to be booked once you’ve had enough time to hone the skills and knowledge you have obtained on your training days. The maximum time to complete your award is 18 months.  

*Direct entry to the assessment can be permitted where the Leader can evidence extensive and substantial prior experience of leading, especially leading in the dark. You may have also undertaken prior training such as the MBLA Light Reading Module. Final approval is made through a discussion with the assessor prior to your application. Please contact us if you feel you would be eligible for direct entry to the assessment.

Course Requirments

• The minimum age to attend a course is 18 years old and you must hold British Cycling Ride, Race Silver or Race Gold membership. You will need to be qualified as a Level 2 or 3 Mountain Bike Leader, Trail Cycle Leader, Scottish MBLA or fulfil the requirements of the direct entry pathway.  

• You must have substantial mountain biking experience in various terrains and weather conditions, plus appropriate and suitable personal equipment for yourself to mountain bike in the dark and for leading in daylight.  

• On or prior to your training day you will need to provide evidence of 10 quality rides in the dark, of at least 2 hours duration. We have a free online Logbook that can be downloaded or printed. 
• You must hold a current 2 day outdoors first aid qualification and have safeguarding training. You should supply copies of these certificates to [email protected] along with your membership number.

Training course dates can be booked via the website.
To book an assessment please contact us or e-mail [email protected]

Instructor Ratio Training: 1:6 or 2:12 maximum
Instructor Ratio Assessment: 1:4 or 2:8 maximum
Training Cost: £140
Assessment Cost: £140
Course Venue: Whinlatter Forest Park

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