The Level 3 Mountain Bike Leadership Award helps you capitalise on your Mountain Bike Leadership skills and experience to take groups on more technically demanding and remote rides.
This award is for recognised Level 2 Mountain Bike Leaders (or approved alternative qualification or direct pathway learners), who wish to extend their remit to include remote terrain and trails of severe technical difficulty and navigation in challenging mountain conditions.
The course covers topics such as detailed planning and ride preparation, group management in remote terrain and mountain weather, trailside repairs, advanced navigation skills, risk management, nutrition and hydration.
What does the course include?
- Three-day training course,
- Two-day practical and written assessment with a British Cycling accredited provider.
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 18months.
How much does it cost?
The total cost ranges from £562.00-£755.00 depending on the provider delivering your training. Costs breakdown:
- Registration fee with British Cycling: £77.00
- British Cycling Membership (minimum ride): £43.00
- Training course (2 days): £295.00-£350.00
- Assessment day: £190.00-£285.00
What do I need to be able to register?
- The minimum age to attend a course is 18 years old and you must hold the Level 2 MTB Leadership Award, Trail Cycle Leader Award or fulfil the requirements of the direct entry pathway.
- You must have mountain biking experience in various terrains and weather conditions, an appropriate level of physical fitness for a day’s riding is essential to be competent in the techniques and skills required to safely negotiate the typical trail features, generally comparable to black-graded purpose-built trails, but will primarily be natural trails.
- On or prior to your training day you will need to provide evidence of 30 quality rides in wild, mountain terrain in the last 18 months, including at least 12 rides leading groups. We have a free online Logbook that can be downloaded or printed.
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 course, you are required to:
- hold British Cycling Membership of Ride level or above.
- attend and evidence a two-day outdoor First Aid course on completion of your Assessment.
- undergo and evidence safeguarding training appropriate to the country they are leading in
Safeguarding Requirements for Scotland
These can occur after your Fundamentals of Mountain Bike Leadership course, but your award will only be provided on receipt and acceptance of these.
How do I register and book on a course?
You only need to register for the MTB Leadership programme once therefore if you have completed the Level 2 award, you do not need to register again. If you have previously been a British Cycling member you must renew your Ride membership before registering for the programme.
The training and assessment days are delivered by our licenced providers. Please contact the relevant provider directly and book on to a course.
For direct entry please contact the Provider before booking to discuss your specific learner pathway.
Level 3 Training Dates & Venues
Provider | Location | Practical Dates | Online Booking |
Pedal MTB | Coed y Brenin | 20th, 21st & 22nd May 2022 | Book |
Wye MTB | Wye Valley/ Black Mountains | 23rd, 24th & 25th May 2022 | Book |
PYB | Plas y Brenin | 10th, 11th & 12th June 2022 | Book |
Glenmore Lodge | Aviemore, Inverness-shire | 22nd, 23rd & 24th June 2022 | Book |
Pedal MTB | Coed y Brenin | 19th, 20th 21st August 2022 | Book |
Ridelines | Innerleithen | 19th, 20th & 21st September 2022 | Book |
Wye MTB | Wye Valley/ Black Mountains | 26th, 27th & 28th September 2022 | Book |
Glenmore Lodge | Aviemore, Inverness-shire | 28th, 29th & 30th September 2022 | Book |
Cycle Wild Scotland | Aviemore | 18th, 19th & 20th October 2022 | Book |
Pedal MTB | Coed y Brenin | 14th, 15th & 16th October 2022 | Book |
Wye MTB | Wye Valley/ Black Mountains | 28th, 29th & 30th November 2022 | Book |
Level 3 Assessment Dates & Venues
Provider | Location | Assessment Dates | Online Booking |
Glenmore Lodge |
Aviemore | 16th & 17th July 2022 | |
Pedal MTB | Coed y Brenin | 23rd & 24th July 2022 | Book |
Glenmore Lodge | Aviemore | 20th & 21st August 2022 | |
Pedal MTB | Coed y Brenin | 22nd & 23rd October 2022 | Book |
Wye MTB | Brecon Beacons | 7th & 8th September 2022 | Book |
Ridelines | Innerleithen | 12th & 13th September 2022 | Book |
Glenmore Lodge | Aviemore | 26th & 27th September 2022 | Book |
PYB | Plas y Brenin | 1st & 2nd October 2022 | Book |
Wye MTB | Brecon Beacons | 3rd & 4th October 2022 | Book |
Cycle Wild Scotland | Aviemore | 25th & 26th October 2022 | Book |
Further information
If you need extra support to undertake this course because of a physical or learning disability contact our team to discuss any reasonable adjustments that would support you.
If there is no course available nearby, please complete our short form to express interest. This will help us to plan for future courses and let you know when a nearby date has been added.
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