Leading Adaptive Mountain Bikers (LAMB)
Improvements in adaptive bike technology mean that it is now possible to offer riders with disabilities a genuine off-road experience. The new MinorTaur trail at Coed y Brenin opens up further possibilities, as it has been engineered to take adaptive trikes and quads along its entire length, and leads to the possibility of trail centre rides for mixed ability groups. Our aim is to take adaptive cycling to its next logical stage: out of the confined and defined environment and into the wilderness. The LAMB course is designed to provide mountain bike leaders with the appropriate confidence, skills and knowledge to be able to include, encourage and support adaptive riders within their groups.
About the Course
Day-1 covers aspects of adaptive cycling including:
- The value of adaptive cycling
- Disability awareness
- Disability groupings
- A look at a range of adaptive bikes and a chance to try them out
- Delivering sessions which include riders on adaptive bikes
Day-2 will look at adaptive MTB and leadership including:
- A MTB leadership challenges and strategies
- Risk assessment and emergency procedures
- Bike set-up, features and unfamiliar technology
- Skills development
- Trail riding considerations and bike try-outs
At the completion of the course, leaders will receive a certificate of attendance, and successful candidates will additionally receive accreditation to make use of the ‘Challenge your Boundaries’ adaptive MTBs at Coed y Brenin.
Who is the LAMB course for?
The course is open to existing MTB leaders who hold MBLA, CTC, or OTC mountain bike leadership qualifications, as well as holders of MIAS level II awards.
For people interested in adaptive cycling who do not hold any of the above qualifications, a number of places will be made available to attend day-1 only. These riders will receive an appropriate certificate of attendance, but will not be eligible for Challenge your Boundaries leader accreditation.
Where?
The course will be based at the Forestry Commission Wales Visitors’ Centre at Coed y Brenin Forest Trail Centre, near Dolgellau in Gwynedd, North Wales. LL40 2HZ.
When?
The next LAMB course is scheduled for Sat 5th & Sun 6th Nov 2011 8:45am – 5:00 pm each day.
How Much?
Day 1&2: £150 per person
Day 1 only: £80 per person
What will I need to bring?
- Attendees will need to supply copies of their qualifications prior to booking on to the course.
- There will be class room and practical biking sessions throughout each day, so clothes that will be comfortable in both settings in all weathers are recommended.
- Riders will be working in pairs with an adaptive bike and will need a regular MTB to ride when they are not using the aMTB. We recommend that you bring along a bike with flat pedals that you will be happy letting other riders use when you are riding the aMTB.
- Lunches can be bought at the visitor centre café or if you prefer, you can bring along a packed lunch.
How do I book a place?
Give SnowBikers a call on 01341 430628 and we can talk you through the next stages. Places are limited so book early.
Who is running the Course?
The LAMB course has been developed for the ‘Challenge your Boundaries’ project by SnowBikers MTB leadership trainers and Cycling Projects. The former have a depth of experience in the teaching of mountain bike leadership, whilst the latter bring a wealth of knowledge about adaptive cycling and the coaching of adaptive cyclists and those responsible for them.
SnowBikers offer mountain Bike skills coaching and qualification based training in MTB leadership through the Mountain Bike Leaders Award scheme (MBLA, formerly SMBLA). Graham O’Hanlon, SnowBikers’ lead coach is a senior tutor for the MBLA scheme, and also is a mentor for new tutors, one of only 6 in the UK. SnowBikers offers a high standard of MTB training through its own business, trains the trainers in its role as MBLA providers, and helps train the trainer of trainers in its tutor mentoring capacity.
Graham is also a Level 2 Coach for British Cycling, the National Governing Body for cycle sport in the UK, and has attended a Level 2 ‘Coaching Riders with a Disability’ course also run by British Cycling.
Cycling Projects, a registered charity since 1991, has become increasingly involved in cycling related training, bringing cycling to disabled people, encouraging people with poor health to take up cycling and working with excluded communities to help them make cycling part of their lives. ‘Wheels for All’, one of two major programmes for the charity, develops cycling activities for those people with disabilities or differing needs. The aim is to give individuals, carers and support staff the knowledge and confidence to work with adapted cycles for their clients or family member so that all can enjoy the benefits of cycling in a sociable environment. Cycling Projects provided the background support for the development of the British Cycling ‘Coaching Riders with a Disability’ course.
