As above really! Were the courses fun/interesting? Did it lead into work or just a good thing to have in case of an opportunity arising? Which certificates do you actually need and what sort of cost to get them?
I've been thinking about doing these qualifications for a while and would like to get into work coaching and guiding, though I realise its obviously not really a safe bet in terms of a career path!
Was supposed to have done a PMBIA certification last April which obviously got cancelled. Now rescheduled to September, but I can't get flights...
A mate did his guiding and coaching training with BC, part funded by Scouts as he leads the county cycle team, which gave him a lot of practical back up.
He now runs his own guiding business with a mate, mainly UK based but a bit of foreign stuff. Seems to be mostly gravel based tours rather than MTB.
He still has to do a couple of days a week in a regular job, fills in with Bikeability training, runs cycle based kids clubs after school band in holidays.
Lockdown has obviously been a disaster for him.
I am a volunteer coach with a Glasgow youth development club, so am BC level 2, with level 2 MTB and Track also. I have the BC Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader qualification too. Was great fun and a very additive learning process and with our club, the training is paid for by them in return for commitment to coaching.
All up costs, including 2 Day Outdoor First Aid has probably been around £2k in my case, plus a heap of time, partly online esp at BC Level 1 where there is around 30 hours of interactive online modules.
I am glad I did it, and it has been helpful in wider life for me too, developing a coaching mindset. Ongoing CPD is a few days a year, spread across sessions with tutors and online content. My OFA expired a couple of months ago after 3 years and the renewal training has been postponed due COVID, but is currently rescheduled for next month.
I wouldn’t like to try and earn a living in the uk as a coach though. I know a few who do and it seems quite a struggle.
Yes I did the BC MTB Leadership Level 2 a few years ago.
It was fun to do and very informative - even helped with my riding skills. I did a small amount of corporate work but as mentioned by others it is hard getting jobs! I eventually gave up as the amount of time invested in prep and risk assessments and medical forms etc etc meant I was earning well below minimum wage. It was fun though.
One thing to be aware of, forgive if you already are, but the difference between leadership and coaching awards. For the leadership awards, you can guide people on rides and hopefully help them have a good experience. With coaching awards you can help them improve their riding, skills etc. The two are quite different and both are useful. I think I would like to see them combined as part of leading it is helpful to be able to give people pointers and advice and coach them on skills.
One thing to mention is that as a leader/guide, you actually spend very little time actually riding your bike, it is about looking after and leading people. A lot of planning, interpersonal work etc - which is also great but don't necessarily expect to be riding your bike 8 hours a day
If you are intruiged I would suggest getting on a course - usually they are a weekend and cost a couple of hundred quid - gives you a taster - you can follow it through if you fancy it.
I carry a lot of the knowledge with me even now, out riding with mates, I find I am using the skills I learnt all the time - I can recommend the British Cycling as well - if you do go through with it they provide you with insurance which is great
Thanks for the replies! Im aware the guiding and coaching are separate qualifications but thought it would be interesting to look into doing both.
In terms of job prospects i'm not really expecting to make a living out of it but it would be nice to have the qualifications in case an opportunity arose.
In terms of qualifications what do you need to tick off to be a guide? As far as I can tell its just:
Mountain bike leader 2
2 day outdoors first aid course
Safe guarding thing.
Not really sure what you need for the coaching side of it?