[Closed] Instructor / Guide Training

What do you want to do with it?

CTC
SMBLA
MIAS

If you fancy working abroad I reckon it is best to mail a few holiday/guide providers and ask them. Seems places such as France have local requirements above and beyond any Uk qualis.

All much the same and BC now have an mtb add on to their Lev 2 coaching quali.
BC also have their Bikeability scheme and Go-Ride.
Cycling Scotland have their own version which I have, doing volunteer work with LEA. Also have SMBLA mtb leader and do volunteer stuff with local Go-Ride club.

I have no definate plans for using it.

I may in time be looking at combining MTB tours with bushcraft skills, plant and tree identification, matbe a kind of "mtb wildlife safari", for families, recreational riders etc

Maybe even some basic skills courses aimed at less confident riders, guys and girls in their thirties getting back into biking after a lay-off after spending the years since uni on career and family matters and not bikes....

Also been discussing the idea with a friend who is an MIA / ML and BCU leader, maybe adding MTB to the range of training he can offer.

Any plans would be UK based and probably be done to fit around other work

Just double-checked some info I have from AALA (as was, now AALS).

With either MIAS or OTC, you must also have a Mountain Leader award if you want to take people into "wild country" on bikes. With the SMBLA, this isn't a requirement, but you are limited to "well-defined routes, tracks or trails with obvious navigational features" and your route must be 90% rideable (or is it 95%?).

If you want to do the bushcraft, wildlife, plants & trees type of stuff then it would make sense to get an ML anyway.

Rupert - Member
I have no definate plans for using it.

I may in time be looking at combining MTB tours with bushcraft skills, plant and tree identification, matbe a kind of "mtb wildlife safari", for families, recreational riders etc

SMBLA is the opriginal one. I've no experience of the others but the SMBLA training & assessment is pretty good, and it's always been stand-alone. The 1st level, Trail Cycle Leader allows you to do easy to moderate skills and you have to stay below 600m & be within 1/2 hour walk of shelter with communication & routes must be 90% rideable - that's part of the award specs not just AALS. The Mountain Bike Leader Award allows you to use any right of way suitable for bikes, or any trail in Scotland, so no restrictions on height or closeness to civilisation. Routes are still supposed to be 90% rideable, although this is a bit grey as you need to assess what's rideable for the group.

The AALS stuff is only relevant when you have a group with under 18's. It's not needed for families, but no one can 'stand in' for parents. It's a legal requirement to be AALS licenced for under 18's but only if you go above the TCL remit into MBL stuff.

Both levels involve guiding, teaching skills & some maintenance/trail side repairs at different levels. The MBL award includes some weather system work as well. You're also expected to know a bit of natural history type stuff to keep things interesting for clients. Fair enough I think, if you're working out in nature it's good to have some understanding to pass on.

I run Chasing Trails, so I have a few years experience. For me the SMBLA has been quite useful, not just a ticket to pick up & then forget the training.

SMBLA is the opriginal one

I think you'll find that SMBLA are comparative newcomers compared to OTC (who I believe were probably "the original one") and MIAS 8)

That said, they all work to a similar format so as Trekster says it will boil down to what you want to achieve from it. I think it would be fair to say that it is not so much which body you go with but more a case of who delivers the actual course you go on.

Totally agree with psling - I think it would be fair to say that it is not so much which body you go with but more a case of who delivers the actual course you go on.

Also I think you will find that MIAS is the original one, not that that makes any difference of course

Having qualified as a TCL (Trail Cycle Leader) and subsequently a MBL (Mountain Bike Leader) under the SMBLA scheme I can wholeheartedly recommend it. I have no experience of the other schemes but would assume they are fairly similar and all open your eyes to a whole new approach and way of thinking. The SMBLA award is also geared towards coaching - don't know about the others. As the SMBLA is run through Scottish Cycling, which in turn is affiliated to British Cycling, which in turn is affiliated to the UCI I would suggest this award has the potential to become a BC award which will then have international standing, so from a guiding and training abroad perspective may have more 'value'.

The SMBLA training and assessment I undertook was provided by the excellent Cyclewise (Rich and Craig) in Whinlatter (nr. Keswick), but also had the pleasure of meeting Jules who runs a very similar setup in Aviemore known as Cyclewild.

Hope this helps.

If I had registered with SC(bit of a story for another time) I would have had cert No2, Rik at Drumlanrig has nbr 1. We did the very first course with Jim Riach and Greg Knowles at Mabie. Have since gained mbl with Greg before he retired from Outdoor Ed.

Jules also does work, cycle training courses for Cycling Scotland which I have also done.

I think you will find BC are trying to upstage SMBLA/CTC/MIAS etc by introducing their own mtb leadership award;
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/coaching/article/coast_Level_2_MTB_Coaching_Award

It's Public Liability Insurance etc that is the main thing you need and I'm sure they would want SMLTB stuff.

Nick

Greg Knowles at Mabie. Have since gained mbl with Greg before he retired from Outdoor Ed.

Jules also does work, cycle training courses for Cycling Scotland which I have also done.

Did some of my courses with both Greg & Jules, both excellent. Jonathan Collins in North Wales is also good.

stevomcd - Member

Did some of my courses with both Greg & Jules

Greg actually joined the group I used to ride with when his kids were small and I used to lead him and the others, then along came smbla which he got involved in through his work in LEA Outdoor Ed.
Funny how things work out ❗

Met Jules on one of the last courses Greg organised before retiring

Thanks for the info guys. I'm leaning towards SMBLA. Understanding the awarding body v's training provider point; the fact that SMBLA is more widely recognised and has better backing and accreditation means that it might be the better step-up for me. Covers more bases, ticks more boxes.