From Rider to Leader: A women specific mountain bike progression weekend

These weekends have been developed as a joint initiative between Scottish Cycling and Glenmore Lodge to support aspiring women as they transition from mountain bike rider to mountain bike leader. So if you are female and have long considered becoming a Mountain Bike Leader but are just not sure if you are skilled enough, not confident in trailside repairs, unsure about your navigational expertise or just a bit nervous about taking that next step and booking on a training course then this is your opportunity to find out more, realise your potential, chat with others who have done this and appreciate that you too can go from happy rider to confident leader!

Who is this for?

Aspiring female leaders as they transition from mountain bike rider to mountain bike leader.

If you are female and have ever considered becoming a Mountain Bike Leader but worry you are not skilled enough, not confident in trailside repairs, unsure about your navigational expertise or just a bit nervous about taking that next step then this is the opportunity for you.

Weekend Content:

The weekends will kick off with an introduction to you as a rider and the transition to you as a leader.

We will look at the award content and introduce you to some of our female mountain bike leaders already out there, adventuring, leading, volunteering and running a business; making a living out of the outdoors.

Workshops will be led by Emma Holgate and supported by Christine Fox, with a guest speaker in Aneela McKenna for the leadership specific workshop.

We have a host of practical workshops lined up covering those areas of the British Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader syllabus that our experience tells us are considered more challenging including:

1. Trailside Repairs – workshop – basic what to carry, where to learn, what’s required

2. Skills games & exercises plus personal riding techniques – skills area/grounds based

3. Route planning & Navigation – practical example plan day 2 ride out

4. Developing your leading – Guest presenter: Aneela McKenna of Go-Where Scotland and supported by British Cycling’s Breeze Programme

Please note, this weekend is all about increasing confidence and realising your potential to go forward to training and assessment, it does not cover the full syllabus. You will need to undergo training and assessment in the usual way to gain the Award but you will do it with a bucket load of confidence in your skillset!

Emma Holgate - British Cycling Mountain Bike Tutor

The satisfaction, pride and excitement I get from seeing others succeed with their own riding successes following on from coaching and leading is the reason I am a part of the MTB professional industry.

I am a full time mountain biker and skier. I work as a senior instructor at Glenmore Lodge National Outdoor Training Centre, in the Mountain Bike department. As a British Cycling tutor on the leadership training and assessment courses, a Velotech tutor on the mechanics courses, as a level 3 leader and level 2 coach on all the courses that are provided. From ‘Trail Plus’ to our ‘discover mountain biking’ along with the bike packing essentials and advanced courses.

For me personally, mountain biking has so many aspects to the sport and my passions vary within, I love a session of steep and rooty then if its wet and slidy even better (I have lived in Fort William for 10 years), equally I also thrive on big adventure in the mountains. I am currently planning and prepping for a 500 mile journey bike packing light and fast through the Colorado mountains

Aneela McKenna - Go-Where Scotland

How to Apply

Visit the British/Scottish Cycling website (scroll to bottom of page)

Back