British Cycling Night Leadership

Pre-requisites for Training
To attend the training course you will need to:

Hold an existing mountain bike leadership qualification approved by British Cycling, from:

British Cycling Level 2 Mountain Bike Leadership Award
British Cycling Level 3 Mountain Bike Leadership Award
MBLA Trail Cycle Leader
MBLA Mountain Bike Leader

Be registered on the British Cycling Mountain Bike Leadership Award Scheme.

Holders of the Level 2 or 3 qualifications will already have completed this. Holders of TCL or MBL Awards will need to register, where they haven’t previously.

Hold current British Cycling membership at Ride level or above, which includes Leader insurance

Hold current 2 day outdoors first aid and safeguarding training. Copies of both certificates must be supplied to mtbleadership@britishcycling.org.uk with your membership number in order to be held on your record

Have substantive mountain bike leading experience in daylight conditions

Have substantive experience of riding in dark conditions, with a minimum of ten rides recorded in your logbook, each of not less than 2 hours

Provide appropriate and suitable personal equipment for yourself to mountain bike in the dark, and for leading in daylight in the conditions of the day

Assessment and pre-requisites for assessment
The Night Leader assessment consists of a theory assessment completed in advance and a practical assessment.

The theory assessment comprises an open book home study task including short answer questions.

The practical assessment comprises tasks and applied leading of peers to evidence your competencies and experience. It is one day’s duration starting from early afternoon through to the evening and full darkness. Expect at least 3 hours on the trail in dark conditions. Precise course timings may vary according to the time of year. You will be expected to have pre-ridden the (provided) assessment route in advance of the practical assessment.

To attend the assessment you will:

Fulfil all the pre-requisites for the Night Leader Award training

Have successfully completed the Night Leader Award training or approved alternative*

Have completed any advisory actions identified at your training

Have further substantive experience of riding in dark conditions, with a minimum of ten rides additional recorded in your logbook, each of not less than 2 hours (minimum 20 rides total since prior to training)

Provide appropriate and suitable personal and leading equipment to lead a group on a mountain bike ride in the dark, in the conditions of the day

*Direct entry to the assessment may be permitted where the Leader can evidence extensive and substantial prior experience of leading and of leading in the dark and prior training such as MBLA Night Leading Module. Final approval is made through a discussion with the assessor prior to application.