Course Information

TCL Training Dates

  • 25th - 26th October (Sat/Sun)
  • 27th - 28th November (Thur/Fri)
  • 24th - 25th January 09 (Sat/Sun)
  • 26th - 27th February 09 (Thur/Fri)
  • 28th - 29th March 2009 (Sat/Sun)
  • 23rd - 24th April 2009 (Thur/Fri)

TCL Refresher Dates

  • More dates soon

TCL Assessment Dates

  • 29th November (Sat)
  • 9th January 2009 (Fri)
  • 26th January 2009 (Mon)
  • 28th February 2009 (Sat)
  • 14th March 2009 (Sat)
  • 30th March 2009 (Mon)
  • 25th April 2009 (Sat)
  • 16th May 2009 (Sat)

Course Fees

  • TCL Training £100
  • TCL Assessment £55
  • TCL Refresher £50

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SMBLA Trail Cycle Leader Award

This Level Two Award (Level Two is the entry level award) is aimed at all people who want to become leaders for mountain biking. The SMBLA TCL Award consists of a two day training course followed by a one day assessment.

Over the two days of training all aspects of leading by mountain bike are covered including:

  • Practising NavigationHow to carry out pre-ride bike checks
  • Trailside repairs
  • Leadership
  • Navigation
  • Riding skills and how to teach them
  • Group management
  • Equipment
  • Dealing with emergencies and much more.

At the end of the training, the course Tutor will give you an Action Plan for assessment.

After consolidating for a minimum of 30 days and working on areas highlighted in your action plan you must then attend a one day assessment. If you have experience and meet certain criteria you can get exemption from this consolidation.

Following a successful assessment you will then be able to lead groups on terrain of a low to medium technical difficulty up to 600 metres in altitude and no more than 30 minutes walk from safety.

Before attending a TCL Training Course

You must:

  • Be over 18 years old
  • Have joined the SMBLA at a cost of £45.00 which gets you:
    • the SMBLA Official Training Manual
    • course documentation
    • Logbook sheets and route cards (also available from the Downloads Section of the SMBLA website)
    • forms to join British Cycling
  • Have logged 20 recent MTB rides
  • Have read the SMBLA Training Manual
  • Ideally own your own bike for use on the course, fitted with a bike computer for use in the navigation session.

Before TCL Assessment

You need to:

  • Join British, Scottish or Welsh Cycling which is currently £13.00 for Bronze membership. Join online at British Cycling or fill in '2008 BC Senior Membership Form' in the Downloads Section.
  • Hold a valid First Aid Certificate - if you don't have one, why not attend one of our First Aid Training courses?
  • Have logged 10 more rides and worked on your Action Plan during a minimum 30 day consolidation period

TCL Consolidation Exemption Form

If you wish to apply for exemption from the minimum 30 day consolidation period between Training and Assessment you must complete a TCL Consolidation Exemption Form (available from the Downloads Section of the SMBLA website) and send it to your Tutor whose decision on whether you meet the necessary criteria is final.

How to Book on to a Course

  • Choose a date - all dates shown have spaces
  • Send us an email or phone
  • We will send you a booking form
  • Return it with payment
  • We will confirm your place and send relevant paperwork

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