Thornbridge Outdoors Traffic Free Cycle Leader Award

Thornbridge Outdoors Traffic Free Cycle Leader Training

Biking is a popular activity here with our fleet of mountain bikes, accessible trikes, onsite ‘Trike and Bike Trail’ and easy access to the Monsal Trail.  Visiting organisations are responsible for the tasking of suitably skilled and experienced leaders for activities that they lead.  The Traffic Free Cycle Leader Training course is designed to help visiting organisations by equipping visiting adults with the skills and knowledge to lead safe and enjoyable cycling sessions using our field, onsite ‘Trike and Bike Trail’ and the Monsal Trail.

The course includes

• Safety Checks and preparing equipment
• Skills Checks and Games
• Understanding Trail Risk
• Changing an inner tube and remounting a dropped chain
• Rider Ready Position and Weight Shift
• The Ride (including pre-ride brief and post ride)

Should visiting staff be unable to attend an induction course, not feel confident to lead biking sessions or would prefer for their group to be able to use our onsite bike skills area, then Thornbridge Outdoors biking instructors can be booked to work with your group.

Course pre-requisites

• You must be able to ride a bike comfortably on traffic free trails, which may have a rougher surface than roads, and have an appropriate level of fitness
• We recommend that you have ridden a bike at least 5 times in the past 6 months
• Transferable group management skills, i.e. the ability to train and direct up to 12 young people on a safe and fun cycling session
• Completion of the pre-course learning

Course timings

Prior to the course, a pack of information will be sent out which will include resources for approximately 90 minutes of pre-course learning which will help you to make the most of the course.The course will run from 8.45am – 5pm.

Personal Equipment

Candidates should come suitably dressed to spend much of the day outdoors, including time riding a bike.If you’d like to bring your own bike and/or helmet to use, please feel free but make sure they are in good working order/condition, otherwise you can borrow them from the centre.

Further considerations

Following successful attendance at a Traffic Free Cycle Leader Training course we hope that you will feel confident to lead groups biking from Thornbridge Outdoors.  It is worth considering that we suggest the following are in place to lead a ride from the centre:

• A competent assistant: leading young people on bikes has many variables and the popular Monsal Trail involves leaving the centre grounds onto a shared traffic-free trail. A competent adult to assist on the ride is strongly recommended.
• Adequate first aid cover: we strongly suggest that either the ride leader or their assistant have a valid First Aid qualification.  We offer a range of First Aid courses.

Further Information

We provide hot drinks and other refreshments during the course but meals are not provided so please bring a packed lunch.

For written directions see our find us page.

Please read our course booking terms and conditions.

Full course details will be sent to applicants by email before the course. If you have any questions regarding the course please get in touch.