TRAIL BUILDING COURSES

Training Courses

Our teaching methodologies and ethos developed through delivering mountain bike skills and technique training have been combined with our years of hands-on experience on the trail

Working alongside plant operators and using hand tools to build and maintain trail means you can rely on us to share the latest techniques, tools and working systems to ensure you, your group and the public are safe

Land owners and managers can rest assured that anyone trained by MTBSkills will be applying best practice principals, enabling seamless integration to your working systems. Our training courses enable the public and private sector to inspect, maintain and manage mountain bike trails

With the numbers of riders growing and funding shrinking the time has come for mountain bikers to get involved and help keep the UK trail network running sweet and enjoyable for everyone

“There is no such thing as a maintenance free mountain bike trail”

Connecting the riders to the landowners and visa versa is a key factor to the continued success of British Mountain Biking

Choose your training course from the list below

Mountain Bike Trail Basics (MBTB)

OVERVIEW

This one-day training course introduces participants to the basic principles and techniques used for maintaining mountain bike specific trails

The course provides a solid foundation for further training and is the first step towards managing mountain bike trail facilities

A very practical hands-on day where participants get a chance to put their new learnt skills into practice

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Personal Protective Equipment
Manual handling guidance
Tool and tool care - non powered
Tool and tool care - battery powered / cordless
Tool and tool care - combustion engines
Trail grading explained
Design elements and considerations
Terminology - the language of the trail
Supportive infrastructure to the trails
Drainage types
Faults and fixes

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Maintain mountain bike trails under the supervision of a suitably trained coordinator (and or) operative

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Maintain mountain bike trails without supervision
Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Teach mountain bike trail maintenance

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR MBTB

Trail Maintenance Operative (TMO)

OVERVIEW

This one-day training course builds on the knowledge and skills learnt in the Mountain Bike Trail Basics course

Participants will learn about the administrative and legislative elements that are required in order to undertake mountain bike trail maintenance in both a voluntary and commercial capacity

Practical session bring the academic sessions to life as participants will get hands on maintaining sections of mountain bike trails

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Permissions
Law, access, liability, civil and case law
Construction Design Management Regulations 2015
Health & Safety at Work Act
Transfer of infections and disease
Workflow
Managing live trails
Managing workload and fatigue
Drainage types
Construction techniques

Refresher training:

Personal Protective Equipment
Manual handling guidance
Tool and tool care - non powered
Tool and tool care - battery powered / cordless
Tool and tool care - combustion engines
Trail grading explained
Design elements and considerations
Terminology - the language of the trail
Supportive infrastructure to the trails
Faults and fixes

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Maintain mountain bike trails in a voluntary and commercial capacity having been given the permission of the land owner and by holding the correct insurance policies and first aid training certificates

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Teach mountain bike trail maintenance
Operate in a commercial capacity for financial gain

COURSE PRE REQUISITE

Participants must have attended and passed the one-day Mountain Bike Trail Basics training course
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing either commercial or voluntary work equal to or above 150 hours within the past three years
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on evidencing training by Cycling UK (formerly CTC); we need to be provided with your current VTRC certificates

POST COURSE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

The training is valid for a period of three years, after which participants are required to attend a one-day refresher course for continued validation of your training

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR TMO

Trail Maintenance Coordinator (TMC)

OVERVIEW

This one-day training course builds on the knowledge and skills learnt in the Mountain Bike Trail Basics course

Participants will learn about the administrative and legislative elements that are required in order to undertake the coordination of volunteer groups (or individuals) for the maintenance of mountain bike trails

Practical session bring the academic sessions to life as participants will get hands on maintaining sections of mountain bike trails

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Permissions
Law, access, liability, civil and case law
Construction Design Management Regulations 2015
Health & Safety at Work Act
Transfer of infections and disease
Sign up / disclaimers
Workflow
Managing live trails
Managing workload and fatigue
Instructional techniques

Refresher training:

Personal Protective Equipment
Manual handling guidance
Tool and tool care - non powered
Tool and tool care - battery powered / cordless
Tool and tool care - combustion engines
Trail grading explained
Design elements and considerations
Construction techniques
Terminology - the language of the trail
Supportive infrastructure to the trails
Drainage types
Faults and fixes

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Maintain mountain bike trails in a voluntary capacity and mange groups of volunteers who embark on maintaining mountain bike trails having been given the permission of the land owner and by holding the correct insurance policies and first aid training certificates

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Operate in a commercial capacity for financial gain

COURSE PRE REQUISITE

Participants must have attended and passed the one-day Mountain Bike Trail Basics training course
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing either commercial or voluntary work equal to or above 150 hours within the past three years
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing training by Cycling UK (formerly CTC), we will need to see your current VTRC certificates

POST COURSE PERSONAL DEVELOPMET

The training is valid for a period of three years, after which participants are required to attend a one-day refresher course for continued validation of your training

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR TMC

Boardwalk Maintenance (BM)

OVERVIEW

This one-day module looks at the specifics of maintaining mountain bike boardwalk and ‘North Shore’ style timber sections of trail

The course is a useful addition to trail maintenance know-how for those who wish to work on timber trail in either a voluntary or commercial capacity

Participants will learn about the construction techniques and methods used to create and repair sections of timber trail

A hands on practical training course where participants will fix sections of timber trail

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Definition of Boardwalk, North Shore, Bridge
Construction techniques / fastening
Materials
Faults and fixes

Refresher training:

Personal Protective Equipment
Manual handling guidance
Tool and tool care - non powered
Tool and tool care - battery powered / cordless
Tool and tool care - combustion engines
Trail grading explained
Design elements and considerations

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Maintain boardwalks, North Shore and timber sections of mountain bike trails in a voluntary and commercial capacity having been given the permission of the land owner and by holding the correct insurance policies and first aid training certificates

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Teach mountain bike trail maintenance
Design boardwalks, North Shore and timber sections of mountain bike trails
Build boardwalks, North Shore and timber sections of mountain bike trails

COURSE PRE REQUISITE

Participants must have attended and passed a one-day Mountain Bike Trail Basics training course
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing either commercial or voluntary work equal to or above 150 hours within the past three years
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing training by Cycling UK (formerly CTC), we will need to see your current VTRC certificates

POST COURSE PERSONAL DEVELOPMET

The training is valid for a period of three years, after which participants are required to attend a one-day refresher course for continued validation of your training

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR BM

Ride at Work level 1 (RAW1)

OVERVIEW

A one-day training course covering the basics of riding off road tracks and trails

The course forms the foundation for further training and is a pathway to becoming qualified to inspect mountain bike and off road cycle trails by bike

Participants will learn to carry out risk assessment and pre ride checks as well as learn basic off road riding skills and trail side maintenance techniques

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Risk Assessment & Method Statements
Transfer of infections and disease
Report writing / record keeping
Working on live trails
Managing workload and fatigue
Navigation
Basic trailside maintenance
Pre ride, equipment and checks
Basic bike skills

Refresher training:

Manual handling guidance
Personal Protective Equipment
Trail grading explained

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Ride off road cycle trails, Green and Blue graded specific mountain bike trails for the purposes of work

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Inspect mountain bike trails
Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Lead / guide mountain bike rides
Coach / teach mountain biking

COURSE PRE REQUISITE

Participants must have attended and passed a one-day Mountain Bike Trail Basics training course
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing either commercial or voluntary work equal to or above 150 hours within the past three years
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing training by Cycling UK (formerly CTC), we will need to see your current SWP 1 and VTRC certificates

POST COURSE PERSONAL DEVELOPMET

The training is valid for a period of five years, after which participants are required to attend a one-day refresher course for continued validation of your training

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR RAW1

Ride at Work level 2 (RAW2)

OVERVIEW

This one-day training course builds on the knowledge and skills learnt in the Mountain Bike Trail Basics course

The course has been developed to enable competent riders to ride at work in more challenging terrain with the specific aim of carrying out trail inspections

Participants will build on their skill set learning how to address technical terrain in more remote environments

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Risk Assessment & Method Statements
Transfer of infections and disease
Report writing / record keeping
Working on live trails
Managing workload and fatigue
Navigation
Basic trailside maintenance
Pre ride, equipment and checks
Advanced bike skills

Refresher training:

Manual handling guidance
Personal Protective Equipment
Trail grading explained

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Ride off road trails and specific mountain bike trails of all grades including sanctioned and unsanctioned Wild Trails for the purposes of work

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Inspect mountain bike trails
Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Lead / guide mountain bike rides
Coach / teach mountain biking

COURSE PRE REQUISITE

Participants must have attended and passed a one-day Mountain Bike Trail Basics training course
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing either commercial or voluntary work equal to or above 150 hours within the past three years
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing training by Cycling UK (formerly CTC), we will need to see your SWP and VTRC certificates

POST COURSE PERSONAL DEVELOPMET

The training is valid for a period of five years, after which participants are required to:attend a one-day refresher course for continued validation of your training

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR RAW2

Trail Inspection - Non Technical (TINT)

OVERVIEW

A one-day training course that forms the foundations for all mountain bike trail inspection qualifications

The course enables individuals to carry out inspections on purpose built graded mountain bike trails, skills areas and taster trails where the gradings of Green and Blue have been applied

Participants will learn about the administrative and legislative elements that are required in order to undertake mountain bike trail inspections in both a voluntary and commercial capacity

The academic sessions come to life as participants inspect sections of a mountain bike facility on foot

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Duty of care obligations
Frequency
Risk Assessment & Method Statements
Health & Safety at Work Act
Transfer of infections and disease
Report writing and record keeping
Workflow
Working on live trails
Managing workload and fatigue
Personal Protective Equipment
Construction techniques
Areas under inspection
Faults and observations
Emergency trail closures

Refresher training:

Manual handling
Trail grading explained
Design elements and considerations

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Inspect Green and Blue graded mountain bike trails by vehicle and on foot in a voluntary and commercial capacity providing the correct insurance policies and first aid training certificates are present

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Inspect mountain bike trails by bike
Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Teach mountain bike trail maintenance or inspection

COURSE PRE REQUISITE

Participants must have attended and passed the one-day Mountain Bike Trail Basics training course
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing either commercial or voluntary work equal to or above 150 hours within the past three years
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing training by Cycling UK (formerly CTC), we will need to see your current Trail Checking certificates and or VTRC certificate

POST COURSE PERSONAL DEVELOPMET

The training is valid for a period of three years, after which participants are required to attend a one-day refresher course for continued validation of your training

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR TINT

Trail Inspection - Technical 1 (iTE1)

OVERVIEW

This one-day training course has been developed for individuals who need to inspect mountain bike trails by riding bikes

Participants will learn about the administrative and legislative elements that are required in order to undertake mountain bike trail inspections in both a voluntary and commercial capacity

The academic sessions come to life as participants inspect sections of a mountain bike facility by bike

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Duty of care obligations
Frequency
Risk Assessment & Method Statements
Health & Safety at Work Act
Transfer of infections and disease
Report writing and record keeping
Workflow
Working on live trails
Managing workload and fatigue
Pre ride, equipment and checks
Construction techniques
Areas under inspection
Faults and observations
Emergency trail closures

Refresher training:

Manual handling
Personal Protective Equipment
Trail grading explained
Design elements and considerations

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Inspect Green and Blue graded mountain bike trails on foot, by vehicle and by riding a mountain bike in a voluntary and commercial capacity providing the correct insurance policies and first aid training certificates are present

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Teach mountain bike trail maintenance or inspection

COURSE PRE REQUISITE

Participants must have attended and passed a one-day Mountain Bike Trail Basics training course
Participants must be certified to RAW (Ride at Work) level 1 or similar (MBLA-Trail Cycle Leader etc) standard of competency
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing either commercial or voluntary work equal to or above 150 hours within the past three years
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing training by Cycling UK (formerly CTC), we will need to see your Trail Checking and SWP 1 certificates

POST COURSE PERSONAL DEVELOPMET

The training is valid for a period of three years, after which participants are required to attend a one-day refresher course for continued validation of your training

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR ITE1

Trail Inspection - Technical 2 (ITE2)

OVERVIEW

This one-day training course has been developed for individuals who need to inspect mountain bike trails with an increased level of technicality and difficulty by riding bikes

Participants will learn about the administrative and legislative elements that are required in order to undertake mountain bike trail inspections in both a voluntary and commercial capacity

The academic sessions come to life as participants inspect sections of a mountain bike facility by bike

CONTENT

Introductions and course overview
Duty of care obligations
Frequency
Risk Assessment & Method Statements
Health & Safety at Work Act
Transfer of infections and disease
Report writing and record keeping
Workflow
Working on live trails
Managing workload and fatigue
Pre ride, equipment and checks
Construction techniques
Areas under inspection
Faults and observations
Emergency trail closures

Refresher training:

Manual handling
Personal Protective Equipment
Trail grading explained
Design elements and considerations

YOUR TRAINING ENABLES YOU TO

Inspect Green, Blue, Red, Black, Double Diamond Black, Orange graded mountain bike trails and designated Wild Trails on foot, by vehicle and by riding a mountain bike in a voluntary and commercial capacity providing the correct insurance policies and first aid training certificates are present

YOUR TRAINING DOES NOT ENABLE YOU TO

Design mountain bike trails
Build mountain bike trails
Teach mountain bike trail maintenance or inspection

COURSE PRE REQUISITE

Participants must have attended and passed a one-day Mountain Bike Trail Basics training course
Participants must be certified to RAW (Ride at Work) level 2 or similar (MBLA-Mountain Bike Leader etc) standard of competency
Fast-track applicants may be enrolled on the provision of evidencing training by Cycling UK (formerly CTC), we will need to see your current first aid training certificate, Trail Checking and SWP 2 certificates

POST COURSE PERSONAL DEVELOPMET

The training is valid for a period of three years, after which participants are required to attend a one-day refresher course for continued validation of your training

BOOK YOUR TRAINING

EQUIPMENT FOR ITE2