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Off-Road Leader Award Title, image & Intro

British Cycling Off-Road Leader Award

Duration
2 Days Training
Includes Assessment
Suitable Bike
Gravel / MTB / eBike
Fitness Grade
1
directions_bike
Skills Grade
B
Age Limits
17+
Off-Road Leader Award Gravel Rider
CycleActive a British Cycling Leadership Centre

Off-Road Leader Award
Mountain Bike Leadership

British Cycling’s Off-Road Leader Award (formerly Fundamentals) has been designed to equip an individual (17yrs +) with the knowledge and confidence to take groups off road, exploring gravel tracks, urban fringes and many blue graded trail centre routes.

This two-day course combines both classroom and on the bike training with ongoing assessment elements. After the course you will have confidence to plan rides, fix simple trail side issues, deal with incidents that may occur and inspire your riders through great leadership.

Our course is run from CycleActive’s HQ in Brougham Hall, just outside of Penrith on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria. With the stunning Lowther Castle estate and Askham fell to explore on both days, this environment cannot be any better for an inspiring course.

If you feel your bike isn’t suitable, or you want the easy in traveling without a bike then we have a fleet of Specialized, drop bar gravel bikes available to hire.

Further details of the Off-Road Leader Award, dates, syllabus, pre-entry requirements and other useful facts can be found below.

Prerequisites
Course Dates
Off-Road Leader Award Packages

Award Overview

British Cycling Off-Road Leader Award

Leaders can:

- Plan and deliver guided non-technical off road rides
- Lead groups on a 1:8 ratio
- Lead during daylight hours
- Dynamically risk assess routes and deal with incidents
- Carry out basic trail-side repairs
- Hold Public Liability and Professional indemnity cover via British Cycling insurance

Which types of bikes typically do this award?

- Mountain Bikes
- E-Mountain Bikes (e-MTBs)
- Gravel Bikes
- Gravel eBikes

Course

£295

per person

2 days of training with a combined assessment
09:00-17:00

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Location: The Lake District
Penrith, Brougham Hall

British CyclingOff-Road Leader Award dates

Course Dates

All dates have availability (unless stated)

2026

17 - 18 March 2026 Tue & Wed

05 - 06 May 2026 Tue & Wed

06 - 07 July 2026 Mon & Tue

22 - 23 September 2026 Tue & Wed

27 - 28 October 2026 Tue & Wed

24 - 25 November 2026 Tue & Wed

Have a question?

Location - Brougham Hall

The Lake District

Off-Road Leader Award on Google maps
CycleActive a British Cycling Leadership Centre
Off-Road Leader Award information, Extras

Which Level is correct for my needs?

Off-Road Leader Award

This award is ideal for anyone keen to lead groups through non-technical, mixed terrain, from gravel paths and urban fringes to the open countryside and most blue graded trail centre routes. A great progression from the Ride Leadership (road) Award.

The entry point on the British Cycling pathway for new non-technical / gravel track learners.

Trail Leader Award

Enables experienced mountain bikers to safely guide riders through mountainous terrain and provide them with a great day out on technical mountain bike trails.

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Trail Leader Award

The entry point on the British Cycling pathway for experienced mountain bike learners.

Mountain Bike Leader Award

Aimed at qualified Trail Leaders who wish to extend their remit to include mountainous, remote terrain and trails of severe technical difficulty.

directions_bike
Mountain Bike Leader Award

Cannot be undertaken without a Trail Leader Award qualification

Prerequisites Off-Road Leader Award

What do I need to be able to register?

The minimum age to attend this course is 17 yrs old (note that you will only be able to lead independently once 18yrs old)

Be comfortable on both off road tracks, along with roads sections with moderate traffic.

We recommend a minimum of ten, 1hr rides and then around five rides of a 2.5hrs duration.

What else do I need to do to achieve the Award?

In order for your award to be accredited in addition to successful completion of your course, you are required to:

1. Hold British Cycling Membership of Member or Premium.

2. Attend and evidence a two-day outdoor First Aid course

3. Undergo and evidence safeguarding training appropriate to the country they are leading in

4. Complete online modules (Approx 2-3hrs of learning)

Course information - Off Road Leader Award

Duration

2 days of training with a combined assessment
09:00-17:00

Group size: 3 - 6

Grades

Fitness grade - 1

Skills Grade - B

Fitness Grade

Content

- Pre course online modules (2-3hrs)
- Leadership model
- Planning and leading safe rides
- Route planning and navigation
- Clothing and equipment
- Trailside repairs
- Application of skills and leadership ride (practical)

- And much more.....

Directions

Off-Road Leader Award courses are run from the CycleActive centre at Brougham Hall in Penrith .

Brougham Hall - The Lakes

Rental bikes

Can be added during checkout

Gravel bike rental

2 days - £110
Specialized
Diverge Elite E5

Helmet rental: £5 if required

Gravel bike rental

Includes - Kit bag with pump, inner tube, multi-tool, bottle cage

Secure a booking

The full course fee is required to secure a booking

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Terms & conditions

The bit people ask about:

Cancellation by you:

Unconfirmed Course - Refund / move course date.

Confirmed Course - 100% of the course fee will be charged to safeguard the courses running for the other participants.

Cancellation by CycleActive - you will be offered an alternative / full refund.

Full T&C's

If you’d like to find out more about our British Cycling Off-Road Leader Award course, feel free to give our course tutors a call for a chat or drop us an email.

Have a question?