The Level 1 course offers comprehensive hands-on training on the fundamentals of mountain biking. All participants will create a foundation for teaching mountain bike skills clinics, including personal riding skills, proper form, systematic methods, and terminology.
There are many aspects to teaching mountain biking: planning and preparation, risk management, clear communication with students, managing a group of riders, and being fully confident in your understanding and demonstration of the Fundamental Elements.
Length: A 3-day course that certifies an individual as aMTB Fundamental Skills Instructor.
Cost: $700 USD.
A BICP Level 1 membership will be added to your purchase.
In order to pass the BICP aMTB Level 1 course, participants must complete the online coursework (approximately 24 hours), demonstrate an understanding of the material, and perform suitable teaching simulations.
Level 1 Prerequisites:
- BICP Ride Leader Certification.
- Current First Aid & CPR certificate.
- Wilderness First Aid certification is strongly recommended.
- Three or more years of mountain bike experience.
- Volunteer work or work experience in the bike-related industry.
- At least 16 yrs. Old.
- Good communication skills.
- A strong desire to help others have more fun and progress safely.
- Ability to perform basic trailside repairs (flat tires, broken chains, and shift adjustments).
- Fluent in the English language, including reading and speaking.
Completion of the course, in addition to passing a practical exam, will qualify an individual to:
- Instruct individual or group mountain bike skills clinics in a professional, systematic, and safe manner.
- Assess the level of each rider in their group through a Pre-Ride Assessment.
- Assess and diagnose common errors within each rider’s fundamental skills.
- Prepare and implement teaching plans, progressions, and goal planning for future skills clinics.
- Make responsible choices when instructing mountain bike skills clinics.
You will be tested on the following:
- Fundamental Elements
- Skill Description
- Demonstrations
- Group Management
- Error Detection and Corrections
- Progressions
- Communication
- Leadership & Professional Conduct
The BICP uses the Minimum Ride Standard when testing for Certification.
The BICP Certification courses are skills teaching courses, not skills learning courses.
Therefore, the participants attending the in-person certification course should be well-versed in the skills mentioned below and must be able to perform them at or above the BICP Ride Standard. The successful demonstration of these skills during the course is a prerequisite for certification. It is, therefore, mandatory for the participants to be proficient in these skills before attending the course. It is mandatory to demonstrate these skills successfully to achieve certification during the course.
Being able to perform the skill = Proficient at the skill.
Being able to teach the skill = Mastering the skill.
Please contact the BICP for information on a skills prep course if you need help meeting these ride standards.
Disclaimer:
Much of the written content in this manual is geared toward the 2-wheel bicycle. We hope that participants of this course will gain a deeper understanding of the different varieties of cycles in the course. As we focus on the Ten Fundamentals, be prepared to discuss how they could relate to an adaptive rider and the different adaptive cycles.
During the in-person course, the participants will learn the different body movements and skills presented in this manual on a variety of different cycles.
As no two riders are the same, not every adaptive cycle is the same. Learning to understand the different body movements on different cycles will help you when working with adaptive riders with different needs and abilities.
Goal = Balance + Stability + Control for all riders.
BICP LEVEL ONE SKILLS DEMONSTRATIONS
Neutral and Ready Position – Move smoothly between standing Neutral to a Low Ready using all Ten Fundamentals. Foot Wedge “Heavy Feet-Light Hands”.
Bike/Body Separation Forward and Back – Slide the body forward and slide the body back while maintaining a level plane.
Bike/Body Separation Side to Side – Lean the bike from one side to the other side while maintaining a balanced Ready position, using all Ten Fundamentals.
Braking – Apply both brakes for a controlled and complete stop from a range of speeds, using all Ten Fundamentals.
Shifting – Perform seamless/silent up-shifts and down-shifts during a gentle climb.