Instructor

NAME: Lee Hankins     INTERESTS: Mountain Biking, Photography, Running

  Crown Green Bowling, Walking

FIRST BIKE: Raleigh Budgie  

  CURRENT BIKES: Marin Rift Zone   FAVOURITE RIDE: Mam Tor, Peak District. Giant XTC Carbon

Like many people I was brought up with bikes, BMX's, Racers and Mountain Bikes, but I did not start to take bikes seriously until around 1998. I realized that they were a great and enjoyable way to keep fit, loads better in my opinion than the four walls of a gym. Ask any Mountain Biker why he or she rides and you will receive many different replies although some will be more commonly featured, to keep fit, to get out in the open and socialize with friends, to get away from it all or to get away from the other half ! The one thing that the vast majority of Mountain Bikers will agree on is that the more skills you have and to a certain degree the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your mountain biking.

MIAS is the Mountain Bike Instructor Award Scheme. MIAS accreditation is from the Awarding Body Consortium ( Reading University). The course has national accreditation and is recognized by:The Association of British Cycle Coaches (A.B.C.C.)

  Cyclist's Touring Club (C.T.C.)

  Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (A.A.L.A).

The Aim of MIAS is to promote safe enjoyment of all aspects of mountain biking in an off and on road environment. The MIAS scheme provides training and assessment in the technical and group management skills required by those who wish to lead groups in a variety of off-road environments, in the United Kingdom. The MIAS scheme also incorporates on road management training. It integrates training, experience and assessment in a variety of testing conditions in off-road country.

As a level 2 MIAS qualified instructor and holder of an Outdoor First Aid & Incident Management qualification with Activity Provider Insurance and Expert Indemnity Cover my number one priority while instructing or guiding is safety.

I deliver a structured but fun informal course with varied teaching techniques depending on the group and experience of individuals. I like follow a few basic learning principles which ensures that there's plenty of time for practice, encourage involvement and plenty of enjoyment and encourage individuals to self reflect and ask questions at each stage of learning. The aim is to make sure everyone leaves at the end of the day with a sense of achievement and success of having done something that they could or would not do before, and this is achieved with my own personal understanding of the skills required by new and less experienced mountain bikers.

Lee