Mountain Biking part of Scotland's Heartlands Tourism drive at Kingsfield Golf Course

IMBA UK Conference comes to Scotland in September

Tayside & Fife Consultation Evening

Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland at the UCI Downhill World Cup

A tourism group operating in Linlithgow has come up with a novel way of attracting mountain bikers to visit.

Scotland's Heartland, which is made up of businesses in in Linlithgow and Falkirk area, has launched its very own currency.

Included in a short break for two, the £75 worth of vouchers can be used in exchange for a number of activities in the area, including hiring mountain bikes. The vouchers can also be used for trips on the canal and rounds of golf.


Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland Project Manager and Administrator test out the hire bikes at Kingsfield Golf Course.

And any unused vouchers will be transformed into cash and given to the Waterways Trust Scotland, a charity that helps disadvantaged children, and the Strathcarron Hospice, near Falkirk.

To help get the project and its accompanying website up and running, Scotland's Heartlands was awarded £6,250 from VisitScotland (partner of Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland) Growth Fund, a sum that was matched by the project partners.

Ronnie Bamberry, chairman of Scotland's Heartland, said: Falkirk and Linlithgow have huge potential and we want to encourage as many people as possible to come here to enjoy the very best the area has to offer."

To read more about hiring mountain bikes and Kingsfield Mountain Bike tours which can offer Bike hire, Guided Tours with qualified Tour Guide, great countryside , canal towpaths , Country Parks, Linlithgow Loch superb views and routes, scenic viewpoints and can organise suitable accommodation, meals and refreshments plus other activities, Kingsfield Leisure

If you fancy combining a cycle with a game of Putting then Kingsfield Golf Course, in partnership with Linlithgow Climate Change, offer 50% discount on the fee to play the 18 Hole Ochils FAMILY PUTTING Green for anyone cycling to the course.

Instead of £2.50 per person this is reduced to £1.25 per cyclists.

To see the posters click here.

IMBA UK, one of the partners of Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, is holding its 2010 annual conference "From the Roots to the Shoots" on the 10th September, in the superb Tweed Valley, south Scotland - the heartland of the world famous 7stanes and home of Scottish mountain biking.



For more information and how to book onto the conference please visit IMBA UK Conference

On a beautiful summer evening in Perth, the first consultation meeting of the pilot Development Cluster - Tayside and Fife took place. With over 40 attendees the evening was very well attended and had excellent representation from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

To read the full report click here.

Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland will have a stand at the UCI Downhill World Cup - Fort William.

Working in partnership with Forestry Commission Scotland, Cycling Scotland, SNH, sportscotland and Scottish Cycling we will be displaying all the info from the framework and more....

At the stall you will also get to test your riding skills in the Cycling Scotland and Go Mountain Bike skills area.

If you are planning on being in Fort William be sure and pop in and see us!

For more info on the event please visit fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk

Hopefully see you there!!

We are pleased to announce that the first Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland conference will be held at Perth Concert Hall on Thursday 28th October 2010.


The conference will provide a platform to allow discussion about Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland. The event will be planned to allow a two-way flow – of information on progress from the Project; and of opinions and ideas from the delegates.

We are pleased to announce that Mark Beaumont (The Man Who Cycled the World - But has he Ridden the 7Stanes?) will be a guest speaker at the conference.

For more information and regular updates on the conference please visit www.developingmountainbikinginscotland.com

- The delivery of the project will have 4 main areas of focus in 2010 – Increasing Participation with Recreational & Sporting Pathways – Communication & Marketing – Standards & Grading – Development Clusters.

- Each of the areas has projects to be accomplished. Each project has clear objectives, timescales and KPI’s for success to be measured.

Increasing Participation

Key Objective: Identify barriers to participation in mountain biking and clarify how we create opportunities for people to participate and develop in the activity at any level and at any stage in life, including where a clear coaching and leadership structure fits within these pathways.
Projects
Working in partnership the key project is to develop a 'how to...' good practice guide. The aim of this guide will be to aid anyone currently delivering or considering delivering mountain biking to advise on best practice and demonstrate the potential mountain biking has to make a considerable difference to the health and well-being of Scotland.

Communication & Marketing

Key Objective: It is important that the project has a strong, proactive communications strategy to promote the role of the project and its objectives and to highlight its successes.
Projects
Projects include organising a conference which informs, inspires and energises the mountain bike community to drive the project forward and updating the existing ‘Off-Road Cycling Guide’ to a more user friendly and modern version and to ensure it is distributed effectively to users.

Standards and Grading

Key Objective: It is important that Scottish Mountain Biking has clear and definitive standards and grading practices that are shared across the country.
Projects
Projects include nationally agreeing standards and grading for facilities including information on trail management, design, construction, maintenance, grading and the liability that landowners have when providing mountain bike facilities.
Develop mountain bike specific trail building and trail management courses. Co-ordinate the development of a trail building and management training structure.

Development Clusters

Key Objective: To pilot a development cluster, audit the current levels of mountain biking activity within each Development Cluster and aid community groups who wish to develop mountain biking facilities.
Projects
Projects include an initial audit of current Mountain biking activity within Scotland, piloting the setting up and running of a development cluster and developing a good practice guide and training structure to aid community groups who wish to develop mountain bike facilities.

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- The Framework was successfully launched with Shona Robison, Scottish Minister for Sport, and Steve Peat, UCI Downhill World Champion, at Bannerman High School. (see photo below)

- The launch was covered by the National press in The Scotsman and The Metro, by regional press from Evening Times and by online magazines Bike Radar, singletrack online, The Scotsman online and Bike Magic and the new SMBDC chair, Brian Porteous, had a starring role on Sports Weekly on BBC Radio Scotland

- The total 'opportunities to see' reached a potential audience of 4.15 million people.

- A website was developed by the Project Manager for the launch to enable the download of the Framework. To view the website click here

- Thanks should go to Bannerman High School, in particular, Ms Purdie - Bannerman High School Head Teacher, Rob Ross & Andy Ogilvie - Teachers who run the Mtn Bike club and Craig Borthwick - Campus cop for Bannerman High School and all the young people on their bikes at Bannerman. For more info on the school please visit their website.

- The launch would not have been a success without Smarts, Cycling Scotland, Shona Robison, Steve Peat, all the staff at Scottish cycling and members of the SMBDC who attended. Thank you.

- Brain Porteous is the new and first SMBDC chair. Brian brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role.

- Brian has broke his first rule of consultancy and volunteered to work on a project he was formerly paid for. However such is his belief in the project and its ability to make a considerable difference to increasing participation leading to improved health and well-being, tourism and economic development and sporting development and success he has volunteered his time to help drive the project forward.

- Jennifer (Jay) Pearson has been appointed as the new administrator for the delivery of the Framework.

- Jay gave an excellent interview and after a successful induction has began auditing current Mountain Biking activity within each Development Cluster and will be taking a lead role in organising the conference.