GET on your mountain bike and take to the hills - but not before you know what you are doing.

That's the message from keen mountain biker Barry Hartley. The head of Blackburn College's Environment Division has been cycling for as long as he can remember and mountain biking seriously for the last six years.

And nothing makes him happier than to see other people taking part and enjoying the sport - safely. That is why Barry is developing a national qualification for mountain bike leaders.

He explained: "Mountain biking is a really popular sport and there are more and more riders every week. But it is also a risk sport and riders need to have some basic training if they are going off-road. "It is not advisable for riders to hop on to their bikes and head into the hills."

Barry helps run the Bron-y-Gader outdoor pursuits centre in North Wales and often sees mountain bikers heading into the countryside without any proper training.

He said: "We get a lot of school groups and very so often a teacher who has never been on a mountain bike before will attempt to lead a group on a ride into rough countryside.

"This is just stupidity, but it is allowed because there are no legal obligations for mountain bike leaders to have any type of formal training or qualification.

"I think this is wrong, so I am developing a syllabus to cover all aspects of mountain biking from how to lead a group safely, doing repairs, a code of conduct for riders and first aid."

Barry has almost completed the syllabus and is hoping it will be taken on as a practical-course by the BTEC examination board.

"Mountain biking is a great sport and a brilliant way to get out into the country, but it is important to know what you are doing before you get on your bike," he added.

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