Scottish Mountain Bike Conference 2024 - What a week!

We have some of the best riding, best scenery, best adventures, most progressive outdoor access legislation in the world and we want people to know about it. Add in some awesome Scottish built bikes, clothing and other products designed and made in Scotland - the Conference is an awesome opportunity to showcase this to the world's media, promoting Scotland across the globe.

That is why, we invite specially selected members of the cycling and mountain bike media, high profile figures within the industry, both from the UK & Internationally, to interactively sample the very best that Scottish mountain biking has to offer. We expect the media coverage and fallout articles and promotion, based on our 2022 Conference, to reach circa 2 million people.

This year we invited mountain bike legend Glen Jacobs of World Trail as a conference speaker and to take part in the media trip, Antony de Heveningham- Singletrack World, Pete Scullion - Wide Open Mag, Jamie Darlow - MBR Magazine, Aoife Glass - Spindrift Podcast and Emily Horridge - UpDown Mag

The group were presented with kit from Scottish companies Endura, Fortan Activewear and Stogies to test alongside Highlander 2's to ride for the week from Deviate Cycles. They had a preview presentation of UK Trails Report launching at conference from our Dave the UK Trails Project Manager, alongside a fantastically informative presentation on all the Scottish Borders has to offer from our destination partner, South of Scotland Destination Alliance - Scotland Starts Here. They also had the opportunity to explore a brand new bike specific campervan set up with Clarkies Campers a leading Scottish campervan rental company and part of the John Clark Motor Group.

Next up rideouts - trips to see the incredible recent work of the TVTA on Flat White and then over to the legendary DH trails of Innerleithen and visit to ride the new Walkerburn pumptrack with the Velosolutions team behind the build and meet local councillor Julie Pirone, who alongside the local community group, was a real supporter of the project.

This part of the week finished up with a tour of the new trails at Glentress with OnTrack, the company behind these new additions the the offer at this much loved Tweed Valley trail centre.

The first day of Conference focused on Trails, Destinations and Innovation. Opening with a keynote speech from Ms Mari Gougeon, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands. Ms Gougeon's presentation highlighted Scottish Government's continued support for mountain biking demonstrating that the Scottish Government recognise that mountain biking is an important part of rural Scotland.

Cllr Euan Jardine, the leader of Scottish Borders Council, and Jane Morrison-Ross, the Chief Executive Officer of South of Scotland Enterprise, welcomed delegates to the Scottish Borders and South of Scotland. Their joint presentation shared their vision of how a partnership approach is helping to create a global mountain bike destination.

Graeme McLean, the Head of DMBinS, followed with a presentation on the contribution that the team of DMBinS makes to Scottish mountain biking and, on behalf of the members of the Scottish MTB Consortium, presented an update on the delivery of the 'Strategy for Scottish Mountain Biking, 2023-2025'.

Presentations followed from April Marshke, Outside Advice and previously Specialized Global, providing delegates with an understanding of the future direction of bike sales and what impact that will have for planning, building, and maintaining trails. An inspiring and motivational talk from the legendary Glen Jacobs, World Trail, a global leader in MTB trail design, on destination development and how he has masterminded the success of several global mountain bike destinations, including Blue Derby, Tasmania.

With breakout sessions and workshops on new eBike guidance, the future of MTB events in Scotland and sustainable trails planning, the launch of the UK Trails Project's first output the 'Your Trail' report and the launch of the UK's first cycling and outdoor business accelerator programme 'First Tracks', delegates had a lot to think about as we headed for night rides and then to the evening meal.

The second day started with a presentation from Scottish Cycling CEO, Nick Rennie, on the progress of Scottish Cycling in delivering their organisational strategy, Developing a Nation of Cyclists, with a particular focus on the work being delivered to grow participation and support riders to achieve on the world stage.

This was followed by presentations from Scottish Cycling's Fraser Johnston and British Cycling's National Facilities Development Manager, Manus Twomey. Fraser was able to detail the success and the impact of the Cycling Facilities Fund in Scotland. sportscotland, Scottish Cycling and DMBinS have been delivering the Cycling Facilities Fund (CFF), an £8m fund to support the legacy from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships with 45 facilities awarded funding.

Manus's presentation shared the success's of British Cycling's Places to Ride funding programme, which has seen multiple mountain bike trails developed across England.

Ben Creed, Education Development Lead at British Cycling, then addressed the delegates with a presentation detailing the future of coaching and leadership qualifications from the national governing body.

One of the highlights from the day was perhaps when our Christine, Fiona Cockburn Scottish Cycling Foundation Trustee & Edrington Group and Neil Russell, Adaptive Riders Collective, got up on stage to launch of new Adaptive MTB Fundamentals Programme. An exciting new programme which will help more disabled riders experience the many benefits of mountain biking and will be funded by a generous donation of £55K from Edrington Group.

The conference then heard from David Smith, Screen Scotland, and Stu Thompson, Cut Media, on the exciting new six-month production skills development programme for MTB media crew across Scotland - Fresh Cuts. DMBinS will be working with Screen Scotland and Cut Media to deliver this programme with seven successful applicants now in post.

With presentations from IMBA Europe on how, as an umbrella body for national member organisations, IMBA Europe are helping to create sustainable trails and diversify participation in mountain biking, workshops on trails looking at what is next for participation and sports facilities across the UK, our work in the skills agenda where we are working with the SQA to roll out a Nat 5 (EQF L3) SQA Qualification in MTB across Scotland and a particular session asking delegates to offer their thoughts and experiences that can help us collectively provide more off-road opportunities for adaptive and non-disabled riders.

The day was rounded off in a special way with local legend Crawford Carrick Anderson giving us all a thought provoking, emotive and mostly hilarious, insight into his journey in mountain biking from a world cup/championships rider to working with the local community club Peebles Cycling Club. He also shared family images and memories of his children, Emily and Corran who are both now competing on the world stage.

The delegates then had the opportunity to join led rides before the Scottish Mountain Bike Awards in the evening.

Delegates had the opportunity to take part in some practical sessions, clear the heads from the Awards night and learn some new skills.

With the opportunity to try adaptive bikes and riding – session provided by our event supporter, Adaptive Riders Collective, and join in dig sessions with trained dig leaders from the Tweed Valley Trails Association and the Glentress Trail Fairies.