Mountain biking arrived in the UK in the late 1980's and was just the "latest craze" in many people's eyes. By the 1990's it had become a recognised "specialist sport" but as we moved into the new millennium mountain biking became a regular hobby for millions of Britons. In this time many companies linked to the sport have come and gone, but some have developed into the acknowledged leaders in their fields of work.

Three such leaders are based in Cumbria and we work together on various projects under the banner of mtbexperts.com. This year we're running the Mountain Bike Experience for the new "Head for the Hills" festival (www.hfth.co.uk), advising Cumbria Tourist Board on their cycle strategy and working closely with both the Scottish Cycle Union and British Cycling in the development of their leader training programmes. These are just some examples of how our expertise is being used to help the development of mountain biking.

To find out more about what each of us offers please read the individual profiles below. Feel free to contact any of us for further advice or assistance.

We are the leading provider of mountain biking weekends and skills training courses in the UK, and in addition we offer a wide range of international holidays. Over the years our repuation has grown thanks to the high standards of tour planning and the employment of the most highly skilled professional guides, all qualified through the SMBLA (see below). We've been featured in The Telegraph, The Times, MBR, What Mountain Bike, Singletrack and many other publications, and we now make regular contributions to What Mountain Bike for their skills development features.

Website: www.cycleactive.co.uk
Email: sales@cycleactive.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0)1768 840 400

Leadership training for mountain bike and outdoor professionals is our specialisation. We are the only training company in Britain which delivers the British Cycling approved Scottish Mountain Bike Leaders Award. This is recognised by AALA and is becoming the industry standard for mountain bike leadership, when looking after young people and adults. Our small team of expert trainers also guide for CycleActive, maintaining their hands-on skills, and we are heavily involved with British Cycling in the development of their leadership training programme

Website: www.cyclewisetraining.co.uk
Email: rich@cyclewisetraining.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0)1768 898 775

Our reputation as a bike retailer, equipment supplier, workshop services provider and mountain bike advice centre is second to none. Operating from a store in the centre of Ambleside we take real pride in getting our customers onto the right bike, at the right price for them, with no complex sales spin - just honest, sensible advice. We test and rate every bit of kit we stock, so we really do know what we're talking about. Whether you're just starting off in the sport, or want a top-end custom built mountain bike, we can take care of you. Even if you're not buying, we can offer advice on rides in the area, and stock a range of guidebooks and maps to help you enjoy the best of The Lake District on two wheels.

Email: info@biketreks.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0)15394 31245