Mountain biking for students with hearing impairments

The course focuses on off-road mountain biking. In addition to mastering basic and advanced mountain biking skills, the course also focuses on developing general physical fitness and endurance. Practical training also includes practicing safe riding in a group, communication in a group, orientation in the terrain, and basic bike maintenance. Emphasis is also placed on the necessary theoretical basis, the framework of which consists of both the appropriate selection and adjustment of the bicycle, safety rules for cycling, information about new materials and technologies, as well as theoretical training for orientation in the field (work with a map, itinerary) and basic first aid.

The lessons are taught in a block form in 5 half-day to full-day rides per semester. Depending on the weather it is possible to extend the course to the exam period of the semester. Individual rides in the closer and more distant surroundings of Brno, when it is also possible to use public transport (trains, bicycle buses), their length and difficulty correspond to the abilities of the students of a given group. As a rule, the lengths of the routes range from 35 to 90 kilometres.

Students must have their own mountain bike, the technical condition and equipment of which meet the requirements for bicycles in road traffic.

The course together with the methodological material was developed in 2012–2014 within the Expin project – Network of expert centres to ensure inclusion in tertiary education.