CTC, the UK's national cyclists' organisation, has acquired mountain bike training company OTC Training.

The aquistition will see OTC's highly regarded range of qualifications merge with CTC's existing off road skills courses, and allow OTC's staff and its 4,000 accredited mountain bike leaders access to CTC's resources.

OTC's training and education programme will complement CTC's growing mountain bike portfolio, overseen by Ian Warby, which already includes skills training, off road campaigning, advising local groups and commercial operators, community outreach and project managing and designing new trails. Year on year, more mountain bikers are joining CTC and currently 27,000 CTC members own a mountain bike.

Kevin Mayne, Director of CTC, says: “OTC's training and education programme is a perfect addition to CTC's growing mountain bike activities. We are looking forward to welcoming OTC into CTC and working to improve conditions for mountain bikers of all abilities. This acquisition is just the start, the MTB world is going to be hearing a lot more from CTC in the coming years.”

Founder and Director of OTC Dan Cook added: “Integrating with CTC will provide a fantastic future for mountain bikers, professional activity providers, voluntary group leaders, regular riders and weekend warriors. CTC will now be the only point of contact needed for training, insurance and virtually all recreational services for mountain bikers. Plus CTC's proven record in accessing funding for cycling development can also be harnessed to benefit mountain biking across the UK.”

Arrangements for OTC activities for 2009 onwards will continue with the same staff in place across the board. Mountain bike activity providers can rest assured that both OTC and CTC are looking to extend and develop opportunities for mountain biking throughout the UK and Europe with existing partners.