Insurance

Chat about anything in here

Moderators: Philip Whiteman, George, Dave Cox

Post Reply
50+
Posts: 17
Joined: 03 Oct 2016 23:19
Real Name: Peter Rollason

Insurance

Post by 50+ » 21 Nov 2016 20:42

I've always been a bit dismissive of cycle insurance. However a recent accident involving someone I used to ride with got me reconsidering. The risk I take when cycling is my call, I do everything I possibly can to minimise that risk - But none the less the risk is there - so I looked at the options:-

British Cycling + CTC
Nothing wrong with what they offer and for under £40 a year you get £10m Public liability insurance and a few other goodies thrown in - also access to legal advice should you ever need it.
I do think some people have this cover and that they are are 'insured' - be aware that the £10m figure is only 3rd party (it covers what you hit - but not you or your bike) - Also access to legal advice - doesn't necessarily mean solictor will represent you in court for free. It can just be a phone number - any better than googling for a solicitor ? - or the no win no fee types

The above really wasn't what I was looking for. So I found Pedalsure. This better suited me - for £60 a year - I am covered and get a benefit type payout (£35k)if I am injured or loose a limb in a cycling accident. I only get £1m third party cover - a lot less than BC or ctc. However its only me thats insured - not my bike ...

Bike Insurance
In the end I decided against this. I have £500 cover on my house insurance if someone steals my bike in a burglary. For around £200 I could insure the bike away from my home - but with lots of provisos - for example the theft element would only apply if my bike was secured with an approved lock (im slow enough without lugging a cast iron u lock around!)
Crash cover - yeah well fair enough - by my reckoning was you may break your forks, wheels, even frame - but highly unlikely to write of all of the group set as well . If you have a £6k frame this may be worth it - but I don't. I thought £200 to insure a 6 year old bike - which cost £1500 when new wasn't worth it - depends what your riding I suppose.

Right - Just off to check my bike are still in the garage ! - and wondering why my wife has scrutinised the £35k death benefit section so much !

User avatar
petemarshall
Posts: 663
Joined: 17 Jan 2014 16:40
Real Name: Pete Marshall
Location: Stourbridge

Post by petemarshall » 22 Nov 2016 20:25

I think it's appropriate to point out that BC cover for Silver membership is third party for both racing and coaching, not just whilst generally cycling (as long as you follow the BC codes and rules). They would also usually provide full representation if required for claims arising out of racing/coaching. For Gold membership you also get some personal injury cover.

50+
Posts: 17
Joined: 03 Oct 2016 23:19
Real Name: Peter Rollason

Post by 50+ » 22 Nov 2016 21:21

petemarshall wrote:I think it's appropriate to point out that BC cover for Silver membership is third party for both racing and coaching, not just whilst generally cycling (as long as you follow the BC codes and rules). They would also usually provide full representation if required for claims arising out of racing/coaching. For Gold membership you also get some personal injury cover.
Good point.

there is a case on going at the moment against a mountain bike instructor - who it is alleged took his group down slopes they weren't prepared for. This lead to one of the riders crashing and ending up paralysed. He is now suing the instructor.

laurence_cooley
Posts: 1119
Joined: 31 Dec 2011 13:48
Real Name:
Location: Harborne

Post by laurence_cooley » 22 Nov 2016 22:35

petemarshall wrote:I think it's appropriate to point out that BC cover for Silver membership is third party for both racing and coaching, not just whilst generally cycling (as long as you follow the BC codes and rules). They would also usually provide full representation if required for claims arising out of racing/coaching. For Gold membership you also get some personal injury cover.
There's an exception to the liability insurance whereby one BC member can't claim against another in a race, though.

User avatar
Philip Whiteman
Posts: 2045
Joined: 19 Nov 2006 16:17
Real Name:
Location: Drayton, Worcestershire

Post by Philip Whiteman » 23 Nov 2016 09:16


User avatar
AlanW
Posts: 1259
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 13:55
Real Name: Alan Weaver
Location: Who knows......

Post by AlanW » 23 Nov 2016 10:20

Quite timely this, as I'm just about to move away from "we are cycling uk" (formally CTC) in favour of British Cycling.
"You only need two tools: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape"

laurence_cooley
Posts: 1119
Joined: 31 Dec 2011 13:48
Real Name:
Location: Harborne

Post by laurence_cooley » 23 Nov 2016 10:28

Philip Whiteman wrote:See BC's cycling cover here https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/compare
See, that suggests that it covers competitive cycling, but then https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/thirdpartyliability states "Important exclusions include: One member against another in a cycling competition, race, time trial or timed event". Unless I've misunderstood, that effectively means it doesn't cover competition (it seems a bit unlikely that you'd need to make a claim against a rider who isn't a BC member in a BC race).

User avatar
Philip Whiteman
Posts: 2045
Joined: 19 Nov 2006 16:17
Real Name:
Location: Drayton, Worcestershire

Post by Philip Whiteman » 23 Nov 2016 10:42

This is an interesting discussion as silver and gold members used to have identical insurance cover. BC has clearly watered down the offering for silver members.

50+
Posts: 17
Joined: 03 Oct 2016 23:19
Real Name: Peter Rollason

Post by 50+ » 23 Nov 2016 12:05

Philip Whiteman wrote:This is an interesting discussion as silver and gold members used to have identical insurance cover. BC has clearly watered down the offering for silver members.
I don't race - but on the whole it seems very much like travel insurance - the very cheap cover - if fact doesn't cover for anything at all.

It would interest me to discover what people perceive they are covered for v what they are actually covered for.

I had a discussion on a general cycling forum where people were convinced that very basic cover covered them for loss of earnings should they be involved a cycling accident ! - and there was more than 1 that thought that !

User avatar
Philip Whiteman
Posts: 2045
Joined: 19 Nov 2006 16:17
Real Name:
Location: Drayton, Worcestershire

Post by Philip Whiteman » 23 Nov 2016 12:56

Peter

Take a look at the ETA's policy:

https://www.eta.co.uk/insurance/cycle/

Tim
Posts: 1255
Joined: 06 Sep 2011 17:02
Real Name: Tim Egan
Location: Bournville

Post by Tim » 23 Nov 2016 18:30

BC cover hasn't changed for last six years that I've had it, silver and gold get same except gold gets personal cover too.

I have been meaning to check home insurance for a while, with m and s which was best for bikes but they have watered it down.

Hopefully none of us have to claim for anything!
Please like and follow Beacon Cycling Academy https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beacon-C ... 6499863667

User avatar
petemarshall
Posts: 663
Joined: 17 Jan 2014 16:40
Real Name: Pete Marshall
Location: Stourbridge

Post by petemarshall » 23 Nov 2016 23:35

laurence_cooley wrote:
Philip Whiteman wrote:See BC's cycling cover here https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/compare
See, that suggests that it covers competitive cycling, but then https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/thirdpartyliability states "Important exclusions include: One member against another in a cycling competition, race, time trial or timed event". Unless I've misunderstood, that effectively means it doesn't cover competition (it seems a bit unlikely that you'd need to make a claim against a rider who isn't a BC member in a BC race).
BC cover gives you liability insurance during competition. It does not cover one racer sueing another, but it covers any incidents with spectators, damage to property etc all the usual stuff liability insurance covers. The exclusion of covering a BC member taking action against another BC member who is a competitor seems sensible to me. The exclusion only applies during competition

Personally speaking I think liability insurance, unless you are coaching or racing is largely unnecessary;hence it doesn't cost much.
Coaches, race officials, race organisers and competitors certainly do need it and BC supply it.
For general cycling the likleyhood of liability insurance ever paying out is remote so the type of insurance provided by the old CTC and other such organisations pretty pointless unless you are planning on running over a load of pedestrian 😉

50+
Posts: 17
Joined: 03 Oct 2016 23:19
Real Name: Peter Rollason

Post by 50+ » 24 Nov 2016 09:13

petemarshall wrote:
laurence_cooley wrote:
Philip Whiteman wrote:See BC's cycling cover here https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/compare
See, that suggests that it covers competitive cycling, but then https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/thirdpartyliability states "Important exclusions include: One member against another in a cycling competition, race, time trial or timed event". Unless I've misunderstood, that effectively means it doesn't cover competition (it seems a bit unlikely that you'd need to make a claim against a rider who isn't a BC member in a BC race).
BC cover gives you liability insurance during competition. It does not cover one racer sueing another, but it covers any incidents with spectators, damage to property etc all the usual stuff liability insurance covers. The exclusion of covering a BC member taking action against another BC member who is a competitor seems sensible to me. The exclusion only applies during competition

Personally speaking I think liability insurance, unless you are coaching or racing is largely unnecessary;hence it doesn't cost much.
Coaches, race officials, race organisers and competitors certainly do need it and BC supply it.
For general cycling the likleyhood of liability insurance ever paying out is remote so the type of insurance provided by the old CTC and other such organisations pretty pointless unless you are planning on running over a load of pedestrian 😉
Couldn't agree more. Throw the fact that you probablyy have excess of £100 and you most likelyy never claim.

Thats why I like pedalsure - it covers me against being injured.

User avatar
RichK
Posts: 218
Joined: 03 Oct 2007 19:39
Real Name: Richard Kings
Location: Northfield

Post by RichK » 25 Nov 2016 10:53

laurence_cooley wrote: There's an exception to the liability insurance whereby one BC member can't claim against another in a race, though.
Don't you have to be a BC member to be in a race? so their insurance is basically invalid whilst racing.

As an aside, I used to do mine via LVRC until they changed the cover to exclude commuting! (now with CTC or whatever they're called this week).
There is no secret ingredient

User avatar
petemarshall
Posts: 663
Joined: 17 Jan 2014 16:40
Real Name: Pete Marshall
Location: Stourbridge

Post by petemarshall » 25 Nov 2016 18:54

RichK wrote:
laurence_cooley wrote: There's an exception to the liability insurance whereby one BC member can't claim against another in a race, though.
Don't you have to be a BC member to be in a race? so their insurance is basically invalid whilst racing.

As an aside, I used to do mine via LVRC until they changed the cover to exclude commuting! (now with CTC or whatever they're called this week).
No, the insurance is not invalid, see my comments above.

Post Reply