TT Insurance

johnboy183

So I completed my first ever race last week in a TT. On the outward leg, a tractor overtook me but then pulled in in front of me. Personally I thought he was a tad early but hey ho. So I drafted him for a mile or so before he pulled off. If I were unlucky and he'd hit me, or because I was drafting and couldn't see much and had a spill, or was involved in some other form of collision with a vehicle whilst competing, would my BC Ride insurance have covered me for injury or replacement bike etc? Or do I need something else?

Which insurance do you have?

neonriver

Your BC insurance won't cover you for TT's its 3rd part and public liabilty only. AFAIK only specialist bike insurance such as the additional cover you can buy through BC or companies like cycleguard would cover you when racing.

You should also know that if you get caught drafting you can get DQ'd you would need to drop back when you get overtaking.

johnboy183

neonriver wrote:

You should also know that if you get caught drafting you can get DQ'd you would need to drop back when you get overtaking.

Thought that may be the case. Fortunately I finished almost last so I didn't affect too many. Plus it was "only" the local club TT.

But thanks for the insurance info

markos1963

johnboy183 wrote:

neonriver wrote:

You should also know that if you get caught drafting you can get DQ'd you would need to drop back when you get overtaking.

Thought that may be the case. Fortunately I finished almost last so I didn't affect too many. Plus it was "only" the local club TT.

But thanks for the insurance info

So it's ok to put yourself at risk because its' 'only' the club TT? One of the reasons for the no drafting rule is for the safety of yourself and others. What if you had piled into the back of that tractor? No insurance would have helped you there. TT's are under threat enough as it is from the Police and Highways agency putting pressure on organisers to move or cancel events. Imagine how an organiser would feel if you had crashed and hurt yourself during one of their events? Sorry to rant on but people need to think about their actions a bit more.

johnboy183

Nope it's a fair comment although mine was said slightly tongue in cheek. I was in 2 minds about dropping back and more about my safety rather than any 'moral' issue regarding cheating.

maryka

Slippery slope eh... drafting a tractor going only slightly faster than you are... drafting a rider who comes past... riding out in the middle of the lane to get the biggest advantage from overtaking cars/lorries on DC TTs... riding on the white line in SPOCOs to get the shortest racing line through bends... but hey if you finished last place that's ok right?

Hmm. Interesting thought process. But yeah if you run into the back of someone because you decided to draft too closely, you can expect to get no support, legally or otherwise.

johnboy183

SPOCO?

markos1963

johnboy183 wrote:

Nope it's a fair comment although mine was said slightly tongue in cheek. I was in 2 minds about dropping back and more about my safety rather than any 'moral' issue regarding cheating.

Yes, I certainly wasn't coming from a cheating point of view on that. I have had the problem of tractors on the course before, unfortunately you just have to bit the bullet and either drop back or do what I did, grit my teeth and overtake and hope you have the legs to stay ahead! if in doubt play it safe, there's always another race.

markos1963

johnboy183 wrote:

SPOCO?

Sporting Course

Pross

If you'd been hit I would have thought you would still be entitled to the legal support provided through BC. The insurance doesn't provide you with any injury cover but the legal advice part would help you pursue the tractor driver for compensation assuming witnesses etc.. Obviously that would be in the case of the tractor cutting you up and causing you injury / damage. If you had survived that but then gone into the back of the tractor whilst drafting I suspect the legal advice would be that it was your own negligence.

It's frustrating when something passes you with such a speed differential that you feel forced to slow down but it had obviously been travelling faster than you. Even if you back off 15m* you may still get some aero benefit and will at least have a carrot to chase that had been going faster than you so use it to your advantage but in a safe way and without breaking the rules.

* Check the rule book for the actual distance you are supposed to leave.

johnboy183

I did enjoy the effects of the drafting, certainly got me around quicker!

So what differentiates a SPOCO course from an 'ordinary' one?

Grill

BC Insurance will cover it if you take out race cover.

richk

johnboy183 wrote:

I did enjoy the effects of the drafting, certainly got me around quicker!

So what differentiates a SPOCO course from an 'ordinary' one?

sporting course = hilly

e999sam

johnboy183 wrote:

I did enjoy the effects of the drafting, certainly got me around quicker!

So you were cheating.

johnboy183

^^ yup I was. Not proud of it but lesson learnt

jimmybobbobjimmy

If someone pulls infront of you it's not really your fault.
Slowing down to excuse their error and result in a slower time is a bit much.

johnboy183

Oh no to be clear I'm not blaming them at all. I was and am slow on the bike and by following them I was perhaps a minute quicker than I would have been. The whole idea of the post was about insurance and not the rights/wrongs/morals of drafting in an event of this nature.

foiled

Think I'd be more concerned by life insurance than bike insurance if I was drafting a tractor