Worth joining British Cycling?
rumbataz
Posts: 796
I'm thinking about signing up with British Cycling on the 'Ride' tier of membership. It's £35 annually. Of particular interest to me would be the Liability Insurance and Legal Assistance in case I cause damage to someone's property whilst out cycling.
However, I also need to buy cycle insurance for my bikes and this would usually include such cover as an option at least.
Hence, is BC membership worth it?
However, I also need to buy cycle insurance for my bikes and this would usually include such cover as an option at least.
Hence, is BC membership worth it?
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Depends on what your going to do.
BC does not actually 'organise' anything in this life .. it is really down to the affiliated cycling clubs and their hard pressed legion of VOLUNTEERS to do all the hard work as regards events/races.
The liability cover is ok but there are alternatives as much like there are private companies organising sportives outside the remit of the BCF.
Pays your money takes your choice.
Cycling Nazis - I'd join another club mate!
Willier GTR 2014
They don't have their own solicitors though, just a referral arrangement. You could just give Leigh Day etc a ring yourself and get the same deal. Nice option to have someone take care of it for you though I suppose.
Main benefit for me is getting a race licence, the restis all just nice to have.
If a driver hits me when I'm cycling and damages me and/or my bike, could I use the included liability insurance and legal support to get my bike fixed and/or pay for my medical treatment?
Currently trying to claim off the council for that one.
But my understanding of third party insurance is that you yourself are not covered, but if you damage someone/something else thats what is covered. So not sure it would have helped in my case.
Yes, third party liability insurance covers you if somebody (a third party) claims against you for damage that you have caused to them / their possessions. Could be if you knock someone over, scratch their car, damage their bike etc. What you seem to want is first party insurance i.e. cover for damage to yourself / your bike. Pretty sure you don't get that with BC. What you do get is legal support, which means that they can pass your details to a suitable solicitor who will then assist with any legal claim you might wish to make, usually on a no win no fee basis (but that will depend on the facts of the case).
Is this different to CTC then ? - who have been known to take on cases for injured cyclists and get them compensation ?
I'd recommend it - I joined 6 months after an accident, but have saved more than what I paid out via savings through Halfords & CRC.
Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...
If my understanding is correct...
In the example you gave the cyclist would claim via the drivers 3rd party insurance (a legal requirement for the driver). The benefits of having 3rd party liability through BC cover is if you hit a car and they want reimbersment etc.
What you need to take into consideration is that if you caused an accident whilst not being insured on the bike (hit a car, hit a pedestrian, lost control and went through a garden fence etc etc) would you be able to afford the car repairs, the pedestrians daily care fees after they were paralysed, or even just the fence panel?!
Don't take my word for it though...
I have the race membership but also an additional insurance policy through a private company to cover me for accidental damages (replace/repair MY bike if I break it).
If you can get the same cover cheaper then no.
As the cost to insure my new bicycle is about the same as is to insure my 160bhp 2-litre car, fully comp (insurance group 26) :shock:
Was £150 more than home insurance alone. My car insurance was £230 last year (250bhp 2.0l if that makes any difference)