Why you need specialist cycle insurance

The phrase ‘social, domestic and pleasure’, are three simple words that are a fair description of the role bicycles play in our lives, often with a bit of commuting thrown in for good measure. Whether on the weekend club ride, running local errands or enjoying a solitary spin through the countryside, as keen cyclists our bike (or more likely bikes, plural) has a pivotal place in our day-to-day lives.

Many of us also enjoy using our bikes on holiday in the UK or abroad, whether as the sole focus of the trip, or getting in the saddle for a few quick miles before breakfast. The thought of exploring a new country or testing yourself up a Grand Tour mountain with the warm sun on your back is great motivation to keep riding through the dark winter months.

Purpose-built bike boxes and bags can protect your bicycles in transit, but it is also well worth ensuring that adequate protection in the form of specialist insurance is in place whether at home or abroad. General travel insurance might not include your bicycle and home insurance may not provide the best coverage when travelling, so a bicycle-specific policy such as  Direct Line’s Cycling Insurance, (Arranged by Gator Bikesure Limited and Underwritten by Red Sands Insurance Company (Europe) Limited) or their  Cycling Travel Insurance , tailored to you and your bike provides peace of mind when travelling.

Unfortunately, bicycles are relatively easy to steal and sell. They are, used away from the security of your house and frequently left outside shops, cafes or workplaces. Whilst Gold Standard locks can deter opportunist thieves, very little will prevent a determined criminal. Over 2,000 bikes have been stolen so far this year at major train stations in the UK (information provided by the British Transport Police), and over the last few years, nearly 30 per cent of claims have been for theft away from the home (based on claims data between October 2021 and July 2024, provided by Gator Bikesure on behalf of Direct Line Cycling Insurance).

Specialised cover helps to avoid being in a scenario where your valuable bike isn't covered. It also means that as well as being able to insure against theft, you can get cover for accidental damage to your bike reimbursement for bicycle hire if required and even for event entry fee if you get injured in advance.

Even when at home, bikes are vulnerable to theft, so it is a very good idea to review your security. Ground anchors and hefty locks help, as do alarms and security lights. It is also worth making it less obvious that there is anything worth breaking into the garage or shed to steal.

The good news is Direct Line offers discounts if you do want to insure multiple bicycles, with 10% on the second bike and 15% on the third. This is a particularly good option for families or anyone else with a full garage ( all bikes to be owned by an immediate family member (partner, child or parent) as long as all the bicycles are at your home address. The most valuable bike will be counted as the first bike on your policy, so discounts will apply to each bike thereafter. All bikes must be worth over £250).

As well as offering cover for your bike, Direct Line can also provide cover for you as a rider. This means that you can choose a policy that will protect you if you get injured whilst taking part in a sportive and gives you public liability insurance should someone make a claim against you for injury or damage resulting from a bicycle accident. Racing is sometimes excluded from policies, but with Direct Line’s Race and Event Cover add-on, loss or damage during a race is covered.

Nothing can entirely make up for the theft of a bike, holiday-ruining damage or an injury that puts paid to a much-anticipated event but with the right insurance, at least the financial hit can be mitigated so you can get back on track and then back on your bike as soon as possible.