Insurance?

[knonist]

Anyone bothered?

If so, which one has the least exclusions?

I was reading one earlier today which said if storing in a wooden shed, then it must be locked to an immoveable object.

It is a shed, it has wooden wall! There is no way anyone can install something immovable in a wooden shed! It can not be fixed to the wall and it can not be fixed to the ground either!

Any ideas?

 

[wafflycat]

http://www.torc-anchors.com/shed-shackle.php

 

[knonist]

I'm living in a room in a rented house. Although have a shed for the bike but really cant / not worth installing anything in the house.

 

[ttcycle]

BC cycle insurance is pretty good -not the cheapest but they would also require that you don't store the bike in a shed. Reason being that this is a very common place for bikes to get stolen as well as storing a bike overnight at a train station rack.

Whether it's worth it depends on several factors:

1. Value of your bike- if your bike cost a fair bit I wouldn't leave it in the shed anyway as components can be effected by the dampness
2. Which area you live in-ie do lots of bikes get stolen
3. Is your bike a popular bike and likely to be stolen

My very expensive bike got stolen in April this year and it's only thanks to insurance that I could replace it. Though remember to list all the accessories you add to the bike when you're filling out the details.

 

[knonist]

BC cycle insurance is pretty good -not the cheapest but they would also require that you don't store the bike in a shed. Reason being that this is a very common place for bikes to get stolen as well as storing a bike overnight at a train station rack.

Whether it's worth it depends on several factors:

1. Value of your bike- if your bike cost a fair bit I wouldn't leave it in the shed anyway as components can be effected by the dampness
2. Which area you live in-ie do lots of bikes get stolen
3. Is your bike a popular bike and likely to be stolen

My very expensive bike got stolen in April this year and it's only thanks to insurance that I could replace it. Though remember to list all the accessories you add to the bike when you're filling out the details.

I'm thinking of getting a new trek 7.3fx, which worth about £500. Abit more than a "normal" hybrid bike, but no way near as expensive then a good road bike.
So dont know if it is worth insuring it.

Here is another thing, I think locking it against the metal pipework fixed to the brick on my house is better than leaving it in the shed. At lease someone in the house can hear it if something happened!

 

[ttcycle]

I'm thinking of getting a new trek 7.3fx, which worth about £500. Abit more than a "normal" hybrid bike, but no way near as expensive then a good road bike.
So dont know if it is worth insuring it.

Here is another thing, I think locking it against the metal pipework fixed to the brick on my house is better than leaving it in the shed. At lease someone in the house can hear it if something happened!

Importantly if you got your bike stolen - would you be able to replace it, all the accessories including locks etc - if it's a yes and you don't mind spending another £600 then it's up to you whether you get it or not - I reckon your bike would be one that thieves would go for but depends where you live etc.

One thing, don't lock it to the piping- the piping can be cut really easily and even if someone heard something they'd cycle off with the bike before you could get to them! Pointless imho- the second point is that if you leave it outdoors the componentry can eventually rust - if you have room best to store in a hallway indoors. Plus if you go insurance most probably wouldn't payout if you locked it to piping as it's not secure enough - the item has to be immovable similar to bike racks cemented into the floor or a signpost with a sign on it to stop people just lifting the bike up over the post.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

If you're not going to lock it up as per the insurance instructions, it's not going to be covered - don't even try.

If you're not sure about your arrangements being covered or not, ask the insurer to confirm in writing.

My insurance covers 24 hours at a train station. It also covers theft so long as:
"a) the pedal cycle is secured by an approved lock attached to an immovable object, or;
it is locked in a building/vehicle where theft is occasioned by a forcible or violent entry. In this instance, the pedal cycle must be stored out of sight."

A building here is defined to include a wooden shed so long as it's private and on your property.

 

[knonist]

Importantly if you got your bike stolen - would you be able to replace it, all the accessories including locks etc - if it's a yes and you don't mind spending another £600 then it's up to you whether you get it or not - I reckon your bike would be one that thieves would go for but depends where you live etc.

One thing, don't lock it to the piping- the piping can be cut really easily and even if someone heard something they'd cycle off with the bike before you could get to them! Pointless imho- the second point is that if you leave it outdoors the componentry can eventually rust - if you have room best to store in a hallway indoors. Plus if you go insurance most probably wouldn't payout if you locked it to piping as it's not secure enough - the item has to be immovable similar to bike racks cemented into the floor or a signpost with a sign on it to stop people just lifting the bike up over the post.

Thank you for your advises. I'm now in a battle between getting a new bike with no insurance or not buying it at all! There is plenty of space in the house to store the bike, but my housemate would not allow me to do so. There is no way I could meet the insurance requirement.

I'm now thinking of alternative methods to reduce the risk of thief, ie sparying paint on the word "Trek", evgraving my name to the frame, and installing a chip to it etc.

 

[knonist]

If you're not going to lock it up as per the insurance instructions, it's not going to be covered - don't even try.

If you're not sure about your arrangements being covered or not, ask the insurer to confirm in writing.

My insurance covers 24 hours at a train station. It also covers theft so long as:
"a) the pedal cycle is secured by an approved lock attached to an immovable object, or;
it is locked in a building/vehicle where theft is occasioned by a forcible or violent entry. In this instance, the pedal cycle must be stored out of sight."

A building here is defined to include a wooden shed so long as it's private and on your property.

which company you use? and most of them would said the bike must be attached to an immovable object when it is in a shed

 

[Crankarm]

Have never understood why people store their pride and joy bicycles in a damp drafty shed ? If not nicked they are guaranteed to rust up. All the bolt heads will rust for sure and the metallic parts/fittings in the STI or Ergo units plus pedals will also corrode. So if you can't keep them in a dry garage then it would be inside the house for me. A lot better for their longevity and security IMHO. Also in sheds there are lot of bugs and creepy crawlies to climb over and into your bike .

 

[fossyant]

Can you not bring it into your room ? Some of those plastic carpet savers under the bike to protect the carpet....?

 

[knonist]

Have never understood why people store their pride and joy bicycles in a damp drafty shed ? If not nicked they are guaranteed to rust up. All the bolt heads will rust for sure and the metallic parts/fittings in the STI or Ergo units plus pedals will also corrode. So if you can't keep them in a dry garage then it would be inside the house for me. A lot better for their longevity and security IMHO. Also in sheds there are lot of bugs and creepy crawlies to climb over and into your bike .

If I'm allowed, I will store my bike in door, but my housemate will not let me...

 

[SavageHoutkop]

This is the ETA's insurance. Like I said I'd make sure with them that your circumstances are covered as well - these insurance documents are always complicated to read!

Endsleigh (couldn't find their policy document though) is also saying they *don't* cover:
"Theft or damage to the bike if left unattended unless locked to an immovable object using a lock approved by us or kept in a locked building."

So, from a quick glance, if the shed counts as a 'building', then it doesn't have to be locked if in the shed. Again, check with the company!

 

[ttcycle]

knonist- why is your housemate not letting you store your bike in the house? Like others have said outdoors isn't the best place to plonk your bike - if you're going to spend about £600 it would be a shame for the machine to rust up outdoors. Is it a housing contract issue? Turning it into a hack bike as well would be a travesty imho but that's up toyou-however, professional thieves will still recognise a good bike despite the attempts to hide it's make.

Does ETA insurance have a hefty excess charge?

 

[SavageHoutkop]

On my policy, the theft/damage section's excess is 5% of the insured value, min 25 pounds.