That’s the phrase we hear time and time again. Whether it’s a stolen bike, an unexpected crash, or a race day disaster, most cyclists never imagine they’ll be the one making a claim. But at our company, we see the other side of that story every day.
We handle hundreds of bicycle-related claims a year, from everyday accidents to the downright unlucky. And while no one likes to think about the worst-case scenario, that’s exactly when your insurance really earns its keep. When you’ve just crashed your pride and joy, or your race bike vanishes from a hotel bike room the night before your event, having the right cover suddenly feels like the best money you ever spent.
In this blog, we take a look at the most common bicycle insurance claims we deal with and the lessons you can take from them. Whether you’re a seasoned racer, a weekend warrior, or just commuting to work, it’s a reminder that the unexpected can happen and that being covered isn’t just smart, it’s essential.
Crash damage: Frame fracture
You don’t need to be racing to break your bike.
A simple clip of wheels on a group ride, a missed line on a descent, or even a low-speed crash can result in a cracked carbon frame or a snapped top tube. We’ve seen it happen on first rides, best bikes, and everything in between. It’d be fair to say this is probably one of the main reasons people take out a Yellow Jersey Policy.
Pothole carnage: wheel damage
Hitting a hidden pothole at speed is one of the most common causes of cracked carbon rims or pringled alloy rims. It’s especially painful when it’s a race wheel or a new upgrade. The icing on the cake is that hitting sharp potholes will usually put holes in your tyres. Oh the joys!
Broken mechs and hangers
It seems like the days of the ‘soft metal’ replaceable mech hangers are behind us, and you may well be asking yourself why? Well, in the pursuit of crisp gear changes, it seems manufacturers are making mech hangers harder. Yes, the gear changes are good and you’re less likely to have gear troubles after knocking the rear mech, but all to the detriment of the rear triangle should you be involved in a crash. It’s not uncommon for us to see snapped rear triangles with largely intact mech hangers. Nightmare.
More commonly, along with shifters and pedals, your rear mech is one of the most exposed and vulnerable parts on the bike sadly, they don’t often fare well when they meet tarmac.
Theft away from home
It doesn’t matter how careful you are, if a thief sees an opportunity to take your bike, they will.
We get plenty of claims for thefts that happen outside in broad daylight, even when bikes are locked up. That’s why securing your bike with the correct lock is essential. For more info on locks, check out our blog on how to lock your bike.
Airline damage
We’ve all seen the horror videos online of bikes being thrown around, so you probably knew this one would make the list. We’ve seen crushed dropouts, bent disc rotors, cracked forks, and gear cables ripped out after flights. Annoyingly, most of this damage could have been avoided had a hard bike box been used. Just remember, our cycling travel insurance does not cover your bicycles when travelling, so make sure you take out bicycle insurance!
Not sure about what bike boxes we cover? Check out our bike box guide here!
