General Cycling Discussion - please help

Dear Y'all

Please can someone help. I am about to cross the Atlantic to begin a 6 month tour of the USA on a Windcheetah recumbent trike. I am struggling to find a company who would insure my bike against theft and damage whilst away. THe companies in England will only insure for a maximum of 90 days outside of England which is pretty naff for me. Please can anyone recommend an insurance company or organisation who could help?

Regards

Patrice

Patrice,
As far as I know there is no insurance company in the USA that insures bicycles like they do in the UK. Here the only coverage we can get is through our homeowners policies or auto policy ( if something happens to the bike while in the car).
Perhaps someone offers a travel insurance policy that may include a bicycle?

Rick

If they will do 90 days, why not line up two different companies to cover the 6 months? If you think you might go longer than that, get three companies. Sounds like some scheduling challenges, but this sounds like a major journey and you probably have already delt with many challenges. Good Luck!

Have you tried butterworth? I think that's what they're called. The CTC recommend them, so they might be more bike orientated.

Alternately, you could post a message on the cyclingplus.co.uk message board, may be someone there has experience of this.

www.belfastandbeyond.com

I know 'bents are pretty expensive, but have you considered forgetting about the insurance?
What exactly are you worried about happening? Theft? Accident? I would spend the money on locks and all that. You know, I probably used my bike lock less than 1% of the time touring 15 months through N and Central America when I left it alone. I only really used it when I ditched my gear and biked around a city. I think most people won't even think of touching a fully loaded rig when you leave it sit alone. You might have someone pull off your pump or computer, but a recumbent too? Naw.
Well, I guess it is better to be safe than sorry. You don't need me giving you a false sense of security but honestly I don't think you will need insurance.

Peace

Dave

My bikes are covered under a rider on my homeowners insurance. Try contacting some of the US insurance companies and see if they will offer you insurance for your Windcheetah when your in the US.


So what is your starting point for your tour?

Try the League of American Bicyclists. I believe that they offer insurance for their members. You might also see if a Travel Interruption policy would cover the theft of your chosen mode of transportation. Call a GOOD travel agent or even a bike touring company for more information.

So what is your starting point for your tour?[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the advice. I shall be looking into all of these options. Either that Or I shall need to cycle extra fast and fisnish my tour in 90 days!

I am starting my tour in Montreal Canada. I have booked a freighter ship to take me and my bike over from London. So I have 10 days at sea before getting into Canada. Depending on how cold it is when I arrive in mid march will influence the amount of time I stay there. I hear it was minus 30 there last week! THen I am heading over to America to start my ride at the top of the East Coast (your neck of the woods) touring down to end up in Virginia and then straight across the middle to end in Califorina via Kentucky Utah etc along the way. Should be a good laugh. Then when I have finished that I am gonna post my bike back to England, hop on plane, train or bus back to Canada and row up the Yukon river for a few weeks with one of my mates who I used to go to Uni with.

Wow, you sure you don't want to throw a hike up the Appalachian Trail? But more to the point, you aren't going to run into a lot over here. We have really civilized since the Colonial times, and are pretty respectful of others, and their stuff. I suppose insuring just to make sure you can replace what has been lost or damaged. It wasn't something I even considered for my tour of France. I have given it thought to my commuter, but I bagged them off a dumpster, so I'm not out anything.

patrice,
Sounds like a great route! And a great adventure! Hmmm...sailing on a tramp steamer....

Do you plan on camping, or hotels? If you find yourself in my neck of the woods (CT) let me know ahead of time. We can offer you a place to camp, laundry and shower if needed.

With that in mind, dose anyone know if bikeforms has a warm showers list?

patrice,
Sounds like a great route! And a great adventure! Hmmm...sailing on a tramp steamer....

Do you plan on camping, or hotels? If you find yourself in my neck of the woods (CT) let me know ahead of time. We can offer you a place to camp, laundry and shower if needed.

With that in mind, dose anyone know if bikeforms has a warm showers list?

Cheers for the offer of a place to camp! That would be realy appreciated!I have invested in a double hooped bivi and a very warm sleeping bag but if it is ridiculously cold then I will be hoteling it! My bike only has luggage capacity for two pannier bags and a top bag so I will literally be taking the bare essentials. And a credit card!

Wow, you sure you don't want to throw a hike up the Appalachian Trail? But more to the point, you aren't going to run into a lot over here. We have really civilized since the Colonial times, and are pretty respectful of others, and their stuff. I suppose insuring just to make sure you can replace what has been lost or damaged. It wasn't something I even considered for my tour of France. I have given it thought to my commuter, but I bagged them off a dumpster, so I'm not out anything.

America sounds like a nice place.

I have to lock up everything on my kona hear in Bracknell! I have even invested in lockable scewers! I think your right about not much likely to happen but a policy against acidental damage would allow me to be more reckless! :D Also I have heard stories that Americans like to sue each other and to be fair I would like to be covered incase someone tries to sue me for crashing into their fence or something. Not that I plan on crashing but hey you never know!

Tis true, Lassie, we are known as the "land of litigation," but I do not think anyone would actually attempt the time-intensive process for simply crashing into an innocent and highly sentimental fence; even if it twas passed down by my great, great, great grandmother as she brought it over on Columbus' voyage to the new world. Did I mention that it was her only possession. As with most people, I would ask if you were alright, and let it go at that. We are not all that bad. But please do not crash into my fence.

Urbanmonk

We hosted another bagger from England, he showed up just two days after 9-11, He was in NYC when it all went down.