At the beginning of this year i was convinced that purchasing a set of training wheels was a smart idea. Smart because if something were to happen during my many hours of training I would be destroying a cheaper set of wheels. So I pieced together a training wheelset and found that for $400 i could be riding training wheels when not racing. It then suddenly occured to me, that my race wheels are $400 each and reflecting on my cycling history (i've never ruined a wheel), i am mostlikely to ruin a wheel during a race and not training, and it will probably be only one wheel. Therefore, If I do buy a set of training wheels and ruin one wheel during training i'm out $600 ($400 before the crash and $200 after the crash). If i ruin a wheel during a race i'm out $800 for this race season ($400 before the crash and $400 after the crash to replace a race wheel). But if i don't buy a set of training wheels and need to replace my racing wheel, then i'm only out $400 for the year because i need to replace a race wheel. This seems logical enough when considering this season's expeditures. However, what seems the most logical is to take out insurance on my bike, which will protect more than just my wheels, but the rest of it too. Here is my question...ARE THERE ANY INSURANCE SUPPLIERS IN THE USA THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE ON MY BIKE (PROTECTING ME FROM LARGE FINANCIAL BURDENS IF I DO CRASH OR MY BIKE IS STOLEN)?

you already have coverage through homeowner's or renter's insurance. you'll have to contact them to make sure, and to what extent. also, there's provisions in your car insurane that can offer protection, although it may only be of a medical nature.

you don't want to run out and get insurance from someone else. you probably already have some sort of coverage, but if not, shop the people you already use. you're much more likely to get a better rate and better coverage.

I don't see how insurance would help in the situations you're talking about. Insurance will cover theft, not crashes or wear.

You could be riding $250 training wheels... and BTW, you are more likely to crash JRA than in a race, IMHO. While I know all sorts of people who have crashed in races, eventually everyone crashes/is hit by a car/has a freak accident riding around- and even so, the damage to the bike/wheels/body can be minimal.

Even in a crash, race or not, the skewer usually protects the wheel from damage unless you hit an immovable object and taco the thing. Even if you taco it, your rear might be fine.

It is smart to have racing wheels so you can have a great set of tires all ready to go on race day and a set of wheels for the pit.

I don't know how many miles you ride in a year, but do you really want that many miles on your race wheels? And to keep them true, service the bearings, etc...

BTW- if they DID have insurance, it would be too expensive for anyone to be able to afford, or it would have a very high deductible.

on your provider, I have coverage for my bike under my renters insurance which protects against everything including self inflicted gross stupidity. The bike coverage is inculded in my normal insurance so I pay $8 a month for 5k of coverage.

[QUOTE=easchepi]So I pieced together a training wheelset and found that for $400 i could be riding training wheels when not racing.QUOTE]

The latest Colorado Cyclist catalog lists Campy Record/MAVIC Open Pro wheels for $355. Those must be some pieced together training wheels :)

At any rate, your current homeowners/renters insurance probably covers depreciated cost after your deductible for theft and fire. Whether it would cover racing/riding damage would be policy dependent. You can add a "replacement cost rider" to get better coverage, but you still would have to deal with a deductible. A separate bike policy is usually not cost effective. I'd be surprised if anyone offered a separate policy to cover equipment damage during racing or training.

on your provider, I have coverage for my bike under my renters insurance which protects against everything including self inflicted gross stupidity. The bike coverage is inculded in my normal insurance so I pay $8 a month for 5k of coverage.

NTM - Which insurance provider do you use? I'm just curious. Thanks

on your provider, I have coverage for my bike under my renters insurance which protects against everything including self inflicted gross stupidity. The bike coverage is inculded in my normal insurance so I pay $8 a month for 5k of coverage.

My car insurance doesn't cover auto racing or "exhibition driving"- last I checked.

To be more specific with my $400- $175 for the wheelset+$115 for the cogs+$100 for two tires and $5 for tubes and $5 for rim tape.

Thanks for your help!




[QUOTE=easchepi]So I pieced together a training wheelset and found that for $400 i could be riding training wheels when not racing.QUOTE]

The latest Colorado Cyclist catalog lists Campy Record/MAVIC Open Pro wheels for $355. Those must be some pieced together training wheels :)

At any rate, your current homeowners/renters insurance probably covers depreciated cost after your deductible for theft and fire. Whether it would cover racing/riding damage would be policy dependent. You can add a "replacement cost rider" to get better coverage, but you still would have to deal with a deductible. A separate bike policy is usually not cost effective. I'd be surprised if anyone offered a separate policy to cover equipment damage during racing or training.

What's wrong with putting many miles on your race wheels if those wheels are properly maintained?
Either way- if you buy training wheels- both sets need to be maintained.
Thanks for your help


You could be riding $250 training wheels... and BTW, you are more likely to crash JRA than in a race, IMHO. While I know all sorts of people who have crashed in races, eventually everyone crashes/is hit by a car/has a freak accident riding around- and even so, the damage to the bike/wheels/body can be minimal.

Even in a crash, race or not, the skewer usually protects the wheel from damage unless you hit an immovable object and taco the thing. Even if you taco it, your rear might be fine.

It is smart to have racing wheels so you can have a great set of tires all ready to go on race day and a set of wheels for the pit.

I don't know how many miles you ride in a year, but do you really want that many miles on your race wheels? And to keep them true, service the bearings, etc...

BTW- if they DID have insurance, it would be too expensive for anyone to be able to afford, or it would have a very high deductible.

To be more specific with my $400- $175 for the wheelset+$115 for the cogs+$100 for two tires and $5 for tubes and $5 for rim tape.

Thanks for your help!

Well that makes much more sense. Although IMHO you're spending way too much on training tires and for the cassette (unless you're running Campy). Take a look at Nashbar or Performance's sale section and find a cheap pair or tires for training. The heavier and more puncture resistant the better.

Also, I really can't think of a situation either JRA or in a race where you are going to completely destroy a wheel (outside of tacoing the rim, but that's a fairly rare sight on the road). The worst that's going to happen is it will come out of true or you'll break a spoke. Neither is a big deal, and you can have them fixed at your LBS (and they should be under $50 each).

Why not? Car crashes are covered? If you could get an insurance agency to insure your bike from crashes (not normal wear) then it wouldn't matter if you had a set of training wheels or not, because if you ruin your race wheels, then they would be replaced via the policy.
Right?



I don't see how insurance would help in the situations you're talking about. Insurance will cover theft, not crashes or wear.

Why not? Car crashes are covered?

Just guessing, but if the insurance company found out that you were racing your car, they might not cover any crashes. Whether they would care, or whether they would ask, or whether they would investigate about a bike race is certainly an open question. Again, the size of your insurance deductible could make this entire discussion moot. And there's also the issue of some insurance companies canceling coverage after only a couple of minor claims. All things to be considered.