UKC

Hi,

My wife is off cycle touring, with me, for 6 weeks around Europe shortly and needs some insurance, probably an annual policy.

I note on some policies a helmet is a requirement of cover, however when cycling in 36 degrees through the vineyards of Burgundy, it is possible we will not wear  helmets*. 

Does anyone have any recommendations for suitable insurance policies and if any do not have the helmet rule. I am guessing they will all stipulate a helmet, but possibly not.

TIA

*I really do not want to get involved with the ins and outs of wearing a helmet whilst cycling, for anyone that wants to, here you go https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewforum.php?f=41&sid=ed63523ebab962a99d90...

Wear a helmet.  I’ve written off plenty of helmets in my time and have known people who have died or had permanent injuries because they crashed, while not wearing one.

If it’s 36 degrees, just take plenty of water and make provisions for topping up.

It's personal choice, but unless your downhill biking then wearing a helmet generally protects from those unpredictable actions of others, strong cross wind out of no where, dog running out, stupid drivers, pot holes etc...

On the positive side if someone is in a coma in a foreign hospital they'd be oblivious to the hassle their uninsured family is dealing with trying to medevac them home. 

Fantastic, you asked about insurance rather than the yays and nays of wearing a helmet, and the very first two replies...

I've generally used BMC insurance, Cycling UK (formerly CTC) would be worth a look. I admit I have never examined whether wearing a helmet was part of the deal. 

I always wear a helmet when road biking, but I don't when using the hybrid (old version of what is now called a gravel bike) to reduce the time to the start of Munros. It is something which bothers me, but it is just another item amongst the general list of things to take Munro bashing.

Maybe some people just put their health or protection first. Too many idiots on the road, how many cyclists get injured in collisions compared to hospitalised by heatstroke? 

Defendants in the UK often argue that not wearing a helmet is contributory negligence.  France is a much less litigious country.

https://www.boltburdonkemp.co.uk/our-insights/posts/to-wear-or-not-to-wear-...

The reason is because insurers expect you to take the bare minimum effort to minimise your risk, but doing things like wearing a helmet.

And fail. Let’s try and answer the OPs question rather than bring up various bits of nonsense.

Most policies you will be fine as you are not racing or taking part in an cycling event.  

Get cycling based cover. All other travel insurance policies don't cover you for touring cover, they class this as an event. Look in the small.print to double check. Also, if you do have an accident, which we have had, most policies don't cover travel to and from hospital in taxis. Most policies cover holidays linked to cycling firms taking you on trips. It's tricky but they are out there. Last year we paid about 50 pounds for 2 weeks touring around Switzerland and thankfully nothing went wrong.  Google it but read the small print.

Wear a helmet, I got knocked off in Portsmouth off from riding back from Nice. It saved me, how much are you worth? 

Thanks for the advice. 

We shall first cycle the velo francette then swing off and free style. I always use a helmet when climbing and cycling in the UK, however in Europe we make a judgement eg cycling much of the Loire on good cycle tracks or the Trans Ardennes cycle route, not wearing a helmet is low risk, infact being aware of the sun is perhaps more of a risk as I burnt my lips cycling in Shetland this year through feeling cool in the wind, and under estimating the power of the sun.

The reason for the post is my wife's Zurich cover says if cycling is incidental, which means for a cycle touring holiday we need to upgrade, but Zurich say you must wear a helmet, whereas sportcoverdirect say take reasonable precautions, so whats that mean, a helmet and a hi viz jacket.

Insurance companies, lend you an umbrella when the sun is our, but want it back when it's raining. I know that's banks, but same thing 

My last policies don't say anything about what to wear. Just that the bike needs to be good rideable condition. Ot will be written some where. Hot weather was never a problem even in Italy and France when it's hit 40. The Loire-Atlantique cycle paths are good and Burgundy has lovely quite roads. 

Good luck and you'll have a great time. 

Having read many sets of Terms and Conditions, I now think that many insurers have the same underwriter, possibly Zurich (?)

I have contacted Snow Card and they have said,

"There is not a helmet requirement on the policy although you must follow any regulations or laws in the country being visited with regards to local requirements for road safety.”

Which seems reasonable.

So, whilst exiting the docks or moving through cities, will wear a Helmet, whilst tootling along a Velo Verte probably not, on a quiet D Road, lets see.

Always used to amuse me in Blackpool how holidaymakers would assume that clutching a 99 from Pablos Ice Cream Parlour gave them immunity to cross the road in front of oncoming traffic. So I will  keep focused on self preservation, because accidents do not take holidays.

I've just been through this for a forthcoming cycling trip to the Netherlands.

I've insured myself through Bikmo (member discount through Cycling UK). Unfortunately they require helmets. I later found out that LV don't require helmets, but it was too late for me to change. 

I've insured the bike itself by upgrading my policy with Laka for one month.  Bikmo had an option to insure the bike too, but upgrading my Laka policy was cheaper.

When I was searching policies, a lot of them required you to step up a level for cycle touring (as opposed to "leisure cycling" for day trips), which made them more expensive.  The friends I'm going with are using the policy that comes with their bank account, but they did check the policy wording very carefully first.

It is somewhat galling that my insurance will require me to wear a helmet in a country where cycling is so normalised and cycling is safe.  And they aren't requiring me to wear a helmet when walking or driving (when a head injury is actually more likely).

Hi Becky, cycling in The Netherlands is ace, two things to get familiar with, the node point network, and the sign that tells you where you cannot cycle, the Dutch get very annoyed with bikes in pedestrian only zones>
Bikmo, very disappointing as recommended by what I still call the CycleTouringClub, max of 31 days, which is not much use to a lot of touring cyclists.
Did I mention the Riztafel, oh you must try a Riztafel.
I shall check out LV.
Thanks again and Tots ziens

Thanks for the gastronomic recommendation!

Do double-check about LV. It's just what I was told by someone based on their experience three(?) years ago, and might not be correct any more. I found out after I'd bought my Bikmo insurance, so didn't bother to investigate further.

I'm getting quite excited about it now. We shall be taking it very easy as our group will include small kids on the back of a cargo bike, who will need entertaining, nappy changes, etc. We've got maps for general route planning, but will probably end up using some sort of app for actual navigating.

Its all about the nodes, well worth understanding before you go, it looks complex, but on the ground it is intuitive https://fietsroutesinbeeld.nl/en/routeplanner

There are node apps.

I am all quoted out, but, I am going to run an LV quote, right now

If you're going to carry a helmet with you for going through cities etc you may as well wear it regularly. Personally I find a helmet makes a very useful and cool sunshade with air blowing through the vents and after a bit you forget you are wearing it. I've often found myself sat in the kitchen 30 mins after getting back from a ride emptying the fridge still wearing my helmet.

Can you not read, i am not interested in your personal views on helmets,  i want to find travel insurance.

Do you go house to house wearing your helmet, knocking on doors, proselytizing about helmets, about how it's not safe to go and get the milk out of the fridge without a helmet.

To anyone that cares, LV, Holiday Extras and coverforyou, seem to offer insurance that covers cycle touring, and does not specify wearing a helmet or road surface, some specify tarmac, and will do insurance up to 90 days if required.

However, do your own due diligence.

Thanks, I'll try to remember that list for the future!

It just seems to be making your holiday preparation unnecessarily complicated and I know from bitter experience how insurance companies will try their hardest to for any reason possible not to pay a claim, even if no sensible person on earth could ever manage to find you at fault for an incident. 

My day job is in neuro and spinal injury rehabilitation, I have got to say anecdotally that not a single person with a cycling head injury ever told me they where so happy they chose that day to not wear a helmet.
i am in no way the helmet police, but i think anyone asking if they will be forced to wear a helmet is looking for ways to avoid wearing a helmet.

people can wear one, or not wear one,  but if an avoidable injury occurs then a lifetime of regret is way longer than most people imagine.

And,  to the OP,  if your posting on a public forum,  your going to get personal views.  thats sorta how the internet works.
 

No, just reading the Ts and Cs, and understanding what the consequences of any choices I chose to make maybe.

Problem with helmet threads is they get emotive and the facts people are looking for, in this case suitable insurance get lost.

If you are that concerned, why not start a couple of threads about why climbers and cyclists should always wear helmets, titled as such. The internet is also a place for seeking information, as well as a place for sounding off opinions.

Or perhaps have a wander along Stansge edge proselytizing, that should go well.

Hi,

I've just booked travel insurance for a cycle touring trip to Iceland (on and offroad) with InsureandGo ....

It was going to cost £21 for 10 days, but was only £22 for an annual/year (europe). I double checked and it covers my activity. Can't believe how cheap it was.

and yet here we all are on a climbing website ...  a forum all about partaking in high risk activities (when cw with a 'normal' person) that are completely avoidable.

Thank, I ran a quote, and as you say very inexpensive, however for us it was not suitable as IIRC (I am a bit policied out) it was not for us as Helmet is required and on the Cycle ways of France we would like the option to go sans Helmet, also it gives no Liability cover, so if I run over some Parisians Champion poodle, it could be an issue, and it has no Personal accident cover, which is different to breaking a leg, its if the leg gets chopped off.

Enjoy your trip, Iceland has never really appealed to me, but wife fancies it, so we might end up there