Student friendly cycle insurance

[Doki]

Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student friendly?
I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university provided home and
contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover costs £50 and covers £250
worth of bike, which is a bit poor.

The bikes are an old Raleigh Banana (£10 worth of bike, with various bits
and pieces hanging off it making it £60 + freebies to replace), and an
Inbred mountain bike, which would be about a grand to replace from new. The
racer's going to be my way to get from A to B, and the Inbred's going to be
locked up (most likely in my room) with a couple of hefty chains whenever
I'm not riding it.

TIA for any ideas.

 

[David Martin]

Doki wrote:
> Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student friendly?
> I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university provided home and
> contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover costs £50 and covers £250
> worth of bike, which is a bit poor.

I presume that is because you are going into halls. You surely do not
have to take the bike cover. Forcing you to take a specific policy is
perhaps not on the correct side of legal, unless it is part of the deal
to stay in a university hall. Requiring appropriate H&C insurance for
thos in university accommodation is reasonable but requiring from a
specific broker? Methinks someone is being shafted.


> The bikes are an old Raleigh Banana (£10 worth of bike, with various bits
> and pieces hanging off it making it £60 + freebies to replace), and an
> Inbred mountain bike, which would be about a grand to replace from new. The
> racer's going to be my way to get from A to B, and the Inbred's going to be
> locked up (most likely in my room) with a couple of hefty chains whenever
> I'm not riding it.
>
> TIA for any ideas.

Good idea for the inbred. You may need to bag it as it is not usual to
allow bikes to be stored in rooms.[1] Just keep it well locked up out
of sight. For the other one, good locks are always a key thing to get.
It may be convenient to get several and leave them in the usual places
so you are not constantly lugging a big lock around with you (ie one in
teh hall bike shed, one on the main campus etc.

The additional security would be to convert the racer to a fixie. It'll
only get stolen for as far as the first corner then.

...d

 

[vernon]

Good idea for the inbred. You may need to bag it as it is not usual to
allow bikes to be stored in rooms.[1] Just keep it well locked up out
of sight. For the other one, good locks are always a key thing to get.
It may be convenient to get several and leave them in the usual places
so you are not constantly lugging a big lock around with you (ie one in
teh hall bike shed, one on the main campus etc.

There is a counter argument to doing the above. Having 'fixed' locking
points dotted around ensures that the bike makes fairly predictable
appearances and renders the bike vulnerable to a targetted attack.

Having said that, the Banana is unlikely to be targetted unless the thief
has a fruit fetish

The additional security would be to convert the racer to a fixie. It'll
only get stolen for as far as the first corner then.

Have you looked at Endsleigh? It used to be a specialist insurance company
dealing with students' specific needs. It's a long time since I used them
so can not comment on their appropriateness.

Vernon

 

[Doki]

"vernon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Good idea for the inbred. You may need to bag it as it is not usual to
> allow bikes to be stored in rooms.[1] Just keep it well locked up out
> of sight. For the other one, good locks are always a key thing to get.
> It may be convenient to get several and leave them in the usual places
> so you are not constantly lugging a big lock around with you (ie one in
> teh hall bike shed, one on the main campus etc.
>
> There is a counter argument to doing the above. Having 'fixed' locking
> points dotted around ensures that the bike makes fairly predictable
> appearances and renders the bike vulnerable to a targetted attack.
>
> Having said that, the Banana is unlikely to be targetted unless the thief
> has a fruit fetish
>
> The additional security would be to convert the racer to a fixie. It'll
> only get stolen for as far as the first corner then.
>
> Have you looked at Endsleigh? It used to be a specialist insurance
> company
> dealing with students' specific needs. It's a long time since I used them
> so can not comment on their appropriateness.

£120 just to cover the Inbred. Which is a bit dear - had quotes of £80 for
both. According to people who've claimed, the major problem with bike
insurance is being told that you have to buy your bike through Halfords or
some other company if you claim. It'd be very handy if anyone who's
sucessfully (or not) claimed could chip in.

 

[Doki]

"David Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

Doki wrote:
> Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student friendly?
> I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university provided home and
> contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover costs £50 and covers
> £250
> worth of bike, which is a bit poor.

> I presume that is because you are going into halls. You surely do not
> have to take the bike cover. Forcing you to take a specific policy is
> perhaps not on the correct side of legal, unless it is part of the deal
> to stay in a university hall. Requiring appropriate H&C insurance for
> thos in university accommodation is reasonable but requiring from a
> specific broker? Methinks someone is being shafted.

The bike insurance is optional. The home and contents is pretty cheap -
around £20 IIRC. The problem is that it precludes taking out home and
contents insurance that covers the bike as well.

> The additional security would be to convert the racer to a fixie. It'll
> only get stolen for as far as the first corner then.

Never mind that, I'll get as far as the first slope. You're not too familiar
with Sheffield are you ?

 

[wafflycat]

"Doki" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student friendly?
> I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university provided home and
> contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover costs £50 and covers
> £250 worth of bike, which is a bit poor.
>
> The bikes are an old Raleigh Banana (£10 worth of bike, with various bits
> and pieces hanging off it making it £60 + freebies to replace), and an
> Inbred mountain bike, which would be about a grand to replace from new.
> The racer's going to be my way to get from A to B, and the Inbred's going
> to be locked up (most likely in my room) with a couple of hefty chains
> whenever I'm not riding it.
>
> TIA for any ideas.
>

Get a folder??? Keep in room when not in use - takes up less space than
MTB??

Can be carried with you.

Cheers, helen s

 

[David Martin]

Doki wrote:
> The bike insurance is optional. The home and contents is pretty cheap -
> around £20 IIRC. The problem is that it precludes taking out home and
> contents insurance that covers the bike as well.
>
No it doesn't, as long as you only claim on the one..

> > The additional security would be to convert the racer to a fixie. It'll
> > only get stolen for as far as the first corner then.
>
> Never mind that, I'll get as far as the first slope. You're not too familiar
> with Sheffield are you ?

I've been there a few times. Not exactly pancake land [1] here in the
steppes of Scotland either.

...d

[1] That does of course depend on how you cook your pancakes..

 

[Doki]

"wafflycat" <waffles*$*A**T*v21net$*££*D*O*T*co*D£$£*O*T*uk> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
>
> "Doki" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student friendly?
>> I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university provided home
>> and contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover costs £50 and
>> covers £250 worth of bike, which is a bit poor.
>>
>> The bikes are an old Raleigh Banana (£10 worth of bike, with various bits
>> and pieces hanging off it making it £60 + freebies to replace), and an
>> Inbred mountain bike, which would be about a grand to replace from new.
>> The racer's going to be my way to get from A to B, and the Inbred's going
>> to be locked up (most likely in my room) with a couple of hefty chains
>> whenever I'm not riding it.
>>
>> TIA for any ideas.
>>
>
> Get a folder??? Keep in room when not in use - takes up less space than
> MTB??

Can't go mountain biking on a folder...

 

[David Martin]

vernon wrote:

> There is a counter argument to doing the above. Having 'fixed' locking
> points dotted around ensures that the bike makes fairly predictable
> appearances and renders the bike vulnerable to a targetted attack.

Given that it is fairly predictable that there will be bikes in the
hall bike shed, and bikes parked outside lecure theatres etc., it
doesn't really make a lot of odds leaving the locks around (unless
someone does something nasty to them like glue them up or cut them off.


...d

 

[wafflycat]

"Doki" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>

>
> Can't go mountain biking on a folder...
Well you can, but as to how successful you'd be, that's another matter

Cheers, helen s

 

[vernon]

"David Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> vernon wrote:
>
> > There is a counter argument to doing the above. Having 'fixed' locking
> > points dotted around ensures that the bike makes fairly predictable
> > appearances and renders the bike vulnerable to a targetted attack.
>
> Given that it is fairly predictable that there will be bikes in the
> hall bike shed, and bikes parked outside lecure theatres etc., it
> doesn't really make a lot of odds leaving the locks around (unless
> someone does something nasty to them like glue them up or cut them off.
>
No, I think you missed the point. If, for instance, I left a lock in a
permanent spot then my bike will only appear at that spot and if I was a
regularly attender of lectures at university as most science and engineering
students are (and most arts students aren't) then the bike will also make
regular, predictable appearances at the one spot. It is an action that is
regularly advised against by the motorcycling press and something that ought
to be considered by those who leave bikes locks attached to railings and the
like. Locks only keep out honest people and a high value bike, often worth
more than motorcycles, will attract determined thieves.

 

[elyob]

"Doki" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student friendly?
> I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university provided home and
> contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover costs £50 and covers
> £250 worth of bike, which is a bit poor.
>
> The bikes are an old Raleigh Banana (£10 worth of bike, with various bits
> and pieces hanging off it making it £60 + freebies to replace), and an
> Inbred mountain bike, which would be about a grand to replace from new.
> The racer's going to be my way to get from A to B, and the Inbred's going
> to be locked up (most likely in my room) with a couple of hefty chains
> whenever I'm not riding it.
>
> TIA for any ideas.


Parent's insurance? Just claim it got nicked from an acceptable place on
their insurance? Sod it. Just tell them it got nicked before you leave for
uni. You'll be quids in.

 

[Clive George]

"Doki" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student friendly?
> I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university provided home and
> contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover costs £50 and covers
> £250 worth of bike, which is a bit poor.
>
> The bikes are an old Raleigh Banana (£10 worth of bike, with various bits
> and pieces hanging off it making it £60 + freebies to replace), and an
> Inbred mountain bike, which would be about a grand to replace from new.
> The racer's going to be my way to get from A to B, and the Inbred's going
> to be locked up (most likely in my room) with a couple of hefty chains
> whenever I'm not riding it.

The raleigh's not worth insuring. The inbred - can you do it on your
parent's insurance? Otherwise consider when are you going to get it nicked?
May be worth self-insuring (aka same as the raleigh).

cheers,
clive

 

[Doki]

"Clive George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Doki" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student friendly?
>> I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university provided home
>> and contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover costs £50 and
>> covers £250 worth of bike, which is a bit poor.
>>
>> The bikes are an old Raleigh Banana (£10 worth of bike, with various bits
>> and pieces hanging off it making it £60 + freebies to replace), and an
>> Inbred mountain bike, which would be about a grand to replace from new.
>> The racer's going to be my way to get from A to B, and the Inbred's going
>> to be locked up (most likely in my room) with a couple of hefty chains
>> whenever I'm not riding it.
>
> The raleigh's not worth insuring. The inbred - can you do it on your
> parent's insurance? Otherwise consider when are you going to get it
> nicked? May be worth self-insuring (aka same as the raleigh).

Self insuring isn't really an option. It'd take me 10 years to have
insurance premiums equal the bike's value, (not calced with inflation and
deprection, just roughly) and I've already had the bike nicked once since I
bought it in March.

 

[John Hearns]

On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 15:30:48 -0700, David Martin wrote:
>
> I've been there a few times. Not exactly pancake land [1] here in the
> steppes of Scotland either.
>
> ..d
>
> [1] That does of course depend on how you cook your pancakes..
Going wildly off-topic, isn't Kansas flatter than a pancake?
I seem to remember an IgNobel prize being awarded for that research.

 

[PeteC]

Doki wrote:
> Self insuring isn't really an option. It'd take me 10 years to have
> insurance premiums equal the bike's value, (not calced with inflation
> and deprection, just roughly) and I've already had the bike nicked
> once since I bought it in March.

Self-insuring might be your only option, once your insurance company finds
out that you've had one claim already this year for an expensive bike.

 

[David Martin]

vernon wrote:
> "David Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > vernon wrote:
> >
> > > There is a counter argument to doing the above. Having 'fixed' locking
> > > points dotted around ensures that the bike makes fairly predictable
> > > appearances and renders the bike vulnerable to a targetted attack.
> >
> > Given that it is fairly predictable that there will be bikes in the
> > hall bike shed, and bikes parked outside lecure theatres etc., it
> > doesn't really make a lot of odds leaving the locks around (unless
> > someone does something nasty to them like glue them up or cut them off.
> >
> No, I think you missed the point. If, for instance, I left a lock in a
> permanent spot then my bike will only appear at that spot and if I was a
> regularly attender of lectures at university as most science and engineering
> students are (and most arts students aren't) then the bike will also make
> regular, predictable appearances at the one spot. It is an action that is
> regularly advised against by the motorcycling press and something that ought
> to be considered by those who leave bikes locks attached to railings and the
> like. Locks only keep out honest people and a high value bike, often worth
> more than motorcycles, will attract determined thieves.

Determined to make off with a Raleigh banana rather than all the other
bikes around that location? In the case of a motorcycle it is
relatively rare, tends to be left for a long period of time and has a
high resale value. For the bike we are talking about it is not rare
(there are loads of other bikes of equal or greater value adjacent), it
is not left for a long period of time, and it is not worth the hassle
of carefully planning a heist for that specific bike.

Now, if it were the Inbred he were using to commute it would be a
different story..

...d

 

[Peter Clinch]

wafflycat wrote:

>> Can't go mountain biking on a folder...
>
> Well you can, but as to how successful you'd be, that's another matter

Dahon do fold in two MTBs, don't know if they're any good, the Airnimal
Rhino is a serious bit of off-road kit. It has a serious price tag as
well, but I'd be surprised if you couldn't go MTBing on one.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[Simon Brooke]

in message <[email protected]>, "wafflycat"
<waffles*$*A**T*v21net$*££*D*O*T*co*D£$£*O*T*uk> ('') wrote:

> "Doki" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Can anyone suggest a decent cycle insurance firm that's student
>> friendly? I'm going to Sheffield Hallam, and taking the university
>> provided home and contents insurance is mandatory. Their bike cover
>> costs £50 and covers £250 worth of bike, which is a bit poor.
>>
>> The bikes are an old Raleigh Banana (£10 worth of bike, with various
>> bits and pieces hanging off it making it £60 + freebies to replace),
>> and an Inbred mountain bike, which would be about a grand to replace
>> from new. The racer's going to be my way to get from A to B, and the
>> Inbred's going to be locked up (most likely in my room) with a couple
>> of hefty chains whenever I'm not riding it.
>>
>> TIA for any ideas.
>
> Get a folder??? Keep in room when not in use - takes up less space than
> MTB??

He didn't get £1,000s worth of Inbred to ride places that a Brompton will
go. An Inbred is likely to be a mountain biker's mountain bike.

Are you going to be in student residences? If so, given the Inbred isn't
your everyday ride, is there anywhere else you could keep it? Are you a
member of a Sheffield cycling club, and if so can they help out?

Thing is, it's going to be /very/ hard to insure in student
accommodation, and it really is quite likely to get nicked (in the years
I was at University I had three bikes nicked including one very very
nice one). If there's any alternative to keeping it there which still
allows you to get out and ride it when you want to I'd take it.

Oh - I see the AI .sig generator is on-topic as usual!

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; single speed mountain bikes: for people who cycle on flat mountains.

 

[Chris Slade]

John Hearns wrote:

> On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 15:30:48 -0700, David Martin wrote:
>>
>> I've been there a few times. Not exactly pancake land [1] here in the
>> steppes of Scotland either.
>>
>> ..d
>>
>> [1] That does of course depend on how you cook your pancakes..
> Going wildly off-topic, isn't Kansas flatter than a pancake?
> I seem to remember an IgNobel prize being awarded for that research.

Was in feedback (new scientist) 6/9/03.

Not sure about the IgNobel, but it was published in the Annals of Improbable
Research.
--
Chris

The Roman Rule: The one who says it cannot be done should never
interrupt the one who is doing it.