Cycle insurance for an activity holiday is not just a matter of protecting sports equipment against damage or theft in transit. Active travellers need to be adequately covered when participating in potentially hazardous sports and the average basic travel insurance policy excludes so called “extreme sports” like mountain biking.
This article looks at the insurance requirements for most cycling holidays and the benefits of taking out specialist adventure travel insurance.
Insurance Requirements for Mountain Bike Holidays
Virtually all adventure holiday companies make sports insurance a condition of joining any mountain bike holiday. Small group travel operator Exodus, for example, states that participants “must be insured against medical and personal accident risks, to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue.”
Participants are usually asked to complete a medical questionnaire before booking a trip and must provide proof of their insurance cover upon arrival at the cycling holiday destination.
Benefits of Cycle Holiday Insurance Policies
Activity holiday insurance is often categorized into different grades of cover by sport. Skiing and mountain biking, for example, usually have a lower hazard rating than sky sports like hang gliding or sky diving. The grades merely determine the cost of the policy, however, as most sports travel insurance includes cover for the following:
- Medical expenses including repatriation in the event of personal accident, normally listed as a search and rescue benefit.
- Personal liability including legal expenses and/or advice; this is important if you injure someone else on an activity holiday.
- Cancellation – for sporty types, this may well be needed as it is surprising how many people can injure themselves just before a trip.
- Disability benefit following an accident.
- Travel delays or missed flights.
- Delayed or lost baggage.
- Sports equipment cover for those who like to take their bikes abroad.
- Money and personal effects.
Get the Best Cycling Travel Insurance
When comparing policies to get the best cycling holiday insurance, consider:
- Location covered – Europe, US and Canada or worldwide.
- Individual insurance, couple or family cover.
- Single trip or multi trip.
- Age restrictions – People over 65 can find it difficult to get sports insurance cover and may need a customized travel insurance policy.
- Is a doctor’s certificate required e.g. if travelling with a pre-existing condition?
- Maximum payment for lost equipment.
- Policy excess.
- Possible exclusions such as competitive racing or extreme cycling like downhill free-riding.
People who already have a multi trip travel policy that excludes certain activities like cycling should also look at top-up insurance policies which may be cheaper than taking out specific adventure travel insurance. Sportscover Direct, for instance, offers activity top-up policies in a number of different sports.
Take Out Specialist Sports Travel Insurance
While some people are happy to risk travelling without holiday insurance, anyone considering a cycling holiday should look to take out specialist sports travel cover. Although serious accidents may be rare, it is always worth having peace of mind in the event of personal injury and the need to be repatriated by air ambulance.
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Also of interest may be Bolivia Adventure Travel, Downhill Mountain Biking on Death Road, Cycle Insurance to Replace a Stolen Bicycle, How to Choose a Mountain Bike Holiday and Personal Liability Cycle Insurance.
Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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