join ctc ?

In "]news:[email hidden], doobrie <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

apart from the ctc legal protection what other benefits are there? worth joining? is it possible
household insurance covers the same? (i will check with them)

The main reason the family & I belong is to support the main organisation representing cyclists in
the UK. You may or may not value some of the other benefits.

Tony

--
"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve immortality through not
dying." Woody Allen

I'm an Irish member.

It's worth it for the excellent magazine and on the one occasion I sought it (a touring Route in
Scotland), the excellent touring advice.

"doobrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

apart from the ctc legal protection what other benefits are there?

If you join make sure you DO NOT take the Introductory Membership. This is not Introductory -- it is
a CON -- a second class membership without any of the important benefits.

In particular it comes WITHOUT insurance,

Avoid it -- it is a cheap plastic imitation membership.

T

"doobrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

apart from the ctc legal protection what other benefits are there? worth joining? is it possible
household insurance covers the same? (i will check with them)

They lobby for cyclists rights. If you feel you may enjoy a social ride they will accomodate you.
They are a source of cycling related info.

Pete

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"doobrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

apart from the ctc legal protection what other benefits are there?

If you join make sure you DO NOT take the Introductory Membership. This

is

Quoted message said:

not Introductory -- it is a CON -- a second class membership without any

of

Quoted message said:

the important benefits.

In particular it comes WITHOUT insurance,

Avoid it -- it is a cheap plastic imitation membership.

T

Why is it a con seems they are being very open about it?

ctc.org.ukMemCosts.aspxOpen ↗ Special 1st Yr Rate Restricted Benefits call 0870 873 0061

Which part didn't you understand?

"JP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why is it a con seems they are being very open about it?

ctc.org.ukMemCosts.aspxOpen ↗ Special 1st Yr Rate Restricted Benefits call 0870
873 0061

Which part didn't you understand?

They are open about it now.

Which part didn't I understand? The part about no insurance, no access to services and no access to
any staff that gave a [censored] about the problem -- indeed there was 'no problem' according to senior
CTC people.

I battled long and hard with CTC because they did not make the restrictions clear when I joined --
and, indeed, removed benefits after I had raised the issue. If they have improved their description
I am pleased (and I probably had more than a little to do with getting it changed). However, I still
feel I was conned (despite a miserly offer to 'correct' the situation).

CTC at Godswaitingroom know my opinion of 'Introductory Membership' -- its [censored]. Its not worth the
money. It is a second class, third rate membership that no-one in their right mind would take.

I am only still a member of CTC because of the local activity. Normally I would walk away from any
organisation that provided me with such shoddy, second class service.

T

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why is it a con seems they are being very open about it?

ctc.org.ukMemCosts.aspxOpen ↗ Special 1st Yr Rate Restricted Benefits call 0870
873 0061

Which part didn't you understand?

They are open about it now.

Which part didn't I understand? The part about no insurance, no access to services and no access
to any staff that gave a [censored] about the problem -- indeed there was 'no problem' according to
senior CTC people.

I battled long and hard with CTC because they did not make the

restrictions

Quoted message said:

clear when I joined -- and, indeed, removed benefits after I had raised

the

Quoted message said:

issue. If they have improved their description I am pleased (and I

probably

Quoted message said:

had more than a little to do with getting it changed). However, I still feel I was conned (despite
a miserly offer to 'correct' the situation).

CTC at Godswaitingroom know my opinion of 'Introductory Membership' -- its [censored]. Its not worth the
money. It is a second class, third rate

membership

Quoted message said:

that no-one in their right mind would take.

That's up to other to decide.

Quoted message said:

I am only still a member of CTC because of the local activity. Normally I would walk away from any
organisation that provided me with such shoddy, second class service.

T

So as they are now (according to you ) clear about the restrictions; you should retract your earlier
rant., since your comments clearly no longer apply.

doobrie said:

apart from the ctc legal protection what other benefits are there? worth joining? is it possible
household insurance covers the same? (i will check with them)

In order of usefulness:

1: gets another person classed as cyclist, so when campaigning CTC can point out that x,000 people
are interested in cycling

2: Equipment reviews that consider issues other than how cool it is, what colour it is. (Like, will
it still work when it's not spanking brand new, and how useful is it anyway).

3: A magazine apparently intended to be read by adults

4: Insurance

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
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"JP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So as they are now (according to you ) clear about the restrictions; you should retract your
earlier rant., since your comments clearly no longer apply.

No -- my warning that its a second rate form of membership stands. It does the CTC no credit that
they offer this -- and it does them less credit that they mis-sold it at any time. I do accept that
they now warn you that it is a restricted membership -- something they were not doing when I joined
and something that it took considerable effort for them to 'clarify'. Since they have never accepted
they were at fault I continue to feel justified in calling it a con.

Can I suggest you withdraw the accusation of a 'rant'. In my original post I made 3 statements:-

1. If you join make sure you DO NOT take the Introductory Membership. This is not Introductory --
it is a CON -- a second class membership without any of the important benefits.

All TRUE except I am happy to withdraw 'it is a con' as the promotion of it has marginally improved
-- though I still feel very strongly that in my particular case it was a CON.

2. In particular it comes WITHOUT insurance,

TRUE

3. Avoid it -- it is a cheap plastic imitation membership.

Colourful but TRUE

If you represent the CTC in some official capacity may I suggest you convince them to improve their
customer service. I remain a dissatisfied member for the local activity and because I believe
cycling needs a body to represent it. They even do some good work and I am sure dedicated and
underpaid people work hard and long to represent cycling. However, I am not in the least impressed
by the way this particular issue was handled in general and remain angry at the way I was treated in
particular.

T

in article [email hidden], doobrie at [email hidden] wrote
on 15/8/2003 10:33 pm:

Quoted message said:

apart from the ctc legal protection what other benefits are there?

They posted a job I could apply for - what better benefit could there be ;-)

Please join. The CTC has important work to do in campaigning for cycling, and the more of us join
the greater weight their campaigning has, and the more resources are available. And the insurance is
worthwhile. And the mag is good.

Guy

It also depends on where you live. I used to belong to the CTC, but living near London, find the
London Cycling Campaign represents my interests better. They have similar benefits with discounted
cycle insurance, etc. I also found that the CTC often appeared to descend into futile debates as to
whether ATBs were real bikes, and one got the impression that some members thought that only those
who participated in the competitive events were real events. To be fair, more recently the official
line in the CTC magazine was far more inclusive.

I'd agree with other correspondents that the technical reviews were good, but tended to be aimed
more towards £500+ bikes and the sort of equipment you'd expect to go with these.

However, the above might be just what you want from an organisation, in which case go for it.

Michael

"doobrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

apart from the ctc legal protection what other benefits are there? worth joining? is it possible
household insurance covers the same? (i will check with them)

yes, i can read their website but i also want real world members/non members views about it too

and whats all this about under 26's being young people therefore making me at 32 a not so young
person!!! ... 😉

i'll be commuting daily about 15 miles most days and after my hols moving upto 30 mile as i'll do
the return journey too

16 Aug Michael Harries said:

also found that the CTC often appeared to descend into futile debates as to whether ATBs were
real bikes, and one got the impression that some members thought that only those who participated
in the competitive events were real events. To be fair, more recently the official line in the
CTC magazine was far more inclusive.

I think the ATBs issue pretty much resolved yourself, and as you say the apparent official line is
now quite happy with them. However, I'm a bit worried by the latest flurry of outrage at putting a
picture of some roadies on teh cover and some pictures of road bikes without mudguards (gasp)
inside. Here we go again...

(Also, did anyone understand the bit about wrong side of teh road in one of the letters of outrage?)

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So as they are now (according to you ) clear about the restrictions; you should retract your
earlier rant., since your comments clearly no longer apply.

No -- my warning that its a second rate form of membership stands. It

does

Quoted message said:

the CTC no credit that they offer this -- and it does them less credit

that

Quoted message said:

they mis-sold it at any time. I do accept that they now warn you that it

is

Quoted message said:

a restricted membership -- something they were not doing when I joined and something that it took
considerable effort for them to 'clarify'. Since they have never accepted they were at fault I
continue to feel justified

in

Quoted message said:

calling it a con.

Can I suggest you withdraw the accusation of a 'rant'. In my original

post

Quoted message said:

I made 3 statements:-

1. If you join make sure you DO NOT take the Introductory Membership. This is not Introductory
-- it is a CON -- a second class membership without any

of

Quoted message said:

the important benefits.

That's up to the individual to acess what is an important benefit and what isnt.

Quoted message said:

All TRUE except I am happy to withdraw 'it is a con' as the promotion of

it

Quoted message said:

has marginally improved -- though I still feel very strongly that in my particular case it
was a CON.

Translation of 'now marginally improved'--bledding obvious.

Quoted message said:

2. In particular it comes WITHOUT insurance,

TRUE

3. Avoid it -- it is a cheap plastic imitation membership.

Colourful but TRUE

FALSE It's up to the individual to acess what is an important benefit and what isn't.

Quoted message said:

If you represent the CTC in some official capacity may I suggest you convince them to improve
their customer service. I remain a dissatisfied member for the local activity and because I
believe cycling needs a body

to

Quoted message said:

represent it. They even do some good work and I am sure dedicated and underpaid people work hard
and long to represent cycling. However, I am

not

Quoted message said:

in the least impressed by the way this particular issue was handled in general and remain angry at
the way I was treated in particular.

T

I dont represent the CTC , except being a supporter. Nor do I like to see a campaigning organisation
misreprented. Your out of date brush with them belongs in the past, and clearly your post was very
misplaced. If someone want a cheaper membership them let them get the information as to what that
memebership involves. The more people that join the CTC the better for all cyclists.

Fine they may have got something wrong (in your eyes)-you're quibbling over a tenner!. (I'll leave
it for others to judge that if you pay less for something why anyone expects to get the same rights
of memebership) But it does cycling in general no good to harp on over something so trivial, which
is now clearly resolved.

get over it! Amen!

"JP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I dont represent the CTC , except being a supporter. Nor do I like to see a campaigning
organisation misreprented. Your out of date brush with them belongs in the past, and clearly your

post

Quoted message said:

was very misplaced. If someone want a cheaper membership them let them get the information as

to

Quoted message said:

what that memebership involves. The more people that join the CTC the better for all cyclists.

Fine they may have got something wrong (in your eyes)-you're quibbling

over

Quoted message said:

a tenner!. (I'll leave it for others to judge that if you pay less for something why anyone
expects to get the same rights of memebership) But it does cycling in general no good to harp on
over something so

trivial,

Quoted message said:

which is now clearly resolved.

get over it! Amen!

Because I believe in the need for a campaigning organisation I stood and fought to get some errors
corrected rather than just wave two fingers at them and walk away. I failed to get them put right
the errors (to my satisfaction) but do seem to have managed to at least get to the situation where
it is now made clear that 'Introductory Membership' is a second class membership -- that was not the
case when I was missold it.

I think it entirely reasonable to have warned the OP that Introductory Membership is a plastic
imitation job -- that way (s)he is in a position to reach an informed judgement.

What I was quibbling over was not a tenner -- rather it was finding that I (and all other
Introductory Members) was not covered by the CTC 3rd party insurance. Since anyone joining through
the web site was not informed of this the CTC was placing itself at significant financial risk.

My actions in complaining were 100% justified.

I have not mis-represented the CTC. My original post remains valid -- IM is a waste of space --
and I can do without some ill informed, self opinionated busy body such as yourself jumping up &
down shouting.

This discussion is closed.

T

PS -- I agree the more people that join the CTC the better.

"Michael Harries" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It also depends on where you live. I used to belong to the CTC, but

living

Quoted message said:

near London, find the London Cycling Campaign represents my interests better.......

Michael

Seconded. when I lived in London I was a member of both for one year. I let the CTC membership
lapse. The LCC was, not unnaturally, more in tune with the problems etc. of an urban commuter (I
felt). Also, the magazine, though less professionally produced, wiped the floor with the CTC one. It
was funnier, harder edged and less conservative. I should add the caveat that my year of dual
membership was about 10 years ago so much may have changed. I'm actually thinking about rejoining
the CTC. I believe some of their insurance/legal benefits may apply in Ireland . Anyone know for
sure (Gearoid)? And do they campaign here? I can't recall hearing spokespersons on the radio whereas
the AA seem to have a very strong presence. tony R.

doobrie said:

apart from the ctc legal protection what other benefits are there? worth joining? is it possible
household insurance covers the same? (i will check with them)

I'd been meaning to join for years, finally got around to it last year. The main reason to join up
was to put a bit more power in the cycle lobby: I know I can live without the other benefits, I've
been doing it for years, but no regrets with parting from the cash. They give the impression of
having hearts and minds in more or less the right places, and actively campaigning for cycling from
a cyclist's perspective (as opposed to the "well, my political party is for cycle paths, because
even though I know nothing about them, they sound like they must be safe, and we all know the roads
are too dangerous" noises others seem to make).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd been meaning to join for years, finally got around to it last year.

Likewise myself. Also I hadn't realised the CTC had been instrumental in obtaining cyclists rights
to use bridleways, something I do a lot of so feel my contribution worthwhile for that alone.

Pete

"Tony W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

and I can do without some ill informed, self opinionated busy body such as yourself jumping up &
down shouting.

This discussion is closed.

Flip......I thinked I've logged onto uk.tosspot by mistake...sorry ;-)

Pete

In message <[email hidden]>, Ian Smith <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I think the ATBs issue pretty much resolved yourself, and as you say the apparent official line is
now quite happy with them. However, I'm a bit worried by the latest flurry of outrage at putting a
picture of some roadies on teh cover and some pictures of road bikes without mudguards (gasp)
inside. Here we go again...

Yeah I had to laugh. Some of the crusty old tourers are dead against anything lycra and anything
without mudguards and DT's.

Quoted message said:

(Also, did anyone understand the bit about wrong side of teh road in one of the letters of
outrage?)

Well I assumed the scenic background was European rather than UK, so technically they should have
been riding on the right.

--
Steven Briggs