Bike vandalised-which insurance?

Tintin said:

I returned by train the other night after a few hours out to find my cycle
had been completely vandalised while locked up to metal railings outside my
local train station.

[censored] :-( My commiserations.

Quoted message said:

I need to buy a new bike. What sort of insurance cover do I need? Any links
to sites? I can only find cover to assist me if my bike was stolen or
"accidental damage" if I have an accident while riding it.

Check the small print - some policies cover damage as a result of theft
or attempted theft (my car policy, for example, covers damage if some
twunt tries to jemmy open the door). Check your existing household
contents insurance policy carefully, and contact them - you may find you
are already covered, or could add a new bike for a small amount, and
again check specifically for vandalism. You could also try the CTC, who
offer insurance to their members; that might also cover it. Lots of
mays and mights, I know, but plenty of options there.

Unfortunately train stations are places where twunts can be fairly sure
of bikes being undisturbed all day/night. Is there a place inside the
train station to lock it? Or you could consider getting a folding bike
and simply take it with you all the time; Just zis Guy of this parish
allegedly has one, although he's famously reticent about discussing it,
but if he's not around (and come to think of it, he's been keeping a low
profile recently) there are other regulars who can help more.

R.

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

Quoted message said:

I returned by train the other night after a few hours out to find my cycle
had been completely vandalised while locked up to metal railings outside my
local train station.

Both wheels crushed, forks bent, frame ripped where breaks are attatched,
alloy wheels cracked, mud guards smashed off.

I need to buy a new bike. What sort of insurance cover do I need? Any
links to sites? I can only find cover to assist me if my bike was stolen
or "accidental damage" if I have an accident while riding it.

Please help if you can. Im very distrought. I use my bike daily as I dont
drive. Im terrified of spending good money on a new bike if this should
happen again.

I am a member of CTC and I use both their cycle insurance cover ( new for
old cover too) and also carry a full years travel insurance cover which
allows me to travel for 180 days in the year in 35 day blocks. Additionally
CTC give you free legal advice and indeed free legal cover as well as free
3rd party insurance.. I am very happy with my insurance cover for the bike
and for my travel ( I am 69 yrs old). When my bike was stolen last December
I took delivery of my new bike 1 month later ( and most of that was me
deciding which bike to buy. The bike insurance imposes a 10% Excess in the
event of total theft. But here is no hiking up of the annual premium in the
event of a claim ( now compare that with your motor insurance)
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
www.tapan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Tintin said:

I returned by train the other night after a few hours out to find my cycle
had been completely vandalised while locked up to metal railings outside my
local train station.

Both wheels crushed, forks bent, frame ripped where breaks are attatched,
alloy wheels cracked, mud guards smashed off.

I need to buy a new bike. What sort of insurance cover do I need? Any links
to sites? I can only find cover to assist me if my bike was stolen or
"accidental damage" if I have an accident while riding it.

Please help if you can. Im very distrought. I use my bike daily as I dont
drive. Im terrified of spending good money on a new bike if this should
happen again.

Ouch!

I'm no expert on insurance, but I think insurers tend to be reluctant
to insure someone who has had a loss. An "all risks" on household
contents (with the bike probably as a named item) may be your best bet.

I used to commute from Bath to Swindon by train, and left a bike at
Swindon station overnight and weekends for the 5Km or so from the
station to the workplace. Never any such problem.

Alternative as someone already said is a folding bike. I have a
Dahon, which I can stash onto the normal luggage rack of a train,
or even a bus, reducing hugely the need to expose it to risks!
It's one of a number of options worth considering: see
http://groups.google.com/group/uk.rec.cycling/browse_thread/thread/2a82356cfb41f465/fe3aad50a78944e7

--
not me guv

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

Quoted message said:

Tintin said:

I returned by train the other night after a few hours out to find my
cycle had been completely vandalised while locked up to metal railings
outside my local train station.

Both wheels crushed, forks bent, frame ripped where breaks are attatched,
alloy wheels cracked, mud guards smashed off.

I need to buy a new bike. What sort of insurance cover do I need? Any
links to sites? I can only find cover to assist me if my bike was stolen
or "accidental damage" if I have an accident while riding it.

Please help if you can. Im very distrought. I use my bike daily as I dont
drive. Im terrified of spending good money on a new bike if this should
happen again.

Ouch!

I'm no expert on insurance, but I think insurers tend to be reluctant
to insure someone who has had a loss. An "all risks" on household
contents (with the bike probably as a named item) may be your best bet.

I used to commute from Bath to Swindon by train, and left a bike at
Swindon station overnight and weekends for the 5Km or so from the
station to the workplace. Never any such problem.

Alternative as someone already said is a folding bike. I have a
Dahon, which I can stash onto the normal luggage rack of a train,
or even a bus, reducing hugely the need to expose it to risks!

But only if you put in in a bag! Twunts.

Im still having trouble finding insurance that will cover malicious damage
and vandalism, as oppose to theft. Can anyone help in the UK?

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

Quoted message said:

I returned by train the other night after a few hours out to find my cycle
had been completely vandalised while locked up to metal railings outside my
local train station.

Both wheels crushed, forks bent, frame ripped where breaks are attatched,
alloy wheels cracked, mud guards smashed off.

I need to buy a new bike. What sort of insurance cover do I need? Any
links to sites? I can only find cover to assist me if my bike was stolen
or "accidental damage" if I have an accident while riding it.

Please help if you can. Im very distrought. I use my bike daily as I dont
drive. Im terrified of spending good money on a new bike if this should
happen again.

wow, thanks for all that Bookieb!!!

hmm.

Well my bike was a 2nd hand hand me down and was prob worth about £100 (my
dead bike that is) Its my only source of transport because I cannot drive. I
am so saddened by what has happened to me, my insurance typically ran out 3
weeks ago and I was in the process of finding a cheaper alternative, so I
cannot claim, and I also have no transport. I used my bike daily to get to
the gym, to go to a few classes, to ride to relatives and see the
countryside for days out.

I cant really afford for an "old scrapper" to be vandalised again cos its
all I have. Id never go and buy a brand new bike, just for this reason. My
bike was locked in a public place, right in front of the main station
entrance. I assumed it would be safe, I have left it there over a 2 year
period and had no trouble, apart from the day I locked it inside the station
thinking it would be even safer, and my tyres were let down.

I doubt if I could explain the damage on this occasion was due to attempted
theft to an insurer. The wheels has been kicked to death, the forks were
bent and the rear brakes broken so violently that the frame had ripped open.

A friend says he thinks he can repair it all, new wheels, new forks, and the
brakes just need bending back to position. I hope he is right. As for where
I'll leave it next time I need the train, I do not know.