Best insurance for triathletes
Whether the accident is a simple mishap or a someone's negligence, and if it happens on a ride, at home, or in transit, it's covered.
Crash Damage
Your bike is covered if it’s damaged in a crash. On a road or trail, a group ride or a race, if it’s damaged in an accident, it’s covered.
Theft Coverage
If your bike is stolen from your home, car, workplace or any other secure location, it’s covered.
Damage or Loss in Transit
If your bike is damaged or lost in transit by an airline or a courier, or even falls off your car rack, it’s covered.
Velosurance for triathletes
Triathletes are a special bunch and their toys are no exception. Both the amount of time and money spent on a bike is significant, enough to make those not “in the know” question your sanity. To you, your bike is an important part of the lifestyle: it is your ally, a training partner, a means of escape and reprieve, a way to improve and progress.
Due to the nature and purpose of their existence, triathlon bikes are subject to some niche risks. Triathlon bikes are significantly more expensive than most bikes, and while exceptionally fast, they aren’t nearly as nimble as their roadie cousins. Triathletes travel with their bikes more than any other bike owners, often internationally. They often train solo and ride for significantly longer distances, in aerobars, in the wee hours of the morning. When they finally come out to race, these magnificent machines are left unattended in transition areas for hours, if not overnight.
Whether you’re a newbie who just caught the multisport bug, a middle of the pack amateur, or have numerous Kona Qualifiers under your belt, our policy is here to cover the risks specific to your awesome lifestyle.
Protect your bike from theft
Your bike is covered for theft from all secure locations, at home or away, and even a race transition area.
Bicycle theft isn’t new, but has increased significantly to coincide with the recent bicycle boom. While triathlon bikes weren’t at the top of bike thieves' wish list, they have certainly moved up since the sport is undergoing a renaissance in popularity, aptly being named “the new golf.” To make matters worse, the recent parts shortage has raised the stakes on bikes that are made predominantly of high-end parts.
Theft risk for triathlon bikes is quite unique: for bikes that are designed to be ridden for long distances, they spend a disproportionate amount of time unattended. They are often left in vulnerable situations, be that on a car rack during brick workouts or in the transition area during races, sometimes overnight. The highly unique design of these bikes makes them especially enticing to thieves: they are as expensive as they look.
Our policy covers your bike for theft from both your house as well as any secure location, such a race transition area. If the bike must be left unattended elsewhere, you must secure it to an immovable object, such as a cemented bike rack or a car bike rack.
Velosurance, protecting you and your triathlon bike
With racing being a significant part of the lifestyle, triathletes must be prudent to protect their bike against mishaps and themselves against liability, especially in a race situation. Velosurance policy offers flexible coverages that can be customized to one’s risk tolerance. Those who love racing internationally can extend this coverage worldwide.
Liability Coverage
We will protect you from personal liability (injury, sickness, death, or damage to property) you cause while riding your bike.
Worldwide Coverage
If your travels take you outside of the USA and Canada we can extend the policy's physical damage and theft coverage worldwide for a reasonable additional premium. This also covers the bike while in transit by the airline.
Damage in transit
Your bike is covered for damage whether it's on your car or in possessoin of an airline or a postal courier.
The nature of the triathlon lifestyle is that it involves quite a bit of travel. Triathletes plan their racing season around destination races and train with the goal of achieving peak performance around those dates. These destination races often require extensive, often international travel, and significant logistics, such as arranging lodging and car rental. The expense for such trips is measured in thousands of dollars. Should the bike not arrive at the destination or arrive damaged, your trip effectively turns into a vacation and you become a spectator.
The bicycle insurance policy from Velosurance covers triathlon bikes for loss and damage in transit. This coverage encompasses all types of transport, it’s covered when it’s on a car rack or in possession of an airline or a postal courier. If you elect to ship your bike to your destination with FedEx, UPS or a dedicated bike shipping company such as TriBike Transport, BikeFlights or ShipBikes, you do not have to purchase their optional but pricey insurance.
Rental and event fee reimbursement
If your bike doesn't arrive to the race, your day can be saved with rental or event fee reimbursement.
Since triathletes often travel far away from home to race, should the bike arrive damaged or not arrive at all, the race is effectively ruined. Considering that months, if not years of training lead to some of the races, this is a hard pill to swallow. This is where Velosurance steps in to save the day…
If you’re lucky enough to arrive at your destination a few days before the race, you should attempt to find a rental bike to race on. Fortunately, most races take place in or near large cities with a plethora of bike shops. Start calling immediately and with enough luck, you’ll be able to race. Best of all, Velosurance will reimburse you the rental fees.
If your bike doesn’t arrive and the fortune doesn’t smile on you with a rental bike, you might as well accept that your trip is now a vacation. While we can’t make everything perfect, we will reimburse the event entry fees, up to $500 per event or $1,000 per policy period, without a deductible.
Coverages and Features
Velosurance offers must-have protection such as accidental damage, theft, or loss in transit. Each policy can be customized by adding additional coverages such as liability protection, uninsured motorist, and medical payments. Select any coverage to see the details.
Bicycles are very easy to steal and equally difficult to recover, and even a hefty U-lock doesn’t guarantee your bike is still there when you return. Velosurance provides peace of mind if it is stolen or damaged in the process.
Our policy will pay to replace your ride if it is accidentally damaged and beyond repair, including damage that occurs while being carried on or in your vehicle. If it can be repaired, we will pay all the costs associated with the bike's repair, including tax, labor, and shipping, minus the deductible. Cosmetic damage that does not affect safety is excluded.
Our policy optional coverage purchase will protect and defend you from your personal liability (injury, sickness, death, or damage to property, including fire damage) that you are found legally liable for. Coverage limits offered: $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $300,000 or $500,000 per occurrence.
E-bike liability insurance →If you’re hurt and require medical attention, our optional medical gap will take care of your medical bills, up to the selected limit. The payments are paid directly to you to supplement the deductible of your personal health insurance policy.
Medical gap insurance →Depreciation is a hidden deductible that increases every year and is applied if the bicycle is stolen or totaled. No one is ever happy with an Actual Cash Value insurance settlement: the bike is first devalued, and then a deductible is applied, resulting in a reimbursement that is far less than the cost of a replacement. We reimburse without depreciation, for the cost of a replacement that is of like, kind, and quality similar to your totaled bike.
One of the scariest things that can happen to a cyclist is getting hit by a car. This coverage will pay for medical expenses, physical therapy, mental health services, lost wages, and other expenses that arise from a bicycle-car accident.
Uninsured motorist insurance →We cover all electrically assisted Class 1, 2, and 3 bikes with a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph. All protections available for conventional bicycles also apply to electric ones.
E-bike insurance →Bikes often get damaged in transit by personal vehicles, airlines, or courier services. Filing a claim with the airlines and courier services is a notoriously difficult process with a questionable outcome. We cover the insured bicycle for loss or damage while it's on its way to or from your destination by air or road. Even if it falls off a vehicle rack or is hit in a rear-end accident, it is covered, no arguments.
Bicycle travel coverage →If you go down in a crash, we cover your ride as well as your apparel, such as helmet, shoes, glasses, or riding kit that are torn up, and pay up to $500 per accident and $1,000 per term. Spare parts that are not installed, such as a spare wheelset, are also covered up to $500 per loss and $1,000 per year.
Our policy does not piggypack on any coverage you may already have, such as homeowners policies. Filing a claim won’t impact your rates with other carriers. With home insurance premiums rising each year in the U.S., it’s wise to reserve that policy for major incidents, because no matter how valuable your bike is, it’s still a lot cheaper than a kitchen fire or a flooded basement.
We cover the insured bike at all times, anywhere in the USA and Canada, and can be extended worldwide on request. There are no exclusions on the time of day or limitations on how long it can be stored away from home. 24/7/365 means every minute of every day, no matter where or when.
In the heat of a race, the focus on speed often outweighs concerns for safety, leaving little margin for error. If you go down in a crash, this optional coverage takes care of repairs or replacement. If you use your bike in a competitive environment, this is a no-brainer because it offers protection in the highest-risk category.
Bicycle racing insurance →If your travels take you beyond the USA and Canada, for a small additional premium, this option extends the physical loss and damage protection, including loss or damage caused by an airline, to any country in the world.
International coverage →You can lend it to anyone you choose, and it will be covered. The bike and the person riding it are covered as if it were you riding it‚ this includes theft and crash damage as well as any purchased optional coverages.
We do not dictate what type or brand of lock must be used to protect your ride from theft – you are welcome to use any lock that you trust. The best security is provided by metal locks combined with a high-quality chain. Securing your ride to a solid and immovable object, such as a bike rack, with a high-quality lock will send the thief onto the one secured with a more vulnerable lock.
Why Velosurance is best for your triathlon bike
Not all types of insurance are created equal. Velosurance levels the playing field by offering stand-alone bicycle coverage, where claims won’t affect your homeowner's or renter’s policy premiums.
| Policy Coverage |  | Homeowner/Renters Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Insured at Full Value | Yes | Possibly |
| Crash Damage | Yes | No |
| Theft Coverage | Yes | Limited |
| Theft by Force | Yes | No |
| Theft of Accessories | Yes | Limited |
| Theft Away From Home | Yes | Possibly |
| Vehicle Contact | Yes | No |
| Personal Liability | Yes | Possibly |
| Permissive Use Policy | Yes | No |
| Replacement Rental | Yes | No |
| Event Fee Return | Yes | No |
| Cycling Apparel Coverage | Yes | No |
| Medical Payments | Yes | Possibly |
| Racing Coverage | Yes | No |
| E-bikes | Yes | No |
| Coverage in-transit | Yes | No |
| USAC, USAT and IMBA Member Discount | Yes | No |
| FREE INSTANT QUOTE |
Not all insurance policies provide the same level of protection, and many people only discover gaps in their coverage after filing a claim. We’ve done the hard work of reviewing the fine print. To see how plans compare, check out our insurance comparison.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What does insurance for triathletes cover?
- The core policy is all-risk, meaning anything not specifically excluded is covered: crash and accidental damage in training or on race day, theft subject to the policy's locking conditions, and loss or damage in transit by car, airline, or courier. Optional coverages add liability, medical gap, uninsured motorist, racing, and worldwide protection. Physical damage claims are subject to the deductible.
- How much does triathlon bike insurance cost?
- Policies start at $100 per year, about $9 a month, and the insured value of the bike sets most of the premium: a $12,000 superbike costs more to insure than a $3,000 road bike. Active USA Triathlon members take 10% off, insuring two bikes on one policy saves 10%, and three or more saves 15%.
- Is my bike covered in the race transition area?
- Yes. Theft coverage applies in an event's staging or transition area for 24 hours before and after the event, which includes overnight bike check-in before an early swim start. Anywhere else away from home, the bike must be locked to an immovable object with an appropriate security device. Every theft claim requires a police report, so file one the same day.
- Does the policy cover a crash during a race?
- Yes, when racing coverage is elected on the bike. This optional coverage insures crash damage in organized competition, and it must be in place before the accident; it cannot be added after a race-day crash to cover it. Training and group rides fall under the core policy, so add racing coverage before the season starts.
- What happens if my bike does not arrive at a destination race?
- Transit loss is covered: the bike is insured on a car rack, with an airline, or with a courier such as BikeFlights or ShipBikes. For covered losses more than 50 miles from home, the core policy includes entry fee reimbursement up to $500 and a $250 rental bike allowance, so if your bike doesn't make it to the race, start calling local shops; you may still race.
- Do I need the airline's or bike shipper's insurance when I travel?
- No, your Velosurance policy already covers loss and damage in transit, so you can decline the optional insurance shippers sell. Airlines cap baggage liability at $4,700 on domestic flights and about $2,000 on international ones, and commonly exclude sporting equipment from damage liability entirely. For races outside the USA and Canada, add worldwide coverage first; it extends an active policy and cannot be purchased on its own.
- What does the policy pay if my bike is stolen or totaled?
- A total loss pays the value you insured it for: bikes are covered at stated value with no depreciation, so a three-year-old superbike is not settled at a used-market price. Physical damage claims are subject to the deductible. Theft claims require a police report, filed the same day.
- Which optional coverages make sense for a triathlete?
- Racing coverage, medical gap, and uninsured motorist match the sport's biggest risks: race-day crashes and long solo training miles in aerobars on open roads. Medical gap reimburses your out-of-pocket medical costs (deductible, copays, co-insurance) after your health plan pays its share, regardless of the driver's insurance if a car is involved. Uninsured motorist picks up losses beyond medical bills, such as lost wages, when an at-fault driver cannot pay. Each coverage must be elected before the accident.
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America's best insurance for triathletes
No matter where your adventures take you, protect your triathlon bike and yourself from the unexpected with America's best triathlon bicycle insurance.