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.

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.

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.

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.

Members of USA Cycling, USA Triathlon, and International Mountain Bicycle Association (IMBA) receive discounts on Velosurance bicycle insurance products.

Velosurance provides bicycle insurance policies in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.