With our sunny Western Australian weather, it’s no surprise that we enjoy taking our bicycles out for a ride when the sun is shining. It turns out the rest of the country shares our passion, as cycling is the most popular sporting activity in Australia with 78% of all households having occupants who participate in some form of cycling.
While it can be a great family excursion, as well as a cost effective way of commuting to and from work or even to a mates’ house, the outlay for cycling equipment can be substantial. Sum Insured data from 2017 demonstrated that the average cost of bike riding equipment owned by household occupants ranges from $314 to $1099 for recreational riders and $1518 to $12,974 for competitive riders, with costs sometimes going well over $20,000.
With a large range of bikes and accessories available, RAC’s Home Claims Manager; Glen Walker, advises those participating in cycling to think about the total value of their gear and to consider insurance for it.
“The bikes and the many gadgets and accessories that go with them can quickly add up and unfortunately thieves can take advantage. Often public bike racks have high visibility and allow thieves to scan and snatch valuable items that are visible and within reach, even in broad daylight.”
According to RAC Claims Data, nearly half of all standalone bike insurance claims that occurred during 2016 were from theft.
Here are our top tips for protecting your bike against thieves:
- Lock your bike to a fixed or immovable object with a high quality lock.
- Consider engraving some items, such as bikes and helmets with your driver’s license number so that in the event that they are stolen, the police will be able to contact you if they are recovered.
- Remove detachable accessories such as GPS devices and cameras from your bike when leaving unattended.
- Lock up your bike in different places so thieves don't notice a pattern.
- Most importantly, use common sense and take the same precautions that you’d take with valuables at home– Lock your bike in a well-lit, visible and high-trafficked area and avoid leaving it overnight.
