Total Cycle Assist cover is family orientated; a single policy will cover you, your partner and your kids (BikeRadar)

Hands up if you were involved in any form of cycling accident last year in the UK. You’re in good company if you were; around 134,000 were reported in 2010 alone – 2,660 of those serious – which is a two percent rise from 2009.

If you’re unfortunate enough to be part of these statistics, you might have had to cross your fingers as far as being covered by insurance is concerned. Bikes are expensive, as are physiotherapy bills and legal expenses.

It’s for these reasons BikeRadar have teamed up with Total Cycle Assist Limited to offer you insurance, should the worst happen. For £24 a year, you can get insurance not just for yourself, but your partner and children (under 21) and all of the bikes in your home.

So if you or your family are involved in a biking accident where somebody is to blame, the Total Cycle Assist policy will ensure you're covered. If the bike is a write-off, it’ll be replaced. If you’re injured, you’ll bypass lengthy NHS queues and get swift access to a private physiotherapist. If someone is to blame for your accident, you'll get £100,000 of legal expenses cover – and keep all the compensation.

The firm's managing director, Robert Deakin, told BikeRadar that should you ever need to make a claim, they'll set the wheels in motion immediately. "By putting our focus on protecting families we’re proud to be the only company in the UK that offers you this kind of cover, giving you complete peace of mind for only £24 a year," he said.

"Join Total Cycle Assist and you can rest assured that if anyone in your family gets knocked off a bike then the expert help you need is a phone call away, 24 hours a day throughout the UK. Our helpline is UK operated and once we take your call, we don’t hang around. We try to make claiming as easy as possible.

"That means taking a customer's claim in good faith – we don’t wait around for police accident reports. It’s all too easy to take a dim view of people, but the majority are honest folk who just want to get their claim through without hassle".

One of the best features of the policy is that they’ll provide replacement bikes on a new-for-old basis. “If the bike is beyond repair, we'll post a voucher out to the member to the value of the original bike," he said. “There’s no restriction in sticking with what they bought originally either – they can choose any bike they like. There isn’t even an excess to pay, nor is there a limit on the value of bike that can be insured".

Bicycle Protect – The Ultimate Cycling Cover

They have a theft cover option too. Bicycle theft is a real scourge and anyone who's been a victim will tell you it’s a situation they’d rather not repeat. On a one bike, one policy basis, Bicycle Protect premiums start from just £4.59 a month and give you a six-policy-strong comprehensive package.

So if your bike is stolen, or just parts of it, it'll be replaced on a new-for-old, like-for-like basis. Regardless of fault, if your bike is damaged in an accident it'll be fixed or replaced. If you’re injured while riding – again, regardless of fault – you'll receive a minimum cash payout, depending on the injury. Both these policies – Accidental Damage and Personal Accident – are vital for mountain bikers, as Bicycle Protect will insure for spills, accidental or not, on any terrain.

It also serves as a manufacturer warranty extension; if the bike develops a terminal problem (not through accidental damage), you’ll get a brand spanking new one on a new-for-old basis. Sixty-day worldwide cover, which covers your bike against theft anywhere in the world for 60 days in any 12 months, is another feature. In fact, Bicycle Protect includes all the benefits of the Total Cycle Assist package.

This being a more expensive package, you have the option of spreading your payments over a year – but with a difference. “Many policies of this nature unnecessarily penalise customers for choosing to spread their premium payments over a full year,” said Deakin. “We just don’t think that’s fair, so with our policy, should you choose to spread the cost, you'll pay exactly the same amount as you would if you pay up front. Not only that, but you only have to pay for 11 months' worth – the final month is on us".

The guys at Total Cycle Assist Limited realise how complex a beast an insurance can be, so they're keen to make sure you fully understand exactly what it is they offer and what the policies cover, and to help you find the best package for you and your family. That's why they'll be answering all your questions this week – just head over to the forum or leave a comment below.

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