Cycle Maintenance Classes Insurance

[Si]

Bit of a long shot....

Does anyone here run Cycle Maintenance Classes for members of the public, and if so, might I ask who is your insurance with and how much is your yearly premium?

When I say 'maintenance' I mean the simple stuff like doing safety checks, fixing p*nct*res, adjusting brakes and gears, etc

[Stewart H]

It would have to be at their own risk, otherwise an enormous can of worms beckons and we slide further into the world where nobody can actually "do" anything.

[Elizabethsdad]

There is a cycle workshop near me in Southampton called RideRide that does repairs and runs classes for all levels of maintenance. I would assume that the business liability insurance that they have for repair work would also cover the classes.

[Si]

Our problem is that it is run by volunteers so there is no business behind it, sorry - should have made that clear! Hence we are having to source our own insurance for this. The instructors will be trained and have a C & G.

[mjr]

Ask a few bike shops who insures them, especially any that run courses. The co-ops like Norwich Bicycle Repair Co-op, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op and Brixton Cycles may be more likely to answer.

I think local instructors ask cyclists to agree to self-responsibility. Is something motivating the purchase of insurance?

[Vorpal]

Bit of a long shot....

Does anyone here run Cycle Maintenance Classes for members of the public, and if so, might I ask who is your insurance with and how much is your yearly premium?

When I say 'maintenance' I mean the simple stuff like doing safety checks, fixing p*nct*res, adjusting brakes and gears, etc

I know someone who does stuff like this, and I think BC insures him if he registers it as, or runs in conjunction with, a BC event. Possibly you could do the same with CTC? Or another organisation?

[CliveyT]

So you're going to need some form of public liability insurance.
I can't help with the cycle maintenance bit but I can ask MrsT for who she uses. She does classes in basket making & the like and had to do a lot of searching to find someone not charging silly money for insurance. Most of the big insurers don't understand/ want to understand things like this so they'll just quote their generic business insurance prices. There are specialists out there but they aren't always the easiest to find (can't afford to pay Google for sponsored adds etc). I will ask her tonight if you don't get a better answer before then.

[Philip Benstead]

Bit of a long shot....

Does anyone here run Cycle Maintenance Classes for members of the public, and if so, might I ask who is your insurance with and how much is your yearly premium?

When I say 'maintenance' I mean the simple stuff like doing safety checks, fixing p*nct*res, adjusting brakes and gears, etc

I am a cycle instructor and Dr Bike ,I am insurance by CTC.

I would suggest you go to http://www.ctc.org.uk/insurance

[Si]

Yep, i had a look at my instructor insurance but it says: "no mechanical.....repair work to be undertaken" - so I can do Dr bike type things - check the bike and tell them to go get it fixed, - but can't spanner it myself, which would be required in doing maintenance classes.

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Have tried asking the current maintenance class provider but their insurance is part of their overall business insurance (around £1000).

--

Doing it as part of an event isn't really applicable as we want to do regular evening classes to go along side our Bikeability classes and led rides.

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But do lease keep the ideas coming - any advice is much appreciated.

[Philip Benstead]

Yep, i had a look at my instructor insurance but it says: "no mechanical.....repair work to be undertaken" - so I can do Dr bike type things - check the bike and tell them to go get it fixed, - but can't spanner it myself, which would be required in doing maintenance classes.

--

Have tried asking the current maintenance class provider but their insurance is part of their overall business insurance (around £1000).

--

Doing it as part of an event isn't really applicable as we want to do regular evening classes to go along side our Bikeability classes and led rides.

---

But do lease keep the ideas coming - any advice is much appreciated.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/sites/default/fil ... idance.pdf


Cycling Activities
Cycle activity providers may provide a
range of cycle related activities to third
parties. The activities may include cycle
training, rides, the provision of expert
advice related to cycling, or [color=#FF0000]cycle
maintenance. You are also covered to
carry out minor adjustments e.g. Dr Bike.
These services may be provided either on
a professional, fee- paying basis or on
a voluntary, free basis.[/color]
Cover is provided for claims made
against you for injury or damage caused
to a third party as a result of:
any cycling related activity you may
provide;
any expert advice related to cycling
you provide; or
cycles supplied or hired out by you
provided this is not your main
business.
You are also insured in the event that a
claim is made against you in respect of
the actions of anyone assisting you in
providing any of the above, provided the
assistant:
is not directly delivering the
services you are providing; and
is not, nor could be deemed to be,
your employee or worker

[Si]

Mmmm, I'm still not convinced that that extends to teaching cycle maintenance but I have emailed to ask them!

[mjr]

I would understand "Dr Bike" to include telling people how to do basic maintenance and fix whatever problems they've brought in. Otherwise it's just an unpaid bike-shop-style service. A medical doctor tells you how to fix yourself as well as writing down what parts / drugs they believe you need and maybe supplying and fitting some. Well, sort of. Have I stretched the analogy too far yet?

[Si]

It's all a bit grey. One organisation that I work for allows you to tell them what is wrong but not how to fix it in case you give bad advice (unless, of course, you are a qualified mechanic).

[Si]

Word from the CTC is that what we want is not covered in their Cycle Activity Insurance (i.e. instructor's insurance).

[mjr]

As well as making it damned clear at the outset that I'm no pro, I take care to admit when I'm not sure and say things like "I would..." and "I think..." and let people make their own decisions whether to do as I would, then if needed, I'd fall back on my personal liability insurance.

Sorry if you answered this: is something motivating the purchase of additional insurance?