FAQs

Premium Membership comes with additional benefits such as personal accident cover, as well as enhanced discounts like 40% off a TrainingPeaks subscription. See full list of benefits for each membership type here.

In most cases, your membership lasts for 12 months from the date you sign up or renew.  

Usually you will receive your membership card in your welcome pack within 14 days from the date of purchase. If you need your membership card in the meantime, our membership team can provide you with an electronic copy via email on request from membership@britishcycling.org.uk.

All Members and Premium Members benefit from third party liability insurance for riding, commuting and competing*, plus free legal support in the event of an accident. Our legal and insurance page has more information.

Members also get exclusive rates on bike and travel insurance with Bikmo.

*see "Am I covered when taking part in Cycling Events?" for full details on competitive events

Contact the Incident Helpline by completing our incident report form or calling 0161 274 2015. We will ask for your membership details and a brief description of the incident. This includes time and place of the incident and details of any other vehicle(s)/property or person(s) involved. We'll then put you in touch with our appointed solicitors and/or insurers for assistance.

Yes, you can upgrade at any time by contacting our membership team by email membership@britishcycling.org.uk.

We would recommend having British Cycling membership to make sure you’re covered in the event of an accident on club rides. Club insurance does not cover individual members.  

For this reason, some clubs make British Cycling membership mandatory, but not all. It’s best to check with your specific club. As a club member you get 40% off British Cycling membership in your first year. 

The promotional code box can be found on the last page of the online membership application. Alternatively, you can quote the promo code when joining over the phone. Promo codes only work if you are a new member joining for the first time.

If you need a race licence, you can buy one alongside purchasing your membership. The bolt-on is available to both Members and Premium Members. To add a race licence to an existing membership, email membership@britishcycling.org.uk.

Supporters get advice, inspiration, prize draws, event pre-sales and latest news straight to their inbox! It’s a great way to join our community, discover unique experiences and support cycling across Britain.

To become a Supporter, you just need to create an account and opt-in to hear from us.

Once you’ve created your account, your registration details can also be used to enter events and pay club fees, if applicable.

Whilst you get exclusive content by email as a Supporter, you aren’t eligible for the same benefits as Members or Premium Members, such as third party insurance, legal support and access to the Rewards Hub.

Yes. To do this, first log into your free account. On your dashboard, you’ll see a ‘Join Now’ button. From here, choose your membership and it will take you to complete payment. If you are logged in, all your account details will remain the same.

Yes, you can email membership@britishcycling.org.uk and we’ll switch you to a free Supporter account. It’s worth remembering that if you are a Member or Premium Member, you will have paid for the year. 

Whilst you get exclusive content by email as a Supporter, you aren’t eligible for the same benefits as Members or Premium Members, such as third party insurance, legal support and access to the Rewards Hub.

When you sign up to become a British Cycling Member or Premium Member, you can add a race licence in the ‘optional extras’ page of the payment process. You can sign up here.

*Half price from 1 July annually

A provisional race licence comes free with both memberships and is enough to get you into most BMX, cyclo-cross, cycle speedway and MTB races. This table tells you what licence you need for what event, or to be sure, check with the event organiser beforehand. If you race on a provisional licence you will not be eligible for any points.

Existing members can purchase a full race licence by emailing us at membership@britishcycling.org.uk. If you don’t pay by direct debit, call the team on 0161 274 2010. Lines are open Monday – Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-3:45pm.

Due to UCI regulations, all licences run from January to December each year.  Licences are charged at half price after 1st July. To bring your membership and licence in line so that they expire on the same date, please contact our friendly membership team on 0161 2742010 or if paying by Direct Debit, please email membership@britishcycling.org.uk.

Yes. Single day licences enable you to try racing without committing to the cost of a full race licence. See here for more information.

It is a requirement of the UCI that members of British Cycling obtain a letter of authority to race abroad. To qualify for a letter of authority, you must be in possession of a current full race licence. Requests should be sent to membership@britishcycling.org.uk stating your membership number and the name(s) of the countries you will be racing in.

If you are involved in an incident causing injury or property damage that was (or is alleged to have been) your fault your insurance cover may indemnify you in respect of the legal costs of defending a third party claim and any resulting damages awarded against you. Cover is up to a limit of £20 million and British Cycling will pay any insurance excess that applies.

Members and Premium Members who normally reside in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Incidents in which you are involved whilst riding or wheeling your bike and which are alleged to have been your fault.

• Physical injury to third parties caused by your actions

• Damage to third party property caused by you

• Legal costs incurred in forming your defence

• Damages awarded against you following a successful claim by a third party

• Total cover for legal costs and awards of up to £20m

Members benefit from individual liability insurance for competitive cycling events held under the auspices of British Cycling and whilst participating in competitive events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling.

Members also benefit from individual liability insurance cover for non-competitive, social, leisure, utility cycling and commuting and also whilst participating in timed events such as sportives.

British Cycling’s member liability insurance is arranged on a ‘primary specific’ basis - which means that a claim will not be referred to any other insurance policy that our members may have. Cover is provided on a worldwide basis but it should be noted that if you intend to live outside of the UK for more than six months in total during any twelve month period, cover will no longer apply*.

It should also be noted that members travelling to the United States of America or its incorporated or unincorporated territories or Canada or its territories or provinces will be insured on a contingent basis** and only if they have travel insurance that includes personal liability for the cycling activities that they are planning to undertake.

* This limit does not apply to members of the armed forces stationed abroad.

** This means that our insurers will call upon the member’s travel insurance policy in the event of a claim.

Important exclusions include:

• Business use (e.g. cycle courier) but commuting is covered.

• Deliberate acts.

• The following member to member liability claims (claims made against one British Cycling member by another)*:

     • One member against another in a cycling competition, race, time trial or timed event**.

     • Any liability directly or indirectly caused to a member’s immediate family.

• Claims against members who are not resident in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands***.

• Events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations, except those whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling. See “Am I covered when taking part in cycling events?”

* Member for these purposes being a British Cycling Member or Premium Member. ** Typically, but not exclusively, a Sportive or other such organised mass participation event where times are recorded. *** This exclusion does not apply to members of the armed forces temporarily abroad.

Members can download a copy of the insurance information from our Useful Downloads page. Please note, you must be logged into your member dashboard to access this.

Members benefit from individual liability insurance for competitive cycling events held under the auspices of British Cycling and whilst participating in competitive events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling.

Members also benefit from individual liability insurance cover for non-competitive, social, leisure, utility cycling and commuting and also whilst participating in timed events such as sportives.

Events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations

Cover at events is restricted to those events held under the auspices of British Cycling and whilst participating in competitive events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling.

The following organisations promote competitive events under rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) that are acceptable to British Cycling:

• Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists’ Union)
• Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling Union)
• Cycling Time Trials (CTT)
• BSCA (British Schools Cycling Association)
• BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport)
• UCI-affiliated National Governing Bodies

Members wishing to check whether or not their individual insurance cover extends to a competitive event held under the auspices of another cycling organisation should contact Membership Services on 0161 274 2010

Event guidance notes for members

• Always check that the event is insured. Before participating in competitive events always consult the event organiser with regard to the existence and extent of liability insurance cover provided for all riders and officials.
• Check how much cover is in place. Whilst members may be covered under the organiser’s insurance arrangements they should be aware that some cycling organisations and promoters of competitive cycling events provide a significantly lower level of indemnity for their riders and officials
• Will you have to pay an excess? Some organisers buy insurance that may leave the member found to be at fault paying a large ‘excess’
• Make sure cover is not just ‘contingent’. Some cycling organisations may only arrange ‘contingent’ liability insurance cover for their event, which means that their policy will only provide cover in the absence of any other insurance policy. Under these circumstances any other insurance cover that the member or participant may have will be at risk.

Events held under the auspices of British Cycling and insured under British Cycling’s policy enjoy primary, not contingent, cover, have a policy limit of £20m and insured members are not expected to pay an excess.

Coverage extends to incidents that occur while riding or wheeling an E-bike (Electrically assisted pedal cycle) however they must have pedals that can be used to propel it, the electric motor should have a maximum power output of 250 watts or less, and the motor should not be able to propel the bike when it is travelling more than 15.5mph. In addition your E-bike must display either the power output or manufacturer of the motor, as well as either the battery voltage or maximum speed of the bike, as defined by the manufacturer.

If you want to take part in a cycling event on your e-bike, please check with the event organiser whether there are any rules governing the use of e-bikes.

Contact the Incident Helpline by completing our incident report form or calling 0161 274 2015. We will ask for your membership details and a brief description of the incident. This includes time and place of the incident and details of any other vehicle(s)/property or person(s) involved. We'll then put you in touch with our appointed solicitors and/or insurers for assistance.

You should not have any discussion with the other party regarding liability. You may, however, provide contact details to our Incident Helpline team who can provide appropriate details to a potential claimant. Contact details are as follows :

Email: IncidentHelpline@britishcycling.org.uk

Tel: 0161 274 2015

Address: British Cycling
National Cycling Centre
Stuart Street
Manchester, M11 4DQ

Most incidents reported involve members who have either sustained personal injury or damage to their bicycle or other property as a result of a road traffic incident. In most cases incidents arise through the negligence of the driver of a motor vehicle. A small number involve defects to the public highway. Invariably both result in damage to members’ bicycles and, more often than not, personal injury.

British Cycling’s appointed solicitors are recognised leading experts in personal injury litigation and in representing cyclists. Whether you have suffered an injury or simply damage to your bicycle, you will receive a personal, first class legal service to recover any compensation to which you may be entitled.

• You will keep all of your compensation, as long as the incident occurred within the UK*.
• You will not be asked to pay for an insurance policy to indemnify you against a defendant’s legal costs in the event of an unsuccessful claim.
• You will not be asked to pay for an insurance policy to cover legal disbursements.
• You will not be asked to personally fund any legal disbursements.

 * Where an incident took place in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man this cannot be guaranteed. In these cases, where there is a shortfall in the costs recovered British Cycling will pay up to £2,000 towards that shortfall, which in many (but not all) cases will mean that there is no deduction, or no significant deduction, from a member’s compensation.

You have access to this valuable benefit if you are a British Cycling Member or Premium Member, a resident of the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, were riding or wheeling your bike at the time of the incident and believe that the incident was not your fault.

Legal advice and assistance is a discretionary benefit provided to qualifying British Cycling members. It does not confer the benefit of legal expenses insurance, and members wishing to pursue a claim must do so via British Cycling’s appointed solicitors.

Our appointed solicitors will assess whether or not there are reasonable prospects of succeeding with a legal action against a third party. If our solicitors are satisfied that there are reasonable prospects of success a claim can be pursued on your behalf.

All decisions on a claim’s prospects of success and the pursuit and support of a legal action against a third party rest with British Cycling and its appointed solicitors and their decisions will be final. It is important to note, however, that British Cycling has an absolute discretion to provide or withdraw legal assistance in any particular case.

While British Cycling has an absolute discretion to withdraw cover at any time, the following are examples of situations in which cover would typically be withdrawn:

• there are no longer reasonable prospects of succeeding in your claim.
• you have failed to instruct, co-operate or agree to prosecute your claim for compensation.
• you have not adhered to advice given by our solicitors.
• you have sought to deliberately mislead either British Cycling or its solicitors in any material particular to your claim.
• you have given information or evidence which you know to be incorrect or misleading or that you have acted in any way or manner which, in our or our solicitor’s view, could be regarded as fraudulent or dishonest.

In cases brought in the UK, members are fully indemnified in relation to the cost of legal advice and assistance from the point at which a claim is registered subject to certain exclusions. This indemnity may either be provided by British Cycling directly, or at its absolute discretion British Cycling may arrange for it to be provided through a policy of insurance. The indemnity would then be in accordance with the terms of the insurance, of which you will be notified. There would be no charge to you for the insurance. Normally, in successful claims there will be no costs deducted from members’ compensation but because of different legal systems in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, British Cycling cannot guarantee that there will be no deductions from compensation where claims are brought in these jurisdictions.

Usually when claims are successful, the member will recover all their legal costs from the other party. In unsuccessful cases, British Cycling will continue to cover all of a member’s costs and the full terms of the indemnity will be provided when you register your claim.

Cases will be referred to our appointed solicitors and no payment is made by our solicitors in respect of the referral of any case.

Unfortunately, the British Cycling Incident Helpline and British Cycling’s solicitors will not support a legal action:

• against another British Cycling member.
• against a member of one’s immediate family.
• where there is a conflict of interest between a member and British Cycling e.g. where a claim may be against an organiser or official of a British Cycling registered event*.
• involving contractual, sale of goods and services or product liability issues such as faulty bikes or equipment (see below for information on assistance available if you have injuries which may have been caused by a defect with your bike).
• involving criminal legal advice or representation.
• where the incident takes place outside of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands (see below for information on assistance available if you are involved in an incident abroad).
• where membership was not current at the time of the incident**.

* This refers to an event that has been formally registered with British Cycling, appears on our published event calendar and is insured under British Cycling’s liability insurance policy. ** In these circumstances our solicitors may still be able to provide assistance but under different terms and conditions.

British Cycling membership does not provide you with insurance for damage to your bike or theft of your bike. However, if your bike is damaged due to the fault of another person you may be able to use the legal support scheme to provide you with advice or bring a claim against a third party.  It should be noted that where such a claim is brought, the legal processes involved in recovering compensation can sometimes take time and legally you may not be able to recover the full cost of a replacement bike.

Contact the Incident Helpline by completing our incident report form or calling 0161 274 2015. We will ask for your membership details and a brief description of the incident. This includes time and place of the incident and details of any other vehicle(s)/property or person(s) involved. We'll then put you in touch with our appointed solicitors and/or insurers for assistance.

You should not have any discussion with the other party regarding liability. You may, however, provide contact details to our Incident Helpline team who can provide appropriate details to a potential claimant. Contact details are as follows :

Email: IncidentHelpline@britishcycling.org.uk

Tel: 0161 274 2015

Address: British Cycling
National Cycling Centre
Stuart Street
Manchester, M11 4DQ

If you would like to receive the support of British Cycling’s appointed solicitors, you must report the incident to the Incident Helpline within 12 months of the incident.

 As a general point, the statutory time limit for bringing a claim for damages for personal injuries is three years from the date of the incident. For cases involving property damage only, the limit is six years*.

 It will be appreciated that the sooner the matter is reported, the sooner it can be dealt with, particularly if witnesses need to be traced and interviewed. All too often a case can be prejudiced because of the failure to obtain, at the outset, basic information regarding the incident, the location and the witnesses.

 If you are under the age of 18 then the time limit is extended to three years from the date of your 18th birthday. However, it is very important that you progress your claim through your parent or legal guardian as quickly as possible.

* For cases involving property damage only, the time limit is 5 years from the date of the incident in Scotland and 3 years in the Channel Islands. If an Injured Party is under 16 years of age at the time of the incident and the claim proceeds in Scotland, the 3 years commences from the date of the Injured Party’s 16th birthday.

If you have had a cycling incident outside Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, members cannot use British Cycling’s legal support scheme to pursue a claim. However, our appointed solicitors can provide legal advice regarding your claim's prospects of success and consider how your claim can be funded to your best advantage.

Our lawyers have a specialist travel litigation team who deal exclusively with incidents abroad. These claims include cases of utmost severity to more straightforward injuries. The team has an excellent network of foreign contacts that can provide crucial advice regarding foreign law and procedure.

Please note that British Cycling strongly advises its members to take out travel insurance before travelling abroad.

If you have sustained an injury or suffered financial loss and you think that it may have been caused by a defect with your bike, members cannot use British Cycling’s legal support scheme to pursue a claim. However, our appointed solicitors have expert knowledge in the area of defective products and may be able to provide legal advice in respect of any potential claim.

Legal support is extended to incidents that occur while riding or wheeling an e-bike (electrically assisted pedal cycle) however they must have pedals that can be used to propel it, the electric motor should have a maximum power output of 250 watts or less, and the motor should not be able to propel the bike when it is travelling more than 15.5mph. In addition your e-bike must display either the power output or manufacturer of the motor, as well as either the battery voltage or maximum speed of the bike, as defined by the manufacturer.

If you want to take part in a cycling event on your e-bike, please check with the event organiser whether there are any rules governing the use of e-bikes.

Cycling is a joy, whether you're commuting, training, or exploring the countryside. But accidents can happen, even to the most experienced riders. Having the right protection in place means you can ride with peace of mind. If you do have an accident and need help pursuing a claim, our lawyers at Leigh Day will hold your hand every step of the way, removing any stress so you can focus on your recovery.

Whilst British Cycling membership doesn’t insure your bike, members save 10% at Bikmo on bike insurance. See here for more information.

Travel insurance is not included with your membership, therefore, it is strongly recommended that you obtain adequate cover before you travel abroad. Members save 10% with Bikmo travel insurance. See here for more information.

You should ensure that any travel policy you obtain covers you for the activities that you are planning to undertake, especially if taking part in organised cycling events.

Comprehensive travel insurance is available for single trips or alternatively an annual policy can be purchased.

It is also advisable to check whether your bicycle is covered by insurance before you travel and make any necessary arrangements in this regard. Premiums vary according to geographic location and the duration of your trip.

See here for more information on riding and racing abroad.

Personal Accident insurance cover is provided for all British Cycling Premium Members aged between 5 and 80 years of age*

The policy provides lump sum benefits if you are involved in a cycling accident. An accident is a sudden and unexpected or unforeseen specific event which occurs at an identifiable time and place.

*Existing Race Gold members also have the benefit of this cover until the end of your current membership.

See below for an outline of the key policy benefits;

Please note this is a list of the main policy benefits and is not exhaustive.

The policy provides cover for non-competitive, social, leisure and utility cycling, including commuting and club rides, and also competitive cycling when participating in events held under the auspices of British Cycling.

Cover is also provided whilst participating in competitive events held under the auspices of other cycling organisations whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling*.

The following organisations promote competitive events under rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) that are acceptable to British Cycling*. Please note that cover is only provided in respect of cycling disciplines, or variants thereof, which are formally endorsed and regulated by British Cycling:

• Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists’ Union)

• Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling Union)

• Cycling Time Trials (CTT)

• BSCA (British Schools Cycling Association)

• BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport)

• UCI-affiliated National Governing Bodies

 Cover also includes direct travel to and from any venue for the purposes of participating in an approved event.

 *Members wishing to check whether an event is held under the auspices of British Cycling or other cycling organisations whose rules and regulations (including Event Safety Guidelines) are acceptable to British Cycling should contact our Membership team on 0161 274 2010.

• Persons under the age of 5 and over the age of 80.
• • Whilst we are unable to provide this additional cover to members aged over 80 years and under 5 years, it is very important to remember that the individual members’ third party liability insurance cover is still provided to members without age restriction.

• Occupational cycling and where the bike is a tool of trade (inclusive of professional cyclists where the individual is a full time paid professional cyclist).

• The insurance does not cover for;
  • illness or disease (not resulting from bodily injury caused by an accident)
  • any naturally occurring condition or degenerative process; or
  • any gradually operating process.

• The member must be normally resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man*.
• Includes the use of dernys and electrically assisted pedal cycles which are not required to be registered for road use under current legislation. See https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules for the government definition of an e-bike.
• Geographical limit - worldwide subject to a maximum of 30 days per trip outside the UK*.
• All claims to be reported as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within 90 days.

* Members of HM Armed Forces are however covered whilst temporarily stationed abroad.

Family membership is available for two adults over 18 and any number of children under 18 all living at the same address. The benefits that come with the membership level you purchase apply to each individual family member, however, under 18s do not have access to the Rewards Hub.

The benefits that come with the membership level you purchase apply to all child memberships, with the exception of:

• Under 18s do not have access to the Rewards Hub
• Under 16s cannot receive email communications

Junior, Youth and Under 12 memberships can be purchased online, in the same way as Senior memberships. Head to the sign up page and enter date of birth. The correct packages and prices will then show automatically.

If you are a parent or guardian purchasing membership for an under 16, you will need to logout from your own account (if you have one) and create an account for your child, remembering to add your own email address and phone number as the main point of contact.

To purchase or renew family membership, email our team at membership@britishcycling.org.uk or call us on 0161 274 2010.

We’re all about bringing the joy of cycling to everyone, but with that, comes acknowledgment that accidents do happen. If you accidentally damage property or harm a fellow cyclist (at fault or not), claims against you can be stressful and expensive. We’ll walk you through everything and even cover the £2000 excess fee. E-bikes are included!

Whethe you're riding together or seperately, incidents can happen, often through no fault of your own. This benefit helps you get back on your bike and recover 100% of any compensation you are entitled to.

You can save money at top brands like Freewheel, Kalas, Halfords, Tredz and Garmin to name just a few! New brands are added weekly so be sure to explore the Rewards Hub regularly. Find more info here.

All retail discounts live in one easy to use platform – the Member Rewards Hub. Simply log in to your membership account at britishcycling.org.uk and you will see the button at the top of your dashboard.

Upon landing on the hub, you should see offers split into categories. If you click on the offers, it will tell you how to redeem. Most of the time, it will be through a discount code that you can copy and use on the brand’s website. If you’re looking for a specific brand, you can use the search bar at the top.

In-store offers will have a barcode. You just need to present your barcode at the store checkout so the staff member can scan it.

Unfortunately, the Rewards Hub is not available to Supporters or under 18s.