Swapping the chilly, rain-soaked roads of the UK for sun-kissed skies, smooth pavement, and endless trails is every cyclist’s dream. While jetting off with your bike should be a breeze, let’s face it—baggage handlers aren’t exactly known for their delicate touch with oversized luggage, especially bikes. In this article, we’ll dive into the bike boxes approved for Pedal Cover’s bicycle insurance (including the Home & Bike combined policy) to keep your two-wheeled pride and joy safe on your adventures.
Where do I start?
At Pedal Cover, we are happy to cover your bicycle and box whilst in the hands of an airline. The insurance is designed to cover damage to the bike and loss whilst travelling.
To ensure your bicycle is insured, our policy wording clearly states that the bicycle must be stored within a bike box made of plastic, carbon fibre or metal.
For clarity, our policy defines a bike box as:
Approved Boxes
As long as your bike box fits the description outlined in our policy, you’re good to go! With our Home & Bike combined insurance you’ll even get free bike box coverage up to £1,000 for damage and loss. Just remember to hang on to your receipt or hire ticket as proof of ownership.
Examples of boxes we cover
Bike Box Alan-Hard plastic:
Buxumbox-Aluminium:
Do you have any other approved boxes?
We understand that bike boxes can be costly, but there are some alternative options available. While our policy does not typically cover bike bags, we have approved a small selection of bags that incorporate an internal metal mounting structure. Please note, however, that our coverage applies to any damage sustained by the bike itself, not the bag. The approved bags are as follows:
- Thule Round Trip – 3204662
- Evoc Road Bike Bag Pro – 100409100
- Evoc Bike Bag Pro- 100410901 MOUNTAIN BIKE ONLY
- Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Road Bike Travel Bag
- Scicon Aerocomfort MTB Bike Travel Bag – MY19
- Scicon Aerocomfort 2.0
- Scicon AeroComfort Plus
If the bike bag you use is not on this list, we would not cover your bike or bag for damage. We cannot insure bicycles within soft bike bags or cardboard boxes. Remember, we would not cover damage to a bike bag regardless if it is on our list or not.
What If my bike box gets damaged?
Minor scrapes and scuffs on luggage are an inevitable part of travel, and this is completely normal. As with most insurance policies, Pedal Cover insurance does not cover cosmetic damage to your bike box. However, if your box sustains significant structural damage, we can cover repair or replacement costs up to £1,000.
Top tips
No space for a bike box? Consider renting one instead.
Place an Airtag with your bike to make tracking easier if it doesn’t get loaded onto the plane.
Upon arriving at the airport, open your bike box and check for any damage. If you find any, report it to the airline immediately.
We recommend packing your pedals and shoes in your hand luggage. If your bike is delayed, you can rent a bike and still use your own gear.
If you need to dismantle your bike for travel, use electrical tape to mark your seat post and handlebars for easy reassembly later.
Travelling abroad? As well as bicycle insurance which covers your bike and bike box for damage, Pedal Cover also provide cycling travel insurance which covers emergency medical expenses, trip cancellation, trip abandonment, repatriation along with a whole host of other benefits. This can be bought as a single trip or annual multi trip policy. If you need any assistance, we’re super easy to get through to-Just give us a call on 0800 121 4424 or contact us on enquiries@pedalcover.co.uk
