CTC or British Cycling membership?

I’ve been a CTC member for a few years, simply to get the 3rd party insurance (in case someone steps of a pavement in front of me).

However, I find the CTC magazine, and their information in general, pretty dull. It seems to be targeted at middle age men (and much older) with beards who want to spend all their time riding old-school touring bikes the length and breadth of these Isles, ideally in wind and rain (I know the T in CTC stands for Touring, but nonetheless…)

I’m tempted to try British Cycling instead, again primarily to get the 3rd party insurance, but their general literature/website/focus seems more interesting (not that I intend to do any racing in the near future).

Anyone tried both to compare, or have any views on whether BC is better/worse that CTC?

Cheers,
Nick

A good friend had a nasty roadie accident that’s gone down the legal route where they’ve been really good. Still ongoing though.

I bought CTC membership for my son who commutes.

When I get back on my road bike, I’ll probably end up with the CTC although I can’t get my head around this charity tag.

In an ideal world I would prefer to support an organisation that seriously campaigns for cyclists of all persuasions but has little involvement with anything else.

Have you ever need the 3rd party insurance ?

I joined for a year, then wondered why and since then havent botherd. You dont ride about with a number plate, so what are you insuring yourself for ?

CTC were all over the ASA fiasco today. What was the British Cycling response?

@Trimax – nope, I haven’t needed the insurance, but then that’s kind of what insurance is all about, isn’t it? Membership doesn’t cost much – seems like a no-brainer if you’re commuting pretty often.

Nick

I have both. Originally CTC for the insurance and then last yr BC for velodrome tickets. The CTC magazine is as you describe, dull but still worth 10 mins. The regular BC emails are pretty boring unless you’re very into road and track race scene IMO. I think BC does better offers, certainly on event tickets early.

Can I just give an example of my friend’s experience following her accident? She hit a large pothole that was obscured by huge trees overhanging the road. The residents had already complained about the pothole as other cyclists had been caught out.

My friend lost consciousness, the residents called an ambulance and, that evening, the pothole was filled in presumably by the Police being involved. 😯

She smashed her face and this necessitated many visits to various specialists at various hospitals, she was also unable to work (self-employed).

Bike is obviously a write-off, as are her £200 shoes, glasses, clothing, gps etc.

All this including her expenses should be reimbursed by the Council who’s admitted liability. However, there is no price for losing confidence. 🙁

The CTC legal team were apparently really on the ball and helpful.

Martin Key from British Cycling put out a statement today on the Advert. Not much between the organisations in terms of benefits v price and the legal cover / insurance. The actual organisations are not comparable in terms of size, structure and what they are doing for cycling. I know where my money will continue to go …

CG – as an aside, has your friend tried her insurance co for accidental damage to bike, specs, clothes etc ?

As for the CTC mag being dull. Well yeah it does have to cater to a very broad church (I actually quite like that about it) but it does feature mountain biking and off-road touring as well:

I went with BC partly for the racing side but mostly because of some of the CTC’s ridiculous history- didn’t want my money going to the same people that campaigned against motorbikes in bus lanes, despite knowing that it reduces cyclist injuries and therefore most likely fatalities… purely because they see motorbikes as competition.

CG – as an aside, has your friend tried her insurance co for accidental damage to bike, specs, clothes etc ?

No as it’s part of the claim.

When I had my accident I was able to claim for cost of repairs to bike, that was with M & S.

I’m getting increasingly angry that human life is viewed as cheap, especially after today’s disgraceful verdict on the poor cyclist in Hampshire that died.

CG, fair enough re insurance. I had a big fall on a silly drop off last month, also with m&s, protected no claims and claimed for new prescription specs etc under accidental damage

@Margin Walker

The actual organisations are not comparable in terms of size, structure and what they are doing for cycling

Errmm… this may well be the case, but I confess I know little about what either are doing for cycling (BC or CTC). Care to elaborate?

Thanks!
Nick

CTC family membership to cover the kids on their ride to school#. BC for racing. Neither will be found wanting when you need their legal expertise.

And I quite like Cycle, I pass it on at work.

#Also LCC because I get a huge corporate discount but support their campaigning.

I’m a member of BC. There was a lot of promise of free gifts and all that kind of stuff, but most of it seems a bit of a con really. I got a sticker, that’s about it. Of course, I do it for the insurance, and the work they do for cycling in Britain. But I’ll be going with CTC this year. It will be quite nice to get a magazine!

and the work they do for cycling in Britain.

On the racing side? They don’t do campaigning do they?

On the racing side? They don’t do campaigning do they?

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/campaigning
😉

What do you guys think about the chance of using the insurance they offer if you ride off road 99% of the time ?

I can see it being potentially usefull if your commuting on road, as explained above, but as I ride off road Im wondering just how it may be usefull.

Running over a stray dog ? Colliding with a kid in the woods ? Mmm, in 25 years Ive done those things but not needed insurance yet. Does make you wonder about it though.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/why-dont-you-join-the-ctc-straw-poll-serious-question

TBF I’ve never been that convinced that either organisation’s campaigning achieves us much… But then, maybe they do great work and it’s just not that visible. I think if I lived in England or Wales I’d join the Bridleways Trust!

My BC is due for renewal soon actually (Thanks for the reminder)…

I think a similar thread popped up about six months ago and my persoanl assessment then was that the CTC were still with their image as a club for dusty old chaps on touring bikes, That might not actually be the case but unfortunately I think that perception is still pretty widely held…

BC have latched nicely onto the UKs competitive cycling success and have managed to increase their profile in the last couple of years, but they are offering something for everyone, not just race, race , rac… They are keen on promoting competition (or so it seems) but their “Grass roots” work is valuable too, I’ve been on a course to lead sessions at my daughters school run by BC and their insurance is probably most valuable to me as a commuter rather than a racer.

I think both organisations are worth joining, I’ll probably renew my BC membership, it’s better to be in one or the other rather than neither IMO.

Question: Those that are members of both CTC & BC, Why do you find “Dual membership” worth having? just out of interest…