Question about racing licences

[Matthew Ives]

In order to get a racing licence, do you first have to join British Cycling (£30 or £58) and then buy a seprate licence for £30?

[kieran]

If I remember you can do both at the same time so that both run concurrently - I joined BC first then got the licence after a few months, but I think you have to join BCF first to get a licence

[Mike Runner]

Wow..that's £60 for a licence effectively!!

[Ian A4size]

Yes thats about right, then if you race in the surrey league it costs to join them, then you gotta pay the race entry fee- soon adds up matey

[Jon H]

BC race licence runs from 1st Jan to 31st Dec, but membership runs from the date you join. What this means is when you come to renew your licence then you have to also renew your membership for the next year, as your licence is not allowed to run beyond your membership period.

I think licences start going cheap in July, as there's only half a race season left.

[huw williams]

It does seem expensive - until you ask someone who's been in a serious accident and used the BC membership insurance, which is part of the deal, to get compensation. I know a few riders who have done and ended up with good (and free) BC legal representation.

[siwickm]

It does add up but you have to compare it to any other hobby. Lets take a few others as examples. Golf and Fishing.

Golf you have the travel, club membership, green fees etc. I know for a fact they are well in excess of what is charged for bike racing.

Fishing you will have club membership, licences and then you may also have the equivalent of green fees as well.

I think you have to expect these types of costs when you get involved in any hobby. To make it as enjoyable as it can be for everyone involved will involve some expense to pay for all the admin and organisation etc.

Cheers

Marek...

[Matthew Ives]

So, on average, how much would it cost to enter on the line with a day licence?
If I'm only planning on doing maybe 3 or 4 races this year, perhaps it's better to do it that way?

[huw williams]

Depends on the race - there was a BC race at eastway early season which added up to somewhere in the region of £24 if you wanted to race on the day - For an hour and a bit race!!!

Clearly two or three of those and you'd have been better off with a licence/membership and all the benefits that go with it.

[SimonH]

How much would you spend in an evening in the pub ?
Each to their own !

[siwickm]

Good point Simon, and also would the pub landlord pay you compensation for when you fell over into the road on the way home due to him plying you with booze. I doubt it.

Cheers

Marek...

[Maria David]

The racing licence is half price from 1st July to Dec 31st (though you get an extension on the licence through the early part of the following year if you're doing cyclo x). BC membership fee covers you for a year from the date you join.

Personally I keep the BC membership up to date as a matter of course just from an insurance point of view. Sods law : the day you decide to "make a saving" is the day you get knocked over and have no representation.

Having said that if you don't race and are only after insurance you could get it via london cycling campaign or ctc though I don't know if legal fees are included in the fee. If you are a member of British Triathlon Association (BTA) you get cover as well, though I think their fees are about the same as BC.

[siwickm]

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... ormTmp.asp

Think everything is on this form.

Cheers

Marek......

[Grahame]

CTC membership includes 3rd party insurance (up to £1million if you get sued by somebody) and legal representaion. But doesn't cover for racing.

I am a CTC member 'cos they do more for real life cyclists and mountainbikers than BCF (cf "there are no world-class mountainbikers in the south of England")

[Ian A4size]

Def join BC for their insurance/legal stuff- i think i am right in saying that you do not need a licence for TT