Insuring bike while traveling overseas

We called our home insurance company State Farm about this when we went to St. Croix and they were all willing to help us until we said that we race with the bikes.  They then turned and ran.  We have not found another company which will insure the bikes.  In the future I think we will ship our bikes with FedEx or UPS and use their insurance.  With the price of airlines and the way they handle the bikes this is a much safer way to go.  We purchased a new Velo box and after one trip to St. Croix and back the box now looks like it is 10 years old.  The airline (US Air) was the worst and the most expensive.  They bent the rails in the box, tore off one of the Velcro straps and bent one of the latches.  When I asked about the damage they shrugged their shoulders and said we are not liable.  For all it's worth I would find another way to ship your bike.

Tom D., what did you do to get your bike to St. Croix?

Eric

Well, it's free if it goes with me on the plane. It's almost 1200 dollars to send it with other companies. And I've checked a TON!!

I guess I'll take my chances.   Thanks!

This is new.  What airline is shipping bikes for free with 5K of coverage.  When we checked with US Air, Northwest, delta, and Contintal none of them covered the lugage for 5K and none of them were free for bikes.  I have heard about coupons for some carriers but I have never found them.  Please let me in on this one..

As for shipping, after our trip to St. Croix we looked into shipping and found a service which was about 400 to ship the bike.  This was on par with what we paid to have our bikes with us on the plane and they had insurance for our $10K bike.  I will look around and see if I can find them again.  Where are you shipping that it costs 1200? 

E

Check with your home owner's insurance first.

See what is covered and what isn't

Also, FYI, State Farm will not cover anything if you race on it. 

E

Just out of curiosity, do they think that you race professionally?  That can be an issue for most companies.

Also, a lot of times the insurance company won't cover sports equipment when it's used for that particular sport.  For example, they may say "We'll cover your bike for theft, but not if you wreck it and mess it up while you're racing/riding on it."  Sounds like you did your research, but you may want to call your agent again just to clarify if "We won't cover it if you're racing on it" means "We won't cover it, period, amen," or if it means this coverage doesn't apply while you are racing.

I made it very clear that the bike was not used professionally but was used for racing and they would not help. 

On another note about shipping.  I thought this group would be a good one to try next time.

http://www.shipbikes.com/

They have their own specially designed box which looks strong enough, not as strong as my velo but not bad.  I believe they also allow you to include a tribag in the box as well.

E

Yeah, we have some long distance travel comming up this next year again and we need to research this topic all over again.  With the cost of airline bike travel and the lack of insurance coverage available for airline travel as well this is a big deal.  We always try to use tribiketransport as much as possiable but they don't go over water, nor do they go to all the races.  Is anyone aware of another way to get your bike to places like Kona, HI?

Thanks

Eric