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I’ve had an email from British Cycling saying my basic (Bronze) membership is going up from £27 to £50 (85%). That’s some rise. I’ve rang them up to cancel my renewal, and was offered a 20% discount, which is still £40, only a 48% rise! I asked how they could justify that increase, and got the stock answer ‘well, we’re organising the Membership differently’. OK, thats me no longer a member from the 1st of June then, after around 26 years, and 10 years before that with the British Cyclo Cross Assn. What is it with Governing bodies totally taking the pee with their Members?
I've justy had something similar with Cycling UK - looks like they're not doing the club affiliated membership anymore - although gave a 20% discount on the first year
I got the same email but it has something in there about them absorbing the price rise for my first renewal, I guess while everyone just transitions across to the new format (which for me will be in another 10 months time).
To be fair, it needed some streamlining. There were a lot of options, with/without Racing Licence, with different levels of insurance, different offers attached to each. It was very confusing.
Much improved personal accident insurance on the Premium Membership as well! 👍
Just had similar but my membership literally just renewed last week so I have basically a whole year before I need to decide what to do. Have a feeling I have the silver membership (circa £41 a year) so not a massive increase but will need to see if I am getting any less for my money.
I do need it for club rides though so not sure what my options are
They've been struggling for money, laid a few people off a few months back.
The 3 options has the basics one free, so you could still be a member of BC and not pay (but suspect you get nothing for that).
I think I'm Silver as I'm a coach for a club so it is free for me (unless I give up the coaching)...oddly, I'd have thought the enhanced personal insurance stuff would be more beneficial to a club volunteer, so seems a bit odd that it isn't (although I suspect giving away several premium memberships per club could be a load of money lost (although I won't be paying that price for a membership...far too rich for me).
What is it with Governing bodies totally taking the pee with their Members?
An effective monopoly innit? I gave up my BC gold/race membership over the Shell sponsorship deal as many, many other folk did and they won't be getting a penny of my money directly until that's over, but if I do wanna race before I'm even more a vet than I am now then I'm going to need a day license.
That's a difficult one though. I presume they've modelled it and think they can retain enough people on the increased rates to more than offset those that leave. Personally, I have it for insurance and legal cover and because my club says I need it, I don't use any of the other benefits so for me I see savings elsewhere instead of raising prices. However, appreciate that's just me and others will think differently depending on circumstances.
but if I do wanna race before I’m even more a vet than I am now then I’m going to need a day license.
British Masters?
Curious as to why your club insist on it?
My understanding is that if you are a club member but not a BC member you are not covered by the clubs BC insurance. Re-reading the club guidelines, you are "encouraged" rather than "required". I've never questioned it, the guys that run the club put a lot of time and effort in so if they asked for it I don't feel like saying no. It's only a small club so everyone knows everyone
I emailed them earlier to cancel. I can't even remember the last time I rode a bike so it's pointless me being a member.
Silver here - worth it for third party (I've had another cyclist sue me after I was knocked off by a car, and crashed into another cyclist - car hit and run).
My understanding is that if you are a club member but not a BC member you are not covered by the clubs BC insurance.
I actually read the BC club insurance doc the other month. It only covers the club committee members when carrying out their duty in accordance with BC guidelines. It doesn't cover the riders or club members at all. Just if someone wants to sue the club over something, BC may provide insurance cover to assist in the defense.
I'm sure we had a thread a year or so ago discussing that the legal assistance you get with BC (and cycling UK) was not as good as most assumed. Something like its effectively a no win no fee setup and a number of contributors had been refused assistance because they'd not been injured sufficiently (just damaged or destroyed bike/clothing). Can't remember the details but I do remember it put me off renewing my Cycling UK membership.
Silver here – worth it for third party
Would your home insurance not have done that? Normal default is £2m 3rd party on home insurance.
edit - and I'm pretty sure there is an exemption where one BC member can't sue another BC member using their service - so if you bring down another cyclist through a stupid move BC's subcontracted lawyers won't find themselves claiming against BC's subcontracted 3rd party liability providet. There was a well known case in Wales I think where this came up after an incident on a club ride.
@footflaps I think that's the case but if you're not a BC member yourself I'm not sure where that leaves the club if you were riding with them. There is a specific exemption for "guests" but if you've paid you club subs then clearly not a guest. I guess clubs like it as it removes that ambiguity
Had same email, very much doubt I'll be renewing next year, even with the first renewal being 20% off.
Heck of a hike as a bronze member.
Have they seen the Strava price hike (of 2 years ago) and figured they'd have the same success?
BC Solisitors did a good job for me three times....
No pressure from our (BC affiliated) club to have BC membership or insurance. Most of us are members of BC or CUK anyway.
@footflaps I think that’s the case but if you’re not a BC member yourself I’m not sure where that leaves the club if you were riding with them.
Doesn't make any difference. If you do something bad whilst riding with them you're personally liable as always.
If the club organise the rides according to the BC rules, they the committee (not the riders) have legal cover if anyone tries to sue them or the club (from the club insurance).
The whole thing seems, to me, to be a way for BC to make money from clubs. It doesn't really offer any benefit as far as I can see. eg if a club had no insurance, no one would sue as there'd be no point as clubs aren't (normally) rich. Trying to sue a club committee member personally because a random rider was an idiot is unlikely to get very far either.
It doesn’t really offer any benefit as far as I can see. eg if a club had no insurance, no one would sue as there’d be no point as clubs aren’t (normally) rich.
You/the club can still be sued. Assets, up to and including things like your car or house, could be seized.
On the other hand, I'm not sure anyone has ever successfully sued (or needed to sue) a cycling club - anyone actually know if there's been any cases and the outcome?
Very much like the whole "you can be sued for trespass" argument around riding on footpaths. I'm sure that in theory you can be but in practice, it never gets anywhere near that far.
You can sue anyone for anything, what matters is would you actually get anywhere.
Clubs don't normally have much in the way of assets, so not much to loose there.
I got the email also, I binned my membership over the Shell greenwashing. I don't need a license to race enduro events, I'll need to get membership for when i race the mega again in a couple of years time, but may just go the doctors note route instead.
My son is a member, he may go back to dabble at BMX, membership renews in Jan. No BMX this year no membership!
I think the Shell debacle has hurt them more than they will admit.
On the other hand, I’m not sure anyone has ever successfully sued (or needed to sue) a cycling club – anyone actually know if there’s been any cases and the outcome?
Something rings a bell there, but I can't find it. Maybe it was a rider suing another rider after a crash on a club ride?
All insurance seems expensive till you need it, even just defending a speculative claim could ruin you and your family.
I think BC are just in a complete mess.
They've had loads leave over the Shell sponsorship.
They've laid off staff.
The 'New Coaching Framework' is a disaster - seems to be about 12 months behind schedule, in the mean time no one can progress as they've stopped the old L1,2 & 3 courses..... I'm desperately waiting for the next coaching module to be released as we've lost a couple of L2 coaches at the club recently.
If I didn't have to have it for coaching I'd bin it off to be frank.
What is it with Governing bodies totally taking the pee with their Members?
I've not checked the BC constitution etc - but often changes like these are approved at the AGM. Then members of the organisation who avoid anything to do with the mechanics of running the sport/organisation get upset because of a change costs them money.
Just had a look and it seems to me they have just scrapped the bronze membership which wasn’t much cop anyway as it had no insurance on it. The member level is the equivalent of the old silver and the premium is the old gold. Prices look similar to the old rates. Not a huge increase unless I’m missing something.
I think you are missing a bit.
The commute level has also gone.
There is in effect only one level @ £50. The next level up is effectively just a £30 addition to get personal insurance which is a totally new thing not in any of the previous levels.
And then a £40 addition if you want a race licence.
Commute level was good for people who otherwise would have considered Cycling UK. i.e. not in a club, not doing road group rides and no interest in racing, but just wanting 3rd party insurance and legal aid.
I've just remembered I need to rejoin to get my level 3 MTB up and running....otherwise I don't feel very BC these days.
Something rings a bell there, but I can’t find it. Maybe it was a rider suing another rider after a crash on a club ride?
You might be thinking of this case, which involved one individual suing another:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7232182.stm
The riders were part of an informal local ride group, not an affiliated club.
Yes the gold membership included personal insurance so that is now rebranded premium.
The legal assistance is very good but lawyers are only interested if it’s a case of injury compensation not just bike or clothing. That’s fine with me as a bike and clothing can be very minor compared to injuries.
Think I will be binning it too, keep missing the auto renew, meant to do it the last couple of years as I no longer race. And I’ll be binning strava with their pisstake increase.
Not a huge increase unless I’m missing something.
I was on Ride membership, as I don't race anything BC-linked these days, and needed it to cover me as a coach/leader, so looks like I've been moved to Member, which is about £3 more per year, so no big change for me, BUT if you were on Silver previously, did that come loaded with a race licence (for free), or was it an extra £40?
They’ve had loads leave over the Shell sponsorship.
I know there was a lot of noise from various people (Including STW), but did a significant number actually quit? I don't see Cycling-UK rocking up in a fleet of new T6 vans with all their new membership money form people that said they would switch. I mean it's pretty hypocritical, how many of those people that said they wouldn't renew their BC membership also made a commitment to never fill their car up again or shut off the gas supply to their house? Did this enlightenment actually make you go out and boycot oil and gas companies, or did a handful of people just cancel a Direct Debit subscription they decided they didn't really need anyway?
I get that people are perturbed about the greenwashing, but boycotting BC over it is some seriously next level double-think virtue signaling.
Shell are pretty evil. It's not just green washing...
We don't allow smoking to be advertised at sporting events anymore, so why accept companies that burn the earth? Yes, I'm compromised as an individual as I drive a car, but corporations need holding to task.
The virtue signalling argument has been fostered by these organisations to quieten people speaking up. @thisisnotaspoon don't aid their cause by suggesting folk who want a cleaner more just world should quieten down until they have their own house in order. Change needs to come from above!
Change needs to come from above!
It got discussed in Hannah's original thread on Shell sponsorship. As I, and others, pointed out - complaining about it is one thing but there aren't many other options. 🤷🏻♂️
Not an easy conundrum to resolve...
Change needs to come from above!
How?
Shell will exist for as long as you keep using their products.
What are you waiting for, Rishi to walk out of number 10 and tell the UK he's going to stop you from using Shell?
We don’t allow smoking to be advertised at sporting events anymore, so why accept companies that burn the earth? Yes, I’m compromised as an individual as I drive a car, but corporations need holding to task.
Their carbon footprint is roughly 5% of yours when using their products. As a colleague put it, decarbonizing the north sea by installing wind turbines to power the offshore operations buys them a social license to operate. It'll make the oil and gas company carbon neutral, but your (and a few million other peoples) carbon footprint will be only reduced by ~5% for that use. You are still responsible for the other 95%.
The virtue signalling argument has been fostered by these organisations to quieten people speaking up.
No, I'm telling you to do something about it rather than virtue signal.
Shell are burning earth?
That's it then, I'm going to throw soup on a painting in a gallery and glue my face to a road until they stop
No, I’m telling you to do something about it rather than virtue signal.
What form of protest would satisfy your demands?
Or do you know, like the rest of us, that it's pretty much impossible to fulfill your demands so what you are really trying to say is, 'Sit down and shut the **** up.'
Because if that's what you really mean then just come out and say it instead of this farce you are trying to play out to look more reasonable.
I quit British Cycling over the Shell deal. I also don't drive a car, and have an air-sourcing heat pump that is powered by renewable energy (Ecotricity).
Some of us really do try!
Or do you know, like the rest of us, that it’s pretty much impossible to fulfill your demands so what you are really trying to say is, ‘Sit down and shut the **** up.’
Because if that’s what you really mean then just come out and say it instead of this farce you are trying to play out to look more reasonable.
I'm sat here eating my vegetarian food, out of a paper container, having cycled to work and only used the car once this week*, the thermostat in the house has been set at 17.5C** which combined with the cavity walls being insulated a few years ago and some clever opening of the conservatory door means the heating's not been on since February. I'd go solar + heat pump but the roof doesn't have a big enough south facing surface to make it really viable but I'm looking at hot water panels which would mean the boiler would be off completely in summer.
Like Nerd said, some people actually do things to try and put Oil and Gas out of the energy business.
*which TBH was as usual a shitty experience that's got me looking for ways to tow the track bike to the velodrome next week.
** sounds cold, but slightly unexpectedly doesn't feel it. I guess it's the decent insulation that means it now doesn't vary so much whereas before it would have been warm in the evening and contrastingly cold overnight.
So, in your opinion, have you done enough non-virtue signaling stuff to be allowed to boycott British Cycling or are you still not pure enough?
This is where is problem is.
I personally try to have a green outlook on the decisions that I can control. I'm not virtue signalling them here however 😀.
But we live in a world dominated by large corporations that are damaging the eco system for profit. As a society we need to demand better from them not nit pick who has the smallest carbon footprint as an individual. Yet again a tool of big industry to make the individual feel like they are the issue as opposed to their greed.
BC chose unwisely, it was bad enough when they were sponsored by the drug cartels favoured bank 😀
So, in your opinion, have you done enough non-virtue signaling stuff to be allowed to boycott British Cycling or are you still not pure enough?
I'm not boycotting them.
Because actually doing something is better than virtue signaling.
But we live in a world dominated by large corporations that are damaging the eco system for profit. As a society we need to demand better from them not nit pick who has the smallest carbon footprint as an individual. Yet again a tool of big industry to make the individual feel like they are the issue as opposed to their greed.
Those business aren't going out of business however loudly you tut.
Like I said, Shell's consumers carbon footprint will be roughly 20x that of Shell itself.
Boycotting them (or more specifically quitting or not renewing) is not virtue signalling - it has a real practical direct effect on the person you're annoyed at.
Virtue signalling is posting a green ribbon on Facebook to show everyone how much you care about renewable energy but not actually doing anything
"Shell’s consumers carbon footprint will be roughly 20x that of Shell itself."
Of course it bloody will, they sell hydrocarbons for other people to burn!
When people criticise crack dealers, it's not because anyone's worried that the dealers are smoking too much crack...
It's similar in other bodies too.
England Athletics just jacked their club affiliation up from £150 to £200. That's a 33% increase. (And it was jacked up from 100 to 150 only a couple of years ago too).
Taking the pish. They need to cut down their foreign jollies instead- wonder how many unnecessary visits to Paris by senior spinging wasters will occur during the Olympics ?
I feel like cancelling anyhow.
I have had Silver membership for a while as used to race CX.I got the email with the slight price increase.
Haven't raced for a few years but have thought about doing the odd one but haven't yet.
Thing is I can't see an advantage in having it now.
I work in the trade so most of the discounts are not really much good for me and the accident help wasn't really much good to me a year or two ago.
Had a bad crash in which the driver was at fault.The legal team needed more evidence and the police were not much good!
Ended up paying for a lot of stuff myself with a lot of injury!
What exactly am I paying for here?
Was thinking of joining cycling UK?
Regards,
Max.
I joined Cycling UK, more for their campaigning and lobbying - as I cycle commuter I want low-traffic and traffic free routes, and they do campaigns around this and other cycling issues.
The magazine is very cycle tourist and commuter oriented, which suits me fine as it's 10 years since I last did a race, and I'm more into Audax and cycle touring nowadays.
Whether the extra benefits are worth it, I'm not sure. I hope I never need the legal representation or 3rd party insurance, but it is useful if you do an organised Audax (you don't have to pay the extra fee) or club ride (some clubs require you to be a member of CUK, BC or AUK).
As for am I pure enough - probably not, I still eat meat twice a week and fish once or twice. British Cycling isn't sponsored by big-agri, though!
Boycotting them (or more specifically quitting or not renewing) is not virtue signalling – it has a real practical direct effect on the person you’re annoyed at.
I agree, but in this case, what reduction in carbon footprint does boycotting BC have?
They might have to turn the thermostat down a bit in Manchester?
Of course it bloody will, they sell hydrocarbons for other people to burn!
When people criticise crack dealers, it’s not because anyone’s worried that the dealers are smoking too much crack…
I think you're overselling the addictive properties of FuelSave Unleaded.
Telling someone to stop smoking crack is futile, they can't (without significant help).
You can however make individual moves to stop using significant amounts of fossil fuels.
What top down action's are you waiting for to stop you? Prohibition of petrol and re-classifying V-Power as a class-A?
If this boycott is successful, then what? What will actually be better for the planet when BC is sponsored by Tesco*.
*I've no idea if Tesco are interested, but the colors match and there's a synergy between marginal gains and every little helps at least
If this boycott is successful, then what? What will actually be better for the planet when BC is sponsored by Tesco*.
It's a good question.
It seems like every elite level sport now has some company or regime looking to get it's claws in to wash whatever stench they have off them.
However, just because I don't know what comes next doesn't mean I'm going to try to stop making sure my money doesn't go towards companies or regimes that are actively harming the planet or people. Even if that money might be supporting these things indirectly, it's still supporting them.
I doubt they'll turn the heating down...it will cause issues for the track!