News Centre

As more people are getting on their bikes and riding along the highways and byways of the UK, major retailer Marks and Spencer has conducted a survey and found that over a quarter of Brits have had a bike stolen at some point in the last two years.

As the British summer is turning out to be a hotter one than is usually anticipated, more of us are choosing to cycle. For some, it may be part of an exercise plan to lose weight, and for others it may be a way to avoid being trapped in a hot, stuffy car whilst commuting to and from work.

As bikes can be a tempting target to opportunistic thieves, a new study has revealed the importance of making sure your bike is adequately covered by your home insurance .

Marks and Spencer surveyed 2,000 adults, and found that 27 percent of them had a bicycle stolen in the last 2 years. Of those polled, 76 percent had a minimum of one bike in their home, whilst 36 per cent of those without one said they planned to get a bike in the very near future.

With the average mountain bike costing around £240, the cost of owning a bike can rise when factoring in accessories such as a high quality bike lock, a helmet, bike maintenance and special cycling attire such as high visibility vests and cycling shorts. The expense soon adds up, and owning a bike can quickly become a major investment for lots of people.

Andrew Ferguson, of Marks and Spencer, commented: "Cycling can certainly be a popular activity, particularly as the evenings are lighter and the weather is warmer.

"It is important that if people have a bicycle already, or are considering making a new purchase, they make sure it is covered adequately by their home insurance policy."

The poll has highlighted the need for would-be cyclists to check their existing home contents insurance policy to ensure that their bike would be covered in the event of a theft, and to consider adding it to their policy if they find that it is not.