Allow me to pull on my plaid tweed jacket and dust off the elbow patches, because today we’re going to talk about extended warranty plans! All kidding aside, Velocare is an extended warranty program for cyclists providing complete coverage on components that fail under normal riding circumstances for up to five years.
If you rely on your bicycle to commute, it’s equally important to you as cars are to motorists. As we all know, bikes can require pricey repairs too and not everyone can shell out for, say, a fork replacement on the spot. MTB riders might like knowing if they blow up a wheel right before a weekend ride or race, they can repair or replace it without hesitation. Velocare assures you that if your bike breaks down, one of their dealers will fix it up with no out-of-pocket expenses for you to deal with.
Click below the break for the fine print…
The first thing to make abundantly clear is that Velocare is not bicycle theft insurance, but rather an extended warranty plan. It is intended to go beyond your manufacturer’s warranty to cover repair costs for parts that fail under normal use, something the manufacturer doesn’t typically provide. If your bike breaks down, simply bring it to a Velocare dealer and they will replace or repair the damaged components and send you on your way. There are no deductibles or hidden costs to hassle with, just pick up your bike and get back to daily life.
Covered components include the drivetrain, brakes, suspension, seat and post, steering components, shifter/brake cables, wheels, pedals, and bottom bracket. Parts that are considered normal wear and tear items include brake pads, tires and tubes, or any kind of batteries. The frame itself, damage caused by accidents and any maintenance services are not covered by Velocare.
In their own terms, they state:
* Velocare covers various bicycle components and accessories attached to the bicycle frame, at the time of sale, for failure through normal recreational riding
** Parts failure does not cover regular maintenance, brake pads, tires & tubes, or batteries.
The words ‘at the time of sale’ do specify that any upgraded components are not covered, which is something to consider as most cyclists tend to personalize their cockpit at the least. Thankfully their definition of ‘normal recreational riding’ includes everything from downhill to road cycling, and only excludes professional or commercial uses.
The plan pricing varies according to the retail price of your bike and how long you want it covered, with options for three or five years of coverage beyond your manufacturer’s warranty. Velocare can be purchased at participating retailers, and you can have a bike that was bought from a non-Velocare dealer covered, as long as you start within 30 days of the purchase date.
Velocare currently has about 1400 partner shops and is encouraging more shops across the USA to take on the program, which they say builds loyalty. If a customer has purchased a bike and Velocare from a shop, they will inevitably return in the future to have repair services done at no charge to them- but the shop still sells parts and bills out their time to Velocare at a labour rate of $60 an hour and MSRP -15% on parts. For more info or to register to become a dealer, visit Velocare’s website.
