Membership & Racing Licence Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions regarding British Cycling membership.
How much does a membership cost?
There are three levels of membership for competitive cyclists - Gold, Silver and Bronze - each with different prices for Seniors, Families, Life, Juniors, Youth and Under 12s. There is also an Everyday Cycling membership for non competitive cyclists. For full details see the table below:
Membership
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Everyday Cycling
Senior
£13.50
£36.00
£64.00
£24.00
Junior
£13.50
£24.00
£46.00
n/a
Youth
n/a
£13.50
£34.00
n/a
Under 12
n/a
£8.00
£28.00
n/a
Family
n/a
£82.00
£138.00
n/a
Life 65-
n/a
n/a
£768.00
n/a
Life 65+
n/a
n/a
£320.00
n/a
Can I print a paper membership form?
Download a membership form and send it with a cheque made payable to "British Cycling Federation" to: Membership Services, British Cycling, National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, Manchester, M11 4DQ.
Can I join over the phone?
Join over the phone by calling our membership team. Our lines are open 8am-6pm Monday-Friday. Tel 0161 274 2010
What benefits can I expect from being a Bronze member of British Cycling?
Bronze members receive a membership card, a provisional racing licence allowing participation in a variety of entry level races and huge discounts on bikes, cycling gear, sports DVDs, travel, hotels and automotive cover.
What benefits can I expect from being a Silver member?
All benefits included under Bronze membership with the following additions: Third party public liability insurance with an indemnity limit of £10 million and no excess to pay. Silver members also have the benefit of legal advice and support following a cycling accident, access to a full racing licence, professional indemnity insurance for registered coaches and a regular coaching newsletter.
What benefits can I expect from being a Gold member?
All benefits included under Bronze and Silver membership with the following additions: Personal Accident Insurance for incidents occurring whilst cycling in the UK at any time; access to a full racing licence; four free issues of the quarterly Racing Calendar magazine.
I'm a Gold member. What does my Personal Accident Insurance cover me for?
Personal accident insurance is valid for all of your cycling in the UK, including direct travel to and from any venue for the purposes of participating in an event organised by/or under the auspices of British Cycling. Benefits include: £50,000 cover for permanent total disability; total and irrecoverable loss of sight of one or both eyes; loss of one or both limbs; total and permanent loss of hearing in both ears; total and permanent loss of speech; £7,500 death benefit (£5,000 for U/16s and members aged 70-75) and a hospital cash benefit of £25 for each complete 24-hr period up to a maximum of £750. Conditions do apply. Full details
How long will it take for my membership/licence application to be processed?
We ask that you allow 14 days for standard applications to be processed. If you belong to a cycling club, your card will be sent to you via your club secretary.
What is a racing licence and do I need one?
Most competitive cycling events at regional, national and international level require the rider to hold a full British Cycling racing licence.
A full racing licence may be purchased by Silver or Gold members. You will need a full racing licence to score points on the British Cycling rankings.
Riders who do not purchase a full racing licence are automatically awarded a free provisional racing licence. This enables participation in some entry level cycling events.
The racing licence is attached to your membership card (see below) and requires you to add a passport sized photograph to the licence before putting it in the self-seal wallet provided.
How much does a Full Racing Licence cost?
A full racing licence is free to under 16s and chargeable to adults. Remember, a full racing licence may only be purchased by Silver or Gold members. See the 2009 table below.
Full Racing Licence Senior riding for a UCI Trade Team £74.00 Senior £32.00 Junior £13.00 Youth Free Under 12 Free
My membership and licence expire on different dates. Is this correct?
You get 12 full months of membership from the day you join British Cycling. Racing Licences, however, are based on the calendar year and expire on 31st December of the year you purchase them. The world governing body for cycling, the UCI, dictates that we must issue licences in this way and it helps to reduce problems with licence renewals during the busy summer months of racing.
Irrespective of the date that your membership is valid to, you will always need to renew your membership at the same time that you purchase a licence, as it is a requirement that you hold a valid membership with insurance (Gold or Silver) for the entire period for which your licence is valid.
All riders aged under 16 are entitled to a licence free of charge when their membership is purchased.
I am a club member but haven't yet received my racing licence?
For club members, membership cards are automatically sent to the club secretary. Speak to your club secretary in the first instance if you are still awaiting your card. Subsequently, you may wish to speak to our membership services team for more information. Call 0161 274 2010.
Why is my membership card sent to my club secretary?
This system ensures that your cycling club is aware which of their members are also members of British Cycling. It also means you can't claim to still be in a cycling club if you haven't paid your club subscriptions!
I've changed my address, what do I need to do?
Contact membership services on 0161 274 2010 or email membership@britishcycling.org.uk.
I have lost my membership/licence card, how can I get a replacement?
Call the membership team on 0161 274 2010 and pay £4 by CC/debit card. The same procedure applies if you change team and require a new licence.
Is my bike covered under the membership? (e.g. if it's stolen)
No you will need to take out additional bike insurance. We can advise you on where to find the best cover. More here >>>
How do I subscribe to the emailed newsletter?
Email newsletter@britishcycling.org.uk or log onto your personal home-page and select 'newsletter'.
I am interested in joining a local cycling club, but I don't know of any in my area?
If you are Under 18 then look out for our Go-Ride clubs, which are especially geared towards activities for young people. For everyone over 18, a list of all affiliated British Cycling cycling clubs can be found in our club section on the website. Go to Club Finder and search for a club by region and or cycling discipline/s. There's also a Go-Ride club finder button.
I've just set up a cycling club. How do I affiliate to British Cycling and how much does it cost?
Contact membership services on 0161 274 2010 who will send you all the necessary information and forms to complete.
Clubs and associations pay an annual affiliation fee and in return receive the benefit of insurance for club activities (see Legal and Insurance section for details), support programmes, membership promotions, training for club officials and access to grass roots development through Go-Ride's network of school and club coaches.
I am a club secretary, and need more information on the 'free Bronze' membership offer for clubs?
We are delighted to be able to award free Bronze memberships to club members who are not current British Cycling members and have not been members in the last 2 years. Forms are sent periodically to the club secretary for this purpose. If the new member is under 16, the free membership will be awarded at Silver level.
Rather than take a free Bronze membership, you may instead opt to have the value of a Bronze membership discounted from either a Silver or Gold Membership. This discount can also be applied to a Family membership.