News & Events

CTC FULL & AFFILIATED MEMBERSHIP

In October 2009 Wheel Easy changed from being a CTC Member Group to a CTC Affiliated Club. This change of status introduced a new CTC membership option for all Wheel Easy members. Until October, 2009 you could only take out full CTC membership – costing £36 pa for adults with reduced subscriptions for seniors, 'unwaged', and young persons. The new option for members of Wheel Easy is CTC Affiliated Membership at a cost of £12 pa. There is, of course, no requirement for individual Wheel Easy members to join CTC, but Wheel Easy has always encouraged our members to do so.

Please note that the CTC membership runs from 1 October each year – not on the anniversary of when you join CTC. I understand the cost of Affiliated Membership is reduced to £8 for new members joining after 1 April, I therefore assume there may be a similar reduction on full membership fees, but I have not seen these rates advertised by CTC.

It won't come as a surprise to learn that with the significant saving of affiliated membership you do not receive all the same benefits as full membership. Somewhat disappointingly there is no CTC document which specifies the differences between the two types of membership, in fact affiliate membership is hardly mentioned on the CTC website. I have therefore compiled the comparison table on the following page from information obtained from the CTC website and from numerous letters, emails and telephone calls with various CTC offices and CTC Shop.

One of the principle benefits of CTC membership is the insurance cover for third party claims against you when cycling, which is identical irrespective of the type of membership you choose. If you are not already covered for third party damage when cycling (e.g. through your household insurance policy), then CTC membership is an excellent way to acquire third party cover.

If you now wish to take out CTC membership, first review the options below and then decide on the type of membership you want. Full membership can be taken out either on-line or by post using the leaflet downloaded here. I also hold a small stock of these membership leaflets. CTC Affiliated Membership can only be taken out, and renewed, through the Membership Secretary of a CTC Affiliated Club, so if you wish to proceed with Affiliated Membership please send me a cheque for £12 (or £8 after 1 April), made payable to CTC, which I will forward to CTC with your name, postal address and email address. It's as easy as that! Annual renewals of affiliated memberships will be managed in the same way, though Wheel Easy.

If you have any questions, please email or call me and I will try to answer them.

Eric Waters
Wheel Easy Treasurer

email: eric.waters@o2.co.uk
phone: 07802 770000
address: 26 Barnwell Crescent
Harrogate
HG2 9EY

CTC MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
F=Full Membership A=Affiliated Membership

Membership rates per annum: Adult: F £36.00; A £12.00
Senior (over 65) or unwaged: F £22.50; A N/A
Additional household member at same address: F £22.50; A N/A
Family: F £58.50; A N/A
Young person (under 18), full time student (under 26): F £12.00; A N/A
Comment: Adults and Seniors can also commute 4 years full subscriptions (£144 and £90) for 5 years membership. This is not available to affiliated members.

CTC BENEFITS

World wide third party insurance (except USA and Canada) for injury or damage caused by you when cycling to a third party, up to £10m per incident. F and A both FREE
This includes cycling on unicycles, bicycles, tricycles, tandems, and electric assisted bikes (i.e. with pedals), but not electric bikes (i.e. without pedals), or any other mechanically powered bikes. You are not covered for damage to property belonging to another member of your family. A fact sheet is available here
Amount of excess applied to claims. F and A both NIL
Comment: this insurance does not cover any damage or loss to you or your bike.
CTC Legal Advice Scheme: Free advice from CTC's experienced legal team if you suffer injury or bike damage in a cycling accident on whether a claim can be made against the other party. F YES; A NO
Discounts on cycling products and services: F and A both YES
Some examples CTC quote include:
10% off items at CTC Shop
15% off at Cotswold Outdoor
25% off YHA membership (new members only)
£10 off European Bicycle Express
10% off Yorkshire Bikeliner
20% off SeaFrance Ferries
£50 off Vision Express glasses
Comment: CTC website states members receive 10% discount off cycles and cycling products bought through CTC Shop. The public can also buy on-line from CTC Shop, and from Wiggle (who run CTC Shop), and get the same items at the same discounted prices, which have already been reduced by at least 10%. CTC members do not get an additional 10% off the discounted prices. However CTC full members may get some additional discount off the CTC Shop advertised prices of certain items, e.g. if the advertised price has been discounted by 10%, you may get 1 or 2% additional discount. If the product has been discounted by, say, 15%, you won't. You can't see this additional CTC discount when browsing the CTC Shop, or in your shopping basket; it only appears after inputting your membership number at the checkout. Wiggle also give additional discount to gold and platinum customers, based on previous purchases, and this is automatically deducted at the checkouts of both CTC Shop and Wiggle. Wiggle say their additional platinum discount (2%) is higher than the additional CTC discount. As CTC receive commission from Wiggle on all purchases from CTC Shop, members should use CTC Shop rather than Wiggle, and the price you pay will always be the same or lower at CTC Shop than Wiggle.
Personal copy of award winning bi-monthly magazine Cycle: F YES A NO
Weekly email newsletter: F and A both YES
Access to over 200 CTC groups & hundreds of local and national rides & events: F and A both YES
Touring information, map downloads, GPS downloads: F YES A NO
Technical & non-technical advice from CTC's forums: F YES A NO
Comment: Affiliated & non-members may view the content of forums, but cannot post questions or replies.
Access to wide range of cycling holidays and tours all over the world: F and A both YES
Eligible for CTC Cyclecover Insurance, and CTC Cyclecover Travel Insurance: F and A both YES
CTC campaigning for cycling on local and national issues: F and A both YES

Disclaimer:
All rides are at your own risk. Please ensure that you have your own third party insurance (check your house insurance) and consider CTC membership.