Cyclists

- Specialist cycle cover providers

Health conscious, green-minded Brits who ditch their cars and take to the road on their bikes should ensure they are properly insured, says moneysupermarket.com.

With National Bike Week having run from June 16 to 24 and the Tour de France hitting London for the first time on July 7 and 8, there are plenty of reminders to get back in the saddle.

Londoners are laziest

Londoners in particular should be dusting off their bikes, with a quarter who own one admitting they don't use it, despite annual investment in cycle routes in the capital hitting £36 million.

Richard Mason, director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: "With an increasing number of bikes on the road and more people cycling to work as an alternative to using the car or public transport, it's important to consider how well insured your bike is, just as you would your car."

Costs less than you think

Getting bicycle insurance does not cost the earth. For about £20 a year with esure.com or Lloyds TSB Insurance you can add your bike onto your contents insurance.

For £56.50 a year, with E&L Insurance for example, you can get insured for every eventuality, including personal liability, personal injury and third party cover, should the worst happen.

Last year, 2,240 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on roads in Britain.

However, consumers should weigh up whether getting specialist bike insurance is justified, especially as it can be over double the price.

There are three types of insurance options to consider when cycling: bike (for if it's stolen), third-party and personal accident cover.

A number of contents insurance providers will allow you to add cycle insurance to their standard contents cover. If you own a bike, it's worth checking this when purchasing your contents insurance as the cost of the cover can vary.

When taking out bicycle cover, moneysupermarket.com recommends the following to ensure as smooth a ride as possible:

• Have your bike marked by the police

• Check if you need a specific log

• See if your accessories are covered

• Make sure you have the make, model, type, size and colour of the bike written down in case it is stolen

• Check whether you're covered for a replacement or for the value of your bike.