The Mailbag is a regular department on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have read in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to webletters@insideinc.com. Please include your full name, hometown and state or nation. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month. The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and should not be viewed as reflecting the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside Communications, Inc.

Insurance options
Dear Velo,
In response to the letter from a reader about insuring his carbon bikes, in general, there are two ways to handle the coverage.

One is what you mentioned in your response to the question, namely adding specific coverage for bicycles as a scheduled item under sports equipment or bicycles.

The other is to have "special form perils" coverage for personal property. Only incidents that are listed as exclusions in the policy would rule out coverage. Policies vary by company and state, but typically there is no exclusion for collision or racing, so there should be coverage.

Of course, they could refuse to continue covering them if you continually have claims.
Jim Jensen
A. H. Jensen & Sons Insurance
Indianapolis, Indiana

Insuring the motor
Dear VeloNews,
In response to Darin's letter, I'd like to know if anyone knows of insurance that will cover something far more valuable than a $10,000 piece of rideable art: Me!

I know that most (not all) health insurance policies will cover injuries sustained while cycling, but I don't have the income or stability (semi-nomadic bike tourist) for that. Also, in most states, the personal injury protection you can buy as an option on your motor vehicle insurance will cover your injuries from cycling (since in most states a bicycle is defined as a vehicle and therefore the coverage extends to that) but that is not an option either, as I don't own a motor vehicle and have no plans to.

I'd like to know if there's any insurance available for cyclists that's similar to the personal injury protection available to drivers of motor vehicles. General health insurance is touted as a good idea, but until the insurance-healthcare crisis is sorted out in the USA, I'm not convinced. Plus, personal injury protection for motorists offers far better coverage for a much smaller premium than does general health insurance, so it's the ideal solution. Does anyone know if it's available anywhere, hopefully in the U.S.?
Alex Lockhart
Ashland, Oregon

We need the spotlight
Dear Velo,
Concerning doping and its pervasive effects on cycling, Mr. Raphael (see Friday's Mailbag) suggests "it's time to stop singing along with the clamorous soundtrack that the non-aficionados have given our chosen sport."

As if to say, enough already; this subject has been discussed ad infinitum, is tiresome, and should therefore be dropped. I wonder if those who share this view would say the same as it relates to political corruption, child abuse, or any number of other, similarly disturbing social issues?

Rather, an opposing perspective would suggest that, in the absence of continued, rational discussion linking cycling and doping, there's little reason to believe problems connecting the two will change substantially since history has proven there will always be those willing to cheat in order to win. Certainly many who support and participate in cycling would prefer discussing other, more complimentary aspects of the sport. However, it seems that failure to continue advocating for doping's eradication serves only to facilitate its longevity and the corrosive impacts it has on the sport we love.
David Jackson
Portland, Oregon

Talk to the machine
Dear VeloNews,
Have any of the doping authorities ever considered using a lie detector test in addition to the usual blood and urine tests in finding an athlete innocent or guilty of doping? I wonder if Floyd or Tyler ever considered taking one as part of their defenses.
Rob Rybacki
Oakland, New Jersey

Because of valid concerns regarding their accuracy, polygraphs are not admissible in criminal trials in most parts of the world, and we would imagine that their use by doping authorities would be vigorously challenged. As for athletes voluntarily offering to take the test, we've heard of none. - Editor.

One more note for Michael Ball
Dear Mr. Ball,
Thank you for signing David Clinger! David is a great talent and for that I support Rock Racing!
John Slover
Camarillo California