Inspiring Journey of BikeInsure CEO featured in USA Cycling Newsletter

USA Cycling Membership Spotlight

FEATURE: This month, we take a moment to talk with Buzzy Cohn, an active member and the founder of BikeInsure, one of USA Cycling’s supporting partners. Learn how his experience participating in charity rides, followed by an unfortunate crash, led Buzzy to identify an underserved need in the cycling space and create a business to support that need.

By: USA Cycling Membership

BUZZY COHN, FOUNDER AND CEO OF BIKEINSURE

Hello, USA Cycling members! I'm Buzzy Cohn, a busy father, avid cyclist, and a USA Cycling RIDE+ member. Although I've never participated in a bike race, I've always enjoyed riding on a really cool bike!
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My cycling journey began in the early 1980s when my Mom and I visited a bike shop in Maryland. The bike that caught my eye was a TREK. We had never heard of TREK, but I thought the logo was cool, and it rode better than any other bike I tried in the shop. That bike gave me the freedom to spend endless hours outdoors with friends. Looking back, I can truly say that cycling is a priceless experience that brought immense joy to my life.
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I loved my Mom for giving me the gift of my first TREK bike. She taught me how to ride, even though she didn't know how to ride a two-wheeler herself. Just a few years later, cancer took my Mom from me.

As a child, I didn't fully understand what cancer was. There was a disconnect between the doctor, the patient, and the family. After my best friend passed away, all I had left were the morals, values, and life lessons she shared with me during our 19 years together. Years later, I reconnected with cycling, and it gave me a chance to honor my Mom and do something to help others impacted by cancer. 

I searched for a coordinated cycling ride and discovered the LiveStrong Challenge, a fundraising cycling event. I participated in the LiveStrong Challenges in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Austin, Texas, from 2008 to 2010. I enjoyed the rides and raised over $60,000 for the LiveStrong Foundation to help fund cancer survivor programs in memory of my Mom. When she passed away, cancer was still handled as a private matter, and resources like cancer survivor programs didn't exist. The passion, healing, hope, support, and funding provided by charity rides like these have been immeasurable for millions of cancer survivors and their caregivers, including me. 

‍The bike has always been a vital part of my life's journey, but I never thought it would lead me to a new career. It's hard to believe that on a Mother's Day, while riding with a group of friends, I accidentally ran over a piece of a hubcap on the roadside, destroying my TREK road bike. This bike was a catalyst for so many unforgettable memories, and I felt the loss more than I anticipated.

Following my cycling accident and the homeowner's insurance fiasco I experienced while trying to process the claim, I created BikeInsure, a bike insurance solution for every bike and e-bike owner in the United States. My Mom knew how much I loved bikes, and I'm sure she would be proud to see that I'm working in an industry I love, helping people protect their investment in a sport that means so much to them. 

Learn more about BikeInsure: As the official bike insurance partner of USA Cycling, IMBA, and USA Triathlon, BikeInsure collaborates with and is underwritten by Great American Insurance Company, which has an 'A+' (Superior) rating from AM Best. For more information about BikeInsure and to view special rates for USA Cycling members, please visit USACinsure.com.