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Buying a bike tomorrow
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here? |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Just checked your profile re age, was going to say get a chopper!
Are spacehoppers included in scheme or just bikes?  "
I used to have a chopper! I loved that bike.
No I'm afraid just bikes but I'll double check  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Depends what your looking for,road or mountain bike? Decathlon range is pretty good value,spec,Boardman the same,Got Giant myself there good spec,at the grand price point best off aluminium frame,carbon fork n good Shimano spec,rather than carbon frame for road,think there is a fee to pay at end to keep bike? Think on paperwork my firm sent was 7% at high rate n 3% lower rate tax,I didn't qualify,zero hours!but I always buy nearly new second hand when people find its bit harder than it looks on tour de france  |
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here? "
Yes there is a thread in this forum
Given where you live, Ribble Cycles are close by
They used to be on Watery Lane, in Preston itself
They operate the scheme & you can custom build your bike
I have 2 from there
One was on the 'C2W' scheme, as you essentially lost the VAT |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here?
Yes there is a thread in this forum
Given where you live, Ribble Cycles are close by
They used to be on Watery Lane, in Preston itself
They operate the scheme & you can custom build your bike
I have 2 from there
One was on the 'C2W' scheme, as you essentially lost the VAT"
Depends on the scheme provider, my employers used Halfords and you can;t buy from Ribble (or Plant X for that matter) which as my scheme is for up to £2k is somewhat frustrating!
My road bike is a Ribble and I love it |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow
Well??
What did you look at/show interest in/buy??"
Only a cheapie. It's not going to be used much but I like knowing I have one. |
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Firstly, PM me for advice..
Secondly beware such schemes, a salary sacrifice scheme can affect your pension and other benefits.
Also you may be effectively leasing the bike, meaning you have to pay a final 'fair market value' at the end to own it (employers are tightening up on this).
Finally the deals on last year's model often work out cheaper and are better specced, as a result of falling value of the pound against the dollar and falling component production after the Japanese disasters.. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Firstly, PM me for advice..
Secondly beware such schemes, a salary sacrifice scheme can affect your pension and other benefits.
Also you may be effectively leasing the bike, meaning you have to pay a final 'fair market value' at the end to own it (employers are tightening up on this).
Finally the deals on last year's model often work out cheaper and are better specced, as a result of falling value of the pound against the dollar and falling component production after the Japanese disasters.."
I work for the NHS & know at few friends who have done the scheme and can recommend it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Firstly, PM me for advice..
Secondly beware such schemes, a salary sacrifice scheme can affect your pension and other benefits.
Also you may be effectively leasing the bike, meaning you have to pay a final 'fair market value' at the end to own it (employers are tightening up on this).
Finally the deals on last year's model often work out cheaper and are better specced, as a result of falling value of the pound against the dollar and falling component production after the Japanese disasters.."
I'm curious as to how it could effect my pension?
The lump sum is usually around 5% of the value and is stated up front so it still equates to a saving |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here? "
There are loads of 1000 pound bikes on ebay for 100 quid ...mainly sold by large people who bought them on sais scheme |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here? There are loads of 1000 pound bikes on ebay for 100 quid ...mainly sold by large people who bought them on sais scheme "
Need to get a bike for the summer and that sounds like a great deal. Will check on ebay. Thanks for the heads up  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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i bought a bike from Ribble last year and it is absolutely brilliant.
It wasn't ridiculously expensive, but not an entry level bike either. Used their bikebuilder on their site, and specced it to what I wanted, and couldn't be happier with it.
Just looked at their website and they have an entry level flat handlebar road bike at £400 which would probably be ideal for you. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here? There are loads of 1000 pound bikes on ebay for 100 quid ...mainly sold by large people who bought them on sais scheme
Need to get a bike for the summer and that sounds like a great deal. Will check on ebay. Thanks for the heads up "
bought my brothers 800 quid trek after he completed a month on it.... |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"What you looking to get hybrid, road bike,ladies shopper.
How far do you ride to work?
What are you riding on, footpath, cycle paths or roads."
It's called cycle to work but you can get a bike for personal use on the scheme. So I'm looking for a cheap mountain bike. I'll only use it to go on a bike ride down the canal etc. I've seen one which is okay at £130 & on the scheme I can get up to 40% off. So I'm going to do my sums on Monday on the works calculated thingy and see what it works out at. Just like the idea of having a bike again as mine was knackered x |
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By *evaquitCouple
over a year ago
Catthorpe |
You need to find someone with an expensive bike receipt then invoice your work to reimburse you the 40%. Buy the bike outright so there's no need to enter the monthly scheme making sure the bike is much, much cheaper, very much below the 40% and actually 'make' money out of this......Thank us later....you get caught we don't know you. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Bought a £1k bike on c2w, by the time I paid the final fee I saved about £100. I personally wouldn't do it again as I could of saved that and more buying in the sales. |
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"What you looking to get hybrid, road bike,ladies shopper.
How far do you ride to work?
What are you riding on, footpath, cycle paths or roads.
It's called cycle to work but you can get a bike for personal use on the scheme. So I'm looking for a cheap mountain bike. I'll only use it to go on a bike ride down the canal etc. I've seen one which is okay at £130 & on the scheme I can get up to 40% off. So I'm going to do my sums on Monday on the works calculated thingy and see what it works out at. Just like the idea of having a bike again as mine was knackered x"
Maybe look at a hybrid, they have chunky road wheels, much lighter than a mountain bike. For me a much better buy than a mountain bike. |
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"What you looking to get hybrid, road bike,ladies shopper.
How far do you ride to work?
What are you riding on, footpath, cycle paths or roads.
It's called cycle to work but you can get a bike for personal use on the scheme. So I'm looking for a cheap mountain bike. I'll only use it to go on a bike ride down the canal etc. I've seen one which is okay at £130 & on the scheme I can get up to 40% off. So I'm going to do my sums on Monday on the works calculated thingy and see what it works out at. Just like the idea of having a bike again as mine was knackered x"
Please don't take this the wrong way, as to non cyclists the price of decent bikes are eye watering, but PLEASE consider spending more on a bike.
The reasoning is this, cheap bikes (& £130 is cheap) are what we call 'bicycle shaped Objects, or BSO's.
BSO's are generally horrible to ride, heavy & handle badly with cheap parts, they offer such a poor experience that they put most people off ever riding again.
I would suggest that you spend the most you can afford, as you will get a far better bike that you will want to ride again.
Unless you are spending £700+ i would avoid bikes with suspension. At the lower price points the suspension is most often pretty useless and just adds weight. If you are mainly planning on towpath and cycle trail riding you don't need it IMO.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"What you looking to get hybrid, road bike,ladies shopper.
How far do you ride to work?
What are you riding on, footpath, cycle paths or roads.
It's called cycle to work but you can get a bike for personal use on the scheme. So I'm looking for a cheap mountain bike. I'll only use it to go on a bike ride down the canal etc. I've seen one which is okay at £130 & on the scheme I can get up to 40% off. So I'm going to do my sums on Monday on the works calculated thingy and see what it works out at. Just like the idea of having a bike again as mine was knackered x
Maybe look at a hybrid, they have chunky road wheels, much lighter than a mountain bike. For me a much better buy than a mountain bike."
Yes for towpaths they are much better than a cheap mountain bike |
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"i bought a bike from Ribble last year and it is absolutely brilliant.
It wasn't ridiculously expensive, but not an entry level bike either. Used their bikebuilder on their site, and specced it to what I wanted, and couldn't be happier with it.
Just looked at their website and they have an entry level flat handlebar road bike at £400 which would probably be ideal for you."
As stated previously, l have 2 Ribbles
One of their 'winter/audax' bikes (the blue one, mudguarded, aluminium framed one seen in most of adverts
Not light, but a good ride, & nice-handling
(tiagra, & Vision 30 wheels)
Bought through (NHS version of) 'C2W'
The other is a Gran Fondo
11-speed Ultegra, Ultegra wheels |
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I wouldn't recommend a cycle that cheap, it's going to be poor quality.
With the discount you're much better spending a bit more and getting a boardman or similar.
Don't forget you can also put helmet, lights and even cycle wear on it too. |
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"What you looking to get hybrid, road bike,ladies shopper.
How far do you ride to work?
What are you riding on, footpath, cycle paths or roads.
It's called cycle to work but you can get a bike for personal use on the scheme. So I'm looking for a cheap mountain bike. I'll only use it to go on a bike ride down the canal etc. I've seen one which is okay at £130 & on the scheme I can get up to 40% off. So I'm going to do my sums on Monday on the works calculated thingy and see what it works out at. Just like the idea of having a bike again as mine was knackered x
Please don't take this the wrong way, as to non cyclists the price of decent bikes are eye watering, but PLEASE consider spending more on a bike.
The reasoning is this, cheap bikes (& £130 is cheap) are what we call 'bicycle shaped Objects, or BSO's.
BSO's are generally horrible to ride, heavy & handle badly with cheap parts, they offer such a poor experience that they put most people off ever riding again.
I would suggest that you spend the most you can afford, as you will get a far better bike that you will want to ride again.
Unless you are spending £700+ i would avoid bikes with suspension. At the lower price points the suspension is most often pretty useless and just adds weight. If you are mainly planning on towpath and cycle trail riding you don't need it IMO.
"
I have to disagree with the price range.
I bought a voodoo marrassa from halfords for £350, apart from changing tyres and fitted clipless peddles, out of the box it did the London to Brighton no issues at all. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Go and read some reviews, look at other sites.
So many people will tell you something different, for me you can't go wrong with a custom hand built Frame and campagnolo equipment. But they are not available on the ride to work scheme.
Don't buy a cheap mountain bike, I bought an Apollo mountain bike, to leave on the sea front while I was at work. The 6 months I have had it has beenn awful, it is heavy, craps handling, the cables have been changed twice, and the chain once. Only bonus is, no one will steel it.
Like someone mentioned the voodoo marrassa is a good bike, it holds it own against more expensive bikes. |
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I bought myself a new bike last week. A Holdsworth La Quelda singlespeed road bike for commuting/general bobbing around on, only cheap at £300 but quite fun to ride.
Chromo steel frame and 42/18 gear ratio, that's a tad low so will probably stick a 16T freewheel on instead, a freewheel is only £6 so not a problem! |
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By *onlyshowWoman
over a year ago
your dreams |
I've just started road cycling again after a 20 year break.
I was surprised how easy it was to get back into it, it was, well just like riding a bike actually. LOL
I think it's going to take awhile to get back to fitness I was at though |
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"I've just started road cycling again after a 20 year break.
I was surprised how easy it was to get back into it, it was, well just like riding a bike actually. LOL
I think it's going to take awhile to get back to fitness I was at though "
You'll be surprised how quickly it returns! Might be a tad painful at first though.. |
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By *onlyshowWoman
over a year ago
your dreams |
"I've just started road cycling again after a 20 year break.
I was surprised how easy it was to get back into it, it was, well just like riding a bike actually. LOL
I think it's going to take awhile to get back to fitness I was at though
You'll be surprised how quickly it returns! Might be a tad painful at first though.."
It was yesterday when I landed on the crossbar because I couldn't get my foot I clipped quick enough at a Junction Lol |
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"I've just started road cycling again after a 20 year break.
I was surprised how easy it was to get back into it, it was, well just like riding a bike actually. LOL
I think it's going to take awhile to get back to fitness I was at though
You'll be surprised how quickly it returns! Might be a tad painful at first though..
It was yesterday when I landed on the crossbar because I couldn't get my foot I clipped quick enough at a Junction Lol "
Been there, done that! Also the slow, sideways topple when you can't unclip.. |
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" It was yesterday when I landed on the crossbar because I couldn't get my foot I clipped quick enough at a Junction Lol "
"Been there, done that! Also the slow, sideways topple when you can't unclip.."
We all have
I've been using LOOK pedals since 1989, & SPDs (MTB style, from, just after their going on sale in, 1990
I've used SPDs for MTB racing (started that back in 1990!), cyclo-cross, & use them on my work/training bike, as they're far easier at trafffic-lights for re-engagement
It's invariably with witnesses too
Your brain will subconsciously adapt itself after the first (say....) 3 falls
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here? "
I bike everywhere and in this weather only way to travel  |
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"I've just started road cycling again after a 20 year break.
I was surprised how easy it was to get back into it, it was, well just like riding a bike actually. LOL
I think it's going to take awhile to get back to fitness I was at though
You'll be surprised how quickly it returns! Might be a tad painful at first though..
It was yesterday when I landed on the crossbar because I couldn't get my foot I clipped quick enough at a Junction Lol
Been there, done that! Also the slow, sideways topple when you can't unclip.."
Did that back when I had toe clip and cleats, thank God for time pedals. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I want a bike and enquired with our scheme only to be told i got to wait until Nov!!"
Ours is the same, opens twice s year march and September. Other than people looking to buy better bikes who is going to use it? New cyclists buy bikes in the summer |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here? "
I've used the scheme a few times, basically you get the bike tax free. I've always used halfords, get the voucher, wait for them to have a sale and then get your bike, they also give you 10% in free accessories of your choosing and 12 months bike care insurance too so it's a good deal all round. I got a 600 quid voucher and got two bikes plus 60 quids worth of free goodies. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm off to look at bikes tomorrow. We have a cycle to work scheme & can get up to 40% off and only need to pay back each month from your salary.
Any cycle enthusiasts here? "
Basicall;
lower tax bracket is a £1000 voucher but you only pay around £666 as comes out pre tax & NI.
Higher tax bracket works out £1000 for around £500
Both deducted monthly. Its a no brainer. You can top up the value too, say if wanted a 3k bike.
Best thing to do is go to your local bike shop and ask to demo a bike. Maybe even a mini bike fit. They'll give you great advice. Leisure Lakes bikes is a good store over that way.
Giant actually do a bike for £999.00 that was specifically built for the £1000 vouchers influx the other year. Its called the Giant Stance. Its a full suspension mountain bike with a good ok spec. Will last you well or be a great first bike.
 |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'd always advise to look at Planet X. Amazing bikes and I won't have anything else at min simply because nothing comes close.
Think of it this way, if the Giant you wanted costs £2500 the equivalent Planet X will be a £1000 with no reduction in quality and improved customer service. Its a no brainer for me. |
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"I'd always advise to look at Planet X. Amazing bikes and I won't have anything else at min simply because nothing comes close.
Think of it this way, if the Giant you wanted costs £2500 the equivalent Planet X will be a £1000 with no reduction in quality and improved customer service. Its a no brainer for me. "
Or Ribble?
You can do the same there
Specify various groupsets, crank length, chain-rings, cassette, stem-length, bar width
I may be biased, as 2 of my (6) are Ribbles |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'd always advise to look at Planet X. Amazing bikes and I won't have anything else at min simply because nothing comes close.
Think of it this way, if the Giant you wanted costs £2500 the equivalent Planet X will be a £1000 with no reduction in quality and improved customer service. Its a no brainer for me. "
And I suppose Lidl is just as good as M&S eh? 
I had a canyon for years, a cheap german bike. Yes it was good, yes it did the job and looked well. BUT it is no where near the quality of the big brands. You look at the way its machined, welded, formed, designed, its stiffness, etc its a no brainer. Alot of these budget bikes stack their builds out with conponents and people think its just as good. Ive nothing against on-one or planet x, id happily have one. Even think th codiene looks alright. But it is what it is, built to a certain cost with copied technology. I love the on-one inbred hard tails.. Brands like this win on price alone. Rose, canyon, on one, etc. Brilliant bikes for the money, cant not agree more. But they dont compare to their equivelent in the big or boutique brands.
But a bikes a bike.. Just get out and ride! Even if on an old raleigh team banana lol |
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"I'd always advise to look at Planet X. Amazing bikes and I won't have anything else at min simply because nothing comes close.
Think of it this way, if the Giant you wanted costs £2500 the equivalent Planet X will be a £1000 with no reduction in quality and improved customer service. Its a no brainer for me.
And I suppose Lidl is just as good as M&S eh?
I had a canyon for years, a cheap german bike. Yes it was good, yes it did the job and looked well. BUT it is no where near the quality of the big brands. You look at the way its machined, welded, formed, designed, its stiffness, etc its a no brainer. Alot of these budget bikes stack their builds out with conponents and people think its just as good. Ive nothing against on-one or planet x, id happily have one. Even think th codiene looks alright. But it is what it is, built to a certain cost with copied technology. I love the on-one inbred hard tails.. Brands like this win on price alone. Rose, canyon, on one, etc. Brilliant bikes for the money, cant not agree more. But they dont compare to their equivelent in the big or boutique brands.
But a bikes a bike.. Just get out and ride! Even if on an old raleigh team banana lol "
Ive just bought a chromo steel Holdsworth singlespeed from Planet X for general transport duties. Its a nice bike for the money,certainly better than the Mango it replaced. Its cheap, but you get what you pay for.
Personally I would go to Ribble or Dolan before Planet X at the £1000+ price point. |
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