O/T "Cycle 2 Work" Scheme
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi

Just wondering if anyone here has any experiences of this really. Thinking about doing it only for the ride home though as i dont think i would have the energy for the mornings but to help keep a bit fitter.

Also anyone know when the sales start to kick in for last years old stock?

I seem to remember reading somewhere a discussion about this, the upshot being its either a very very expensive way to buy a bike, or its a con, can't remember which.

I know a few people who have taken up the option in the past - they all seamed pretty happy as they could go to the smaller independant dealers and buy waht they wanted; not sure on the max spend though

No experience of C2W scheme although Sturgeo asked his employer to sign up for it recently.

The dealers are already discounting this years models as the 2013 stock is already coming in. Not a lot left though as demand has been so high.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Its not a con. I know plenty of people who have done it (Wil for one). You generally get an interest free loan of upto 1k to spend on bike and gear. As your company has to buy it you get it VAT free. Also the loan payment comes out of your pay before tax, so you save more money. I know people who have done it every year for a few years, sold on the bike or upgraded parts. Its not a con, but some companies make a better job of it than others.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

From the reading i've done it seems a bit vague and depending on the company running the scheme/employer it can vary. Some for example get you to buy the bike off them after the 18 months which can be around 200-300 pounds.

Others seem to say after the term you pay say £70 for the next few years hire after then the bike is nil value anyway and yours.

Example if i was to borrow £800; thats roughly 20-23 pounds a month from my salary for 18 mths = 414 + 70 final payment = £484. (these are just rough calcs). Have asked a few people from work and my company dont appear to ask for the 200-300 pounds unless you want to sell it then for obvious reasons they get you to buy it off them. They appear to just let it run on without even the final rental payment.

I got one, the scheme is great and the final settlement was a tiny fraction of what the bike was worth. Great way to buy a bike.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

I bike or walk work anyways :)

In my informative years, I always remember noting that the guys that cycled to work were slimmer, fitter and generally healthier than those of us who drove.

A recent study in Holland has shown that a guy of 30 cycling regularly can extend his life by 6 years.

Just do it.

Whoa, put the soap box away :)



EDIT: It was Denmark and 5.3 years but you get the jist.

Edited by Paul S on 8th Oct, 2012.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Remember its winter coming, dark nights and there's plenty of buffoons who will knock you if your bike.......... Google the statistics in the UK

On a positive note I cycle and it will make you very fit........ go for it

I'd love to do it, but with a 75 mile round trip. I'd be lucky to get there on Wednesday if I set of on Monday...

the main reason I dont cycle to work much is there are no showers... can't stand getting there all sweaty!

that said, 2 years ago the 4.5 mile journey to work would have wiped me out, now after a bit of biking (about 1 decent ride a week) its a piece of piss, and now my iffy hip seems to have largly cleared up I'm pushing the distances, Sat was a 50 miler, which was a bit of a push but only cause it was a bit windy. aiming for some 50's 75's and a 100 next year,

If only I could cyle to work!!

i plan on doing the "too work" bit eventually but i know it will put me off doing it before i start. least i know if i can take my time the first few times then it will be more "fun" :p

popped to halfords today and was looking at http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_team.html

what you think?

Yep I did it. Got a bike worth £500 tax free. Been to work on it a few times (although only from the outskirts of York, not the whole 13 miles).

At the end of the term I'll have to purchase the bike. This is usually a token value, although I haven't got to that point yet.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

I work in a bike shop, basically the employer pays for the bike and the employee pays back out of their wages the price less their TAX, not vat as some think, it is fully tax deductible, in Ireland here it's up to €1000 and you can do it once every 5 years, you can get. Any accessories and safety equipment also, it's a great scheme if you ask me, if anyone needs advice on it give me a shout I'll be more than happy to explain it best as I can!

Ive been thinking about this aswell. generally because all i hear latley is news about wage cuts. That and i have to pay to park my van on the council car park.
Thought about getting a motorbike licence, then just a CBT, then push bike... then thought.... hmm what are electric bikes like? ? ? then thought... what if i made my own leccy bike? I mean how hard can it be?

you can get drop in front wheel's and power packs to convert a normal bike to lecky,

the rule with them is they are restricted to 15mph, but they are great if you have a big hill on your route