You don't have to go via CycleScheme as a service, but it's very popular with companies as it can make life easier.

My bike on C2W was bought by my employeer direct from Planet X, so they paid on a company credit card. Planet X also provided the basic paperwork we needed.

 

Boardman bikes offer cracking VFM. I've not seen a specific review of the Hybrid Comp though.

Service from some Halfords stores can be variable but that's the luck of the draw I guess.

 

Saw the Scott today when I went up to Thetford Forest, looks schweet

They had an X2 but didn't want to star looking at things that I just won't be getting

 

Seconded on the Boardman bikes... stunning pieces of kit, Halfords can be iffy. Mind you CB himself has posted on a forum I frequent saying he will look into the issues with Halfords. It does come down to luck of the draw with the local store though

The best thing i can suggest is that you get your new bike down to your trusted LBS before going anywhere on it, and get them to set it up (they can also get it set for you as well)


I'm going for the Boardman Pro Carbon (£1500) when the cyclescheme hits my company (you CAN top up btw) as I already have the Specialized Tricross Sport as my commuter and it's perfect - but I do want a road bike for weekend jaunts

 

Does anyone know how much the final payment is likely to be at the end of the year please?

 

It works out at whatever the discounted amount is (say £300) divided by 12 equal monthly deductions so £25 per month. There is no balloon or final payment.

 

On the website it says there is a nominal fee at the end....

 

Hadn't noticed that but that would be £50 so total price about £560 for £1000 bike for me.

 

Just picked it up

Watch out that there are a couple of schemes out there and Evans do their own, which I had to do the leg-work on, buit soon sorted.

Now, Thetford should be nice and wet n muddy tomorrow

 

Clare - the usually quoted figure is 5% of the original purchase price.

Oh, and after spending a gratifying 45 mins in my LBS I now have a choice... damn it.

and the amount I'm gonna spend has gone up as well... damn it again. Specialized Roubaix....mmmmmmm Or a Trek Madone 4.7... <sigh>

 

It always does Kieran, I am setting a very realistic limit. But saying that, my company has said that they're not doing it this year So I suppose that's it for the racing bike

 

Can you join the scheme at any time or is it only at the start of the financial year ? Or is this dependant upon the company you work for ?

My company are in this cycle scheme but i have been told "throught the grape vine" that i have to wait till next year ....

 

Molko - just go speak to HR, they'll have the details but it is usual to only have 1 run per year.

The nutters I know use it to buy a new every year.

 

Stumpie would be great if you could stretch to it.

I have a mountain bike and a road bike (Dale). As the name suggests, the road bike is far better on, erm, the road. Have commuted on both. All about cost of course. 6'2" and 13st 8lb btw, since we're doing that stuff.

Andy TJ

 

From having looked at both schemes we now have, there's nothing to say when/where it will be run. It makes faff all difference to a company that has signed up to it other than a bit of (someone's) extra paperwork. Any that says different (one run per year???) are being either shortsighted or just plain awkward. Don't take no for an answer.

 

Yep, agreed. One run a year is a load of old tosh. At my place there is a constant stream of people having new bikes through the year.

 

Is there any problem with using it to get a second (or third) bike? I have a good road bike and mb, wouldn't mind something like a Sirrus for the winter.

 

hmm i'll take a look then, the reason i ask is that we have some kind of 'flexible benefits scheme' whereby we can increase/decrease pension contribs, buy holidays, dental care etc - these can only be adjusted once a year (April time). The bike scheme is part of this 'flexible benefits', which made me think i could only sign up to it once a year.

 

nope - that's what I'm doing. My CX bike is perfect for my commute, so I'm going to use the CTW scheme to get myself a weekend leisure bike

 

cheers Kieran!