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domcarr
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 8
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 Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 9:17 pm |
I'm buying a new bike on the Cycle to Work scheme and would appreciate some recommendations on the best bikes out there for £1000 (the limit placed by the scheme). I'm looking for something light and responsive that I can do 50mpw on plus the odd long distance ride (eg London-Paris).
I've considered the Planet X Pro Carbon but am hesitant to buy without riding one. Don't fancy a Focus much. I would also prefer Campag (mainly for the less clutterred shifters) but that's not a pre-requisite.
Any suggestions?!?
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Headhuunter
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
Posts: 1350
Location: SE London
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 12:48 pm |
We get this question A LOT. Personally I would look at the Felt, Cube, Focus and Canyon brands - more bang for your buck over the usual Specialized, Trek etc etc
"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." Voltaire |
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xRichx
Joined: 06 Jul 2009
Posts: 42
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 1:10 pm |
Be sure to check how much any bike is on sale (09 bikes etc), the Cycle scheme is done on the rrp I think, and therefore any sale bikes you'll not get full discount.
I got a Cube Attempt about two months back (Very nice bike I must say, full Ultegra group), When I went along with the voucher the bike was then advertised with 15% off, but as the first 10% they would lose money if done with the scheme, I only got the 5% off. Still managed to wangle in a pair of gloves and some new cleats.
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Headhuunter
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
Posts: 1350
Location: SE London
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 1:17 pm |
Yeah that's my experience too. When I shopped around for discounts before choosing a bike through the scheme I found that retailers would only sell at full RRP.
"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." Voltaire |
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topher9
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 37
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 3:05 pm |
Unless it's Evans, I believe they will do it on a sale bike. Doing a good deal on a BMC for £999 from £1500.
Boardman's are good for less than a grand too - neither are Campag but the Boardman's are SRAM which may be worth trying.
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Headhuunter
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
Posts: 1350
Location: SE London
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 3:08 pm |
I went to quite a few shops in Cycle Scheme when I was looking around and none of them would sell for any less than RRP, even bikes that were marked as on sale in the shop, as soon as I mentioned that I was going through Cycle Scheme they said that I had to pay RRP....
"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." Voltaire |
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timmyflash
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 22
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 4:33 pm |
I'm in the same boat and have been trawling these boards and reviews for about a month to get a bit of a steer and am just as stuck as i was to start with! In a good way though. As far as i can tell, for that price there's a lot of decent bikes out there for that budget.
I really should get out there and just try some!
Are there any shops in SW or Central London that have lots of brands to try various bikes?
(sorry, i've not helped with the question at all...)
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Headhuunter
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
Posts: 1350
Location: SE London
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 4:39 pm |
IME most shops specialise in 1 or 2 specific brands and don't necessarily have whole ranges in stock, esp not in all sizes so you often have to trawl round a load of shops to find the bike of your dreams. That's all part of the fun of blowing a grand...
"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." Voltaire |
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Aggieboy
Joined: 08 Sep 2007
Posts: 662
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 6:17 pm |
| domcarr wrote: | I'm buying a new bike on the Cycle to Work scheme and would appreciate some recommendations on the best bikes out there for £1000 (the limit placed by the scheme). I'm looking for something light and responsive that I can do 50mpw on plus the odd long distance ride (eg London-Paris).
I've considered the Planet X Pro Carbon but am hesitant to buy without riding one. Don't fancy a Focus much. I would also prefer Campag (mainly for the less clutterred shifters) but that's not a pre-requisite.
Any suggestions?!? |
'domcar' - to avoid me posting duff info, is the scheme you are on the same as 'Cyclescheme'?
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Headhuunter
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
Posts: 1350
Location: SE London
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 6:35 pm |
| Aggieboy wrote: | | domcarr wrote: | I'm buying a new bike on the Cycle to Work scheme and would appreciate some recommendations on the best bikes out there for £1000 (the limit placed by the scheme). I'm looking for something light and responsive that I can do 50mpw on plus the odd long distance ride (eg London-Paris).
I've considered the Planet X Pro Carbon but am hesitant to buy without riding one. Don't fancy a Focus much. I would also prefer Campag (mainly for the less clutterred shifters) but that's not a pre-requisite.
Any suggestions?!? |
'domcar' - to avoid me posting duff info, is the scheme you are on the same as 'Cyclescheme'? |
AFAIK Bike to Work/Cycle to Work is the generic name of the government scheme itself, Cycle Scheme is a middle man/3rd party which company's can use to sort out all the paper work etc involved (not that there's much). They get paid commission by bike shops for the sale. If companies run the scheme themselves yuo can choose from literally any retailer anywhere, however if you go through Halfords' scheme or Wiggle's scheme or Cycle Scheme you are restricted to specific retailers only.
"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." Voltaire |
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Scrumple
Joined: 14 Jul 2008
Posts: 270
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 7:23 pm |
cycle to work charge 10% to the bike shop...
£100 on the £1000 limit you can pay.
I don't blame them for asking for RRP!!!
The scheme middle men annoy me... making money out of a scheme most people think is a government backed initiative.
There is NOTHING to stop an emplyer doing the paperwork themselves, and not hammering the LBS for the 10%. They don't, cos it is easier to hive off the paperwork to the middle man (scheme).
I know, costs ARE incurred in paying up front etc, and admin, but I hate people making money out of this whith most people oblivious to it! I'd prefer all the cash to go to the LBS.
Grumble, whinge.
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domcarr
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 8
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 8:59 pm |
OK so any more recommendations other than Focus (which I don't want), Felt, Cube or Canyon????? I'm with 'Cycle Scheme' by the way.
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BrianTrousers
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Posts: 52
Location: Bar Tat
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Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:12 pm |
Planet X Pro Carbon is a superb bike. The only difficulty you'll have is the derogatory comments from the snobs calling you a 'fan-boy' or sneeringly saying that they would only consider having one as their winter trainer. (This is true, search the forums for PX).
Obviously the Boardmans get consistently good reviews but you have the Halfords stigma attached. If you have a good local Halfords they may even have one you could ride, unlike mine which had several in but were all unbuilt out the back. They said they'd make one up for me and call me in a couple of days. They remembered to phone back three months later.
I'm grumpy and off down the pub to cheer myself up. 
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Top_Bhoy
Joined: 12 Jun 2004
Posts: 1259
Location: Australia
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 4:27 am |
| Scrumple wrote: | cycle to work charge 10% to the bike shop...
£100 on the £1000 limit you can pay.
I don't blame them for asking for RRP!!!
The scheme middle men annoy me... making money out of a scheme most people think is a government backed initiative.
There is NOTHING to stop an emplyer doing the paperwork themselves, and not hammering the LBS for the 10%. They don't, cos it is easier to hive off the paperwork to the middle man (scheme).
I know, costs ARE incurred in paying up front etc, and admin, but I hate people making money out of this whith most people oblivious to it! I'd prefer all the cash to go to the LBS.
Grumble, whinge. |
I agree and with those cost restrictions and the other limitations of the Cyclescheme, it is a far less attractive proposition than its advocates suggest.
It could have been made far simpler and less bureaucratic and cheaper to administor while safeguarding against fraudulent claims.
Click here to view Top_Bhoys RC2: |
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Derky
Joined: 31 May 2005
Posts: 43
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 9:13 am |
why not focus 
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merlinghnd
Joined: 10 Sep 2008
Posts: 58
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 10:31 am |
I consider the C2W scheme a middle class tax break for guys to have mountain bikes in their garage.
However as a cyclist I use and think the scheme is great. My company pays the VAT,, I am a higher rate tax payer and I am on my third bike with this scheme. I bought a Focus Cayo with one of my £1000 which cost me £520 including final payment spread over 12 months.
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stronginthesun
Joined: 18 Aug 2008
Posts: 90
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 2:06 pm |
i work for wincanton one of the biggest employers in the british isles . they dont operate the cycle to work scheme . shame on them
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Headhuunter
Joined: 28 Nov 2008
Posts: 1350
Location: SE London
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NapoleonD
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 4588
Location: Cheshire
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Posted Mon Nov 9, 2009 9:24 am |
I think you should put the voucher towards a pair of Zipp wheels like someone on this forum did...
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NapTwit |
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Macondo01
Joined: 02 Sep 2008
Posts: 143
Location: South Manchester
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Posted Mon Nov 9, 2009 11:00 am |
Very pleased with my Cannondale CAAD 9 (2009) as recommended by some one on this forum who likes Zipp wheels. I think you'd have to buy last years models to get in under the £1000 though.
'All man’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.’ — Pascal
Poor Pascal never had a bike... |
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