Cycle Scheme working out more expensive?
- Thread starter Nick1881
- Start date
Soldato
They probably don't think that but it's subject to availability - which is likely greater online.
My local shops only sell brand new models/stock.
The odd one might have last years if you're lucky.
Online - you can get the last few years models pretty easily. That's what I found anyway.
It's just an alternative option to consider to see which best suits your circumstances. I consdered both methods and for me, buying it online without the scheme was clearly cheaper.
If I write something as a statement of fact, it is based on my experience and is not indicative of the entire UK.
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
I went for the previous years bike (2012) as the year before that (2011) wasn't as good spec but wasn't in stock anywhere anyway (and besides, you can't mail order Trek's) so for the bike I specifically wanted, the cycle scheme provided the best saving available - and by some margin (42% off rrp).
But I agree in principle with the poster above - don't assume a cycle scheme will be the best deal - some times it will, sometimes it wont. Shop around and do the maths for yourself. It's also more effective if you're a higher rate tax payer - which I was before I retired.
But anyone calling it a scam doesn't know what they are talking about.
But I agree in principle with the poster above - don't assume a cycle scheme will be the best deal - some times it will, sometimes it wont. Shop around and do the maths for yourself. It's also more effective if you're a higher rate tax payer - which I was before I retired.
But anyone calling it a scam doesn't know what they are talking about.
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Soldato
Which guzzles much more money in the form of petrol, mot, insurance and tax, and can only be used on the road...
Pointless scheme, if you want to save money, a grey import is the way to go.
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Isn't it more tiny fish, massive pond
Of course, I'm not pretending like a few cyclists are going to change the world but attitudes of 'tiny fish, massive pond' are pretty ****. Mind you, this is GD, land of UKIP and car enthusiasts.
Associate
The scheme isn't pointless, that is a false statement. It is whatever suits your needs and up to you to go get the best deal for what your personal financial situation allows.
For some maybe a £1000 bike is a little excessive. I commute just over 3000 miles a year on bicycle. Based on my car doing 30mpg that's £610 a year on fuel alone let alone any maintenance bills. In the three years of owning my £1k mtb I've replaced the rear tyre, brake pads, chain, rear cassette and bottom bracket. I'm lucky I get 35% off any purchases of equipment or clothing for activities to keep oneself healthy. So I've spent about £80 on parts for the bike. So to date, since purchasing the £1k bike, I am £750 better off in my pocket. Granted I could have £500 more in my pocket if I'd spent less on my bike however as my main mode of transport to and from work I wanted a bike that works smoothly and of better quality.
Soldato
The scheme is a joke, I went for it a few years back. To be fair I actually got some good use out of the bike (except in the winter... yea I'm a wuss )
But when it came to the end they wanted fair amount of money back. So I just told them fine I don't want to keep any of the stuff anymore, please arrange for a courier to come collect it all from my house at your expense at a suitable time of my choosing. After that I just got told to keep it all and they never charged me anything further.
)But when it came to the end they wanted fair amount of money back. So I just told them fine I don't want to keep any of the stuff anymore, please arrange for a courier to come collect it all from my house at your expense at a suitable time of my choosing. After that I just got told to keep it all and they never charged me anything further.
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
The scheme is a joke, I went for it a few years back. To be fair I actually got some good use out of the bike (except in the winter... yea I'm a wuss
But when it came to the end they wanted fair amount of money back. So I just told them fine I don't want to keep any of the stuff anymore, please arrange for a courier to come collect it all from my house at your expense at a suitable time of my choosing. After that I just got told to keep it all and they never charged me anything further.
Methinks you didn't read your contract properly
Man of Honour
I was actually going to type:
So I went for last years model, but I could have had last years last years model ore even last years last years last years model ........ ad infinitum.
In reality I worked out what I wanted to pay which was £850 for a bike and it was the shop who suggested last years model but also pointed out the differences.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have probably bought the latest one.
Associate
Methinks you didn't read your contract properly
It does depend how your company set the scheme up and through which cycle scheme they went.
In the early days some companies didn't pass on VAT savings for example. Whilst cyclescheme.co.uk uses the extension of the hire period to lower final payment other cycle schemes may not.
For the purposes of encouraging people to cycle to work I would say it is pointless.
Bikes don't cost a lot upfront, less than £1000 for the 95th percentile, and the non cycling enthusiast will be looking at bikes that are only a few hundred so being able to pay over time for someone who is in full time employment is not a big incentive to start cycling to work, what is an incentive is a large saving in the cost of the bike, also perhaps extended warranties and replacement parts etc. Therefore it doesn't serve it's intended purpose.
A sensible thing to do would be to drop VAT from bikes, this would cause a global increase in cycling, increase in health, reduced NHS costs and reduced traffic.
Also regarding electrically assisted bikes, ignore the stupid EU regulations on 15mph assistance limits and paltry 250W motors. If we made electric bikes a viable legal alternative to cars, that would cause a huge number of people to use them instead of driving. No one wants to use a bike limited to 15mph that barely has enough power to climb a steep hill. Drop the speed restriction and increase motor power so that the average person and bike can do 25mph on the flat, which any pro cyclist can do on a road bike without a licence anyway, and people would flock to them considering they cost nothing to run.
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Associate
Over 2.5 years I was running our cycle to work scheme the average price of a cycle purchased through the scheme was about £600. There were a fair few that only purchased bikes that cost around the £250 - £300 area too. In contrast there were many people that claimed for bikes over £800 too. They wouldn't have usually spent that much had the scheme not been available to them.
Companies used to be able to pass on VAT savings, as I set up the company I work for to do however some court case in Brussels screwed us all over on that, the end result is that VAT savings could no longer be passed on to employees through a hire scheme. That was really when it did come viable to do your homework and go to shops, haggle and see what deal you could get.
As a company we are also quite pro-active and have a decent relationship with a local bike store and mentioning where we work sees you get a decent deal on bike servicing etc. We also set up a small bike workshop onsite and had a mechanic from said local bike shop come in to demonstrate basic maintenance skills to interested employees. It does help if the people in your company are a little more pro-active when it comes to cycle schemes.
I agree with you on the electric bike thing, trouble is the government need to work out a way they can tax people who purchase an electric bicycle that goes about 15mph before they allow it! Of course the majority of people could simply do with being less lazy and get pedalling
Part of the aim of this is to increase the health status of the population after all.
Companies used to be able to pass on VAT savings, as I set up the company I work for to do however some court case in Brussels screwed us all over on that, the end result is that VAT savings could no longer be passed on to employees through a hire scheme. That was really when it did come viable to do your homework and go to shops, haggle and see what deal you could get.
As a company we are also quite pro-active and have a decent relationship with a local bike store and mentioning where we work sees you get a decent deal on bike servicing etc. We also set up a small bike workshop onsite and had a mechanic from said local bike shop come in to demonstrate basic maintenance skills to interested employees. It does help if the people in your company are a little more pro-active when it comes to cycle schemes.
I agree with you on the electric bike thing, trouble is the government need to work out a way they can tax people who purchase an electric bicycle that goes about 15mph before they allow it! Of course the majority of people could simply do with being less lazy and get pedalling
Part of the aim of this is to increase the health status of the population after all.
Man of Honour
Agree with that, I don't know one person who decided to cycle because of C2W. For me I had already decided and then came across the scheme.
What tax would this be?
Please don't say Road Tax because it doesn't exist.
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
I think he's saying the government wont allow a higher speed/higher power class of ebike unless they can tax it
Interestingly Finland have just raised he power limit to 1000watts but kept the 25km/h speed limit. That will be great for cargo bikes and for hills.
Man of Honour
I think he's saying the government wont allow a higher speed/higher power class of ebike unless they can tax it
But some cars can go at 70 mph and not be taxed so why would they tax eBikes
Actually a driver had a go at me today, he wound his window down and asked why I was riding on the road when there was a cycle path right next to me and was surprised by my reply.
I told him that it is against the law to ride more than 15 mph on the cycle path and I'm doing around 28 in a 30 zone which meant he just broke the law getting past me just for me to catch up at the next traffic lights
He saw the funny side but genuinely didn't know the 15 mph rule which most wouldn't.
Actually a driver had a go at me today, he wound his window down and asked why I was riding on the road when there was a cycle path right next to me and was surprised by my reply.
I told him that it is against the law to ride more than 15 mph on the cycle path and I'm doing around 28 in a 30 zone which meant he just broke the law getting past me just for me to catch up at the next traffic lights
He saw the funny side but genuinely didn't know the 15 mph rule which most wouldn't.
Perhaps you can actually cite that alleged piece of legislation?
Soldato
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- 8 Mar 2007
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It doesn't exist, he is thinking of some 'guidance' that came from an unfruitful consultation. There doesn't seem to be any laws that apply to bicycle speed limits..
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
There is no such national law.
Is it a posted local bylaw specific to that cycle path, like this one?
Regardless of the above - it's a cyclists choice whether to use a cycle lane or the road , there's no requirement to use one over the other - the mouthy driver can do one.
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