Bike Recommendations

[ZARDOZ]

I'm tempted by one of these:

Ribble Special Edition Bikes | Frames | Wheels | Groupsets

CTC Forum • View topic - Ribble Winter/Audax Bike

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/a...er-1000-29719/

[doodab]

An accountant told me of a director who'd put a new bike through the company books as part of the cycle to work scheme. Maybe I need a new bike too. Anyone else expensing their bike?

I got the impression there was no BIK but I could've been mistaken.

there is a scheme whereby you buy a bike through your employer and they can somehow reclaim the tax or something.

Tax free bikes for work through the Government's Green Transport Initiative - Cyclescheme, provider of Cycle to Work schemes for UK employers - Cyclescheme

[Moscow Mule]

I would seriously consider eBay.

I bought a 3 year old Rockhopper (c£1500 new) for £400. A quick service down the LBS and jobs a goodun.

[ZARDOZ]

WHS
And , there are heavy discounts around the corner, on the last years Bike as the new models come in. IIRC this used to be around September/October

I always found Hargroves Cycles (Hants) to have good deals.

[wurzel]

there is a scheme whereby you buy a bike through your employer and they can somehow reclaim the tax or something.

Tax free bikes for work through the Government's Green Transport Initiative - Cyclescheme, provider of Cycle to Work schemes for UK employers - Cyclescheme

This from NW:

Your company can provide a bike to you on the following conditions:

The bike and related equipment must be owned by the company

The bike is used primarily for qualifying journeys

Ownership of the equipment is not transferred to the employee during the loan period

The offer of the use of a loaned or provided cycle is available across the whole workforce (i.e. just myself)

The bike must be purchased by the company directly. If it is not in the first instance then you must sell the bike to your company.

They also say there's no need to use the cycle to work scheme - just buy the bike. I was looking into the cycle to work scheme & by all accounts it takes 2 - 4 weeks to enrol & at the end of it you get a voucher generally up to a maximum of £1000. Bloke in the bike shop said he couldn't do any discounts when buying with a voucher so this is probably not the way to go.

[Notascooby]

This from NW:

Your company can provide a bike to you on the following conditions:

The bike and related equipment must be owned by the company

The bike is used primarily for qualifying journeys

Ownership of the equipment is not transferred to the employee during the loan period

The offer of the use of a loaned or provided cycle is available across the whole workforce (i.e. just myself)

The bike must be purchased by the company directly. If it is not in the first instance then you must sell the bike to your company.

They also say there's no need to use the cycle to work scheme - just buy the bike. I was looking into the cycle to work scheme & by all accounts it takes 2 - 4 weeks to enrol & at the end of it you get a voucher generally up to a maximum of £1000. Bloke in the bike shop said he couldn't do any discounts when buying with a voucher so this is probably not the way to go.

My road bike is a company bike - it's just an asset like anything else and depreciates in the same way. I also expense any cycling safety equipment such as helemts, jackets, shoes etc. Then any new parts and servicing goes through the books too.

This for me adds up to a few hundred each year so is the way to go.

Unlike standard cycle-2-work schemes where there is a loan agreement in place, this is purely a company asset and as such there's no restriction on the value. Hence my company bike costs >£2K which is perfectly fine.

(The reason most companies put a £1K limit on the c2w scheme is that above this level they *may* need a license to lend to employees, so they don't bother - there's no government imposed limit).

[hyperD]

I'm on the 20p/mile jobbie - works out at around £110/month - although I bought the bike privately. Not put the services and clothing etc through the business though.

[Notascooby]

I'm on the 20p/mile jobbie - works out at around £110/month - although I bought the bike privately. Not put the services and clothing etc through the business though.

Why would you not *cough* claim 45p mileage for your *cough* car journey rather than 20ppm for cycling? Then still but the bike through the company and cycle to work?

[Notascooby]

Why would you not *cough* claim 45p mileage for your *cough* car journey rather than 20ppm for cycling? Then still but the bike through the company and cycle to work?

It would appear that I left my PC unattended in a public space and the above potentially fraudulent advice was posted - I could never condone this behaviour and it is not something I'd personally undertake.

[Mich the Tester]

I have a cannondale caad 9 with shimano 105 group and I'm very happy with it, but it really depends on you; how much do you weigh, how much and how hard you ride etc.