New Commuter on cycle2work scheme

kryptor

HI - I am planning to commute a 15 mile round trip to work soon and have signed up for the cycle2work scheme which is being administered through Halfords.

I have a voucher for £1000 and am looking for advice on the bike to use.

I have cycled before to work and for work but a long time ago but am still reasonably fit, currently I have a trek 7100fx hybrid but am looking for something for the daily ride which is going to be on roads and along quiet lanes.

I am tempted by the new Boardman range and am considering the "Team" road bike as something quick and a way of improving fitness. I also have an ancient Dawes Mountain Bike, and wonder whether upgrading to the Boardman MTB "Pro" would be a good choice for an all round recreational and commuting bike.

Would value any suggestions and comments and reviews of the new Boardman bikes.

With many thanks

Big Jeff

I went into Halfords today to have a look at the Boardman range, and I was really impressed.
Mr Boardman seems to have put a lot of thought into the bikes and used Halfords buying power to spec the bikes very well for the asking price.
The middle of the range hybrid is appealing to me at the moment, especially as my employer is signed up to the Cycle to Work scheme at Halfords.

alfablue

Halfords will get hold of virtually any bike (not just from the ranges they stock) under the scheme if you ask them. The Boardman bikes are in my opinion, a little bit overpriced, and you could get a better one for your £1000. You could get a Planet-X Pro Carbon build for £999, and they deal with the Halfords scheme

rich r

Does this still work (Halfords getting any bike for you). I heard that they will now only supply their own bikes.

Which could be hugely dissapointing as next time its benefit selection time at work I'll be ordering some vouchers !!

kryptor

The scheme that we (Herts County Council) are being offered does say that we can get them to order any bke in to the value that we have agreed (max £1000 inc vat). Halfords in effect act as the agents for the scheme in these circumstances.

I am still looking for advice on the MTB versus Road bike question for my commute though - any words of wisdom from you hardened commuters out there?

Eat My Dust

kryptor wrote:

The scheme that we (Herts County Council) are being offered does say that we can get them to order any bke in to the value that we have agreed (max £1000 inc vat). Halfords in effect act as the agents for the scheme in these circumstances.

I am still looking for advice on the MTB versus Road bike question for my commute though - any words of wisdom from you hardened commuters out there?

If your commute is road only, get a road bike. If you are going off road (canal paths ect) then get a hybrid. DON'T get a MTB for commuting, unless you're planning to actually do some MTB'ing.

alfablue

rich r wrote:

Does this still work (Halfords getting any bike for you). I heard that they will now only supply their own bikes.

Which could be hugely dissapointing as next time its benefit selection time at work I'll be ordering some vouchers !!

The shop people may say that but if you contact the scheme HQ on the phone they are better informed. Plenet-X are def still advertising the link with HAlfords on their web site.

mailmannz

Halfords will get any bike for you (that is available). I wanted a trek 7.3 FX Disc BUT the 07 model was no longer stocked and the 08 model wasnt available until end of September!

The real problem though, as I found out last night, is to get someone to check your bike over once you have collected it!

Mailman

rich r

Quite right, but I guess with an hour armed with some basic allen keys, screw drivers and spanners, it really shouldn't be that hard to check it over yourself.

In fact in someways given peoples comments, I think I'd rather they didn't touch it and just sort it all out myself !

bossman13

Eat My Dust wrote:

kryptor wrote:

The scheme that we (Herts County Council) are being offered does say that we can get them to order any bke in to the value that we have agreed (max £1000 inc vat). Halfords in effect act as the agents for the scheme in these circumstances.

I am still looking for advice on the MTB versus Road bike question for my commute though - any words of wisdom from you hardened commuters out there?

If your commute is road only, get a road bike. If you are going off road (canal paths ect) then get a hybrid. DON'T get a MTB for commuting, unless you're planning to actually do some MTB'ing.

Agree. I have just started commuting on a MTB which is hard work. Have ordered some slicks which i hope will make the journey a bit easier (?).

my cycle to work scheme will open in October at which point i am seriously considering a road bike for 1k. For some reason though i worry about using a road bike on cycle paths where you have to go up/down curbs/potholes etc and think maybe a hybrid would be more suitable. how good are roadies over the rougher terrain? do they buckle/puncture easily?

will keep an eye on this thread for ideas!

CarKiller

A decent touring road bike will be tough enough.

Our club captain tells me of the days before "mountain bikes" when there were just "bikes". The club run used to go off road in the Peak District on all the trails now used by "mountain biketers".

I've gone off road on my racing machine. All you need is slighly fatter (than the regular 23 mm) tyres.

kryptor

I would also add that modern road bikes with carbon forks and kelvar tyres are more able to stray off road without too much damage to rider or themselves.

alfablue

With Specialized Armadillos or All Conditions Pro I can take on quite rough stuff with no worries.

mailmannz

rich r wrote:

Quite right, but I guess with an hour armed with some basic allen keys, screw drivers and spanners, it really shouldn't be that hard to check it over yourself.

In fact in someways given peoples comments, I think I'd rather they didn't touch it and just sort it all out myself !

Depends if you know what you are doing otherwise you will do no better a job than them at helfords.

Mailman

delcol

i used to use my mtb to commute on 12 mile round trip,
it was hard graft so i got a second set of wheels and ran conti slicks did improve the ride on road but still to much rolling resistance from tyres,.

in the end i opted for a road bike this improved my commute time by around 4 mins 30 secs the addition of spds knocked another 1 min pluss off this.

my best mtb time 6 mile was 26mins
mtb with slicks 25 mins
rd bike 21 mins
rd with spd 20 mins
my best time to date is 17,31 i know i am a lot fitter now, but the road bike is so much better on road to comuute its lighter has rigid forks the riding possition is better.
i wouldnt use my mtb to commute on again..
i still use my mtb to go out at week ends.
if you have to use some off road section on your commute maybe look at a cyclocross bike...
or one of those hybrids i personally dont like them though hence why i got my scott road bike.