Ooo not another Cycle Scheme Topic...but

croutledge

I'm looking to use the Cycle Scheme through my employer to purchase my first road bike. Not been on one since they were called racers . Last summer i went out on my mountain bike along various cycle routes but as it had nobly tires on i was just plodding and series miles would have been a killer. So gonna get a road bike and go for it.

I live in cumbria so obviously have some very hilly areas but will stay away from the stupid hills...well at first
I'm probably going to use the bike two or three nights a week for about an hour or so on decent ish roads. I will probably also use it to and from work once or twice (17miles on way). I will also try and do a good 2 or 3 hours on the weekend. So it should get some fairly decent use.

I'm probably going to have £1000 to spend. For that i would like a road bike, pedals (clipless), shoes and a helmet. So if i spend about £800 on a bike would i have enough left to pick up some decent pedals, shoes and helmet?

Would also have liked to pick up some essential accessories like a saddle bag with spare tube, pump, etc but suppose that should be to bad to pick up out side of the budget. Also not sure about a computer. Would be a good idea to pick something up so i can see my distance, speed, etc. I use a application called sportypal on my android phone to track my routes etc.

http://sportypal.com/Workouts/Details/29443?key=186684f26ab5d13374723c9b116801ae6d2dcd09&ms=1

In terms of bike the options around £800 have been mentioned numerous times on here.

Specialized Allez Elite
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-elite-2010-road-bike-ec019407
Trek 1.5
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/15-triple-2010-road-bike-ec019720
Cannondale CAAD 8 Tiagra
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caad-8-tiagra-triple-2010-road-bike-ec020233
Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Xenon
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bianchi/via-nirone-7-xenon-2010-road-bike-ec021257
Wilier Escape - Xenon Road Bike
http://www.awcycles.co.uk/category/Bikes/Racing_Bikes_-_Performance_73/Escape_-_Xenon_Road_Bike,_2010/10180/index.aspx

I've heard good things and recommendations about the Boardman Bikes. But the problem i have is i think my company only deals with 4 stores locally and halfords isn't one of them.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_501963_langId_-1_categoryId_165710

Wow that is a lot of typing... I'll have to wait until April/May before picking up my bike, etc but doing plenty of research now. Will also hopefully be visiting one or two of the shops in the next couple of weeks to sit on some bikes and see what i like.

Any info/recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Carl

BE1

welcome

Looks like you have already done a lot of research.

I have not ridden the bikes in queston, but having gone from an MTB to a touring bike my advice would be make sure you get a triple and not a compact, especially as you point out there is the odd hill in your part of the world

croutledge

Thanks for the reply.

The double/triple/compact question has been raised quite a few times on various forums and it usually contains strong views both ways really. I think for me it may be wise to go the triple way as it give me the option to venture into the hills if/when i feel up to it. But on the flip side of that how often will i!!!

In terms of the bikes not actually sat on any of them yet. Hopefully in the next few weeks as i think they may be pretty much the same in terms of groupset and may just come down to looks and riding position in the end. And also which ones are stocked in the shops i can deal with.

Phil1803

Hi Carl

I'm a noob, so hope this isn't covered elsewhere...

Are you on the Cycle2Work scheme? I did a load a internet research and then found that Evans, Wiggle, Halfords (I think) etc don't take the vouchers.

Some of the online stores *do* take 'em but charge 10% handling fee.

Phil

croutledge

Hello Phil,

I'm going to be purchasing a bike via the scheme in april/may. My company only run it once a year because of paper work, etc i guess.

Now i'm not fully clued up on it all but from what i understand my employer sets up cycle scheme agreements with some local bike shops and i then choose one of the shops and get a voucher for my chosen amount. Not some shops say they can't really do deals when buying via the cycle scheme because of some over head in documentation and stuff like that.

From a quick look on Evans and Wiggle i found the following links

http://www.evanscycles.com/ride2work
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/h/option/cycletowork

Obviously have a look at this site as well

http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/

Loads of info on there as well.

Not sure about the 10% handling fee though. wouldn't surprise me if some did that because of the overhead they incur apparently when doing a deal via the scheme. I think that is pretty rubbish considering the whole point in the scheme is to encourage cycling and some may be put of with loosing £100 of their budget cause of that. I know it would put me of as that is a good amount towards pedals and shoes for me.

Cheers

Carl

passout

Ribble?

croutledge

Would love to go with something like a ribble or planetx but i have to deal with the local bike shops that my company have setup agreements with. I think i'm right in saying that!!! :?

Hopefully going to at least one of the shops that they dealt with last year for a look around and start to make enquires on what they can offer.

STEFANOS4784

You really seem to have all the knowledge you need, just go and try them.

Oh and get the Bianchi by the way 8)

croutledge

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

You really seem to have all the knowledge you need, just go and try them.

Oh and get the Bianchi by the way 8)

Cheers..i talk a good game but as i have never sat on one for such a long time i actually don't know a great deal.

Hopefully my thinking around spending about £800 on a bike, then the other £200 on shoes, pedals (clipless), helmet and perhaps some other bits bobs is right?

Am i in the right ball park. The bike will get used a lot so if you think there is anything i should be looking at as a newbie then let me know.

Oh and yeah i do like the bianchi

Cheers

Carl

mroli

£200 for bits and bobs you should be more than fine - say £30 for pedals, £70 for shoes, £50 for a helmet, £20 for a saddle pack, £20 for a decent multi-tool etc...

May be worth when you go to the LBS to try and get them to do you a decent deal on all this stuff though - they are making money on the bike...

manofsteel

Hi Carl

I'm not sure where in Cumbria you live, but Palace Cycles in Carlisle are Cyclescheme members and are excellent for advice etc.
As to whether you need a triple or not - Hartside Pass isn't too bad on a compact chainset - and you'll find that if you've got the granny ring you will use it - if you haven't got it you just have to put up without it and you get to the top quicker (I should know - my MTB is a single speed!!)
Hope this helps!

croutledge

Thanks guys.
I'm hoping to come to some arrangement with the shop over the bike and extras.
Palace is one my company deals with along with scotby cycles, keswick mountain bike and bikebank (this is closest to me) all these do road bikes.

croutledge

Well i managed to call in to one of the shops my company deal with on Saturday and had a good chat with them and they were very helpful. They stock Specialized and Giant. The two bikes recommended were the Allez Elite (£800) and the Delfy 2 (£825). Both very nice looking bikes.

Got to take a 54 Allez Elite out for a little spin. Was my first time on a road bike and was only out for about 10 - 15mins but enjoyed it so much. The difference in weight, speed, etc compared to my old MTB was unreal.

Now they said i probably need a 52 frame. I'm about 5'7" - 5'8"? Are they right? The seat was quite down so perhaps they were right. I didn't feel stretched or anything on the bike.

In terms of the bike itself. Def one i wouldn't mind buying. Will see what the other shops stock before making a decision.

passout

I'm 5'8-''5'9'' anf fit a 54cm specialised Tricross. Top tube length (effective top tube length) is thing that always determines fit for me.

croutledge

Well in the back of the Specialized Bike brochure it also recommends a 54 for someone of my size. I'm confused. Perhaps another LBS will say different. Will find out when i pay them a visit.

ex-pat scot

I'm 5'10 and I have a 54 Spec Langster and 54 Spec Tricross.

I usually ride a "56" c-c top tube frame, but the Specs are "compact" geometry and so silgihtly smaller than the equivalent horizontal top tube measurement.

Mate of mine 5'8 rides a 52

It's probably the right size for you

croutledge

ex-pat scot wrote:

I'm 5'10 and I have a 54 Spec Langster and 54 Spec Tricross.

I usually ride a "56" c-c top tube frame, but the Specs are "compact" geometry and so silgihtly smaller than the equivalent horizontal top tube measurement.

Mate of mine 5'8 rides a 52

It's probably the right size for you

Excellent. Thanks for the info.

rolf_f

croutledge wrote:

I think that is pretty rubbish considering the whole point in the scheme is to encourage cycling and some may be put of with loosing £100 of their budget cause of that. I know it would put me of as that is a good amount towards pedals and shoes for me.

You aren't losing £100 off your budget. The cycle scheme lets you off VAT and NI contributions which are worth about 40% of the total cost depending on your tax status.
So, if you pay the fee, you lose 40% of £100 rather than the whole £100. Of course, if cash is short, you still have to find £100 deposit which could be a pain but it isn't costing you £100 extra in total.

P.S. the Bianchi is very pretty! I'd have got one if I'd fitted one. If I'd fitted one, my total bike bill this year would have been vastly less too :oops: