Use vouchers or not? - To go with Specialized Tricross

aldric

I am going to be buying a road bike in the next week or so using the CTW scheme through Halfords.

After much deliberation I am going to go for the Carrera Limited Edition TDF. My thoughts being that if I don't enjoy my commute I won't lose a massive amount of money and if I do then in 12 months time I can get a nice new bike and have the TDF as a winter bike.

Anyway, my main question is should I get extra vouchers to spend on Halfords accessories or am I better shopping around and getting the equipment elsewhere?

For example on lights you can only buy in store so you can't take advantage on some of the better web only light offers:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... ice%7C%7C0

I don't have any equipment at all other than a helmet, so over time I will need everything!

Is it worthwhile getting any mudguards for the bike? I will shower when I get to the other side anyway?

What would you buy for day 1?

Cheers,
Aldric

flateric

I suppose first question is do you need to use halfords? most good bike shops run CTW scheme and take vouchers.

As far as accessories you can buy as much or as little as you need, however some things would seem essential.

Something to carry your stuff, load the bike not you, so racks and bags

mudguards need no selling if you have ever ridden in the wet without them....

good tyres. My road bike was sold with lightweight racing tyres, replaced with puncture resistant ones.

lights, also a good investment......

pastryboy

Check with your employer if you get any free accessories with the bike.

When I got my voucher it said £50 (10% of voucher value) free 'cycle safety accessories'.

When I went to pick up the bike they told me I could have whatever I wanted from the accessories section. Got myself a pannier set, water bottle, cage and bottle of chain lube - not bad for free.

aldric

flateric wrote:

I suppose first question is do you need to use halfords? most good bike shops run CTW scheme and take vouchers.

As far as accessories you can buy as much or as little as you need, however some things would seem essential.

Something to carry your stuff, load the bike not you, so racks and bags

mudguards need no selling if you have ever ridden in the wet without them....

good tyres. My road bike was sold with lightweight racing tyres, replaced with puncture resistant ones.

lights, also a good investment......

Thanks for your reply, I probably should have added a wee bit more info, sorry.

Yes, need to use Halfords for the CTW scheme. (I know I could use Alpine bikes etc but I have heard it is a pain and I live a long way from them and other shops which take Halfords vouchers.)

It just seems that Halfords pretty much rip you off with their in-store prices for accesories.

I don't plan to carry much, if anything as I will have to use a car a couple of days every 2 weeks due to finishing really late at work. So can leave towel, clothing etc at work or pick it up from my wife who drives to work near to me later on in the morning)

So mudguards are a definate then as are lights but they are a rip off at Halfords for decent ones from what I can see, even if I am saving upto 30% from the CTW scheme.

Clothing & shoes look dodgy in Halfords as well?

bike pumps don't look that great either?

I can get puncture resistant tyres on the scheme, the gator skins seems to be the best that halfords do?

Cheers,l
Aldric.

aldric

pastryboy wrote:

Check with your employer if you get any free accessories with the bike.

When I got my voucher it said £50 (10% of voucher value) free 'cycle safety accessories'.

When I went to pick up the bike they told me I could have whatever I wanted from the accessories section. Got myself a pannier set, water bottle, cage and bottle of chain lube - not bad for free.

Thanks for reminding me. I definately get 10% of the value of the bike off accessories, so only £30 if I get the Carrera TDF. Better than nothing and definately can go towards water bottle, cage, chain lube and maybe some tools or somethiing if it stretches that far!

Nice to know they let you get anything you want, I thought it was only on safety accessories.

Zombie_donkey

Definitely get the accessories you need on the scheme it's like getting -40% finance over 12 months!

I was doing the same as you in April but I did not have C2W available at work. Its July and I'm getting a £700 bike now that C2W is available. You will get hooked on cycling and then you will want a better bike.

As for luggage, I have the Top peak MXT panniers and they are very good.

aldric

Fair enough, I guess I will get £400 or £450 in vouchers which will give me £130 or £180 for accessories.

Thanks,
Aldric

paulbox

dependent on length of commute I'd definitely get padded shorts and a decent shirt, something to keep shit out of your eyes, a multitool, spare tubes, puncture kit, pump, high viz jacket and some spokey dokeys...

aldric

PaulBox wrote:

dependent on length of commute I'd definitely get padded shorts and a decent shirt, something to keep shoot out of your eyes, a multitool, spare tubes, puncture kit, pump, high viz jacket and some spokey dokeys...

It's a 22 mile round trip.

I have some padded shorts but was just wearing a t-shirt with them and noticed that the t-shirt rode up at the back which wasn't very nice. I was thinking of getting some bibs but Halfords only sell the boarman bibs for £50 so might have to pick some bibs and a shirt from elsewhere.

High viz jacket for rainy / dark days I take it? A decent 'light' coloured shirt should be ok for the summer?

Good idea about the multi tool, tubes (reminds me to get a thing on the back of the saddle to carry them).. what are spokey dokeys?!

aldric

Doh! Halfords appear to have stopped selling the Medium TDF... strange as it was in stock at 5 local stores yesterday!!!

Unless they put them back up for sale or restock I will have to reconsider, yet again.. there I was thinking I was being sensible going for a cheaper model to see how how I got on with the commute before a larger spend next year... :?

paulbox

aldric wrote:

I have some padded shorts but was just wearing a t-shirt with them and noticed that the t-shirt rode up at the back which wasn't very nice. I was thinking of getting some bibs but Halfords only sell the boarman bibs for £50 so might have to pick some bibs and a shirt from elsewhere.

High viz jacket for rainy / dark days I take it? A decent 'light' coloured shirt should be ok for the summer?

Good idea about the multi tool, tubes (reminds me to get a thing on the back of the saddle to carry them).. what are spokey dokeys?!

I bought some cheap dhb bib shorts from Wiggle recently, think they were about £35 but they're good enough for me. A proper cycling shirt will be longer in the back also.

I think the high viz stuff really makes you stand out on the road in all weather. If you just get one of those lightweight waistcote things thatyou have to keep in your car when driving on the continent you'll hardly notice that you're wearing it.

Spokey Dokeys are essential...

aldric

lol did a search for the spokey dokeys, I think your right - definately essential kit :twisted:

Due to the TDF no longer being for sale I have had to change my mind and decided that a Specialized Tricross will be a great bike for all year round commuting.

It will also give me the opportunty to go down a cycle path which I wouldn't have done on the road bike.

So £699 for the bike and I was thinking of another £100 for accessories, which will I think give me a total of £180 to spend on accessories as I will get 10% of the voucher value to spend on accessories.

I have had a look at Halfords this morning and gone through what I think I might need and the total is almost at the £180 mark.. I am restricted to using the in-store price and for this reason am refusing to buy the lights I like (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165636) as they are £75 in store, £50 online and less elsewhere. I am also going to get clothing elsewhere and think about proper shoes / SPD's etc at Christmas.

Anyway this is the list... which SKS mudguards are better suited for the Tricross?

SKS Race Blades - £39.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_210163

OR

SKS P45 Black - £33.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_210163

Saddle bag - £18.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65643#dtab

Multi-tool - £9.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 42558#dtab

Chain Tool - £9.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 42558#dtab

Halfords Essential Bike tool Kit – £29.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 42558#dtab

Halfords Presta Innertube 700 x 28-38c - £4.99 each x3
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_242552

Weldite Essential Bike Care Kit - £5
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_228374
Topeak Mini Pump & Guage - £17.99

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65661#dtab

Track Pump – Top Joe Blow - £32.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65661#dtab

Alloy Bottle cage - £5.99
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165633

Have I missed anything obvious? DOes this look about right? Cheers.

Cafewanda

Yep. Spokey dokes. I've got some you can have for the postage fee only :twisted:

kelsen

The SKS RaceBlades won't fit directly onto the Tricross without a lot of bodging around because of the cantilever brakes, so best to go with the Chromoplastics. Consider the P35 instead of the P45 if you intend to run thinner tyres (>28c).

aldric

kelsen wrote:

The SKS RaceBlades won't fit directly onto the Tricross without a lot of bodging around because of the cantilever brakes, so best to go with the Chromoplastics. Consider the P35 instead of the P45 if you intend to run thinner tyres (>28c).

Thanks for the feedback.

Unfortuantely they seem to be the only SKS mudguards that Halfords offer. I can't see anything else on the website.

If neither are suitable can you see anything else with Halfords or am I better not bothering using the vouchers for the mudguards and buying them elsewhere?

kelsen

aldric wrote:

kelsen wrote:

The SKS RaceBlades won't fit directly onto the Tricross without a lot of bodging around because of the cantilever brakes, so best to go with the Chromoplastics. Consider the P35 instead of the P45 if you intend to run thinner tyres (>28c).

Thanks for the feedback.

Unfortuantely they seem to be the only SKS mudguards that Halfords offer. I can't see anything else on the website.

If neither are suitable can you see anything else with Halfords or am I better not bothering using the vouchers for the mudguards and buying them elsewhere?

If you're buying from a store, they might be able to order them in for you. I only suggested the P35s because they look nicer with thinner tyres, but the P45s will be fine otherwise. Also, the standard tyres that comes with the Tricross are 32c so they would need the P45s unless you change the tyres.

aldric

Cheers Kelson. It looks like its the P45's then

Any thoughts on the other stuff? The essential bike tool kit looks good but do I need all that stuff?

I will also need an anchor point and lock which I forgot to add.