Bike-to-work Vs Cycle-to-work?

El Selb
El Selb Posts: 137
edited August 2011 in Road beginners
I've just found out my company offers the Bike-to-work scheme instead of the Cycle-to-work. Does anyone know what the difference is? Is that basically the b-2-w is linked to smaller independent stores so essentially you pay more for your bike?

Comments

  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    There is also Ride 2 Work, which is Evans own brand take on the scheme.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • Stiff_Orange
    Stiff_Orange Posts: 218
    El Selb wrote:
    Is that basically the b-2-w is linked to smaller independent stores so essentially you pay more for your bike?

    That's a bit of a sweeping statement to say the independent stores are more expensive!

    If you look at the bike to work website it tells you what stores you can use including Wiggle, Leisure lakes, Action bikes, all big discounters.

    Cycle to Work is halfords own brand scheme. If you want to buy a bike from a limited range from an automotive store you would need to use cycle-to-work. If you want a to be able to chose from a much wider range and quality of bike from specialist retailers then bike-2-work is infinitely better.
  • gregster10217
    gregster10217 Posts: 469
    Stiff_Orange wrote:
    El Selb wrote:
    Is that basically the b-2-w is linked to smaller independent stores so essentially you pay more for your bike?

    That's a bit of a sweeping statement to say the independent stores are more expensive!

    If you look at the bike to work website it tells you what stores you can use including Wiggle, Leisure lakes, Action bikes, all big discounters.

    Cycle to Work is halfords own brand scheme. If you want to buy a bike from a limited range from an automotive store you would need to use cycle-to-work. If you want a to be able to chose from a much wider range and quality of bike from specialist retailers then bike-2-work is infinitely better.

    That's a bit sweeping as well. Agreed you cannot get every make from Halfords, but when I HAD to use it I was able to choose from Trek, Specialised, Cinelli, Dawes, Eddy Merckx and more. Don't think that's too limited, and possibly more than one retailer can offer.
    I'm not shouting Halfords virtues, we all know the inconsistencies in their stores/staff.
    Limited Edition Boardman Team Carbon No. 448
    Boardman MTB Team
  • bikedibley
    bikedibley Posts: 40
    Hi all

    Bike 2 work
    cycle 2 work
    cycle to work
    cyclescheme

    These are all different names for the official "cycle to work" scheme innitiated by the DFT in 1999. Really popular over recent years. All these names are incarnations fabricated by Cyclescheme, Evans, Halfords etc. They all ressentially do the same thing. The difference being, Evans Voucher are designed for being spent in Evans stores.

    Harlfords vouchers are for Halfords stores (Halfords say they'll get you any bike whether they stock it or not. Fact is, Halfords are then the first owner meaning warranty is a little grey. Cyclescheme vouchers can be spent in most stores around the country except the larger web-based retailers (CRC, Wiggle etc).

    So it's not "which" scheme your company has...it's where you can spend it.
  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    The tax benefits aren't as good as they used to be (salary sacrifice is now subject to a VAT ruling) so often if you have the cash available, buying outright can be cheaper as you can shop around for discounted bikes. Some scheme's do allow you to buy discounted bikes however - so worth checking around and also seeing if your employer offers more than one scheme.
  • Stiff_Orange
    Stiff_Orange Posts: 218
    "gregster10217 wrote:
    That's a bit sweeping as well. Agreed you cannot get every make from Halfords, but when I HAD to use it I was able to choose from Trek, Specialised, Cinelli, Dawes, Eddy Merckx and more. Don't think that's too limited, and possibly more than one retailer can offer.
    I'm not shouting Halfords virtues, we all know the inconsistencies in their stores/staff.

    Really? They don't advertise these brands on their website or have them in store, and they aren't on the approved distributor lists for these brands.

    A couple of years ago they had some concept Bikehut/Cycle republic stores which may have stocked other brands, but they closed in 2009.

    Also As I said the B2W scheme can be used in many different reatilers so the chose is much greater.

    Not to worry. Judging from you tag, your probably suffering from trying to understand how England became the top Test team :D
  • navrig
    navrig Posts: 1,352
    Wirral_Paul wrote:
    The tax benefits aren't as good as they used to be (salary sacrifice is now subject to a VAT ruling) so often if you have the cash available, buying outright can be cheaper as you can shop around for discounted bikes. Some scheme's do allow you to buy discounted bikes however - so worth checking around and also seeing if your employer offers more than one scheme.

    Not quite accurate. The tax benefits are still very good for the higher band tax payers who work for employers who pass on the VAT savings. For these people the savings can be as much as 50% less about £70. Ironic though it is.

    The downside is that the bike ownership does ot transfer until the end of year 4.

    I doubt you'll get a discounted bike this cheaply.
  • El Selb
    El Selb Posts: 137
    Right, I'm getting interested in a Boardman now but my work isnt partnered with the Halfords scheme. We're with cyclescheme.co.uk.

    How widely are Boardmans available outside Halfords I wonder?

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