Cycllocross v road steel v carbon goodness v do nothing

samsbike
samsbike Posts: 942
edited August 2012 in Road buying advice
My employer after me waiting for 2 years has finally decided to join a cyle to work scheme.

I, of course, have already invested in 2 bikes - a genesis equilibrium (steel road bike with mudguards) and a mbt (boardman, for sale). The boardman was bought to commute with, but then I got advised to use a road bike and the boardman never got use. It does not even get used in the nearby woods as I hate getting muddy.

Also I only ride to commute (2-3 times a week, 17 miles ish each way, mainly canal path, which is very bumpy, muddy and generally crap in places). I don't do Sundays or evenings, mainly because I am too tired after commuting and secondly because I would never hear the end of it.

Now the scheme isn't that efficient due to the lump sum payment and I am still trying to figure out if I have to buy a bike or not.

Say I do, my choices are:

1. Sell current bikes and buy one cyclocross bike - which discs which should be better in the wet.
2. Buy a new steel bike and sell current model (so basically new for old - which means I get a new groupset for around £300)
3. Get some carbon goodness, - boardman or something as a Sunday bike. Although I am not sure if I will ever end up using the Sunday bike, as the weather is so shit and I don't really want to take it on a canal path.
4. Do nothing, as I love my current bike (which was supposed to be my best bike)


Cheers for any advice

Comments

  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Depending on frame size I favour option 2, then I can buy the equilibrium off you.
  • samsbike
    samsbike Posts: 942
    cheers.

    Actually the more I read about the cyclescheme, I can't see it making financial sense to me with the market valuation debate. I don't think they will let me buy bits to upgrade the equilibrium so this whole thing maybe a non-starter. Shame I would have liked some new kit.
  • benkxk
    benkxk Posts: 151
    The only way you can make money from the C2W scheme now is say you're gonna use it for another 3 years after, then you only pay like a tiny amount for it. Something like that ;)
  • samsbike
    samsbike Posts: 942
    yep, but with the uncertainity in the organisation there is no guarantee I will be here. Also I cant get a boardman as Halfords are not in cyclescheme
  • Option 4. You say you love your current bike, why change it?

    Unless you fancy a slightly newer model on the CTW. But will you get as good a spec? The trend seems to be that for the same money as last year you get a lower spec.

    There is a whole thread on the Genesis Equilibrium on the commuting section. They seem to be very highly regarded indeed.
    Ecrasez l’infame
  • samsbike
    samsbike Posts: 942
    Option 4. You say you love your current bike, why change it?

    Unless you fancy a slightly newer model on the CTW. But will you get as good a spec? The trend seems to be that for the same money as last year you get a lower spec.
    .

    No way of getting my equilibrium again, prices seem to have rocketed and the discounts not as lavish. I just fancied a change really. May just spend some money on wheels instead.
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    Which scheme is it?
  • samsbike
    samsbike Posts: 942
    cycle scheme
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    With cyclescheme - the lump sum payment is nothing if you take them up on holding the bike ownership after the initial 12 months. You pay a 'deposit' :) that's equal to what the bike's value would be after 3 years, and they'll charge you that value after the three years - basically just keeping the deposit.

    As they 'own' the bike after 12 months, you can change employer and it doesn't matter. Your contract is now with them.

    So effectively, it's just like it was before the tax office started finding fault. 40-50% saving, paid over 12 months - with a 'buy-back' roughly equal to a 13th month repayment (which just now happens to be the handling deposit for cyclescheme's ownership).
  • samsbike
    samsbike Posts: 942
    Cheers looks like its back on. I wonder if someone can build me a cheap carbon run around