Cycle to work, worth it?

Cycle to work, worth it?

Author
Discussion

MBBlat

Original Poster:

1,602 posts

148 months

Sunday 5th March 2023
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Thinking of getting an electric bike, work offers Halfords and Green commute cycle to work schemes. Before anyone asks it will be used for commuting smile as well as general transport.

Commute is 15 minutes door to door and basically flat, but electric assistance would be welcome for headwinds and maybe encouraging me to go a bit further.


Kes Arevo

3,555 posts

38 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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If the electric helps you get out there, whereas you may be reticent otherwise, then go the hell for it.

What do you have to lose?

TheDrownedApe

1,016 posts

55 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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not sure but i don't think you are limited to Halfords. Mine was through them (in partnership with halfords) but i could use one of 1000s of indi shops and other big companies.

Yes it's worth it..IF you want/need a new bike

arcturus

1,489 posts

262 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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There are thousands of indie's in the Green Commute initiative - https://www.greencommuteinitiative.uk/gci-register...

Got my Whyte E506 from an indie in Hereford. Getting an electric bike was just the incentive I needed as an unfit nearly 60 yr old living in a hilly area.

Go for it!!

Ledaig

1,694 posts

261 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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I picked one up a couple of years ago for a six mile each way commute on country roads, definitely worthwhile and a good cost saving over using the car.
It is good to be able to do the commute without ending up a sweaty mess when arriving a the office on a summers day.

I went through the Green Commute route via the CTW scheme, given this was back at the start of lockdown I ended up getting the bike from a dealer 200 miles away as they were the only ones with any stock.
Very easy process and a good turn around from a phone call late on a Monday morning to delivery of the bike by Wednesday lunchtime.


mike9009

6,918 posts

242 months

Monday 6th March 2023
quotequote all
MBBlat said:
Thinking of getting an electric bike, work offers Halfords and Green commute cycle to work schemes. Before anyone asks it will be used for commuting smile as well as general transport.

Commute is 15 minutes door to door and basically flat, but electric assistance would be welcome for headwinds and maybe encouraging me to go a bit further.
Definitely worth doing. I have had mine for about 18 months now and completed about 3000 miles (maybe more?). My commute is 26 miles a day but I only do it about twice a week and the electric just makes it a pleasure. I am a little slower than in the car (30 minutes versus 45 minutes) but much more enjoyable. I have easily paid back what I paid for the bike over the 18 months using the CTW scheme.

<cautionary note - last Friday I had my first fall on a bike in about 30 years ..... I definitely don't bounce as well as I did when I was younger!!>

wpa1975

8,600 posts

113 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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Go for the Green commute scheme much more choice, some places will not accept the Halfords scheme

Snatch1

176 posts

86 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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I've bought 3 bikes using the cycle to work scheme over the past 10 years (2 x road, 1 x MTB), the most recent being a Trek Domane SLR7 for which the last payment will be made next month. None of them has been remotely near any of the offices I'm able to work out of. I tend to work from home mostly but if I go to the office I drive or get the train. I've saved several thousand £'s purchasing the bikes though.

Why wouldn't you use the scheme?

CheesecakeRunner

3,706 posts

90 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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If you’re a 40 or 45% tax payer, then I reckon it’s worth it. 20% or less you can probably get a better discount on last year’s model now that the bike industry is starting to have overstock issues.

paulrockliffe

15,639 posts

226 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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Snatch1 said:
I've bought 3 bikes using the cycle to work scheme over the past 10 years (2 x road, 1 x MTB), the most recent being a Trek Domane SLR7 for which the last payment will be made next month. None of them has been remotely near any of the offices I'm able to work out of. I tend to work from home mostly but if I go to the office I drive or get the train. I've saved several thousand £'s purchasing the bikes though.

Why wouldn't you use the scheme?
Because what you describe is Tax fraud?

Kes Arevo

3,555 posts

38 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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paulrockliffe said:
Because what you describe is Tax fraud?
Certainly shenanigans, particularly for 3 bikes that never get used for work. Not sure it's tax fraud, though.



Edited by Kes Arevo on Wednesday 8th March 14:28

paulrockliffe

15,639 posts

226 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
quotequote all
Kes Arevo said:
paulrockliffe said:
Because what you describe is Tax fraud?
Certainly shenanigans, particularly for 3 bikes that never get used for work. Not sure it's tax fraud, though.



Edited by Kes Arevo on Wednesday 8th March 14:28
The HMRC guidance on deductions from salary pre-tax are the ones you need to look at, it's nothing to do with the Department for Transport.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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MBBlat said:
Thinking of getting an electric bike, work offers Halfords and Green commute cycle to work schemes. Before anyone asks it will be used for commuting smile as well as general transport.

Commute is 15 minutes door to door and basically flat, but electric assistance would be welcome for headwinds and maybe encouraging me to go a bit further.
Cycling to work isn't just about the cycling bit (As stupid as it sounds). However, with an electric bike, do you even want to cycle?

I cycled to work pretty much every day for 6 years solid and that was bike/train/bike every da 5 days a week in all weathers. I had a Brompton and it took a lot of punishment in that time. At one point I was doing 14 miles a day for about three years and that really took its toll.

I used to shower at the office and you really have to be organised to do it on a regular basis.

1. Readying your kit the night before
2. Having enough cycling kit for five days a week including two sets for hotter days
3. Lights including spares
4. Luggage to suit
5. Showering facilities at work? (I used to keep jeans shoes and other essentials in a draw in the office.

You also need a certainly mentality to deal with traffic. pedestrians ect and tbh some people just aren't cut out for it.

I appreciate the E-Bikes have changed tings considerably but for 15 minutes, unless its a 1/4 hill, I'd consider a normal pedal bike and spend the money saved on a weekend break to the Cotswolds

Snatch1

176 posts

86 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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paulrockliffe said:
Because what you describe is Tax fraud?
rofl

Brilliant!

I can honestly say that of all the people I know who have used the scheme to buy bikes, and that would probably run to 20+, none of them use them to commute.

My nearest office is around 40 miles away, using the motorway, further on A or B roads. Cycling 40+ miles on Saturday or Sunday morning is fine, doing that to and from the office isn't really practical.

Edited by Snatch1 on Wednesday 8th March 18:05

MBBlat

Original Poster:

1,602 posts

148 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
quotequote all
bakerstreet said:
Cycling to work isn't just about the cycling bit (As stupid as it sounds). However, with an electric bike, do you even want to cycle?

I cycled to work pretty much every day for 6 years solid and that was bike/train/bike every da 5 days a week in all weathers. I had a Brompton and it took a lot of punishment in that time. At one point I was doing 14 miles a day for about three years and that really took its toll.

I used to shower at the office and you really have to be organised to do it on a regular basis.

1. Readying your kit the night before
2. Having enough cycling kit for five days a week including two sets for hotter days
3. Lights including spares
4. Luggage to suit
5. Showering facilities at work? (I used to keep jeans shoes and other essentials in a draw in the office.

You also need a certainly mentality to deal with traffic. pedestrians ect and tbh some people just aren't cut out for it.

I appreciate the E-Bikes have changed tings considerably but for 15 minutes, unless its a 1/4 hill, I'd consider a normal pedal bike and spend the money saved on a weekend break to the Cotswolds
Just to clarify I do currently cycle to work 3-4 times a week on my 15 year old Kona hybrid. 2 miles almost exactly each way, and that’s front door to desk. Hills aren’t the problem, it’s more the headwind.

I also intend to take early retirement in a couple of year’s time, so there is a bit of thought to getting the discount now.

Kes Arevo

3,555 posts

38 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
quotequote all
I'm the same. Do not mind cycling over a mountain range, but headwinds, nope. Hate them. Something especially sapping about them.

Catastrophic Poo

4,226 posts

185 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
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Used CTW many times.

Got a Specialized Demo last time whistle

PushedDover

5,623 posts

52 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
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MBBlat said:
Just to clarify I do currently cycle to work 3-4 times a week on my 15 year old Kona hybrid. 2 miles almost exactly each way, and that’s front door to desk. Hills aren’t the problem, it’s more the headwind.

I also intend to take early retirement in a couple of year’s time, so there is a bit of thought to getting the discount now.
They (e bikes) are just great for that. Never once is there a a feeling of "awww fk not today thanks"

gangzoom

6,254 posts

214 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
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PushedDover said:
They (e bikes) are just great for that. Never once is there a a feeling of "awww fk not today thanks"
Not even today!!!??

I've driven for most of this week.....Heated seats, steering wheel, and surrounded by a metal crash tested cage has been far too attractive an option versus waterproof cloths, gloves, ear warmers, and risk of falling over at every corner smile

PushedDover

5,623 posts

52 months

Thursday 9th March 2023
quotequote all
gangzoom said:
PushedDover said:
They (e bikes) are just great for that. Never once is there a a feeling of "awww fk not today thanks"
Not even today!!!??

I've driven for most of this week.....Heated seats, steering wheel, and surrounded by a metal crash tested cage has been far too attractive an option versus waterproof cloths, gloves, ear warmers, and risk of falling over at every corner smile
Well WFH means no bike this week.

But thats because WFH, not the weather.

The point is - and in response to the above usage of 'use a bike to cycle my 2miles each day but the headwinds....' I am saying an e-bike provides a 100% leveller