Cycle to work, worth it?
Discussion
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 
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.
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.
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 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
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.
Well I ended up getting this
I haven’t cycled it to work yet as it only arrived Friday and I booked today off on leave. I did take it on a 10mile approx ride along the coast today, no real drama except I ran out of battery about a mile away from home.
Only real problem is for some reason Raleigh chose to build the pannier rack from 18mm tube, most panniers fit up to 16mm.
I haven’t cycled it to work yet as it only arrived Friday and I booked today off on leave. I did take it on a 10mile approx ride along the coast today, no real drama except I ran out of battery about a mile away from home.
Only real problem is for some reason Raleigh chose to build the pannier rack from 18mm tube, most panniers fit up to 16mm.
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