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hybrid bike?

jonathan	25 Aug 14:57
Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	Hello, after a bit of advice please. Joined my companys cycle to work scheme and I am after a bike I can go to work on but also ride off road as well, nothing to rough, canal tow paths, forest trails etc. I have got five hundred pounds to spend,but I can only use Halfords, but after reading their web site it says they can order bikes they do not stock, so it does not have to be from Halfords range. Any ideas? Thanks

jonathan

25 Aug 14:57

Joined: 25 Aug 2009

Posts: 4

Bike:

Hello, after a bit of advice please.
Joined my companys cycle to work scheme and I am after a bike I can go to work on but also ride off road as well, nothing to rough, canal tow paths, forest trails etc.
I have got five hundred pounds to spend,but I can only use Halfords, but after reading their web site it says they can order bikes they do not stock, so it does not have to be from Halfords range.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Demon	26 Aug 08:14
Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 29 Bike: My Profile	Hi Jonathon With 500 quid to spend at Halfords, I'd go for the Boardman Performance Hybrid Comp 09. It should preform well for the type of riding you describe.
My Latest Route: May 2010 Circular round Isle Of Anglesey

jonathan	26 Aug 09:00
Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	Ok thanks, had actually being looking at that and really liked it, but was just a bit concerned as the tyres looked so thin, always had cheap moutain bikes before and never really looked at hybrids before. Thanks again for reply

RonnieG	26 Aug 09:43
Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Posts: 24 Bike: My Profile	Hi Jonathon I have the Hydrid Pro 09. Yes the tyres are very thin. However On gravel paths and the like i have not had a problem. I believe once you start using the bike for recreation it's surprising how much cyling you actually do on the road v off road. You can get a slightly wider tyre on it and maybe a little less air ( I use 90psi) for a bit more comfort / grip. The bike is a gem. Goes like a train . Very little to compete with price and spec at that weight too. Rgds Ronnie

RonnieG

26 Aug 09:43

Joined: 19 Jul 2009

Posts: 24

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Hi Jonathon

I have the Hydrid Pro 09. Yes the tyres are very thin. However On gravel paths and the like i have not had a problem. I believe once you start using the bike for recreation it's surprising how much cyling you actually do on the road v off road.
You can get a slightly wider tyre on it and maybe a little less air ( I use 90psi) for a bit more comfort / grip.
The bike is a gem. Goes like a train .
Very little to compete with price and spec at that weight too.
Rgds Ronnie

Demon	27 Aug 03:30
Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 29 Bike: My Profile	You should be able to get 32mm on the Hybrid Pro. I use 32mm Schwalbe Marathon on my Scott hybrid and I've had no trouble on road or the trails, except that it can be a bit skittish in mud. As RonnieG says, it's surprising how much you do on the road. I reckon I do about 75% of my riding on road.
My Latest Route: May 2010 Circular round Isle Of Anglesey

jonathan	27 Aug 11:55
Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	Thanks RonnieG and Demon for your replies,think I will defiently go for the Hybrid Pro, will let you know what I think of it, when I get it. Thanks again

simonannitsford	10 Sep 07:20
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 9 Bike: My Profile	Hi, I got a Specialized Sirrus Comp in the January sales this year, and have been very please with it so far, and would happily recommend this as it comes with fairly high spec 'gear'. Not sure how much you can get these for at the moment, perhaps a touch over your budget. bear in mind that any shop worth it's salt will let you have a test ride, so try a few out before comitting yourself. My experience with halfords was that they weren't willing to let me have a test ride of anything due to 'insurance implications'. Simon
My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Mitford To Bolam Lake

simonannitsford

10 Sep 07:20

Joined: 27 Jun 2008

Posts: 9

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Hi, I got a Specialized Sirrus Comp in the January sales this year, and have been very please with it so far, and would happily recommend this as it comes with fairly high spec 'gear'. Not sure how much you can get these for at the moment, perhaps a touch over your budget.

bear in mind that any shop worth it's salt will let you have a test ride, so try a few out before comitting yourself. My experience with halfords was that they weren't willing to let me have a test ride of anything due to 'insurance implications'.

Simon

My Latest Route: Jun 2008 Mitford To Bolam Lake

dudley	10 Sep 10:35
Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile	it's Halfords no test ride no service, other than excellent tuition in the 'gormless gurn' poor set-up go for the Chris Boardman. At least this is in their range, so you'd stand SOME chance of getting a better service than ordering something that they are TOTALLY unfamiliar with.
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

jimwoo25	14 Sep 16:43
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 50 Bike: My Profile	Hi Jonathan, I read your post with envy! In my work, i get rewarded for cycling to work but i have no bike allowance! If i had a 500 quid halfords budget, i would definatley go for the Boardman Hybrid. I recently got chatting to a guy at the start line of a marthon bike race who had one and said it was easily the best bike he had and he had previously owned some pretty expensive bikes! Definatley go with something along those lines! Handles well i'm told and looks awesome!!

jimwoo25

14 Sep 16:43

Joined: 02 Sep 2009

Posts: 50

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My Profile

Hi Jonathan,

I read your post with envy! In my work, i get rewarded for cycling to work but i have no bike allowance!

If i had a 500 quid halfords budget, i would definatley go for the Boardman Hybrid. I recently got chatting to a guy at the start line of a marthon bike race who had one and said it was easily the best bike he had and he had previously owned some pretty expensive bikes!

Definatley go with something along those lines! Handles well i'm told and looks awesome!!

dudley	15 Sep 02:10
Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile	Jimwoo25 i dont think they've given him Â£500 (correct me if i'm wrong!) THey've signed up to the Cycle to Work scheme, whereby you buy a bicycle with your own money, usually up to Â£1000 in value, but the money come sout of your pay pre-tax. you therefore save somewhere between 20 and 40%, depending on your tax bracket. Payment is monthly for one year, and, to all intents and purposes, the bike is basically yours. A Â£500 bike at lower tax bracket will cost him in the region off Â£33 a month. Â£25 a month asa higher rate tax payer. You can get your company to join the scheme. It doesn't cost them anything. You could offer to administer it for them. You don't need to do it through Halfords either. Companies with a large geographical coverage tend to do this for ease, but you can do it through your local cycle shop. There are lots of options out there for minimal research. Jim, I am interested as to how you get rewarded by your company without this scheme?
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

dudley

15 Sep 02:10

Joined: 16 Jan 2009

Posts: 498

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Jimwoo25

i dont think they've given him Â£500 (correct me if i'm wrong!)
THey've signed up to the Cycle to Work scheme, whereby you buy a bicycle with your own money, usually up to Â£1000 in value, but the money come sout of your pay pre-tax.

you therefore save somewhere between 20 and 40%, depending on your tax bracket. Payment is monthly for one year, and, to all intents and purposes, the bike is basically yours.

A Â£500 bike at lower tax bracket will cost him in the region off Â£33 a month. Â£25 a month asa higher rate tax payer.

You can get your company to join the scheme. It doesn't cost them anything. You could offer to administer it for them.

You don't need to do it through Halfords either. Companies with a large geographical coverage tend to do this for ease, but you can do it through your local cycle shop. There are lots of options out there for minimal research.

Jim, I am interested as to how you get rewarded by your company without this scheme?

My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

jimwoo25	15 Sep 05:12
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 50 Bike: My Profile	Hi Dudley. Thanks for your information on the scheme. It's quite good to know how it all works. The last company i worked for were involved in the scheme but because i was only temping at the time, i was not eligible. My new company (as far as i am aware) are not signed up to the scheme. They reward you for walking/cycling/car sharing by giving you credits each time you 'go green' to work and then you can exchange them for high street shopping vouchers or take the cash equivalent at the end of the year. As i am new to the company, mine is being set up as we speak. But thanks again for the info, i think a meeting with our office manager may be on the horizon!! Jim

jimwoo25

15 Sep 05:12

Joined: 02 Sep 2009

Posts: 50

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Hi Dudley.

Thanks for your information on the scheme. It's quite good to know how it all works.

The last company i worked for were involved in the scheme but because i was only temping at the time, i was not eligible.

My new company (as far as i am aware) are not signed up to the scheme. They reward you for walking/cycling/car sharing by giving you credits each time you 'go green' to work and then you can exchange them for high street shopping vouchers or take the cash equivalent at the end of the year. As i am new to the company, mine is being set up as we speak.

But thanks again for the info, i think a meeting with our office manager may be on the horizon!!

Jim

dudley	15 Sep 09:03
Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile	as a scheme, it will cost them a lot less (nothing) than their 'green scheme', which sounds excellent. if you walk every day - what can you earn over a year?
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

jimwoo25	15 Sep 15:38
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 50 Bike: My Profile	Hi Dudley, I'm not sure how much you would get as i am relativley new to the company and still getting my details set up to allow me to receive the benefits. I have spoken to one of the guys in the office and he walks everyday and says that he made around Â£200 last year which paid for all his christmas presents! I have spoken to my manager though and apparently i get a 15% discount on a bike from halfords as well so thanks for the info! Just aside from this, why Dudley? Is that where you come from? Cheers Jim

jimwoo25

15 Sep 15:38

Joined: 02 Sep 2009

Posts: 50

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Hi Dudley,

I'm not sure how much you would get as i am relativley new to the company and still getting my details set up to allow me to receive the benefits.

I have spoken to one of the guys in the office and he walks everyday and says that he made around Â£200 last year which paid for all his christmas presents!

I have spoken to my manager though and apparently i get a 15% discount on a bike from halfords as well so thanks for the info!

Just aside from this, why Dudley? Is that where you come from?

Cheers
Jim

jonathan	06 Oct 09:33
Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 4 Bike:	Hi all, finally got my voucher through, thanks to everyone for the advise. Went for the Boardmand hybrid comp, and WOW!! It really does go like a rocket and the brakes are fantastic even in the wet. I was worried about the tyres being too thin, but they have being fine so far. I was thinking of going for a gt zum and a friend from work had one so was lucky enough to test it out on a good ride and to be quite honest it seemed quite ordinary compared to the boardman. Concering the cycle to work scheme you do have to pay for it yourself, but you pay out of your wages before you pay tax and national insurance, I pay around Â£8.50 a week out of my wages but because of the tax I am only Â£5.76 a week worse off. Concering Halfords, they seem to be a bit hit and miss, went into one branch and asked for some assistance but was told the bike assistant had gone home and could I come back tommorow! Finally bought boardman from the telford branch, they were very helpfull.

jonathan

06 Oct 09:33

Joined: 25 Aug 2009

Posts: 4

Bike:

Hi all, finally got my voucher through, thanks to everyone for the advise.
Went for the Boardmand hybrid comp, and WOW!!
It really does go like a rocket and the brakes are fantastic even in the wet.
I was worried about the tyres being too thin, but they have being fine so far.
I was thinking of going for a gt zum and a friend from work had one so was lucky enough to test it out on a good ride and to be quite honest it seemed quite ordinary compared to the boardman.

Concering the cycle to work scheme you do have to pay for it yourself, but you pay out of your wages before you pay tax and national insurance, I pay around Â£8.50 a week out of my wages but because of the tax I am only Â£5.76 a week worse off.

Concering Halfords, they seem to be a bit hit and miss, went into one branch and asked for some assistance but was told the bike assistant had gone home and could I come back tommorow!
Finally bought boardman from the telford branch, they were very helpfull.

MICKTHELOON	06 Oct 11:48
Joined: 01 Oct 2009 Posts: 5 Bike:	Hi.I use the CTW scheme thru Royal Mail.Max of Â£500 but you get a bonus of 15% so I got Â£575 this time and you pay it back over 18 months with a Â£35 final payment and the bike is yours. You actually only payback about Â£370. I have just got a Carerra Vanquish and previously had the Boardman Hybrid which is a great bike-sometimes I stand there and dont know which one to go out on! Enjoy your one.

MICKTHELOON

06 Oct 11:48

Joined: 01 Oct 2009

Posts: 5

Bike:

Hi.I use the CTW scheme thru Royal Mail.Max of Â£500 but you get a bonus of 15% so I got Â£575 this time and you pay it back over 18 months with a Â£35 final payment and the bike is yours. You actually only payback about Â£370. I have just got a Carerra Vanquish and previously had the Boardman Hybrid which is a great bike-sometimes I stand there and dont know which one to go out on! Enjoy your one.

dudley	07 Oct 04:26
Joined: 16 Jan 2009 Posts: 498 Bike: My Profile	JimWOO Dudley is the name of my dog, after Dudley Moore.. just guessing - your green scheme green credits system - WSP? they've been all over the news with it recently
My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular

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