Cycle to work schemes

[Lloyd90]

I have a new job in the NHS, in a major hospital, but being inner city there’s no parking etc. 

It’s a bit hilly round here/there and I don’t want to turn up to work a sweaty mess …

However am considering an electric bike. 

Also apparently they have showers and secure bike locking on site. 
 

I think the NHS has a cycle to work scheme but it’s with Halfords. 
 

Anyone know how these schemes work and if they’re any good? 
 

Or am I better off just going and buying one? 
 

Was looking at the following: 

 

https://bawtool.com/product/specialized-turbo-tero-3-0-oak-green-metallic-mens-bike/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA99ECHGbDUYdhaQezjvgI4XnwyRm8&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4YevqLmkiAMVGZdQBh2haiKsEAQYAiABEgI4KfD_BwE

 

 

[bruno22rf]

Look for a pre 2016 electric moped 250w also called EAPC's, limited to 15.5mph (unless you put bigger tyres on) but have a throttle like a motorbike that means you dont have to pedal unless you want to (there's little point actually as the pedals are there to side step the law), 48 volt would be minimum and from memory it costs just over a penny per mile to run - 30-40 mile range.

[old man]

Maybe buy a really good lock and chain before the bike?🤔

[TIGHTCHOKE]

https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/

[TOPGUN749]

5 hours ago, bruno22rf said:

Look for a pre 2016 electric moped 250w also called EAPC's, limited to 15.5mph (unless you put bigger tyres on) but have a throttle like a motorbike that means you dont have to pedal unless you want to (there's little point actually as the pedals are there to side step the law), 48 volt would be minimum and from memory it costs just over a penny per mile to run - 30-40 mile range.

 

Edited September 8 by TOPGUN749

[Rim Fire]

i worked with a chap who cycled to work he had to take a shower sometimes before he started work with the weather we get in winter  

[TOPGUN749]

19 minutes ago, TOPGUN749 said:

 

Good bike,but there can’t be many of those older ones left now with a good battery,I would expect the battery to only last about 5 years,and possibly no longer available or very expensive.The latest bikes are of course only legal without a throttle.

[islandgun]

7 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

I have a new job in the NHS, in a major hospital, but being inner city there’s no parking etc. 

It’s a bit hilly round here/there and I don’t want to turn up to work a sweaty mess …

However am considering an electric bike. 

Also apparently they have showers and secure bike locking on site. 
 

I think the NHS has a cycle to work scheme but it’s with Halfords. 
 

Anyone know how these schemes work and if they’re any good? 
 

Or am I better off just going and buying one? 
 

Was looking at the following: 

 

https://bawtool.com/product/specialized-turbo-tero-3-0-oak-green-metallic-mens-bike/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA99ECHGbDUYdhaQezjvgI4XnwyRm8&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4YevqLmkiAMVGZdQBh2haiKsEAQYAiABEgI4KfD_BwE

 

 

Go for it, there's an old boy near me always out and about, even tows a small trailer, get the best you can afford but don't charge it in your house 👍

[Lloyd90]

19 minutes ago, Rim Fire said:

i worked with a chap who cycled to work he had to take a shower sometimes before he started work with the weather we get in winter  

They do apparently have shower stuff at work, thinking about taking a set of clothes to the office and shower / change there. 
 

 

[Madhatter2132]

Me and my Mrs both did it, it was her idea actually before she got her driving licence. We got cube reaction hybrids from Evans cycles and apart from budget suspension they work really well with a good range, I stuck panniers on both of ours and they are surprisingly useful, came in really handy in Scotland on our honeymoon when we realised there wasn't any spaces left on the Lewis ferry for the car.

She works at the local hospital and her scheme didn't have a cap on it I don't think, mine was 2K so just enough for the cube, you can add extra on for kit and accessories but you have to get it all from the same place at the same time as long as you can get it under the amount, you can't use them anymore to pay part towards it though.

Basically you just fill out the form on the cycle to work scheme website, put in how much money you want to borrow and send it in for approval, if they approve it you get a voucher and go to wherever you want the bike from as long as it is a supplier in the scheme and then get yourself as close as you can to your limit, after that it comes out your pay pre tax and at the end of the life of the deal have 3 options, hand it back, pay what they think the value is or the own it later option which is a lower fee and still technically on the scheme for another year or 2 and then you own it, that's the option we went for. There is a list in the website that shows approved suppliers.

[oowee]

Bike to work scheme is excellent. I have an electric road bike (giant) you can borrow it for a bit if you want to try it first. It's amazingly powerful. 

[bruno22rf]

1 hour ago, TOPGUN749 said:

Good bike,but there can’t be many of those older ones left now with a good battery,I would expect the battery to only last about 5 years,and possibly no longer available or very expensive.The latest bikes are of course only legal without a throttle.

They come up quite often on Marketplace - batteries are fairly easy to replace, you can get most on Amazon but can be pricey, mine takes a 48v that is £120 from Aliexpress but 6 week delivery time - you can get then much quicker via UK suppliers but at almost twice the price. Since 2016 the law changed so you have to peddle or push a button to get you to 4mph then the motor takes over - the ESkuta is just about the most common and you have to keep the peddles turning for the motor to propel you. Spares can be a nightmare but I use pushbike tyres and had the brake shoes re - lined but again most parts are available from China.

[ph5172]

I have just finished ‘paying off’ my cycle to work bike. 
this was also Halfords - I was a bit miffed as there are loads of better bikes but the scheme my employer chose was Halfords or tredz (again owned by Halfords)

 

I opted for a pedal cycle upto the highest value on the lower scheme with the idea the tax value to buy it at the end would be loads lower. 
In reality that was me misinformed, I will explain towards the end. 
 

My bike was £480 (on offer) and I opted for a bike to work ‘credit’ of £499 based on that being the highest limit for the lower final payment - a complete mistake on my part due to lack of understanding 

anyway I used the extra £19 to buy a set of lights and a spare inner tube. 
 

you need to know the cost of the bike you want as if your bike to work credit is higher you will need to add accessories on to use up the extra or re apply as what’s on the form is what they take (hence me adding an inner tube just to use the last £2 or so)

I applied online following my employers link and I had the credit note a few days later - it’s valid for a few months I also had to authorise my employer to take the payments from my wages  

I picked my bike from Halfords online and clicked I had a cycle to work voucher. 

collected it a week or so later at a time I picked and sorted  

 

my payments were approximately £28 a month for 12 months  

at month 11 ish I was e mailed with my options  

give the bike back, accept ownership at a payment of 3% of the initial value - it was 20% or so  if the initial value was over £500 or to extend the lease of the bike at no cost for another 3 years - this is the recommended option and complies with the HMRC no residual value rules - you can also apply again for another bike on the scheme at this point. 
 

looking back I should have probably got an electric bike but I didn’t want a big final balloon payment - that I didn’t have to make if I had understood the scheme better  

 

there is a good offer on an e bike at the moment with your monthly payment being in the region of £100 a month  

 

my theory was I was getting a loan for a bike at zero interest whilst saving a few pennies thrown in  

I also didn’t have to worry about parking and in the colder months I was actually in work about the same time due to not having to defrost the car  

 

my commute was 2 miles though so easily within walking distance as well but a 10 min cycle vs 30 min walk was a no brainier 

all I would say it’s not quite as appealing after a 14 hour night shift in winter or when it’s raining, I would always cycle in in shorts and shower at work. I invested in a cheap set of ex army gortex and got a bike pannier rack and used an old mushroom tray zip tied in to allow me to put a gym bag in with my work clothes.

 

please also get a helmet - a old colleague recently died after falling off and hitting his head on the way in  

 

if you want any more info please from me a PM 

 

[dainty duck]

9 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

I have a new job in the NHS, in a major hospital, but being inner city there’s no parking etc. 

It’s a bit hilly round here/there and I don’t want to turn up to work a sweaty mess …

However am considering an electric bike. 

Also apparently they have showers and secure bike locking on site. 
 

I think the NHS has a cycle to work scheme but it’s with Halfords. 
 

Anyone know how these schemes work and if they’re any good? 
 

Or am I better off just going and buying one? 
 

Was looking at the following: 

 

https://bawtool.com/product/specialized-turbo-tero-3-0-oak-green-metallic-mens-bike/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA99ECHGbDUYdhaQezjvgI4XnwyRm8&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4YevqLmkiAMVGZdQBh2haiKsEAQYAiABEgI4KfD_BwE

 

How much would it cost if it had pedals on it ?

 

60yrs ago when I started work most folks went to work on bikes ,

it was only the bosses and doctors that had cars LOL .

[Westley]

21 minutes ago, dainty duck said:

 

60yrs ago when I started work most folks went to work on bikes ,

it was only the bosses and doctors that had cars LOL .

Yep, and I had a fitters toolbag to carry too. Even had 1 fitter who had a Morris 1000........he wouldn't carry the 'lad'  or the tools.........they went on the bus  🙄 I did cycle a lot, with a toolbag on my back. The old ex Army back packs made excellent toolbags.

[Westley]

4 hours ago, old man said:

Maybe buy a really good lock and chain before the bike?🤔

Even a good lock and chain is useless against an angle grinder. Both Grandson's have had their bikes nicked, both clearly shown on CCTV that an angle grinder was used to cut through the 2 locking devices. When challenged,  one of the two offenders held my Grandson at bay, using the angle grinder. They made off on an E bike, pushing the stolen bike.

Mind you, my Daughter and S in Law, immediately replaced the stolen bike with another £2000 model. I would have bought them a 'bike banger', used model  !

[ph5172]

2 hours ago, Westley said:

Even a good lock and chain is useless against an angle grinder. Both Grandson's have had their bikes nicked, both clearly shown on CCTV that an angle grinder was used to cut through the 2 locking devices. When challenged,  one of the two offenders held my Grandson at bay, using the angle grinder. They made off on an E bike, pushing the stolen bike.

Mind you, my Daughter and S in Law, immediately replaced the stolen bike with another £2000 model. I would have bought them a 'bike banger', used model  !

My mate uses a bike banger to leave at the train station. £30 Facebook specials 

They always seem to be there when he returns. 
 

he does also have multiple custom bikes for racing. 

As above if I had a more of a commute I would be looking at the electric route. 
 

 

one thing I have wondered is do they have a throttle or do you just pedal 

[Bigbob]

When i was working the uni had a bike scheme You could get a bike up to £300 i think and get it off your wages at a £10 a week ,Most lasted a month on there bikes then i think they sold them ,one bought a top of the range  bike and it never left the warehouse all the time i was there 

[Lloyd90]

12 hours ago, bruno22rf said:

Look for a pre 2016 electric moped 250w also called EAPC's, limited to 15.5mph (unless you put bigger tyres on) but have a throttle like a motorbike that means you dont have to pedal unless you want to (there's little point actually as the pedals are there to side step the law), 48 volt would be minimum and from memory it costs just over a penny per mile to run - 30-40 mile range.

That looks good crack but I think I’d want one you can at least do a bit of cycling and get a bit less fat 🤣

5 hours ago, oowee said:

Bike to work scheme is excellent. I have an electric road bike (giant) you can borrow it for a bit if you want to try it first. It's amazingly powerful. 

Thanks Grant, let me know when your home and I’ll try and pop over  

Need to have a bit of power to get me up that hill by the BRI mind!!

[old man]

4 hours ago, Westley said:

Even a good lock and chain is useless against an angle grinder. Both Grandson's have had their bikes nicked, both clearly shown on CCTV that an angle grinder was used to cut through the 2 locking devices. When challenged,  one of the two offenders held my Grandson at bay, using the angle grinder. They made off on an E bike, pushing the stolen bike.

Mind you, my Daughter and S in Law, immediately replaced the stolen bike with another £2000 model. I would have bought them a 'bike banger', used model  !

Tea leaf won again, suppose it was too much to hope theivy castrated himself?

40 minutes ago, Bigbob said:

When i was working the uni had a bike scheme You could get a bike up to £300 i think and get it off your wages at a £10 a week ,Most lasted a month on there bikes then i think they sold them ,one bought a top of the range  bike and it never left the warehouse all the time i was there 

I know of similar.😃

[Penelope]

On 08/09/2024 at 08:12, Lloyd90 said:

They do apparently have shower stuff at work, thinking about taking a set of clothes to the office and shower / change there. 
 

 

I manage an office building in the City of London, with these facilities; many do ride in, park the bike in the building's car/cycle park and shower and change.

[arjimlad]

Started cycling to work in my 30s. I try to buy bikes in October sales, they tend to knock 20% off which loses the VAT.  I keep a suit & shirts etc at work & change them round as & when with a backpack or if I have to drive.

My shortest route is 4 miles but I usually do 10 in the mornings for the exercise.  If you have showers at work & somewhere to get your kit dry if it rains, then why not go for it. 

[Vince Green]

On 08/09/2024 at 03:04, bruno22rf said:

Look for a pre 2016 electric moped 250w also called EAPC's, limited to 15.5mph (unless you put bigger tyres on) but have a throttle like a motorbike that means you dont have to pedal unless you want to (there's little point actually as the pedals are there to side step the law), 48 volt would be minimum and from memory it costs just over a penny per mile to run - 30-40 mile range.

The delivery drivers round here use them. They don't have number plates but no way are they limited to 15.5 mph

[bruno22rf]

6 hours ago, Vince Green said:

The delivery drivers round here use them. They don't have number plates but no way are they limited to 15.5 mph

Anything over 15.5 mph is illegal by electric power (some can be pedalled much faster) but in the last 2+ years of riding mine the Police have shown no interest whatsoever, my Daughter works for the Police and she assures me that as long as you're not being stupid the boys in blue turn a blind eye - some will do 60 mph. The only trouble I have experienced is with motorists who think they know the law and I get shouted at for not wearing a helmet. One half wit in a defender drove almost into the back of me, when I stopped in front of him he was furious shouting about louts on scooters without a helmet and threatening to call the Police, I now carry a copy of the relevant legislation in my top box.

Edited September 9 by bruno22rf

[Vince Green]

7 hours ago, bruno22rf said:

Anything over 15.5 mph is illegal by electric power (some can be pedalled much faster) but in the last 2+ years of riding mine the Police have shown no interest whatsoever, my Daughter works for the Police and she assures me that as long as you're not being stupid the boys in blue turn a blind eye - some will do 60 mph. The only trouble I have experienced is with motorists who think they know the law and I get shouted at for not wearing a helmet. One half wit in a defender drove almost into the back of me, when I stopped in front of him he was furious shouting about louts on scooters without a helmet and threatening to call the Police, I now carry a copy of the relevant legislation in my top box.

Electric scooters as well. When I am in South London they are all over the place. Driving them on the road at well over the legal speed .

Allowing that a lot of the roads on South London are now 20mph they overtake you like you standing still.

Electric scooters in particular are the favoured mode of transport for phone and bag snatchers. They ride in an out of the cars stuck in heavy traffic flipping open the boot lids. A lot of criminality surrounds these vehicles.

There is, I understand, a thriving internet industry in upgrading the motors to achieve these speeds.

Edited September 10 by Vince Green