Budget Bikes

[coops]

That's a shame Thomas, because it seems for those who can use the scheme it offers big savings.

Flecc's point on the cost of components of electric bikes is illustrated by the comparative cost of conversion kits and "ready made" electric bikes:

Before I chose to buy a "ready made", I looked into a kit for my MTB and the cheapest I found was around £400-500 for similar capacity & voltage NiMH battery (36V ~324Wh) but lower powered motor and none of the extras (lights, rear carrier etc.). With current NiMH costs, thats probably gone up, and a Bionx kit would cost most of £1000 to import to the UK. Add to those amounts the cost of the bike itself to fit the kit to and factoring in the difficulty/inconvenience of actually fitting the kit, plus trying to custom-fit a 4-5kg battery to your bike somehow in a safe, secure & stable way, then to me if you want a reliable bike for serious transport use, not just a fun leisure bike, then its cheaper & you're better off in the long run buying a "ready-made" electric bike - even if you own a reasonably good bike already!

One small point I forgot to mention before (halfmedley): don't want to be nitpicky, but a Torq doesn't cost 3 times a Mistral (£500?) - its £1200, till recently £1100 on offer with Li battery. Okay, so still over twice the price .

Stuart.

 

[Ian]

have looked into it, but employers don't want to play!

Some employers have a funny attitude towards it. A friend of mine is a lecturer at a large higher education institute and is considering buying a bicycle to ride to work, I suggested that he looks into the scheme, but although his employer has issued numerous public statements on their green transport policy, and actively encourages staff to cycle, walk or use public transport they DO NOT participate in the scheme.... beats me

 

[rsscott]

Some employers have a funny attitude towards it. A friend of mine is a lecturer at a large higher education institute and is considering buying a bicycle to ride to work, I suggested that he looks into the scheme, but although his employer has issued numerous public statements on their green transport policy, and actively encourages staff to cycle, walk or use public transport they DO NOT participate in the scheme.... beats me

What we need is an umbrella company (similar to that used with IT contractors) that can provide the scheme to people whose main employer is refusing to play ball. I'll have a look into this.

 

[DBCohen]

What we need is an umbrella company (similar to that used with IT contractors) that can provide the scheme to people whose main employer is refusing to play ball. I'll have a look into this.

I am not sure that the tax rules will allow that. It is meant to be a green incentive through the employer, and the tax deductions need to be taken at source from pay.

Employers might have a green policy, but you have to get a certain amount of uptake to make it financially worthwhile to the employer (due to the cost overheads of running the scheme, and the rules governing tax breaks from the employer point of view).

I know my own employer had been lobbied for some years by the Cambridge office for SOMETHING to allow subsidised bikes in lieu of a company car, but it was only when this scheme was set up by the Government and we were able to demonstrate interest from 30-40 employees that it was adopted.

Just got my quote from 50cycles through today, so I will be starting the processing ASAP. Hopefully will get my bike in June.

 

[Ian]

What we need is an umbrella company (similar to that used with IT contractors) that can provide the scheme to people whose main employer is refusing to play ball. I'll have a look into this.

There are finance companies that will handle the leasing arrangements but the rules mean they have to deal with the employer. In an ideal situation go-it-alone employees would be able to claim the tax back direct from Revenue & Customs, and as for the VAT, surely it's high time that green transport was zero rated.

 

[rsscott]

I am not sure that the tax rules will allow that. It is meant to be a green incentive through the employer, and the tax deductions need to be taken at source from pay.

Employers might have a green policy, but you have to get a certain amount of uptake to make it financially worthwhile to the employer (due to the cost overheads of running the scheme, and the rules governing tax breaks from the employer point of view).

Yes that is certainly the case, i'm not sure anything can be done either. I have a contact at a firm that specialises in tax law so I will ask them if it is possible to run the scheme any other way. It's probably a no, but worth asking !

 

[Ian]

Yes that is certainly the case, i'm not sure anything can be done either. I have a contact at a firm that specialises in tax law so I will ask them if it is possible to run the scheme any other way. It's probably a no, but worth asking !

Thanks Russ, I'm sure many of will be interested in the answer, but we'll not hold our breaths.

 

[DBCohen]

Thanks Russ, I'm sure many of will be interested in the answer, but we'll not hold our breaths.

In the meantime, if you want to take advantage of this scheme with your own employer - mobilise!

Get the details of the scheme, and discuss them with your HR and Finance people. Also, canvas opinion among the staff - if a lot of people are interested, it carries more weight with employer management than a lone voice.

Remember as well, while electric bikes are permissible on the scheme, that is not is whole raison d'etre. You may get more support from colleagues if electric bikes are a side issue rather than the main event. In my experience, even with the 50% saving the scheme gives you many feel that electric bikes are still too much of a premium over normal bikes. The aim is to get your employer to sign up to Cyclescheme - THEN you can start evangelising the benefits of electric power on a bike.

This is how it happened at my company. It took some time and persistence - but it can be achieved.

David.

 

[Ian]

In the meantime, if you want to take advantage of this scheme with your own employer - mobilise!

Unfortunately David it's not an option for me, my work involves rather more travel than is possible on a bicycle, however I will pass on your remarks, and any more information that comes to light to a friend who has rather more interest in the scheme than his employer.

Ian.

 

[JohnInStockie]

Ride to work schemes

Funnily enough, I have just been discussing this very issue with my company today. Its not easy, as I work for a leasing company, which also has a hand in equipment financing. Which basically means that we lease cars to companies that dont want to handle it themselves, and we will also arrange finance for just about anything.

I am going to them tomorrow (the Marketing Team) to try and convince them that adding Bike financing to our portfolio isnt a bad thing in this day and age.

However, dont hold your breath, as most of these people have year round tans and look like David Dickenson!

But one can only try....


John

 

[Ian]

John, here is a link to one company providing the service, if you can show others are doing it, it may help your case.

Ian.

 

[DBCohen]

John, here is a link to one company providing the service, if you can show others are doing it, it may help your case.

Ian.

I would be cautious about Booost - in the past they only had a very limited range of suppliers and bike manufacturers to choose from. They also had problems working with smaller companies.

 

[Ian]

I would be cautious about Booost - in the past they only had a very limited range of suppliers and bike manufacturers to choose from. They also had problems working with smaller companies.

Thanks for that interesting snippet David, could be that the leasing companies offering services within the scheme have been set up by bike suppliers. I avoided mentioning another company offering leasing services because of their close links to a particular bike supplier, and the fact that financial services are not their core business.

 

[alanterrill]

<However, dont hold your breath, as most of these people have year round tans and look like David Dickenson!>

Perhaps you could suggest that if they cycled in every day, they'd get those tans without the expense of fake tanning chemicals!

I'm pleased to say that my boss cycles to work most days, and has recently sold his little sports car and bought an ultra lightweight bike (costing £2,500!) instead.

Alan

 

[Ian]

Thanks Scott for confirming what I was begining to believe was the case.

 

[allotmenteer]

Hi All

Halfords have done a good job and clearly needed to do it well having sold many bikes to corporations and needing to set it up to provide the best service not solely to make a quick buck out of people tax breaks. Surely a business or a service should only be established if it is neccasary or improves somthing to make it better or simple.

So please if anyone does want to go through the process try and make it through the 1st two methods stated.

Thanks

50cycles
Scott

Hello Scott

Glad to hear Halfords run a good scheme. My company should be running a scheme in July through them (at least they did use them for the last scheme two years ago so I assume they will this time as well). I've got my eye on one of your new models, they look great.

Paul

 

[thomasbatley]

Thomas
are you still looking for an izip try here
mike

Thanks for link - it does look a good price but on other threads members have panned the izip after riding it. Does anyone know about the Meerkat Metro that Tesco sells for £350? I'm still looking,

ThomasBatley

 

[coops]

Hi Thomas

I think that the Meerkat metro is a rebranded "unisex/ladies" (step-through) currie izip , it certainly looks identical frame etc.

Since everyone's needs are different when it comes to bikes, and also there may be some as yet unspecified and easily remedied reason why the small number who have posted about the izips find them not the easiest to ride, I'd certainly suggest you try one out if you get the chance; preferably in a side by side comparison with another "comparably" priced ebike (taking battery costs etc. into account any NiMH/Li bike should cost around £100-200 more).

No, I don't work for Tesco or any other bike company

Stuart.

 

[JohnInStockie]

50 cycles - I can see your not to impressed by what you call 'parasite companies', I assume you mean leasing companies, or do you?

-----------------------------------------------------------

From my perspective, I think this is an area where big Corporate leasing companies CAN make a HUGE difference with the bigger corporate companies. Why...

1) They already have the credit licences.
2) They have the Finances.
3) They have relatively small costs.
4) There business model 'fits' with the CWS scheme.

[NOTE- I am not an accountant, a leasing specialist has explained this to me]

Downsides of this for leasing companies are the incredibly small margins, and the difficulty in automating the whole affair, car dealerships are bad enough, so bike dealers will be much worse.

Funnily enough, I've been 'advised' by management not to persue this any more, as it could 'give me an image I dont want'. So much for changing the world eh, the choice is push green thinking, or damage my career prospects (should I have any left in 'their' eyes after choosing to cycle rather than drive).

John

 

[flecc]

Funnily enough, I've been 'advised' by management not to persue this any more, as it could 'give me an image I dont want'. So much for changing the world eh, the choice is push green thinking, or damage my career prospects (should I have any left in 'their' eyes after choosing to cycle rather than drive).

John

That is so sad John. Puts me in mind of a nearby golf club which was newly established on a newly built course in 1997. Installed a big sign alongside it's entrance road, No Cyclists. Perhaps the worst thing about that was that much of it's membership came from a nearby large Council estate.

After I confronted the Club Manager and accused him of being a snob, the sign quietly disappeared. I didn't want to go in or be a member, but I didn't want to be affronted by that sign either, every time I walked or cycled past.

Of course you're not in a position to confront like that, which must be galling for you.
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