Hello from Perthshire 0 and a few questions re £1K limit bikes!

[Earn]

I will post this on the actual forum too, so apologies if you come across it twice.

Hi I live near Perth and have always enjoyed cycling. I walk my dogs about 6 miles a day so reasonable fit, but eat a lot so also quite fat. I am 51, 5ft 4in with very short legs. I sound a picture don't I . So planning to use my e bike to go to Tesco for a few things, travel to run my maths (Kumon) classe in Perth, visit friends and go for longer cycles with my very fit cyclist husband, who think 60K is a breeze. I probably wouldn't go on the longer ones, but would be nice to pop out in the evening for a cycle with him without being put off by his speed and ability to tank up hills.

I am buying through the cycle to work scheme, and for work that means in September, limited to 1K and through Halfords. My understanding is that Halfords will get any bike, not just the ones they sell. I am toying with a folderas it would be nice to chuck it in the car and really like a Volt bike I tried but it is a bit over £1K so not a gooer. Also liked the look and sounds of the FreeGo folder but with the bigger battery it is £45 over £iK!!!! My understanding is that this is no negotiable in our scheme. I had also read here that the bogger battery could make the seat too high for short asses, but can't find any info on that. The Halford's sold Ebco 30 looks like and OK option if not a folder and the Koyote folder didn't look too bad either.

I have almost lost the will to live, trying to decide which bike to go for and would love a little help please. Any less than £1K bike will be given consideration. I tried a F4W bike and although the bike was ok only being able to go up the assist range and not down was a complete pain, so I suppose it would be good to try each bike. Trouble is not much chance of that in Perth.

 

[5threeone]

You may find this link helpful.
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/news/tour-world-70s-electric-bike/

Additionally, I have just spent a few days on Exmoor with some severe climbs encountered and my Qwic has been unfailing in every way so I have no regrets in the extra outlay. You get what you pay for every time. No steel parts, so no corrosion. Alloy and stainless steel throughout. Never less than 70 miles on one charge. Lots of assistance on hills with a power range from 1-8 and 7 gears. I have changed the sprocket from 16 to 19 and lowered the whole range by about 20% yet still don't use the top gear.

 

[Earn]

Thanks. Sounds like you are having fun on it. sadly it doesn't fit within with my cycle to work £1K limit. Might as well make use that to get a flavour if I like ebiking or not

 

[David McCarlie]

You could speak to your finance department and get their agreement to pay the amount above £1k direct to the bike shop, keeping you under the limit.

Point of interest, the only reason you have a £1k limit on the cycle to work scheme is so that the company doesn't need to apply for a licence to allow them to 'lease' above the £1k. At the moment the company can simply download their sub £1k licence directly from the web.

 

[JuicyBike]

You could speak to your finance department and get their agreement to pay the amount above £1k direct to the bike shop, keeping you under the limit.

Point of interest, the only reason you have a £1k limit on the cycle to work scheme is so that the company doesn't need to apply for a licence to allow them to 'lease' above the £1k. At the moment the company can simply download their sub £1k licence directly from the web.

If you have to use Halfords then expect to choose only their bikes.
It's true they have to supply any make of bike - we've supplied them several Juicy Bikes for Cycle To Work riders.
But they charge us 15% for the privilege, which we now think is too high. 10% is the norm.
I'm guessing other indie-brands would feel the same.
You could try asking to separate out the cost of the battery and pay for that privately. Then your company owns a complete asset (bike), which they lease to you. And you own the battery.