Forgive me... which bike?

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
OK, first up, I'm not being lazy, I have done my research, read magazines, forums and blog posts.

I have access to the cycle to work scheme but can only choose from these, so that has thrown all my research out the window as the Edinburgh Cycle Co-op do not sell any of the bikes I was initially interested.

So the question is which bike? I'm looking to spend between 499 and 1000 on a bike and I have no idea which to choose.

I will be mostly commuting, but want a decent sporty bike for riding with the local bicycle club.
If you had to choose from the following, what would it be, and why?

The Allez Elite has picqued my interested the most, but are there any better picks considering I'm after mainly a commuter, but dont want to be left eating other peoples dust during club runs....

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/browse/bicycles/road-bikes?minPrice=499&maxPrice=1000
 

Cyclist33

Guest
Location
Warrington
I'm bound to say Giant Defy 1 as I wuv my Giant Defy 3 - but the Focus Culebro is pretty I think and a good price on that link.
 

Profpointy

Legendary Member
Do work through whethe you'll really save on cycle to work. With the new / newly-interpated rules, the "final payment" i supposed to reflect the value of the 2nd hand bik at the end - let's say a few hundred quid for an originally £1k bike. It used oto be only a token paymen. You are limited (as you've said) to certain shops, and probably have to pay more - either a corkage fee, o missing out on special deals. And you want a model they don't have, or have to get in specially (more cost?) or would ideally like on fo £1100 say, then you're going to have to compromise. What i you leave the job ? Even if you're on 40% I'd say it is pretty marginal unless you cat get exactly what you were going to buy anyway without any extra fees / lack of discount. A £1k bike is an important, long term purchase, so I'd want exactly what want, rather than something on a set list unless saving was really big - which it isn't any more. Fine if you can save and still buy exactly what you'd have bought anyway, but not otherwise.

I bought under the old regime an it was then worth it, but not now, at least not for me.
 
OP
OP
confusedcyclist

confusedcyclist

Veteran
Yeah. I see it's not really cheap to pay the final payment anymore 25% of final value for a 1k bike. That said, I don't have 10 big ones lying around at the moment to pay upfront...

I just started here and it's unlikely I will leave in within 12 months. Like you say tho the savings are minimal...
 

inkd

Senior Member
Location
New Forest
Similar to what @Profpointy says, I am on my second cyclescheme and when you sit down and do the calculations the saving isnt that great TBH. It might be my tax or whatever but finance would get me the better deal. Cyclescheme has helped me to afford a half decent bike by paying monthly though so its down to personal choice, just check how much you would be paying through your HR department first.
 

w00hoo_kent

One of the 64K
Yup, not sure you save much any more, I got the bike I wanted and paying monthly instalments is all a bit invisible when you are crap with money, so I'm happy with it, but it's not necessarily the best of deals if you are willing to shop around and do interest free credit and the like. Depends how clever you want to be I guess.
 
OP
OP
confusedcyclist

confusedcyclist

Veteran
Ordered my Giant Defy 1 @ 699 at PEDAL ON - Defy1 coupon code. Bargain, plus with cyclescheme I will save even more. Can't wait for delivery of this! There is a final payment of 17% of final value if I leave my employer within 3 years, after NI savings this will cost me just over £510!
 
OP
OP
confusedcyclist

confusedcyclist

Veteran
Black/Red. Isn't it pretty! :wub:

2014_GIANT_DEFY_1_BLACK.jpg

2014_GIANT_DEFY_1_BLACK_ANGLE.jpg
 
Top Bottom