I'm soooo excited.......

[fossyant]

Well....

Looks like our Cycle to Work will be off the ground shortly....

Email went out asking for a test case so it can be approved by the Inland Revenue - Guess who replied as the email hit the desk......

Followed it up with a call to the fella who's organising it...I was first to volunteer....

Whilst I'd replied, there were one or two objecting to the company being used, and I know the supplier of my proposed bike does deal with this large chain.

First up, best dressed.....

We are looking at getting additional local bike shops involved, but to get the scheme off the ground quickly, this big chain were chosen as they also have associations with rail/bus travel pass suppliers....

Anyway.... the fella will be in touch next week, and I'll get my bike a few months before everyone else..... and also prove that you can get the bike you want if you persevere !!

Get in......

 

[dan_bo]

So we wont see you on a C50 on sunday then fozzy?

 

[fossyant]

Nah ! Has to be under £1k - the fella mentioned this as he knows I have a few bikes - I'm after a fixed !

 

[Downward]

Are you not NHS ?
Our Trust does the Cycle to Work Scheme

 

[fossyant]

No - a Uni.......

 

[mr Mag00]

wonder if the OU would do it

 

[Dave5N]

Now I don't know much about tax, but when I mentioned this to our payroll manager he said a beneficial loan would be a better route.

Any accountants out there?

 

[fossyant]

Accountants.......yep, me.

No this deal is good...... as it's HMRC approved, no messing, dead easy deduction before tax, so you save tax, ni (30%) and VAT if your organisation is VATable - so up to 45%, or a bit more if in the higher tax band.....

The beneficial loans......bit dodgy - you don't get owt for nowt.

 

[Hugo15]

Nah ! Has to be under £1k - the fella mentioned this as he knows I have a few bikes - I'm after a fixed !

What do you fancy?

I am very excited at the moment as our cycle to work window has just opened. I spent yesterday lunchtime on the phone specing my Pearson Hanzo. Just need to hand my form in now and it's all systems go.

 

[fossyant]

Well your Hanzo's cousin....a Touche..... with Halo Aerorage upgraded wheels, and SKS black guards.... and going for the gunmetal paint scheme - it's metallic black really..... they will also change the stem, as my other bikes have no rise....and maybe Conti GP All Weathers, having read gatorskins are rubbish in the wet....my fav tyres are Mich Pro Race...but not really that ideal for commuting.....

So the £600 RRP is going to be more like £750........for 1 gear ?

 

[Hugo15]

Nice. The guys at Pearsons have been really helpful. I have stuck with the basic Hanzo, except for adding guards and Schwalbe Marathon + tyres. Never ridden fixed before.

 

[fossyant]

The Pearsons look great bikes - the Hanzo is great too - I've only ridden fixed on Manchester Velodrome......many years ago.....

My commute has a long drag coming home, so I'm trying to weigh the gearing up - think it will be flip flop fixed 18 and 16 though, no freewheel sprocket.

Tyres make a huge difference how the bike feels, so I'm not going for heavy tyres.... light but reliable...

Never bothered with fixed before, because it's so hilly where I live, but the commute is fairly flat, except the last two miles.... and I can use this on crappy days too at weekends....

I fancy the simplicity, as I'm eating bits on my slicked MTB....

 

[Hugo15]

I have gone for 48x19 to start with. My commute is basically flat but with a couple of short sharp rises.

I wanted some Michelin Kyrilion Carbon tyres but no chance of Pearsons getting them any time soon. Thought I would give the Marathon + a try as I am prepared to sacrifice a bit of extra weight for the increased puncture protection.

 

[John the Monkey]

Great stuff - any detail public about the provider yet fossy? And does it apply to the whole HEP, or just you guys?

 

[fossyant]

John it's just us - I think your scheme is on target for early next year - I've spoken to Mike quite a bit. The chosen provider is Halfords, there are a few that are kicking up a fuss, but Andrew, the travel co-ordinator, is inviting some of the other local bike shops to join the scheme, although that may take a few months.... The reason for the 'test case' is just to check it's all administered properly....and get HMRC OK....

The missus is OK about me going for it.... it will probably £40 a month, which is a bargain.