Searching boris style bikes

[badb33st]

hi All,
i'm an FM for a large plc in Bristol and we are looking for a company that will supply and maintain some bikes that we will supply to our staff to commute between our buildings, any ideas?
regs
jerry

 

[pixiepie]

Local bike shop?

 

[Buddfox]

It seems too obvious...!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Local bike shop x2 but that doesn't mean the nearest national chain though, particularly not if they have an orange sign and lots of car parts in store. Their reputation is very hit and miss for bikes.

Support your local independent/family run/co-operative store, good karma and excellent PR for your business.

And when the bikes reach replacement age, find the local bike recycling project or wheels for all etc charity and give them away to get a second lease of life.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Boris style bikes are generally known as Dutch bikes, a good unisex choice, though some of the more macho blokey types may perceive them as a bit girly with the low stepover frame.

The more blokey type bike would probably be hybrids, flat bar, bigger wheels than mountain bikes, slick tyres, rear rack, ideal for commuting & riding with panniers etc for carrying laptops, work files etc without getting sweaty with a backpack.

Factor in the cost of lights, mudguards (should be standard on Boris type bikes tho) good quality locks etc too.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

An alternative, albeit more expensive initially, would be a fleet of Brompton bikes. You have true multi modal travel options for staff then, they could travel further afield carless & a bike that will go on almost indefinitely with good carrying capacity, a bombproof reputation & again good PR as you're investing in the archetypal British bicycle company.

You also save on locking them up as they'd fold and go onto sites or into buildings with their rider.

 

[Pale Rider]

Buy the bikes 'cash and carry' and cut a maintenance contract deal with a local mobile bike mechanic:

http://www.cycletherapist.co.uk/

Or have a word with Serco who run the Boris Bikes:

http://www.serco.com/

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I believe Pashley make/made(?) the Post Office bikes. With the PO withdrawing bike posties, they may have surplus stocks, if they haven't pulled out of that part of the business entirely.

Other ''fleet'' bike suppliers may be able to help. I know that some of the bikes used by the City of London police are, rather intriguingly, made by Smith and Wesson but I get the impression that different forces use different suppliers so there may be more local suppliers. It may be worth contacting the nearest police force that has maintains a fleet. The NHS also have pedalling paramedics - no idea where they come from.

 

[glenn forger]

Dutch cops use Batavus.

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

Some kind of fixie would keep things simpler.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

KPMG in London use Bromptons

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

http://www.paper-bicycle.com/


These seem to supply a lot to large companies

 

[Sara_H]

Folding bikes are a good choice as one size generally fits all.

I have a Decathlon Hoptown 5, It's a six speed bike, and it fits all of us in the family from my 10yrs old son to my 6'1" OH.

 

[CopperBrompton]

An alternative, albeit more expensive initially, would be a fleet of Brompton bikes. You have true multi modal travel options for staff then, they could travel further afield carless & a bike that will go on almost indefinitely with good carrying capacity, a bombproof reputation & again good PR as you're investing in the archetypal British bicycle company.

I'd echo this. Would certainly be my choice for a fleet bike.

 

[Boris Bajic]

If it makes it any easier I run an old, steel-framed fixie, an alloy/carbon road bike on 10-speed Veloce componentry with Campag Sciroccos and a slightly tired Pace rc303 hardtail.

If you want Boris-style bikes, any of the above qualify.

As a young child, I ran a blue and red tricycle with direct drive to the front wheel. This may be harder to source in adult sizes.

I hope I have helped but I fear that perhaps I have not.