WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 15, 2017 19:27:36 GMT
Do I want one? Or rather, do I need one? Now that a Brompton is off the agenda, any new bike will instead have to address the on-road speed deficit between my 20-year-old 26-inch Cannondale and the boys' 700c 'urban' hybrids - while still retaining some of its ability on rough roads and farm tracks. Something like the price of a Brompton would get me one of these: www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cyclocross/cyclocross/vapour-cx/vapour-cx-20which looks like a better compromise than a typical 'hybrid' between on-road speed and off-road ability. I took the old 'Dale into my local shop this afternoon. Rather than politely trying to suppress a scoff, Blokey there was actually quite impressed. Not much he'd want to change, he said, beyond perhaps some less knobbly tyres. The frame won't take disc brakes, but what us has is OK and the gear components are wearing well. So I could keep that. But he also suggested there's a niche market for 'classic ' US-built Cannondales like mine. I think it cost me the dollar equivalent of about £400 in 1997, and I might even get most of that back now. But, what about the cross thingy? I had a little pootle about on a similar one he had in stock. Too small, but even so it felt great: somehow more eager and even 'powerful' than mine - which I know is absurd, given that the power has to come from me. So, worth a punt for enhanced keepy-uppability with the young people? Or making promises my not-quite-50-year-old legs can't keep? |
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Post by Humph on Jun 15, 2017 19:36:55 GMT
Never ridden one, but I've seen them about. Fast things on gravel or fire trails. Not much cop when the going gets properly rough though. Might be a fun thing mind. Depends what you'd use it for. Certainly better on road than a mountain bike, tougher than a hybrid ( hybrids are seen a bit like soft roaders, as in what's the point ) maybe you'd like it. I might like it. Wouldn't fancy getting airborne on one.
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Post by Humph on Jun 15, 2017 19:52:08 GMT
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 15, 2017 20:08:11 GMT
Yeah, don't really do airborne (which you're not anyway, unless the bike has wings - just falling with varying degrees of certainty about the point of impact. 😬)
Generally, I like cycling to cover ground, rather than for the sensation of the ground itself. I also don't like cycling in traffic, so I prefer minor roads and tracks, with all the surface imperfections they bring. So no need for springs, just a little cushioning and plenty of grip. And I like to get up hills briskly, so as little weight as practically possible.
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Post by Hofmeister on Jun 15, 2017 20:27:25 GMT
Yeah, don't really do airborne (which you're not anyway, unless the bike has wings - just falling with varying degrees of certainty about the point of impact. 😬) Lets be honest, Humph goes around deliberately crashing his cycle. Inevitably the bike breaks and he gets hurt. Is there any sanity in continuing to do it? |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jun 15, 2017 23:41:49 GMT
Does the new employer offer anything like a Cycle to Work?
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 16, 2017 7:46:01 GMT
You know, I have a feeling it does. Would I actually have to use the new bike to get to work, though?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jun 16, 2017 8:12:18 GMT
I don't think you do. But you'd be paying for it for a number of years through salary sacrifice.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2017 8:53:10 GMT
You know, I have a feeling it does. Would I actually have to use the new bike to get to work, though? No, you wouldn't. There is no way of anyone supervising this. My missus got her now-sold Brompton on that scheme and gave up cycling pretty sharpish. |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 16, 2017 8:55:43 GMT
How about retailers? I've noticed Evans and Halfords mentioned in connection with CtoW. Would I be tied to major chains or could I deal with my honest local blokey?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2017 9:05:24 GMT
Mrs's Brompton was purchased from Berkshire Cycles in Wokingham Rd, Reading. Local outfit, obvs.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 16, 2017 21:34:34 GMT
Will investigate. Does it mean I could potentially get a £1000 bike for £600?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jun 16, 2017 22:05:36 GMT
Yes - and you'd pay it over time. That's my understanding at least.
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Post by bromptonaut on Jun 18, 2017 8:29:39 GMT
I bought my second B through cycle to work in 2009. As a standard rate taxpayer I saved (IIRC) about 25%. There is a requirement that the bike be used 'mainly' for travel to work or between work sites but it would need a VERY picky employer/tax inspector for actual usage be questioned. An acquaintance who had a government lease car for her job, was refused access to the Ministry of Justice C2W scheme on grounds she couldn't use the bike for work. It's also important to remember you don't own the bike. Your employer is leasing it to you and is pretty well forbidden from transferring ownership during the initial year's lease. That condition means anybody on probation, at threat of redundancy or deciding to bale out may lose bike or the tax saving. When the scheme first started it was pretty much standard that you made a 13th monthly payment to acquire ownership. The spoilsports at HMRC jumped on that and there is now a table based on percentages of original cost tinyurl.com/gss26jx. Some employers will gift you the bike and account for it as a Benefit in Kind; good at basis rate, less so at 40%. I gambled on HR, constantly being reorganised, failing to follow up and just kept riding mine then took it home on my last day. It was of course not mentioned at my exit interview, so technically the blue B in my garage still belongs to the MoJ. How it works on the ground, which dealers you can use depend on how the employer has organised their scheme. Many use national chains like Halfords or Evans. Others use a third party voucher. The latter has disadvantage that retailer pays a commission the cost of which may make them reluctant to take it for say end of line offers. The implementation guidance, written for employers but easy enough to interpret from employees POV is here: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11305/cycle-to-work-guidance.pdf |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jun 22, 2017 22:44:16 GMT
Had a spare half hour this evening in the vicinity of Great Portland Street, so I popped into a local shop and asked what might be big enough. They put me on this and, after some persuasion, sent me off around the block.  And no, your eyes are not deceiving you; that is an extra bracing tube across the 67cm frame. Steel too, but remarkably light for that and delightfully smooth and eager to ride. I want one just because someone (Finnish) made it, even though it might just be too big for me. Not sure it would fit our carrier either, but what a thing to find! |
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