I've been commiting for a couple of years on a Specialized Sirrus, as well as doing some longer rides at weekends (typically 70-90 miles). I also did the Dynamo this year on it.
My work has just put in place the "bike to work" initiative with provider Cycle Scheme, so I thought I'd take advantage and get another bike. I'll still use the Sirrus for winter commutes to work but I wanted something a bit more fun for sunnier days and weekend rides.
What I'm looking for is something lighter and faster than the current model as I'm finding the Sirrus a bit heavy. I'm most likely to use it for commuting, light touring, next year's Dynamo, etc. My price limit's probably around £1,500. Does anyone have any recommendations about what I should go for? I've been looking at some of the Condor bikes and they look great. Are they?
I've been commiting for a couple of years on a Specialized Sirrus, as well as doing some longer rides at weekends (typically 70-90 miles). I also did the Dynamo this year on it.
My work has just put in place the "bike to work" initiative with provider Cycle Scheme, so I thought I'd take advantage and get another bike. I'll still use the Sirrus for winter commutes to work but I wanted something a bit more fun for sunnier days and weekend rides.
So, assuming the revenue look here occaisionally, or if someone chooses to shop you, you propose to commit a crime and evade taxes ? Read the rules of the bike to work schemes about using the bike for commuting or work journeys.
Quoted message said:
I've been looking at some of the Condor bikes and they look great. Are they?
Yes, and if in your budget and the right size/spec, they would be excellent buys.
"Nigel Cliffe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
So, assuming the revenue look here occaisionally, or if someone chooses to shop you, you propose to commit a crime and evade taxes ? Read the rules of the bike to work schemes about using the bike for commuting or work journeys.
Nobody can prove that the bike is for cummuting. I almost bought another bike on the scheme, but I didn't want to commit.
As for what bike to buy, how about the Specialized Tricross. Not only it's a beauty, but it's like a road bike with off road tyres, double brakes, perfect!! If I had the 700 quite required to buy it, it would be mine already!
-- Vivian ------- "We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school". No Surrender
My work has just put in place the "bike to work" initiative with provider Cycle Scheme, so I thought I'd take advantage and get another bike. I'll still use the Sirrus for winter commutes to work but I wanted something a bit more fun for sunnier days and weekend rides.
So, assuming the revenue look here occaisionally, or if someone chooses to shop you, you propose to commit a crime and evade taxes ? Read the rules of the bike to work schemes about using the bike for commuting or work journeys.
Sorry, I should have explained myself more clearly - the new bike will be used for commuting on sunny days, but I'll keep the old one for hacking through smog filled London streets in the rain and sleet.
... My work has just put in place the "bike to work" initiative ... My price limit's probably around £1,500.
My advice is to check the small print of the scheme before proceeding.
The short-lived Halfords arrangement here at Southampton University had a limit of 1000 pounds. Fine for a bike used purely to commute modest distances, not enough if one was after something special or suitable for a wider range of options.
I can't remember if the limit was a feature of Halfords' scheme, imposed by the University, or set by the taxman.
-- Tim Forcer [email hidden] The University of Southampton, UK
The short-lived Halfords arrangement here at Southampton University had a limit of 1000 pounds. Fine for a bike used purely to commute modest distances, not enough if one was after something special or suitable for a wider range of options.
I can't remember if the limit was a feature of Halfords' scheme, imposed by the University, or set by the taxman.
The 1000 pounds limit is not an absolute. In order for this deal to take place there must be a consumer credit act license held by the employer. They can participate on the basis of a general government one which has a credit limit of 1000 GBP or they can get their own and run at whatever limit they wish. Most opt for the government one as they are generally non cyclists who can't understand why anyone would pay that much for a bike..
The 1000 pounds limit is not an absolute. In order for this deal to take place there must be a consumer credit act license held by the employer. They can participate on the basis of a general government one which has a credit limit of 1000 GBP or they can get their own and run at whatever limit they wish. Most opt for the government one as they are generally non cyclists who can't understand why anyone would pay that much for a bike..
To be fair, I think most of them quite possibly opt for the government one because it involves a minimum of paperwork, time and associated up-front cost :-(
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
I've been commiting for a couple of years on a Specialized Sirrus, as well as doing some longer rides at weekends (typically 70-90 miles). I also did the Dynamo this year on it.
My work has just put in place the "bike to work" initiative with provider Cycle Scheme, so I thought I'd take advantage and get another bike. I'll still use the Sirrus for winter commutes to work but I wanted something a bit more fun for sunnier days and weekend rides.
So, assuming the revenue look here occaisionally, or if someone chooses to shop you, you propose to commit a crime and evade taxes ? Read the rules of the bike to work schemes about using the bike for commuting or work journeys.
If he uses the bike 'mainly' for summer commutes to work he isn't committing a crime or evading taxes.
... My work has just put in place the "bike to work" initiative ... My price limit's probably around £1,500.
My advice is to check the small print of the scheme before proceeding.
The short-lived Halfords arrangement here at Southampton University had a limit of 1000 pounds. Fine for a bike used purely to commute modest distances, not enough if one was after something special or suitable for a wider range of options.
I can't remember if the limit was a feature of Halfords' scheme, imposed by the University, or set by the taxman.
There was no limit set by the taxman in year 1 of the scheme.
... My work has just put in place the "bike to work" initiative ... My price limit's probably around £1,500.
My advice is to check the small print of the scheme before proceeding.
The short-lived Halfords arrangement here at Southampton University had a limit of 1000 pounds. Fine for a bike used purely to commute modest distances, not enough if one was after something special or suitable for a wider range of options.
I can't remember if the limit was a feature of Halfords' scheme, imposed by the University, or set by the taxman.
As I understand it £1000 is the limit at which the employer needs to apply for a consumer credit license to run the scheme hence the limit. OTOH you can always pay the extra to the bike shop as I did.
-- Tony
"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory." - Leonardo da Vinci
There was no limit set by the taxman in year 1 of the scheme.
Sort of. There's been no limit set by the taxman at any time.
Other parts of government have set a de-facto limit of 1000, unless the organisation decided to take out it's own credit licence.
At the start of the scheme the left hand didn't tell the right hand and there was no published limit. Then the right hand noticed what the left hand had done and squashed the scheme entirely (0gbp limit without a licence). At this point it was the right hand's opinion that teh scheme should always have had a 0gbp maximum limit. Currently the left hand has evaded the right hand by taking out a licence that covers anyone in the UK participating in such a scheme. Expect the right hand to do something soon.
bike. I'll still use the Sirrus for winter commutes to work but I wanted something a bit more fun for sunnier days and weekend rides.
So, assuming the revenue look here occaisionally, or if someone chooses to shop you, you propose to commit a crime and evade taxes ? Read the rules of the bike to work schemes about using the bike for commuting or work journeys.
Have you tried taking your own advice?
Nothing in what he's said suggests contravening the rules.
If he rides it part-way to work just two days a week in the sunnier 6 months of the year, that usage is enough to cover a day-long recreational ride every single weekend of the year.
The short-lived Halfords arrangement here at Southampton University had a limit of 1000 pounds. Fine for a bike used purely to commute modest distances, not enough if one was after something special or suitable for a wider range of options.
I can't remember if the limit was a feature of Halfords' scheme, imposed by the University, or set by the taxman.
The 1000 pounds limit is not an absolute. In order for this deal to take place there must be a consumer credit act license held by the employer. They can participate on the basis of a general government one which has a credit limit of 1000 GBP or they can get their own and run at whatever limit they wish. Most opt for the government one as they are generally non cyclists who can't understand why anyone would pay that much for a bike..
..d
Fortunately, I have an enlightened employer and I work with lots of other cyclists, so we're currently in the process of applying for a consumer credit licence. Should take around 4 weeks and then I'm free to spend up to my max of £1500 (ie £700-800 in actual cost to me).
The short-lived Halfords arrangement here at Southampton University had a limit of 1000 pounds. Fine for a bike used purely to commute modest distances, not enough if one was after something special or suitable for a wider range of options.
I can't remember if the limit was a feature of Halfords' scheme, imposed by the University, or set by the taxman.
The 1000 pounds limit is not an absolute. In order for this deal to take place there must be a consumer credit act license held by the employer. They can participate on the basis of a general government one which has a credit limit of 1000 GBP or they can get their own and run at whatever limit they wish. Most opt for the government one as they are generally non cyclists who can't understand why anyone would pay that much for a bike..
Fortunately, I have an enlightened employer and I work with lots of other cyclists, so we're currently in the process of applying for a consumer credit licence. Should take around 4 weeks and then I'm free to spend up to my max of £1500 (ie £700-800 in actual cost to me).
That's excellent news.
Other employers please take note!
-- Tim Forcer [email hidden] The University of Southampton, UK
-- Tim Forcer [email hidden] The University of Southampton, UK
So back to the original question - what bikes should I be considering? Someone at work recommended a Felt F55, but it seems more of an out and out racing bike and I'm not sure how well it'll take to having panniers on the back! Is condor the way to go?
-- Tim Forcer [email hidden] The University of Southampton, UK
So back to the original question - what bikes should I be considering? Someone at work recommended a Felt F55, but it seems more of an out and out racing bike and I'm not sure how well it'll take to having panniers on the back! Is condor the way to go?
Darth.[/QUOTE]
I'm currently seriously thinking of getting a Condor Moda, a lovely looking Ti frame that they also do in an Audax version. Only problem for you is that as listed the cheapest version is £1649. Howver if you go for the Fratello, you can get an Ultegra equiped bike for £1399. when I saw them in teh shop they certainly looked very nice. At this sort of money, all bikes will be good, you just need to decid what you want from it. If you want to put a rack on then you will be loking at Audax bikes ratehr than out and out racing bikes as these won't have rack mounts (unless you go to a frame builder and get hiim to add them), you may also want to contact someone like Chas Roberts, who do some very noce Audax bikes.
Howver I'm sticking with my dcision to go with the Moda, now all I need to do is lose enough weight to justify having it :-)
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
Tim Forcer said:
The short-lived Halfords arrangement here at Southampton University had a limit of 1000 pounds. Fine for a bike used purely to commute modest distances, not enough if one was after something special or suitable for a wider range of options.
I can't remember if the limit was a feature of Halfords' scheme, imposed by the University, or set by the taxman.
The 1000 pounds limit is not an absolute. In order for this deal to take place there must be a consumer credit act license held by the employer. They can participate on the basis of a general government one which has a credit limit of 1000 GBP or they can get their own and run at whatever limit they wish. Most opt for the government one as they are generally non cyclists who can't understand why anyone would pay that much for a bike..
New Employers are running such a scheme too, with a thousand quid limit, but they say there's nowt to stop one from making up the difference should one wish to spend more.
Alas, I had already ordered all the bits of the new fixer - not that I believe that Halfrauds could supply a Cotic RoadRat frame anyway - before I started there, and there's not really anything else I want at the moment. Nor even a Brompton.
Though I /did/ find myself drooling over pictures of penny-farthings yesterday. I wonder if Halfrauds...
