I’ve recently signed up to the cycle scheme (thanks Lou). Once paid the voucher comes through very quickly, and allows me around 40-50% off the cost of a bike. A sound investment if ever there was one.
I’ll be getting a second bike alongside my newly owned Scott Speedster. At current I’m looking at a steel framed mountain bike like an Orange P7 S / Pro or Genesis Altitude 20. Preferably the Genesis as the Orange seems to have a design flaw with their sliding dropouts. Plus the Genesis is much lighter at an amazing 26.5lbs. They’ll be posting the 2009 models on 18th September.
It’s well worth bugging your employer to find out if they’ll support the cycle scheme, and why not if they say no! I’m currently clocking up around 18 miles a day, and saving £25 a month on travel expenses. And best of all I don’t have to pack myself into a hot and overcrowded tube twice a day.
Also, you can get an allowance each year. So can constantly have up to dates bikes if you want, or use it to get new clothing, helmet, locks, lights etc… Be warned though, you may well get hooked on cycling and end up spending a fortune on top of the cycle scheme voucher.
UPDATE 09/10/2008
I’ve ordered a Genesis Altitude 20 2009. It’s due on 10th December so a bit of a wait, but well worth it in my opinion. And in helping teach a friend REST in .Net I’ve written them a nice RESTful JSON/XML Web service.
This cycle scheme seems like such a great idea, a better compromise to some of the failed “community bike” projects that were run the US in some cities.
Cool article.