My employer has decided to investigate the Inland Revenue bike scheme as part of their environmental policy. The person in charge of environmental policy is bound to see one national retailer who can deal with all UK employees as the easiest solution, so I want to get in now with the suggestion to use local shops instead. If I can present a full solution for all locations then there's a chance of getting them not to use Halfords. I know a good Manchester bike shop that operates the scheme. Suggestions for suitable shops in Bath and Winchester would be much appreciated, so that I can present an alternative for all our UK locations.
My other argument is going to be that from my employer's point of view the ideal bike to get on the scheme is a Brompton, for combined train/bike travel to clients' offices. I know someone here was struggling to get a Brompton out of Halfords. Please can I have the full story? -- Steph Peters Chorlton Wanderers Cycling Group Monthly slow and easy rides from South Manchester http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/chwan.htm
I know a good Manchester bike shop that operates the scheme. Suggestions for suitable shops in Bath and Winchester would be much appreciated, so that I can present an alternative for all our UK locations.
You are in luck. There is an independent bike shop in Bath who is even administering this scheme nationally across stores. Check out http://cyclescheme.co.uk/
I know a good Manchester bike shop that operates the scheme. Suggestions for suitable shops in Bath and Winchester would be much appreciated, so that I can present an alternative for all our UK locations.
You are in luck. There is an independent bike shop in Bath who is even administering this scheme nationally across stores. Check out http://cyclescheme.co.uk/
Looks good, thanks for the suggestion. Anyone got any experience of this outfit? -- Steph Peters Chorlton Wanderers Cycling Group Monthly slow and easy rides from South Manchester http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/chwan.htm
I know a good Manchester bike shop that operates the scheme. Suggestions for suitable shops in Bath and Winchester would be much appreciated, so that I can present an alternative for all our UK locations.
You are in luck. There is an independent bike shop in Bath who is even administering this scheme nationally across stores. Check out http://cyclescheme.co.uk/
Looks good, thanks for the suggestion. Anyone got any experience of this outfit? -- Steph Peters Chorlton Wanderers Cycling Group Monthly slow and easy rides from South Manchester http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/chwan.htm
I (or rather my employer) purchased a bike through these people in January. I used AVC in Bath (as it was a folder). I found both the shop and cyclescheme to be very helpful.
My employer has decided to investigate the Inland Revenue bike scheme as part of their environmental policy. The person in charge of environmental policy is bound to see one national retailer who can deal with all UK employees as the easiest solution, so I want to get in now with the suggestion to use local shops instead. If I can present a full solution for all locations then there's a chance of getting them not to use Halfords. I know a good Manchester bike shop that operates the scheme. Suggestions for suitable shops in Bath and Winchester would be much appreciated, so that I can present an alternative for all our UK locations.
My other argument is going to be that from my employer's point of view the ideal bike to get on the scheme is a Brompton, for combined train/bike travel to clients' offices. I know someone here was struggling to get a Brompton out of Halfords. Please can I have the full story? -- Steph Peters Chorlton Wanderers Cycling Group Monthly slow and easy rides from South Manchester http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/chwan.htm
Go for Cyclescheme administered by Avon Valley Cyclery, an excellent shop with one of the best and widest range of folders in the country. But you can get your bike from any LBS in the scheme.
Mine used Halfords and I think played a big role in getting Halfords to sort out a deal with Brompton (which essentially means Halfords handle the money but hand it all over to the Brompton dealer). I would avoid them. Two of us went through the scheme. Halfords never notified me my bike was ready for collection - I found out by calling in the LBS - and then a whole load of undone paperwork had to be done by them. My colleague had a catalogue of Halfords inspired disasters in the process and her Brompton took eight weeks longer than mine despite being ordered two weeks earlier. On top of which there is the legendary Halfords aftersales service (saved by the Brompton dealer providing it for Bromptons). We have persuaded our employer to look seriously at Cyclescheme for next year and drop Halfords. http://cyclescheme.co.uk/
-- Tony
"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory." - Leonardo da Vinci
> I >know a good Manchester bike shop that operates the scheme. >Suggestions for suitable shops in Bath and Winchester would be >much appreciated, so that I can present an alternative for all >our UK locations.
You are in luck. There is an independent bike shop in Bath who is even administering this scheme nationally across stores. Check out http://cyclescheme.co.uk/
Looks good, thanks for the suggestion. Anyone got any experience of this outfit?
I (or rather my employer) purchased a bike through these people in January. I used AVC in Bath (as it was a folder). I found both the shop and cyclescheme to be very helpful.
The University of Bath runs their tax-efficient bicycle purchase scheme through Cyclescheme. I got a Marin Novato through this scheme last summer. A colleague has just got a six-speed Brompton. We both got the bikes from Avon Valley Cycles who were great to deal with. I've seen a variety of other bikes here that have been purchased through this scheme.
If you're interested in folding bikes, Avon Valley are specialists in this field. -- Dennis Davis, BUCS, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK [email hidden]
My other argument is going to be that from my employer's point of view the ideal bike to get on the scheme is a Brompton,
Bath is well endowed with steep hills of nontrivial length, on which a brompton is not a very practical option IMO. You'll want the muchly- geared folders instead.
And yes, I do use my folder for biznis travel, and it does save ugly faffing with taxis.
My other argument is going to be that from my employer's point of view the ideal bike to get on the scheme is a Brompton, for combined train/bike travel to clients' offices. I know someone here was struggling to get a Brompton out of Halfords. Please can I have the full story?
'Twas I. Halfrauds took the order back in November. Much arsing about ensued while they blamed Brompton's suppliers & quality control for delaying delivery.
I spoke to Brompton to get the real story - Halfrauds had no contract with Brompton and were sourcing through another dealer, who was working against the rules of his contract. His contract was stopped. Halfords' source of bikes stopped.
Halfrauds eventually agreed to pay my lbs to supply the Brompton to me. I think I eventually got it at the end of March. (Reminder to self - ought to go back for the service sometime).
Summary: Halfords shops are mostly [censored]. Halfords Business Services are liars, enter into contracts falsely, and slander suppliers.
Nick Kew <[email hidden]> of Customer of PlusNet plc
(urlhttp://www.plus.net/url) said:
Steph Peters said:
My other argument is going to be that from my employer's point of view the ideal bike to get on the scheme is a Brompton,
Bath is well endowed with steep hills of nontrivial length, on which a brompton is not a very practical option IMO. You'll want the muchly- geared folders instead.
The inhabitants of the Bath office can choose whatever they want for regular cycling to the office, quite probably not a folder at all. I'm in Manchester which boasts absolutely no hills of any length or steepness.
Quoted message said:
And yes, I do use my folder for biznis travel, and it does save ugly faffing with taxis.
That's precisely what I want a Brompton for. Working at customer premises staying away during the week and going home at weekends happens a lot, so it's important. Paying me 20p per mile for a 5 mile bike ride instead of a £10 taxi fare twice a day is good sense for the company. And if I can still get my daily bike ride I'm more willing to go and work in the back end of beyond, especially as it's likely to widen my choice of eating establishments. -- Steph Peters Chorlton Wanderers Cycling Group Monthly slow and easy rides from South Manchester http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/cycling/chwan.htm
gjt70 <[email hidden]> of Medical Engineering, University of Bath,
UK said:
I (or rather my employer) purchased a bike through these people in January. I used AVC in Bath (as it was a folder). I found both the shop and cyclescheme to be very helpful.
Hope this helps,
Yes it does thank you. Two responses both saying it went well is quite a contrast to the Halfords experiences. It gives me more confidence in putting this forward as a solution that I believe will work.
