New bike from halfords only (cycle2work scheme) about £200

[MrMister111]

What you want is a carerra kraken, now look at how much what you want costs and rethink your needs

Dunno what sort of discout the c2w scheme offers but have you considered getting a good bike second hand?

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=35092

Must be from Halfords on scheme, brand new, the kraken I will defo not et its in another league, and even on scheme wont pay that thanks

Ok Its just I dont know about bikes at all, thats why been asking, so using what I want able is there anything I can ask them to get? Its just I then wouldn't see it in the "flesh"

Ive looked again at the halfords website, the only really step up is the Saracen Mantra, without Discs its £239, with discs its £279, but both dont have grip shifts on, which I think I want this time, I know more expensive use thumb shifts..

 

[HelenD123]

Must be from Halfords on scheme, brand new, the kraken I will defo not et its in another league, and even on scheme wont pay that thanks

I think Chonker was trying to say that to get what you want (disk brakes and front suspension) that's what you need to spend so perhaps you need a re-think .

 

[Theseus]

... and to repeat.

You can get non Halfords bikes through the Halfords scheme. I know, I have done it. You are not limited to what they stock.

 

[Sittingduck]

Carrera Subway 1!

 

[summerdays]

Don't worry about the thumb shifters ... it took me very little time at all to learn that one (on a flat barred bike)... on each side the left one goes down and the right one goes up as so the numbers get bigger as you read from left to right. (I hope that reads correctly ... that was the way it seemed to go in my head when I first got the bike and was trying to remember).

Now's the time to decide ... either you take some of the advice you have asked for... or you go with what you feel you really want. There is no point spending money on a bike you don't want - if you don't ride it afterwards. Whereas get the bike, fall in love and keep pedalling (and for some reason purchasing more and more cycling goods???).

 

[MrMister111]

yeh people saying Halfords can order any bike, but I left it late and also dont know about bikes, so I have to chose one I can see really.

I have to sign up in an hour to the scheme, at least commit the price I want so need a descison, your right in saying get what i want, but its hard decision! I'm now willing to goto £300, but need a few bits, and really I do want the above bits ive asked for.

Ive never used grip shifters, again talking from a non-biker as I am, I just "fancy" them, they looked good in the shop, tbh I might hate them, not sure never tried them.

last few mins I got to chose...

 

[Theseus]

Whatever you go for, ride it and learn what you do and do not like about it. Put this knowledge to use when you move onto your next bike. Whenever that may be, if ever.

 

[grhm]

TBH if you're willing to go to £300 then sign up for a £300 voucher - you don't actually need to choose the bike yet...

 

[MrMister111]

TBH if you're willing to go to £300 then sign up for a £300 voucher - you don't actually need to choose the bike yet...

yeh your right just not sue hen you have to use it by? ie once you have it how long does it last before having to spend it?

Ive ordered the Diamondback with a tenner deposit, but I can probably cancle and change?

Just wonder if a w/end offer comes on or something? Also when I phoned C2W people, they said specifically you cannot add any money to it, eg if I got a £300 voucher, then saw a bike for £310 , I cannot add £10 needed to it, is this correct?

 

[MrW]

yeh your right just not sue hen you have to use it by? ie once you have it how long does it last before having to spend it?

Ive ordered the Diamondback with a tenner deposit, but I can probably cancle and change?

Just wonder if a w/end offer comes on or something? Also when I phoned C2W people, they said specifically you cannot add any money to it, eg if I got a £300 voucher, then saw a bike for £310 , I cannot add £10 needed to it, is this correct?

you might be able to change but if you cancel you lose your £10. Get the subway! or get the voucher then research in to something else.

I wouldn't recommend the vulcan cos the suspension is shocking, haha!

 

[gekko]

That is correct, you aren't allowed to add your own money to it. I guess this is for legal reasons to do with the tax discount.

My advice is decide on your top budget, which sounds like £300. Apply for the voucher as it will take a while to come through anyway. I don't know how long you have to spend it but I know it's not immediately so you still have time.

If you apply for an amount that you think will cover your accessories as well, you'll be fine because then if you see a more expensive bike you can just buy the accessories outside of the voucher.

 

[MrMister111]

That is correct, you aren't allowed to add your own money to it. I guess this is for legal reasons to do with the tax discount.

My advice is decide on your top budget, which sounds like £300. Apply for the voucher as it will take a while to come through anyway. I don't know how long you have to spend it but I know it's not immediately so you still have time.

If you apply for an amount that you think will cover your accessories as well, you'll be fine because then if you see a more expensive bike you can just buy the accessories outside of the voucher.

Ok so defo cant add to it ok, how long does the voucher take to come then? I ordered the bike on purpose and said 3 weeks, thought that wold be long enough?

Should I cancel the order then, put it on hold or whatever? until see what happens?

 

[MrMister111]

done it! committed for £250, gulp...

I will see if any deals on the W/end. If not will stick with Diamondback, or maybe get subway as its only £240, purely from feedback on here

cheers

 

[gekko]

I suspect the voucher wait varies depending on where you work. The way it works at my organisation is that you send your hire agreement to HR. At the end of the enrolment period (for you it was today, for us it's the end of the month), they send all the applications on to Halfords who process them. Your letter of consent (voucher) then gets posted to you at home. Apparently, ours should arrive around the 15th of the month after enrolment as that's the date we get paid.

From what others at work have said, Halfords usually process pretty quickly and any hold ups are usually with your own HR dept. I guess it all varies depending on where you work though.

 

[MrMister111]

says upto 3 weeks, I go on holiday in 4!!

there maybe some new deals that I can then look at and maybe cancel my Diamondback and order those?

Will keep an eye out over the next few days