Bike for cycle to work scheme

BangOnTarget

Just a quick question guys, I am looking to get a bike on the scheme and have a budget of €1000 all in, have not been on a bike since I was a kid, am 6 foot, overweight and unfit.

The bike will be used for family cycles and for fitness/commuting.

I went into a bike shop yesterday and was recommended a Trek 7.4 22.5" (black) €859 with lock, BBB kite helmet, lights and mudguards €1000. Is this a good bike for what I want or is their a better fit? I know nothing about bikes.

Kind regards
J

Zillah

I'm no expert but you can get very good hybrid bikes for a lot less than 1k.

xebec

BangOnTarget wrote: »

The bike will be used for family cycles and for fitness/commuting.

For most of the above it will be fine. In fact, I have the Trek 7.2 FX which would be fine as well - personally wouldn't pay the extra for the upgrade to the 7.4. From a fitness perspective, this would be a good start. However, once your fitness levels increase and if you get interested in going for 1.5 or 2 hour cycles or more, then you will get hankering for a road bike - I'm basing this on experience after buying my 2nd bike less than a year after my first.

Many of the users on here would suggest considering an entry level road bike such as the Trek 1.1, this will serve all the purposes you have outlined above (including the fitness side) and the cost will be similar.

BangOnTarget

Thanks for all the advice, so for around the same price I could get a Trek 1.1 or 1.5, would the extra be justified for the 1.5?

maconsid

I got a hybrid in jan on the bike to work. Giant escape 1. Very good bike, but the wrong type. Discovered really liked cycling and ended buying a road bike having already used the bike to work allowance!

If you think you might be cycling for fun and fitness go Road

IF you want road try canyon (german but I think they are listed as bike to work) or Rose (not sure about them). Massively cheaper than local bike shops.

Boardnashea

I always recommend picking up something second hand until you decide what you like. €200 should sort you out and save the bike scheme until a little later. Probably be able to get your money back on the second hand bike of you look after it.

traprunner

Having bought a hybrid on the bike to work last year I found myself buying a road bike this year. Costly when I could have had it in the first place.

monkeysnapper

Defo go for a racer bike . I have both, I use my toura with mud guards and lights for cycling to work . It's a more robust bike that keeps me clean . It's a bit heavier but it's more comfortable and I carry my work gear in panier bags on back.

Then I have my racer . It knocks the living socks off toura . I've done long cycles and it's a breeze with racer. It would kill me to do same on toura .

BangOnTarget

BangOnTarget wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice, so for around the same price I could get a Trek 1.1 or 1.5, would the extra be justified for the 1.5?

I've have the 1.5 its a good road bike. I've put about 3000km on it since I got it last year. I can't see myself upgrading for a good while.

Their site does a good job of explaining the differences:
http://www.trekbikes.com/int/en/bikes/road/performance_race/1_series/

roadrunnermick

Hi everyone ,

Just wondering if I am on standard rate of tax below thus not paying anything above 32000

Would it be better to buy a good 2nd racer or would the bike the work be best value

Cheers

triggermortis

As has already been mentioned, going second hand initially is a good idea. Then if you get bitten by the bug you can use the BTW scheme to upgrade to a decent bike. That's what I would do if I was in that situation