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Bike to Work scheme - the Megathread - Read post #1 before posting

Beasty

Firstly this thread is not about which bike should you get under the BTW scheme – there are too many variables to try and cover this in a single thread. It is to provide a summary of the scheme, some do’s and don’ts and act as a single thread for all technical aspects of the scheme.

Any new threads created covering the rules and application of the scheme will either be locked or transferred to this thread. Please ensure you review the whole thread before posting a new query

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dinneenp

Hi,
Friend (male, 42,relatively fit) looking for a bike to commute to work in Dublin, about 25 min, fairly flat cycle across city. Budget about €700 max, doesn't need to be that much if something cheaper is decent.

At a quick glance I was thinking something like these
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=101811

Either of 1st 2 here
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/showsearchresults.asp?sort=description&withstock=1&sale=1&idCategory=113&pageno=1&idSupplier=0

https://www.cyclestore.ie/specialized_sirrus_disc_sports_hybrid_bike_2017-ID_70419?c=EUR&gclid=CjwKCAiA4vbSBRBNEiwAMorERxeWmqlyFagh3Ae7fUirnJHkXY4Xqie47Jt3FlxvpgSsZdvBu9eG4xoCdFQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Personally I have a courier bike, 8 gears, which I find great, no messing around with fromtand back cogs. Got it from Edinburgh cycles years ago. Hard to find hybrid bikes nowadays with only 8 gears.

Any thoughts or recommendations please?
Thanks
Pa

[Deleted User]

Make sure you include the need for mudguards, rack, panniers in your budget planning.

droidus

dinneenp wrote: »

Hi,
Friend (male, 42,relatively fit) looking for a bike to commute to work in Dublin, about 25 min, fairly flat cycle across city. Budget about €700 max, doesn't need to be that much if something cheaper is decent.

At a quick glance I was thinking something like these
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=101811

Either of 1st 2 here
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/showsearchresults.asp?sort=description&withstock=1&sale=1&idCategory=113&pageno=1&idSupplier=0

https://www.cyclestore.ie/specialized_sirrus_disc_sports_hybrid_bike_2017-ID_70419?c=EUR&gclid=CjwKCAiA4vbSBRBNEiwAMorERxeWmqlyFagh3Ae7fUirnJHkXY4Xqie47Jt3FlxvpgSsZdvBu9eG4xoCdFQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Personally I have a courier bike, 8 gears, which I find great, no messing around with fromtand back cogs. Got it from Edinburgh cycles years ago. Hard to find hybrid bikes nowadays with only 8 gears.

Any thoughts or recommendations please?
Thanks
Pa

You should be able to pick u a decent hybrid with a nexus internal 8 gear hub for around that price - something like this:

https://www.radon-bikes.de/urban-fitness/urban/urban/urban-70-fe/

Or this:

https://www.goodbikegear.com/803/products/marin-fairfax-sc4-belt-2017-hybrid-bike.aspx?origin=pla&kwd=&currency=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI66Df1ZLf2AIVg7ftCh1NLwHoEAQYAiABEgLbe_D_BwE

dinneenp

droidus wrote: »

You should be able to pick u a decent hybrid with a nexus internal 8 gear hub for around that price - something like this:

https://www.radon-bikes.de/urban-fitness/urban/urban/urban-70-fe/

Or this:

https://www.goodbikegear.com/803/products/marin-fairfax-sc4-belt-2017-hybrid-bike.aspx?origin=pla&kwd=&currency=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI66Df1ZLf2AIVg7ftCh1NLwHoEAQYAiABEgLbe_D_BwE

Thanks, I like the look of the Marin. Next to check if it can be bought on the BTW scheme.

droidus

Theyre stocked in a few shops around the country - it should be possible to get it on BTW

https://www.bikeexchange.ie/s/bikes/marin

You might want to do a search for nexus hybrids, there's a few other options out there.

Kubota

Get In There wrote: »

Has any civil servant on here successfully bought a +€1000 Canyon bike via Peoplepoint's Cycle to Work application form?

Having a nightmare with Peoplepoint. "Invoice must not exceed €1,000 in get around Peoplepoint's criteria.

I work in the Public Service (Local Authority) and managed eventually to purchase a bike on the BTW from Canyon directly through my employer. Canyon won't under any circumstances give you two part Invoices for the same bike.
However they will accept multiple payments, so maybe you could pay Canyon the balance above 1k, and provide proof of payment to Peoplepoint so that they can pay the 1k.

Obviously you would need to check with Peoplepoint to see if this is acceptable to them.
Best of Luck with it, as they are great bikes at good prices.

Kubota.

Kubota

Get In There wrote: »

Has any civil servant on here successfully bought a +€1000 Canyon bike via Peoplepoint's Cycle to Work application form?

Having a nightmare with Peoplepoint. "Invoice must not exceed €1,000 in get around Peoplepoint's criteria.

I work in the Public Service (Local Authority) and managed eventually to purchase a bike on the BTW from Canyon directly through my employer. Canyon won't under any circumstances give you two part Invoices for the same bike.
However they will accept multiple payments, so maybe you could pay Canyon the balance above 1k, and provide proof of payment to Peoplepoint so that they can pay the 1k.

Obviously you would need to check with Peoplepoint to see if this is acceptable to them.
Best of Luck with it, as they are great bikes at good prices.

Kubota.

Johnnyhpipe

Hi,

I want to buy a €500 bike for myself on the scheme. Since I have up to €1k to spend, can I buy one for my wife as well?

Thanks

easygoing39

the rules as per the Revenue say No.

Averagevegan

Anybody bought the ikea through the BTW scheme?

http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/products/ikea-family-products/bicycle-bicycle-accessories/sladda-bicycle-grey-art-30326733/

ED E

Thats the wrong one, you want the "FOLKVLIG" (not yet in the irish market :mad: )

uck51js9zml2yt

Does it come as a flat pack?

Beasty

Your employer can buy it from wherever they like/determine

It's all explained in the BTW megathread which is linked in the FAQs

Effects

Kairi Muscular Bifocal wrote: »

Does it come as a flat pack?

Actually yes, you have to assemble yourself.

ted1

It's to cheap to use up your BTW allowance. You only get it once every 5 years.

You are better off maximising your allowance.

Beasty

ted1 wrote: »

It's to cheap to use up your BTW allowance. You only get it once every 5 years.

You are better off maximising your allowance.

Not everyone wants to spend €1k or more on a bike. If that's what the OP wants to spend then the tax relief is a bonus

[Deleted User]

Generally, the BTW scheme relies on an invoice-based purchase, so it might be difficult to get your employer and IKEA on board with this. Check if any of the voucher schemes like https://www.biketowork.ie/faq cover IKEA.

Carawaystick

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Generally, the BTW scheme relies on an invoice-based purchase, so it might be difficult to get your employer and IKEA on board with this. Check if any of the voucher schemes like https://www.biketowork.ie/faq cover IKEA.

I've seen lots of ikea stuf in companies, so there is surely a simple way to get a vat invoice from them.

Effects

Carawaystick wrote: »

I've seen lots of ikea stuf in companies, so there is surely a simple way to get a vat invoice from them.

I'd imagine a standard IKEA receipt has the vat on it anyway.

Carawaystick

Effects wrote: »

I'd imagine a standard IKEA receipt has the vat on it anyway.

Doesn't a vat invoice need the customers name on it though?

cython

Carawaystick wrote: »

Doesn't a vat invoice need the customers name on it though?

Is a VAT receipt required when there is no claim back of VAT, as is the case in BTW purchases?

[Deleted User]

Carawaystick wrote: »

I've seen lots of ikea stuf in companies, so there is surely a simple way to get a vat invoice from them.

This could be done by the staff member buying and claiming back on expenses. I don't think this is allowed for BTW, as the payment has to be made to the retailer.

Beasty

Carawaystick wrote: »

Doesn't a vat invoice need the customers name on it though?

h57xiucj2z946q

Considering the bike to work scheme. Don't know too much about bikes. Would be cycling about 5km each way.

What are people's opinions on: https://eurocycles.com/scott-silence-30-city-hybrid-bike/

TychoCaine

Amari Nervous Dean wrote: »

Considering the bike to work scheme. Don't know too much about bikes. Would be cycling about 5km each way.

What are people's opinions on: https://eurocycles.com/scott-silence-30-city-hybrid-bike/

It's a bit heavy, and the price is a bit high for a Shimano Acera-equipped bike (I'd expect Alivio for that money), but it'll do the job for a 5km spin. The 3x8 gear setup is overkill for a commuter though. Personally I'd buy a Canyon Commuter 3 for similar money. It's 4Kg lighter and has a simpler, higher quality 1x10 gear setup. Canyon, being a German mail-order company can be a bit tricky to get on the bike 2 work scheme, but it can be done.

h57xiucj2z946q

TychoCaine wrote: »

It's a bit heavy, and the price is a bit high for a Shimano Acera-equipped bike (I'd expect Alivio for that money), but it'll do the job for a 5km spin. The 3x8 gear setup is overkill for a commuter though. Personally I'd buy a Canyon Commuter 3 for similar money. It's 4Kg lighter and has a simpler, higher quality 1x10 gear setup. Canyon, being a German mail-order company can be a bit tricky to get on the bike 2 work scheme, but it can be done.

Thanks for your reply. Very informative. I will look into this.

Anyone else got any opinions or suggestions?

iwillhtfu

TychoCaine wrote: »

It's a bit heavy, and the price is a bit high for a Shimano Acera-equipped bike (I'd expect Alivio for that money), but it'll do the job for a 5km spin. The 3x8 gear setup is overkill for a commuter though. Personally I'd buy a Canyon Commuter 3 for similar money. It's 4Kg lighter and has a simpler, higher quality 1x10 gear setup. Canyon, being a German mail-order company can be a bit tricky to get on the bike 2 work scheme, but it can be done.

I always laugh at this. It's not tricky to order from Canyon it's actually very easy sure you can place your order without paying. You're company will have to pay the entire invoice and you'll have to reimburse your company for anything over the €1000 cut off. Canyon do not accept split payments on their invoices.

Have a look at cube also someone posted something similar a while back and they do nice commuter bikes.

Wanderer78

Amari Nervous Dean wrote:

What are people's opinions on:

iwillhtfu wrote:

Have a look at cube also someone posted something similar a while back and they do nice commuter bikes.

I've been on a cube enduro(not what you're looking for) for a couple of years, very happy with it, worth looking at this brand, but also worth checking out other brands to by visiting your local shops, you ll have a better idea if you jump onto a bike and have a go of it before purchasing. Best of luck with it

blade1

I got a Meridian Speeder 200 on the scheme around 15 months ago.
It's fantastic and really fast as well.

TychoCaine

iwillhtfu wrote: »

I always laugh at this. It's not tricky to order from Canyon it's actually very easy sure you can place your order without paying. You're company will have to pay the entire invoice and you'll have to reimburse your company for anything over the €1000 cut off. Canyon do not accept split payments on their invoices....

True, but that's not what I was talking about because the OP is spending < €1000. Why I said it was tricky is because the 3rd party cycle 2 work "management" companies only work with bricks & mortar shops.