Cycle To Work
The Cycle to Work Scheme
The Cycle to Work scheme is a government scheme designed to provide a more affordable way for you to purchase a new bike & equipment for cycling to work.
Depending on your tax bracket and the scheme provider used, you can save 25%-47% on the price of a new bike and accessories as well as spreading the cost over a period of 6-48 months without paying any interest.
The bike purchased on the scheme can be any kind of bike - hybrid bike, road bike, mountain bike, electric bike, cargo bike - as long as the primary user of the bike is the person who took out the scheme. So... no children's bikes, sorry.
It sounds too good to be true, but rest assured it really is that much of a no-brainer.
Get in touch for more information
We're more than happy to talk you through any questions you might have about the scheme.
If you already know which scheme your employer uses and which bike you'd like to purchase, get in touch with us and we'll go through the process with you. It's surprisingly easy!
Why cycle to work?
There are more reasons to cycle than we have room for, but some of our favourite reasons to cycle to work include:
- It's cheaper.
The maintenance costs of running a bicycle are so much lower than running a car it's untrue. You don't pay to park a bike, it doesn't need an MOT or tax, and perhaps most pivotally it doesn't require fuel to run - other than the energy in your legs of course!
- Get fitter and healthier.
Even if you are just cycling 4 miles to work, that's 15-25 minutes of exercise you wouldn't otherwise be getting. Done twice a day and you're up to 30-60 minutes of exercise - this will make you fitter and you'll burn plenty of calories.
- Reduce your carbon footprint.
Driving a car works out on average at about 271g CO2 per passenger-kilometre. Once you take into account food production to provide you with the energy to ride and the cost of manufacturing the bicycle, cycling works out at 21g CO2 per kilometre. That's less than 10x the footprint.
- Improved mental wellbeing.
Exercising pumps more oxygen into your brain which has been shown to help with anxiety and depression. Likewise exercise releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine which help us feel more positive. It's an ideal way to start the day before work.
Cycle to work FAQ
How does the scheme work?
Cycle to work schemes are a government initiative where employers can offer a bike to their employees in exchange for a salary sacrifice.
By sacrificing part of your gross (before tax) pay over a duration agreed with your employer, you are not paying the usual income tax or national insurance contributions; therefore saving between 25%-47% on the cost of the bike depending on your tax bracket and the scheme provider used. Employers also save money as they are not making national insurance contributions on the sacrificed salary. It's a win-win for employee and employer alike.
For more information on how to apply for a voucher, please get in touch with your employer or the scheme provider they use.
What can I purchase through the scheme?
In short you can get any bicycle that complies with UK law (ie not mopeds, pedelecs or derestricted/illegal electric bikes). The primary user of the bike must be the person whose name the voucher is in, and for this reason we do not accept the scheme on children's bikes.
You can also purchase parts and accessories for your bike, so long as you are able to prove that they will assist you in being able to cycle to work. This might mean a new electronic groupset for your road bike, or a new set of wheels. Parts and accessories can be built into a quote alongside a bike - so for example you could be purchasing a new hybrid bike and could include a new helmet, lock and jacket on the quote in order to make savings on those too.
GCI savings calculator
The following savings calculator is from the Green Commute Initiative scheme. It will give you an idea of the savings to be made even if not using the GCI scheme, but please bear in mind that some schemes have different exit fees, which you will be able to find out from the scheme's website or from your employer.
Which schemes do you accept?
We accept all major schemes available such as:
- Cyclescheme
- Halfords Cycle2Work
- Green Commute Initiative
- Bike 2 Work
- Cycle Solutions
- Vivup
- Gogeta
If your scheme is not listed we will most likely still accept it - please get in touch with us to check.
Some providers are better than others - for both you and us - so if your employer doesn't already have a scheme, or you're self-employed (and can pay yourself by PAYE) please get in touch with us to discuss the merits of a particular scheme provider.
Do you accept the vouchers on sale items?
How do I place an order?
It's not possible to place a cycle to work scheme order on our website, so in order to purchase a bike from us using the scheme, please get in touch with us for a quote. We are more than happy to offer the scheme and to help out with the process - as an independent family run business we pride ourselves on being able to offer a personal retail experience at every opportunity.