Hey everyone, I have tried to do a quick search and whilst there have been multiple new bike threads, nothing seems to cover my question.

My employer this year has changed their cycle to work scheme from the Halfords offering, to cyclescheme.co.uk. This means i have the option to purchase from vast amounts of retailers including the likes of Keep Pedalling, On One, Harry Halls, Evans etc. I already cycle to work (not that this appears to be checked) and it seems like the easiest way for me to pick up a 29er for bike packing duties.

So the question comes, armed with £1,000 (my employer has said i can spend up to £3,000 but there is no way i can suffer this much of a loss). I am seriously tempted by an On One Inbred when the new models are launched. I currently have a 456, it has stood the test of time and has been a fantastic work horse. They always seem very well kitted for the money too. I also love the Stooge, however, I am not sure i could get a full build for £1,000 and my company wont let me buy a frame only. Also, im not sure how i would get on with a rigid front end, as im not the slimmest and certainly not the most confident of riders.

The Ramin One at Evans is tempting at a much lower price point, less out of my salary each month keeps the missus happy and it appears to get very good reviews around here, but again the rigid fork worries me a little with my abilities.

If there is anything further i should consider, should i decide to go ahead with the voucher would be great.

Cheers

As much as my Inbred has done sterling service over the years, it doesn't feel 'special' in the way my Stooge does. Maybe give Keep Pedalling a call and see what could be done for a grand ... don't let the rigid front end on the Stooge put you off, you won't really notice it's there (unless you're planning on going mental, like)

Another option worth looking at is the Genesis Longitude, comes in under budget by a penny and was pretty much built for bikepacking duties ... again, don't let the forks put you off.

I have a rigid charge cooker and like Stu say's, don't let the lack of suspension put you off. If I had a grand to spend I would certainly be tempted by the Genesis Longitude. A lovely bike that gets good reviews.

I'd be looking at a genesis high latitude, the 29er one of course.
Steel frame, air fork, 1x10 deore gearing and it is really lovely to look at

I've ridden a Longitude, at some point I'll get one.

Deffo give Keep Pedalling a shout. They did a C2W friendly Straggler build a while back. The Longitude as mentioned looks good and KP are Genesis/Stooge stockists. They might also be able to build you up one as per their straggler option to fit c2w.

Fwiw, I see Brant Richards has bought himself a Stooge!

Fwiw, I see Brant Richards has bought himself a Stooge!

Just remember who was first

Living the other side of the hill from me, i'd avoid going 1x10 especially if you're on the gentle side of the fitness scale.

On a 29er i dont think you really need front suspension, if you go for a large volume tyre and ride obstacles rather than trying to smash your way through them.

Cant really fault the Longitude. I'd pop into Keep Pedalling over the weekend and have a chat with Rich and Shona to see what they could do

I love my Stooge. If you can do it for the budget then that's what I'd get. Longitude next on the list (but quite a different bike).

Chew wrote:
If you're on the gentle side of the fitness scale.

What a lovely expression!

ianfitz wrote:

Chew wrote:
If you're on the gentle side of the fitness scale.
.

What a lovely expression!

I thought the same thing!

Many thanks for the advice everyone! I'll certainly be nipping in keep pedalling soon to have a look at both the stooge and the genesis.

I really like the look of the stooge and by the sounds of it I shouldn't be worried about not having a bouncy front end! Gears will be a must as my legs and lungs would not be able to cope that's for sure It's all about how far away from the £1,000 the price will be

Just to throw a spanner in the works for you. You get tax relief for just the 1000 quid. There is nothing saying you have to limit yourself to that 1000 though. Just got myself a norco valence in the sale at 1600 which is super nice using a 1000 from the scheme. Throw a few more quid in if you fancy something a little bit more. OHHHHH

jpw247 wrote:Just to throw a spanner in the works for you. You get tax relief for just the 1000 quid. There is nothing saying you have to limit yourself to that 1000 though. Just got myself a norco valence in the sale at 1600 which is super nice using a 1000 from the scheme. Throw a few more quid in if you fancy something a little bit more. OHHHHH

I did not know that! Maybe the Stooge is on the cards after all then! Someone is in next week talking to us about it, then i have 3 weeks or so before i have to sign up for it, so gives me time to nip in keep pedalling!

You get tax relief for just the 1000 quid

Be careful if you think you're getting any discount by using the Cycle2Work scheme. HMRC have gotten wise to people abusing the system and have changed the rules (IIRC theres now some tax payment at the end of the 3 year period if you keep the bike. Benefit in kind)

As usual read the small print

You can often get a better deal by picking something up in the sale or seeing if you can use your BB discount smile at your LBS, assuming you have the cash upfront.

R.e. tax saving with Cyclescheme if you were to take ownership of the bike after 12 months you would have to pay 25% of its value (providing it's over £500). However the way Cyclescheme works with my employer is that Cyclescheme take a 7% of total value payment, hold the bike which they allow you to carry on using and then transfer ownership after the end of the 3 year period.

You can also buy bargains off of the internet using Cyclescheme providing the bike shop will take that - but expect to pay an extra 10% to allow for what Cyclescheme charge the shop.

At least this is how it worked for me.

Chew wrote:

You get tax relief for just the 1000 quid

Be careful if you think you're getting any discount by using the Cycle2Work scheme. HMRC have gotten wise to people abusing the system and have changed the rules (IIRC theres now some tax payment at the end of the 3 year period if you keep the bike. Benefit in kind)

As usual read the small print

You can often get a better deal by picking something up in the sale or seeing if you can use your BB discount smile at your LBS, assuming you have the cash upfront.

I bought my Fargo on C2W, made sense and no one who stocked them did 0% finance and it was a (then) new model so not available in the sales. Unless you need the 0% or pay monthly aspect 9and any discount is a bonus so to speak) then shopping around as mentioned can be better.

Thats why im looking forward to them coming in so i can find out the details, but according to the cyclescheme website, it works as BenS says, but i wont actually own the bike for 4 years.

Im starting to contemplate picking up just a stooge f&f along with wheels from Superstar and transferring bits off my 456. Ive got around £500 saved up so I am not too far away from the cost and i wont have a monthly sacrifice from my salary.