PTW

I have £1000 to spend via the cycle 2 work scheme on a road bike.
I have to get the bike through halfords, although they can source most bikes (not just what they sell instore).
I cannot go over the £1000 limit or buy any reduced bike with an rrp of over £1000.
The bikes that i know are NOT available are bianchis and planet x.
Shortlist so far- Boardman team carbon, specialized allez elite,colnago primavera or a steel framed condor (sram rival gruppo).
It is going to be used as a winter/training bike.
Anyone offer their opinions /alternatives please?

Summit with mudguard clearance would be an idea and definitely steel

Any reason why you have to go through halfords?, i do think the boardman is hel of a buy, only one slight down side is the sram goupset, again nothing to do with the quality or performance its just that its not as popular as shimano or campag so replaceing worn out parts in the future could prove to be a problem, but saying that the bike is very high speced for the price. What i have been looking at the is the "ribble sportive carbon" on there website they can build one up with 105 or centaur, its a relaxed sportive position which should make it comfortable to ride. Mudgaurds these days aint a problem what ever bike you buy as SKS do a set call race blades which attatch to the chainstays and fork legs via huge rubber bands and the look tidy even had a set on my scott addict for a couple of rides !!!. Also have a work with jeff bruce from dream cycles as he supplies bikes/frame simular spec to the ribble cycles, definatly worth trying as hes local and long time member of the wheelers whos alwasy glad to help out, and techniclay you cant say uve been a proper port talbot wheelers unless you've owned a "brucey bike" pmsl ... any way enjoy spendin ur grand and keep us informed !!

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.
I have to go through halfords, apparently due to the company i work for being a large nationwide concern and there are halfords stores covering all areas therefore all employees have easy access to stores.
For that reason jeff bruce bikes are unfortunately not an option,.
Also halfords cant supply ribble bikes, however they can deal with condor cycles as their part of cycle2work scheme.
I am leaning towards condor at the moment as i really like steel frames and i have the option of speccing the bike myself.
The boardman is very appealing though and about 4 pounds lighter than the condor, but there again my "best bike" is carbon and way lighter than the boardman.
Decisions,Decisions!

You do not have use halfords and can go over 1000 if pay the excess yourself.
Talk to cyclepedia in cardiff or forza in Llantwit Major.

Thanks dvlloyd, im hoping you know something i dont, i tried all ways last year to get out of dealing with halfords and also paying extra for a better bike put my company (first group) were adamant that there was no alternative.
I was talking to neil at forza last week and he said there is currently a lot of controversy with third parties involved in cycle2work and similar schemes where employees are forced to deal with only one company.

As far as i am aware there are two schemes running. One is the www.cyclescheme.co.uk this is one that small retailers sign up to such as Forza etc. The large multiples such as Halfords, Wiggle and Evans Cycles run their own schemes. So I think it depends on what your company has signed up to run in line with. You should be able to get all the info from your H.R dept. If they have signed with a multiple then you you will have to go with them because it all comes out of pay before tax.

I hope this helps. If you want to chat give me a call 01656-786227

Thanks mate, i have got it sorted now.
Halfords main suppliers of bikes (not sold directly by halfords) is leisure lakes, i went to their cheltenham branch yesterday and struck up an deal with them.
They are allowing me to buy a bike directly from them, and they will sort the paperwork out directly with halfords.
This has two major advantages for me, leisure lakes have allowed me to add
some of my own money to get a bike of over £1000 (all unofficially of course!),plus i get a decent bike shop building it, not a spotty 16year old on his sat job at halfords.
Thanks for the help guys.
Dai.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caad9-105-compact-2009-road-bike-ec016027

Speaking to gerrard whos a top guy and knows what needs to be known reckons that this cannondale had top buy for bikes round the £1000 mark, im sure leisure lakes do cannondale too.

Charliefummi, you must be psychic mate, been speaking to gerard too.
Thats the very bike i ordered yesterday.
Went for the liquigas team 105 model.
It was out of this bike or a bianchi hydrocarbon/ultegra (reduced to £879 in evans), but halfords and its suppliers stopped dealing with bianchi a month ago.
Anyway i just glad leisure lakes allowed me to pay the extra £79 to get the 105 model.
Should be getting it beginning of april.

He did mention he'd been speakin with u.. seems a nice bike... all u need now is the sidi liquigas replica shoes like i got !!

I seem 2 have a constant list of what i need, and a constant reminder from my wife of what i dont need!

Unlike Gerard to say go for a cannondale!!!!!

Nice bike!

As for the team name, don't forget to pronouce it Sherwen style...

leeekygas

dvlloyd wrote

Unlike Gerard to say go for a cannondale!!!!!

Who me? What else is there?

fixie6 wrote

I seem 2 have a constant list of what i need, and a constant reminder from my wife of what i dont need!

That sounds so familiar!