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

Danick · 15-02-2023 9:23pm

Do I attach the real invoice for the bike I want or a photocopy of the invoice when applying for the scheme? Thanks

CramCycle · 15-02-2023 11:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120245736#Comment_120245736

Depends on your company, the scheme will be run by your employer. Best to ask them. Is it through a 3rd party or directly through your company?

ChickenDish · 28-02-2023 5:09pm

Looking at getting an electric bike on the bike to work scheme. That being said I know nothing about them (I've used a good old fashioned push bike in the past), I'm looking for some pointers i.e. battery (what type/size), brakes, make, reliability etc etc

I've looked online at reviews of various bikes, but I'd like some imput from people here. Kinda erring more towards chucky wheels, roads on northside like going off road (Malahide road/Fairview)

Budget around €1500.00

magicbastarder · 28-02-2023 5:37pm

try popping in to 360 cycles out near bull island if that's near where you're from, to see what they might stock - they've a good reputation for being a decent bunch.

ChickenDish · 02-03-2023 1:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120298490#Comment_120298490

Looking at a Fiido M1 Pro, seems to tick all the boxes.

magicbastarder · 02-03-2023 1:35pm

are they the ones which sound like a swarm of angry bees? really wide, knobbly tires?

if so, i'd be driven to distraction by the noise.

Squidgy Black · 02-03-2023 2:12pm

You won’t need fat off-road tyres unless you plan on bringing it mountain biking, complete overkill for commuting on roads.

Will be fairly noisy as magicbastarder says, plus fairly slow because of the rolling resistance

ChickenDish · 03-03-2023 12:58pm

I've always leaned towards mountain bikes when cycling, I know road bikes/hybrids are faster & take less energy, but I'm more at home being on a bike which is more forgiving and can hop a kerb/survive a pothole than something that needs optimum road conditions to reach its potential.

I'd argue that knobbly tyres are more suited to the route I'd take to work. Fairview is essentially off road at the moment. Plus my wife will be using it as well and she is a lot less experienced on push bikes than me. Noise wouldnt put me off, I'm a motorcyclist so I wear ear plugs anyway.

If I was younger and fitter I'd probably forgo getting an electric bike and just buy a regular one, but I'm not particularly fit and the moment and I think its a good fit for me.

Squidgy Black · 03-03-2023 1:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120308919#Comment_120308919

I commute using the same route, have done for the last 10-15 years, genuinely off-road tyres won’t do anything for you. Wider 700c road tyres will be much better. You’re not going to get much more puncture protection because they have knobbles, you’re just wasting energy and battery.

A regular EBike with 35-40mm tyres is more than you could ever need, with a decent set of schwalbe marathons

loyatemu · 03-03-2023 1:26pm

I like the way they suggest carrying it onto the bus - it's 32kg!

I'd agree it's overkill for riding around Dublin, and also not technically road legal (though none of the Fiido bikes are and you see kids on them everywhere).

magicbastarder · 03-03-2023 1:43pm

32kg? My wife's bike is a bit of a behemoth, and it's 25kg. 32kg makes it a bit too unwieldy, I suspect.

ChickenDish · 03-03-2023 3:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120309008#Comment_120309008

Tried that trip on road bike, got a puncture hoping a kerb on first trip, not too fast mind you (totally my fault). This was before the madness that is Fairview now, using the Fiido or similar will give me and the wife a bigger margin for error. More tyre surface on the road does provide more grip, especially on gravel or turning corners. Granted if the road surface is perfect, skinny tyres are the way to go. Your 10/15 years experience cannot be underestimated, your obviously a veteran cyclist and better suited to the type of bike you use. Novice cyclists (like the wife) are not really suited to using road bikes without experience under their belt.

ChickenDish · 03-03-2023 3:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120309108#Comment_120309108

That certainly is the downside, but that's not the reason the bike appealed to me, the fact it folds is just a bonus. I'd imagine it will be the Dart and not the bus if we do fold and travel, not ideal but either is carrying 32kg onto a bus.

Squidgy Black · 03-03-2023 4:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120309702#Comment_120309702

Look I’ll agree to disagree, but I’m not talking about skinny tyres, 40mm wide tyres are near the equivalent of a mtb tyre. My ma commutes to the IFSC down through Fairview on a regular EBike and she’s only been back on a bike for a year or two for the first time in about 40 years. You’ll get almost zero extra grip with those fat tyres that you wouldn’t already have, plus the bike will be about 15kg lighter.

It’s like saying you need a set of knobbly tyres on a Ford Ranger pickup truck to drive into town.

DaveyDave · 03-03-2023 5:30pm

Knobbly tyres have feck all contact patch with the road. They're made for digging into dirt on trails, the little rubber blocks are made to act like claws in dirt. On the road you'll have less actual tyre touching the ground compared to a road tyre. They absolutely do not make sense from a grip or comfort stand point.

Plenty of wider road tyres out there for grip and comfort.

JMcL · 03-03-2023 5:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120309890#Comment_120309890

Arguably you've less grip as the knobbles (knobblies, knobs, lumps?) will mean less tyre surface in contact with the road surface. I'd argue unless you're talking about negotiating mud, they don't add anything. Aquaplaning is a non issue as well unless you're planning on topping 100km/h (https://sheldonbrown.com/tyres.html) which I doubt even the most souped up Fiido is up to!

Patsy167 · 04-04-2023 4:04pm

I'm looking to buy this electric bike under the BTW scheme - it seems very cheap compared to others - is there anything that I might be missing?

https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/electric-bikes/carrera-subway-e-mens-electric-hybrid-bike-2.0---16%22%2C-18%22%2C-20%22-frames-445926.html

iwillhtfu · 04-04-2023 4:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120439932#Comment_120439932

It's cheap for a reason. 5-6 hours charge for 40km..ish range. All of the components are pretty basic and I'd say it will rust at the thoughts of moisture. I've no idea on motors but suntour being suntour I wouldn't say it's great. Also 18kg is pretty hefty.

In saying all of that I'm sure it's perfectly fine as a commuter/run around.

Patsy167 · 05-04-2023 8:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120439959#Comment_120439959

Thank You. Apologies if this is the wrong thread but could anyone recommend an ebike in the €2k range for a 13km commute each way that is quite hilly. I'm looking for a hybrid style bike rather than foldable and battery range is not a priority as I can charge at both ends of the journey. It will be through the BTW scheme.

loyatemu · 05-04-2023 10:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120439959#Comment_120439959

Halfords are still using ye olde imperial system - it's 40 miles, so 60km. I'd have said 18kg is light enough for an eBike, a lot of them are well north of 20kg.

magicbastarder · 05-04-2023 10:13am

my wife's ebike is 24KG and she'd often travel with a couple of kilos in the pannier, the weight is not an issue (unless you're lugging it in and out of tight spaces at each end)

iwillhtfu · 05-04-2023 10:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120442734#Comment_120442734

Ah true, I notice the reviews on that particular bike aren't great with one questioning the range.

I guess by the time you add in a decent size battery and motor the weight adds up.

OP I think Orbea have some nice looking hybrid ebikes

iwillhtfu · 05-04-2023 10:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120442741#Comment_120442741

True.

loyatemu · 05-04-2023 10:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120442741#Comment_120442741

the weight is an issue if you have to lift it up kerbs, or in and out of the house, onto a train etc and you have a bad back or other mobility problems.

Nemanrio · 16-04-2023 2:04pm

Hi fellow cyclists,

As I have never used this scheme before I have a couple of questions:

Can I use my own bike to work scheme plus my other halves bike to scheme at the one time to buy 1 bike? She works in a different company to me.

If this doesn't work could I use a fellow colleagues plus my own? If so, how does this work?

TIA.

16-04-2023 5:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120484016#Comment_120484016

No to both.

Squidgy Black · 16-04-2023 5:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120484827#Comment_120484827

No from a legal point of view on the two person scheme, but I’ve heard many a bike shop offering to do it for people.

And very reputable ones at that.

Girly Gal · 02-06-2023 11:44am

Using the bike to work scheme for the first time, just wondering what accessories I should definitely not go without and what accessories are not worth getting?

HeidiHeidi · 02-06-2023 12:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120669678#Comment_120669678

Obviously helmet, decent lock, and hi-viz (without wishing to start a 10-page argument about it!).

If it's an electric bike, it'll have lights built in (AFAIK, mine certainly does) - if not, good lights.

If the bike has a rear rack, definitely a pannier is the handiest thing ever - much better than a rucksack giving you a sweaty back, and while a basket is handy (I got both with my first CTW bike), the pannier is all I ever use.

Girly Gal · 02-06-2023 12:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120669753#Comment_120669753

Thanks for that, it's not an ebike, will probably be looking at a hybrid. I'm covered on the hi- viz ( could probably start selling them at this stage 😂).

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

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