Have a £1k Halfords scheme voucher, would like a steel-framed bike.
What bikes should I be considering?

They do a Voodoo Wanga in their range, but i'm unsure about it TBH, couldn't find much recent info on them.
Just want the best frame I can get for the money as I can swap some decent bits I've already got if it helps.

I'd love an Orange P7 but they're too expensive now to fit into the scheme. 🙁

Just select the bike with the best parts and sell what you don't need to fund the frame you want.

I'm buying a Giant STP 0 £999.99 and selling everything I don't need to fund an Evil Faction frame.

opt1cal, i know somewhere you can get the evil faction for sub 400 pounds. email me at gungun24 at hotmail dot com

The alternative frame purchase is one thing i'm toying with.
But then that just leaves another dozen questions about which one to get that'll make me the most money! (and then my head starts hurting a bit more…)

Don't you have to produce the bike at the end of the first year for valuation?

I thought you basically leased the bike for the first year. I may be wrong or my scheme might be different.

Don't you have to produce the bike at the end of the first year for valuation?

no – who would value it?

I'm obliged to take it back to Evans (who run our scheme) to determine the value of the bike at the end of the first year.

I can then
1) Hand the bike back
2) Pay the valuation.
3) Or defer any decision for a year.

Just me that has to do this then?

AFAIK the bike remains your employers property and at the end of the 12 month lease period they have the option to sell it to you, usually at around 3 or 5% of the purchase price at the time you took delivery.

That's how ours works, and HR get a note from the supplier of the make, model and size of bike you get, with the idea that they can, if they wish, check it's appropriate for you under the spirit of the scheme. Have heard of some people being caught getting bikes for their partners/kids etc, so proceed with caution I would say……

Surely you would end up paying more than the bikes worth that way. I got a grand bike through the scheme. It works out I will pay about £35 at the end of the term. Think this is pretty normal

"Surely you would end up paying more than the bikes worth that way."

I can't see how. My monthly payments don't equate to the value of the bike. They would have to value it highly at the end of the year to do so. Plus the money comes out of my wages prior to tax.

Surely you would end up paying more than the bikes worth that way.

Well you would if you were charged what its worth rather than a nominal 5% which seems the norm – how many 1 year old bikes are only worth 5% of the original purchase price?

To me, the whole scheme seems to be on dodgy ground – get in while you can because it isn't going to last much longer IMHO.

To me, the whole scheme seems to be on dodgy ground – get in while you can because it isn't going to last much longer IMHO

quite agree – a number of employers are starting to realise that the scheme is being 'abused' by some staff who are getting a new bike at least once a year, often selling before the end of the lease etc. I would also expect the rules to be tightened up significantly to close possible loopholes…….

Aye, same here and as i'm with a massive corporation I can see it being withdrawn if their perceived 'green' benefits become an issue when managing the whole thing.
Also another reason to get on it now.

Don't think my GF is gonna see me for a week or two, suspect i'll be stuck to the internet & in magazines trying to work out what to buy! 🙁

Dave – ditto here, we are on Halfords and about to get cyclescheme as well – a good, well informed HR team thankfully, who listen to their staff…. Alpine bikes take Halfords vouchers, so you could get a Genesis…….

I went for a genesis frame and a pile of parts. Very happy.

I'm obliged to take it back to Evans (who run our scheme) to determine the value of the bike at the end of the first year.

I can then
1) Hand the bike back
2) Pay the valuation.
3) Or defer any decision for a year.

Just me that has to do this then?

Be afraid, be very afraid! 😯

Unfortunately I live in Somerset, using Alpine will be a bit of a pain for me, though will keep in mind as they've got one in i'd be interested in.
I did scope out a Genesis in a local shop and TBH I preferred the Orange P7 frame, just seemed more what i was after.

Gonna have to call halfords direct i think…

You could go for some bike with a bargainous mix of parts, Carrera Fury would be the obvious one there, decent wheels and finishing kit, motion control Tora,etc… Then chuck it all on an On One frame, or similiar.

Blue Pig frame? Specify the rest of the parts to fit into your budget. As long as you can ride the bike away from the shop, the job's a good 'un.

As mentioned elsewhere Halfords will supposedly order bikes they don't normally stock. You will have to pay full rrp though. Could also mean a wAit plus I suppose you're at the mercy of your local Halfords staffs desire to do a bit of extra work getting you what you want. For a steel £1K I'd be looking at a Genesis Altitude.

The company I was with ran the scheme too. Their stance on sell on price was that they would expect to charge the Governments recommended 5 – 10% of original purchase price. No mention of a valuation.

Some LBSs can supply through Halfords. That may increase your choice.

Halfords C2W replied to an email I sent them, asking who they can source within their own range, it is as follows – in alphabetical order, not with the best at the top!

Apollo http://www.halfords.com
Boardman http://www.boardmanbikes.com
Carrera http://www.halfords.com
Cinelli http://www.cinelli.it
Dahon http://www.dahon.co.uk
Dawes http://www.dawescycles.com
DiamondBack http://www.diamondback.co.uk
DMR http://www.dmrbikes.com
Electra http://www.electrabikes.com
GT (Halfords Exclusive Range) http://www.halfords.com
Identiti http://www.identitibikes.com
Kinesis http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk
Kona http://www.konaworld.com
Land Rover http://www.2x2worldwide.com
Merida www2.merida-bikes.com
Moulton http://www.moultonbicycles.co.uk
NS Bikes http://www.ns-bikes.com
Pashley http://www.pashley.co.uk
Raleigh http://www.raleigh.co.uk
Real Classic http://www.halfords.com
Rocky Mountain http://www.bikes.com
Salsa http://www.salsacycles.com
Surly http://www.surleybikes.com
Trax http://www.halfords.com
Viper http://www.viper-bikes.com
Voodoo(Halfords Exclusive Range) http://www.halfords.com

Crikey! That's some range of bikes. Gotta be something in there to take your fancy. FWIW, Voodoo are very nice bikes, still got the Joe Murray design going on. Salsa would be nice, as would an NS. Or how about a Rocky Mountain?

I've got a rigid SS Voodoo Wanga that I love. So maybe one of these? One proviso – Sideways where I had my frame from recently stopped selling Voodoo as Tim reckons he was fed up with the level of failures/warranty claims. No problem with mine but other than I'm a fatty it doesn't get ridden "hard" eg jumping etc.

Interesting, thanks for the info!
How does the Wanga ride, just a regular xc one, handy through twisty trees or better climbing like a goat, etc?

There are a few interesting options from their list, going to have to scope it all out further this weekend.