selling a cycletowork bike ??

[bombo999]

hello folks,although i have posted replies on this forum this is my first new topic post . my question is , has anybody got experience of selling a cycle to work scheme bike before it has been paid off . i know this is against the rules of the contract and i would investigate it and speak to my c2w people first for advice but i feel the bike i chose is too heavy and im not getting on with the drop handle bars . im not looking to profit out of the sale in fact i would probably lose out but i have not taken to the bike as i thought i would . i realise that i may not get any replies on this topic and thats fair enough but i thought i d ask anyway thanks bombo .

[simonineaston]

I'm on my 3rd cycle scheme bike... like you, the first Brompton I bought didn't suit me at all. I sold it after the first year. I've got an S2 now which I love.
My advice is: If you chose a 12 month contract, & if its early on in the 12 month period, when as you say the bike isn't actually yours to sell, try going back to the bike shop and explaining why you don't like the bike. If on the other hand, it's nearing the end of the 12 months, simply wait till the bike is yours, and spend the intervening time, polishing and cleaning the bike so it's in apple-pie order for selling!
In my experience, selling a bike can take a number of weeks to complete, so I guess you could start to advertise in the last 2 months of the 'rental' period anyway!
On the plus side, at least you've got a clearer idea of what sort of bike you want!

[bombo999]

thanks for that simon, yeah ive only had it a few months if that . galaxy new marathon plus tyres , blackburn front rack , brooks b17 st saddle all added by me also dumbed the bike down abit by applying black diamond reflectors to namey bits on the bike as i live in a high risk area where a bike of mine went walkies at work . it is a nice bike but it just doesnt feel good to me personally maybe if i stick with it itll come good but i just never fell in love with it the way i was expecting to.

[MartinBrice]

just sell it. neither your employer nor the cyclescheme people have any record that you do still, in fact, have the bike in your shed. how can they? the sooner you sell it the more you'll get for it.

[rualexander]

Does the bike not strictly speaking belong to the employer until such time as the 'lease' has been paid off and you can then 'purchase' the bike from the employer at an agreed price? That's how I understand the system works. So you might find that you would be selling something that is not your property strictly speaking. Unlikely anything would come of it of course.

[bombo999]

goode point well made yes indeed so anybody in the market for a minted galaxy (mmm only half joking ) we ll see it seems a shame to waste a good bike but it dont fill me with enthusiasm and yes rualexander this is my problem with selling it i dont want to get blacklisted from c2w or anything like that

[bombo999]

but the way i see it is that i m still paying the scheme i most definately will be losing out considering the bike was a wopping £1150 so you know .....

[frank9755]

Just sell it.

It's not like selling a car with finance on it. You are still going to have to pay off the balance. What does your employer, government, tax man, anyone care if you have sold the bike, had it stolen, lost it, worn it out riding it for purposes other than commuting, whatever! Who is losing out because you sell it? No-one.

FWIW I have done it - I sold a cycle to work bike after a year because I wanted to upgrade. I bought one a few months ago from someone who told me he had bought it a few months previously on a cycle to work scheme.

[broadway]

Why not try fitting flatter bars if you don't like the drops.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=32793

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=35099

With a moustache bar you should be able to use the brake levers and shifters from the Galaxy.

[mw3230]

Will you lose if you sell it? Getting an £1100 bike for what will you have paid - £700. Second hand value will be more than the cost to you will it not? Just sell it and buy something you will be happier with

[bombo999]

thanks food for thought there spoke to cyclescheme and they say id have to speak to my employer whether or not they would be willing to cancel my agreement and also to the bike shop as to see if they would take the bike back , i cant see it happening really . i suggested to the girl about selling it and she seemed to take a small fit at the thought of it .

[bombo999]

time to draw a line under this one , i think i ll change the handlebars if that doesnt help i ll probably punt it . thanks the input folks ......