Turn your commute into training and upgrade your bike with Green Commute Initiative

Triathletes have more training to do than most. With three sports to cram into every week it can be hard to schedule all your sessions. But by turning your daily commute into bike training, you’ll be ahead of the game. Plus, by using Green Commute Initiative (GCI) and Cycle to work scheme you can even get your dream race bike for less!

Sponsored: There’s no doubt that fitting in all your training can be a struggle. But if your commute looks more like sitting in traffic or on a crowded train than triathlon training, then you could be missing a trick.

Using your daily commute to squeeze in some bike training in a smart way to hit your goals. Getting on the bike twice a day makes use of otherwise ‘dead’ time and means you can hit your targets quicker. Plus if you need to throw in a longer ride once or twice a week, then it’s easy to add some extra miles on your way home, rather than having to find time for the whole session out of your precious spare time.

Upgrade your ride

Green Commute Initiative (GCI) is a means of accessing the Cycle To Work Scheme and is a simple way of taking advantage of the scheme. Your employer will need to be on board, but providing they are, use it to make significant savings on a new bike including (and here’s the exciting bit) something you may use for training.

The scheme, when accessed via GCI, enables savings of between 28–47% on any type of cycle (including ebikes) and safety accessories/equipment and payments come directly from PAYE salary via a salary sacrifice arrangement. So this means you could get that carbon roadie you’ve had your eye on for a considerable discount – or use the money saved by using the scheme to upgrade your bike with tri-bars and race wheels ready for race day.

GCI is partnered with over 1,200 bikes retailers including Canyon and as long as the majority of use is for commuting, you can use the bike at the weekend for leisure or training for events. The amount you save depends on how much PAYE tax you pay, so basic rate taxpayers will save 28% with higher rate tax payers saving 42%.

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Spread the cost

Your payments come from gross salary so you save the amount of tax you would have paid on the value of the bike package. What’s more, the interest-free monthly payments from your salary can be spread over months, so the longer the term the more affordable the new bike becomes.

When you use GCI, you’ll make maximum savings as there are no fees to reduce them. So you get your dream bike for less and you’ve found a way to get more training into your day!

Sounds good? You can find out more by calling 0203 740 1836 or visit the Green Commute Initiative website now.

Lead image: Canyon