Hit your training goals faster by cycling to work

Struggling to fit all your training into a time-crunched work week? Taking advantage of Green Commute Initiative and the Cycle to Work Scheme could help you save valuable time and money.

Training for three sports can definitely eat into your time. One way to ease things though is to look for clever ways to add training into your work week. The obvious one? Cycling to work.

After all, how many of us enjoy the dead time (not to mention the cost) of sitting on packed tubes or trains, or in traffic. Cycling is a great start to the day and will enable you to tick off valuable miles of riding.

Get your bike for less

What’s more, by using Green Commute Initiative (GCI) and the Cycle to Work Scheme, you can make significant savings on a new bike. Don’t forget, the new bike can be used for training as well as commuting.

The scheme, when accessed via GCI, enables savings of between 28-47% on any type of bike (including e-bikes), along with safety accessories/equipment. The amount you save depends on how much PAYE tax you pay, so basic-rate taxpayers will save almost a third of the cost at 28%. Not a bad chunk off that new ride you’ve had your eyes on!

Bike savings made easy

First up, you’ll need your employer to be on board with the scheme as payments are made directly from your salary via a salary sacrifice arrangement. The payments are taken from gross salary, so you save the amount of tax you would have paid on the value of the bike package. 

The interest-free monthly payments from salary can be spread over 12 to 60 months, meaning the longer the term, the more affordable the new bike becomes.  

GCI is partnered with over 1,500 bikes retailers across the UK and has agreements with direct-to-consumer manufacturers such as Canyon, Cowboy and YT Industries. Plus, as long as the majority of use is for commuting, you can use the bike at weekends, for leisure pursuits, and of course for all your triathlon racing!

Find out more about the scheme here, or call 0203 740 1836.

Helen Webster Editor, 220 Triathlon

About

Helen has been 220's Editor since July 2013, when she made the switch from marathons to multisport. She's usually found open-water swimming and has competed in several swimruns as well as the ÖtillÖ World Series. Helen is a qualified Level 2 Open-Water Swim Coach focusing on open-water confidence and runs regular workshops at the South West Maritime Academy near Bristol. She is also an RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard trainer/assessor.