Registered retailer for every major provider
Cycle to Work Scheme in East London
Save between 28% and 42% on a new bike or e-bike, paid from your gross salary over twelve months. Choose it with us in Bow, collect it set up and ready to ride.
A tax free way to buy a better bike
The Cycle to Work scheme is a salary sacrifice arrangement backed by the government. Your employer buys the bike, you pay for it out of your gross salary over twelve months, and you never pay income tax or National Insurance on that amount.
In practice that means a basic rate taxpayer saves around 28% and a higher rate taxpayer around 42%, spread across the year rather than paid up front. There is no credit check and no interest.
We are a registered retailer with every major provider, so whichever scheme your employer uses, you can spend it here on a bike chosen and fitted by Cytech 2 mechanics rather than picked off a website.
Providers we work with
Bring us a certificate from any of these and we redeem it in the shop. If your employer uses another provider, message us and we will look at signing up.
What the scheme is worth
Figures based on current UK income tax and National Insurance rates. Your exact saving depends on your tax band and your provider's ownership fee.
- 28% to 42% Typical saving on the price of your bike, depending on your tax band
- No spend cap Where your provider is FCA authorised, there is no £1,000 limit
- 12 months Spread the cost straight from your salary, before tax
Work out exactly what you would save
Put your salary, your tax band and the price of the bike into the official Cyclescheme calculator below. It shows you the monthly cost and the total saving. Send us the figure and we will build your quote around it.
How it works, step by step
The paperwork sounds heavier than it is. Most riders go from first message to collecting the bike inside a fortnight, and we do the provider side for you.
Choose your bike with us
Come to the shop or message us. We help you pick the right bike, e-bike and accessories, then send you a written quote.
Request your certificate
Send the quote to your employer or upload it to your provider's portal. They approve it and issue your voucher.
Send us the voucher
Forward the certificate or letter of collection to us. We reserve your bike straight away.
Collect and get set up
We build the bike, set the saddle height and riding position, and walk you through the controls before you leave.
Come back at six weeks
Cables stretch and spokes settle over the first few hundred miles. Bring the bike back and we re-tension and adjust it as part of the build.
Why use a local shop rather than an online retailer
A voucher spent online gets you a box. A voucher spent here gets you a bike built by a Cytech 2 mechanic, sized to you, with the riding position set before you leave.
You also get somebody to come back to. We are one minute from Devons Road DLR, so the same workshop that sold you the bike is the one that services it, fixes the puncture and honours the warranty.
Every scheme bike comes back to us at six weeks so we can re-tension the cables and true the wheels once everything has bedded in.
What you can put on your certificate
Anything that helps you ride to work safely is normally eligible. Here is what riders most often include.
- Road, gravel, hybrid and city bikes
- Electric bikes, including Tenways and Hygge
- Folding bikes for train and DLR commutes
- Helmets, lights and locks
- Mudguards, racks, panniers and child seats
- Waterproof jackets, gloves and overshoes
- Track pumps, tools and spare tubes
- Upgrades fitted at the point of sale, such as tyres or pedals
Cycle to Work questions, answered
The scheme has changed a lot in recent years. Here is where it stands now.
How much can I actually save?
Because the payments come out of your gross salary, you save the income tax and National Insurance you would otherwise have paid. That is typically around 28% for a basic rate taxpayer and around 42% for a higher rate taxpayer, before the ownership fee at the end of the agreement. That saving applies to anything in our bike range.
Is there still a £1,000 limit?
No. The £1,000 cap only applies where the employer or provider does not hold the right consumer credit permissions. All the major providers we work with are FCA authorised, so there is no upper limit on what you can spend. That is what puts a higher value bike, such as an e-bike or a premium road bike, within reach on the scheme.
Can I get an e-bike on the scheme?
Yes, and it is one of the most popular uses of the scheme. An electric bike that would be a stretch at full price becomes very manageable spread over twelve months from your gross salary.
Which providers do you accept?
We are a registered retailer with Cyclescheme, Green Commute Initiative, Cycle2Work by Halfords, Gogeta, Vivup and Bike2Work Scheme. If your employer uses a different provider, message us and we will look into getting signed up.
What happens at the end of the hire period?
Ownership transfers to you for a small fair market value payment set by HMRC. On a bike originally worth over £500, that is 25% after one year, 17% after two years and 12% after three years. Most providers offer an extended hire agreement so you pay the lowest figure. Our guide to who owns the bike on a Cycle to Work scheme goes through it in detail.
Can I use the scheme for accessories only?
Yes with most providers, as long as the equipment is cycling safety or commuting related. Helmets, lights, locks, mudguards, luggage and clothing all qualify. Check your employer's policy, as a few restrict accessory only certificates. You can browse our accessories range before you request your certificate.
Does the scheme cover repairs and servicing?
Labour is not covered, but you can use a voucher to buy parts and upgrades that we then fit for you, such as tyres, brake pads, a new chain or a better set of lights. Workshop labour is booked and paid for separately.
How long does the whole process take?
Once your employer approves the certificate, it is usually a matter of days. Some providers issue instantly. We reserve your bike as soon as we have the voucher, so nothing sells out while you wait for approval.
My employer does not offer the scheme. What can I do?
Send us a message and we will give you a short summary you can pass to HR. The scheme costs employers very little to run, saves them National Insurance and is quick to set up with any of the main providers. Our corporate bike services page covers what we offer employers.
Can I top up if my bike costs more than my certificate?
Yes. You can pay the difference by card in the shop. Most providers allow it and it is a common way of getting the exact bike you want.
What if I leave my job during the agreement?
The remaining balance is normally taken from your final net pay, so you lose the tax saving on the outstanding part but you keep the bike. Your provider's terms set out the exact process.
Where do I collect the bike?
From the shop at 4 Corsican Square, Bow E3 3XS, one minute from Devons Road DLR. We set the bike up for you before you ride away.
Ready to spend your certificate?
Send us a message with your budget and your commute and we will put a quote together the same day. Collect from 4 Corsican Square, Bow E3 3XS.