Cycle To Work Scheme: Can I get an expensive bike?

ventureuk

thescouselander wrote: »

Or perhaps he will - are you not aware of "The Game"?

http://www.itsnotarace.org/

FCN4

Hairy legs

spadoosh

thescouselander wrote: »

Or perhaps he will - are you not aware of "The Game"?

http://www.itsnotarace.org/

I wasnt, a whole new dimension to the rat race!

Naf

custardy wrote: »

the other side is folks who buy a bike made of scaffold pole and struggle for a week
then chuck it in the shed
I have no problem with folks paying for a 'good' bike if they get pleasure/use from it

And there's the clincher: OP wants to avoid paying out for an expemsive bike, that, by the sound of it, they're not going to fully appreciate anyway.
I took £700 on my bikes4work (ended up wishing I'd maxed the £1k, but that's another story, not to do with the bike but accessories) and got an excellent hybrid for just over £400. OP sounds like they want the same from their bike as I do: to get from A to B, enjoy the journey, and have the option to get off the road and onto some slightly rougher terrain now and again. A hybrid will manage that perfectly (I got a Scott Sportster), but without making road journeys a nightmare due to MTB tyres adding extra resistance to the ride, and MTB gear ratios running out of room to shift up when you want that extra push.
Seriously, a 3k bike? Leave that to the hardened professionals as the extras you're gaining (as pointed out, it's almost all loss of weight and aerodynamics, which make absolutely zero measurable effect to the speed and ability of someone who doesn't train seriously for hours a day) aren't economically worth the price you pay for them on anything but Olympic time trials.