The Cycle to Work scheme is a government initiative to encourage cycling. Employers that sign up usually let employees choose the bicycle and equipment up to a value of £1,000. This cost is met by deductions from an employee’s salary, before taxation, over a year, cutting the bike’s cost and spreading it over time. The scheme is still running and the government has signalled it will continue.
However, your employer has to decide to participate. This is straightforward and much of it can be done online at tinyurl.com/yeh988p. If yours is reluctant, you could canvass colleagues to gauge the level of interest and, if there is enthusiasm, try using that information to persuade your employer to join in.
For more help and for examples of how much you can save on the bike, clothes and accessories please contact us at the shop.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
2011 Etape du Tour
What have they done - in 2011 its all change - we picked this up from the Sunday Times 'Cycle Guy' blog by Richard Caseby...
Round about this time of the year Joe Cyclist is jumping around as though he’s got ants in his Lycra pants. And why? Well, the route of the Etape du Tour is announced and the scramble for places on the premier sportive of the year begins. Ready on your buzzers . . . and I hope you’ve got a stack of cash.
Only this year there are two étapes, each for around 10,000 riders. The first follows the route of the 2011 Tour de France, stage 19, and runs 68 miles from Modane to Alpe d’Huez on July 11, ascending Col Télégraphe (5,138ft), Galibier (8,678ft) and finishing after the 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez (6,102ft).
The second, on July 17, is a flatter (but still bumpy) route between Issoire and St-Flour in the Massif Central, ending after 129 miles.
For the first time, British riders will be able to buy entry-only online from November 16 at www.letapedutour.com. Previously, you’ve had to buy an entire holiday through a tour organiser such as sportstoursinternational.co.uk.
The first 3,000 entries will be sold for €75 (£66), the next 3,000 for €95, and if you’re still left empty-handed you can go through a tour group. An entry-only from a UK company will then cost about £200 — but don’t blame the tour companies. Amazingly, that’s what ASO, the French organiser, is charging them.
Can the golden cyclist lay any more eggs? Certainly, it seems.
I hear that Club Med is charging tour groups more than ¤500 for a room after the Alpe d’Huez finish. Sure, it has to open the ski hotel out of season, but even so. Nul points, Club Med. Anyway, I doubt they’ll get many takers since the étape route is so short most will have finished by 3pm and can book a hotel off the mountain for a fifth of the price.
Oddly, the 2011 mountain route is putting plenty of people off, not because it’s hard but because it looks much easier than in previous years. The last time the étape ended on Alpe d’Huez it took in the cols of Izoard and Lautaret and was 51 miles longer. A tough, hot bugger, as I remember it, and really quite unpleasant. And if you’re paying all that money you want to suffer properly, don’t you?
The other drawback is that the big mountain-top crowds won’t be there to shout and hurl water over you. They bag their pitches for the real Tour, which passes through a couple of days later, and cheer you as though you’re the real thing. Believe me, it really does help when you’re grinding out the last few hundred metres. This year the Tour comes 11 days later.
My guess is that many étape veterans will try for the Marmotte ride on July 2 instead, which takes in Glandon (6,312ft), Télégraphe and Alpe d’Huez over 108 miles. The 100-strong team of amateur riders from Sky who rode the étape last year may look to this one or even a gran fondo in Italy.
Etapes are getting busy — a few previous ascents have been so choked that people have had to dismount. You can see why ASO wants to clone the golden goose. Sportives make big money and there is no sign of their turbocharged popularity waning. A second, flatter route encourages new riders into the fold and is an alternative for the 30% of entrants who don’t make the cut on a mountain stage.
There’s more to come. I hear of outline plans for a championship-style challenge in which the top 10 riders of each étape category finish in a race on the Champs-Elysées. But not next year. Maybe 2012
Round about this time of the year Joe Cyclist is jumping around as though he’s got ants in his Lycra pants. And why? Well, the route of the Etape du Tour is announced and the scramble for places on the premier sportive of the year begins. Ready on your buzzers . . . and I hope you’ve got a stack of cash.
Only this year there are two étapes, each for around 10,000 riders. The first follows the route of the 2011 Tour de France, stage 19, and runs 68 miles from Modane to Alpe d’Huez on July 11, ascending Col Télégraphe (5,138ft), Galibier (8,678ft) and finishing after the 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez (6,102ft).
The second, on July 17, is a flatter (but still bumpy) route between Issoire and St-Flour in the Massif Central, ending after 129 miles.
For the first time, British riders will be able to buy entry-only online from November 16 at www.letapedutour.com. Previously, you’ve had to buy an entire holiday through a tour organiser such as sportstoursinternational.co.uk.
The first 3,000 entries will be sold for €75 (£66), the next 3,000 for €95, and if you’re still left empty-handed you can go through a tour group. An entry-only from a UK company will then cost about £200 — but don’t blame the tour companies. Amazingly, that’s what ASO, the French organiser, is charging them.
Can the golden cyclist lay any more eggs? Certainly, it seems.
I hear that Club Med is charging tour groups more than ¤500 for a room after the Alpe d’Huez finish. Sure, it has to open the ski hotel out of season, but even so. Nul points, Club Med. Anyway, I doubt they’ll get many takers since the étape route is so short most will have finished by 3pm and can book a hotel off the mountain for a fifth of the price.
Oddly, the 2011 mountain route is putting plenty of people off, not because it’s hard but because it looks much easier than in previous years. The last time the étape ended on Alpe d’Huez it took in the cols of Izoard and Lautaret and was 51 miles longer. A tough, hot bugger, as I remember it, and really quite unpleasant. And if you’re paying all that money you want to suffer properly, don’t you?
The other drawback is that the big mountain-top crowds won’t be there to shout and hurl water over you. They bag their pitches for the real Tour, which passes through a couple of days later, and cheer you as though you’re the real thing. Believe me, it really does help when you’re grinding out the last few hundred metres. This year the Tour comes 11 days later.
My guess is that many étape veterans will try for the Marmotte ride on July 2 instead, which takes in Glandon (6,312ft), Télégraphe and Alpe d’Huez over 108 miles. The 100-strong team of amateur riders from Sky who rode the étape last year may look to this one or even a gran fondo in Italy.
Etapes are getting busy — a few previous ascents have been so choked that people have had to dismount. You can see why ASO wants to clone the golden goose. Sportives make big money and there is no sign of their turbocharged popularity waning. A second, flatter route encourages new riders into the fold and is an alternative for the 30% of entrants who don’t make the cut on a mountain stage.
There’s more to come. I hear of outline plans for a championship-style challenge in which the top 10 riders of each étape category finish in a race on the Champs-Elysées. But not next year. Maybe 2012
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Downhilling in Wales
One of the junior riders we have been supporting, Will, recently raced the Juice Lubes/O'Neal downhill race in wales, heres what he had to say:
Juice Lubes/O’Neal Downhill Round 4
This was my first race in both Wales and this series, so I was keen to see how
the tracks fared against the northern venues. It was a much larger category
for me this time with 16 entries so I was expecting to be up against some
good riding.
The track was fast with good flow and many features like rocks, roots, jumps,
drops, switchbacks etc. You name it, this track had it. The other good thing
about this track was that it was long – even the tractor uplift took about 10
minutes. At the top the weather was damp and windy with the bottom
section being dryer and looser. The track was amazing, my favourite track so
far in fact and with plenty of good lines to pick up on meaning I could
increase my speed a bit with each run.
The track was dryer on race day and the ground was fast but this track is so
much fun that after a couple of practise runs I didn’t have the usual pre‐race
jitters.
My first run wasn’t great but at least having the right kit means the only
thing it costs you is valuable time, still, I was feeling the pressure to do well
on my second run. I decided to go for it opting for some harder lines and
leaving the brakes alone as much as I dared ‐ I came away with 8th place.
No podium but I was happy with my result in a sizable category ‐ overall a
fantastic weekend, the event was really well organised.
Thanks again to the guys at Big Bear for their support, much appreciated!
Juice Lubes/O’Neal Downhill Round 4
This was my first race in both Wales and this series, so I was keen to see how
the tracks fared against the northern venues. It was a much larger category
for me this time with 16 entries so I was expecting to be up against some
good riding.
The track was fast with good flow and many features like rocks, roots, jumps,
drops, switchbacks etc. You name it, this track had it. The other good thing
about this track was that it was long – even the tractor uplift took about 10
minutes. At the top the weather was damp and windy with the bottom
section being dryer and looser. The track was amazing, my favourite track so
far in fact and with plenty of good lines to pick up on meaning I could
increase my speed a bit with each run.
The track was dryer on race day and the ground was fast but this track is so
much fun that after a couple of practise runs I didn’t have the usual pre‐race
jitters.
My first run wasn’t great but at least having the right kit means the only
thing it costs you is valuable time, still, I was feeling the pressure to do well
on my second run. I decided to go for it opting for some harder lines and
leaving the brakes alone as much as I dared ‐ I came away with 8th place.
No podium but I was happy with my result in a sizable category ‐ overall a
fantastic weekend, the event was really well organised.
Thanks again to the guys at Big Bear for their support, much appreciated!
Thursday, 24 June 2010
The long Paw of the Law
Big Bear Bikes gave the Police a Ticket this week. In fact not just one but nineteen of them! BBB recently beat off the competition for a tender to supply Humberside Police with a fleet of Trek bikes. After some great work by the team at the shop followed by a long day in Hornsea police station car park fitting accessories and Police stickers, our boys in blue (actually isnt it more like black now?) were well chuffed. Thanks to Paul Pickering for his help too.
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Awww shucks. A nice comment from some of our customers.
Hi Big Bear Bikes!
Just a note to say how helpful you were on our holiday this half term. We visited your shop three times over the week: twice for new inner tubes and the third time you fixed our bike rack for us with some zip-ties. Ingenious! If you hadn't fixed it for us then we couldn't have driven home with the bikes! Your staff were very helpful and kind, and our biking holiday would have been ruined without you! Thank you!
Just a note to say how helpful you were on our holiday this half term. We visited your shop three times over the week: twice for new inner tubes and the third time you fixed our bike rack for us with some zip-ties. Ingenious! If you hadn't fixed it for us then we couldn't have driven home with the bikes! Your staff were very helpful and kind, and our biking holiday would have been ruined without you! Thank you!
Monday, 14 June 2010
Big Bears go Nutcrackers in Dalby...
Sunday 13th was round 3 of the Nutcracker MTB XC series held in our very own Dalby Forest. BBB had two entrants as the rest of the team are mainly enjoying themsleves on mountain bikes in the USA!
The race circuit was most of the UCI World Cup loop but without the Dixon's Hollow bit, the 'bus stops' in Worry Gill and the last section of Medusa's Drop over the roots which can be quite slippery if damp (!!!).
Sam B was in the Sports (20-29) category with a four lap race. The weather stayed dry and Sam was running a very strong 8th when he had to withdraw due to a reoccurrence of a knee injury and thought, with his knee rapidly tightening, that discretion was better than valour. However, the phrase 'pain is temporary, quitting is permanent' was heard to be muttered by one of the band of supporters...
Wayne E was riding in the Masters (30-39) category with a five lap race but unlike everybody else he had forgotten to bring any gears on his bike - mad! He was using the race as a last 'speed' training session before doing Mountain Mayhem next weekend in the Solo Single Speed class. During the race, the weather turned and Dalby retrurned to its usual mud-fest but we don't know how Wayne did until the results are posted. After the five lapper he continued on and led the two hour BBB shop ride for us - a very big thanks Wayne.
To see more of the photos check out our Facebook page here
Monday, 24 May 2010
Newbridge Park Group - Bike trails in Pickering....
Newbridge Park Group
A voultary organisation has been set up to develop a range of trails and amenities in and around Pickering North Yorkshire. The Newbridge Park Group are looking to expand their activities locally which would really benefit local riders. If you'd like to give them your support and perhaps a little of your time please join them on facebook or call Claire 07990 964112 or Dan on 07787 102094.
Why not join their Facebook group by clicking here
By Bikers for Bikers
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Sunny Newtondale
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
World Cup Weekend
So hands up who enjoyed the world cup weekend then?? Hmm... by the looks of it and from what people told us, that would be all of you then! Whilst watching the coverage on Eurosport we had to keep reminding ourselves this was all happening in Pickering and Dalby Forest!! The whole area seemed to have a great buzz about it and passing world famous riders cycling along the local streets was amazing. We've got loads more pics to come, which we'll probably post on our Big Bear Bikes Facebook page but here are a few for now..
So now all we have to do is keep out fingers, toes and any other bodily parts crossed that we get to do it all again last year. If you have any pictures that you'd like us to publish, send 'em on in. In fact in an impromptu competition stylee we'll even give away a £15, £10 and £5 shop vouchers to the top three (respectively) as judged by The Bears at the end of May.
Happy Riding Readers!
So now all we have to do is keep out fingers, toes and any other bodily parts crossed that we get to do it all again last year. If you have any pictures that you'd like us to publish, send 'em on in. In fact in an impromptu competition stylee we'll even give away a £15, £10 and £5 shop vouchers to the top three (respectively) as judged by The Bears at the end of May.
Happy Riding Readers!
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Demo rides in Dalby
When you're spending your hard earned money on a dream bike you need to make sure it's right. All of our Dalby demo rides are guided so we can make sure you test it properly on varied terrain and we know the bike set up is spot on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
