Hi, Joe Waugh here again!
We’re all feeling the pinch a little, aren’t we? My family and I have been making a few cut backs here and there at the moment, as have a lot of people I know. With the light at the end of the tunnel so far away, it looks we’re going to have to continue scrimping and saving where we can. I bet you can’t guess what my top tip for saving a bit of money is!
Those who read this blog every month will know I’m a self confessed cycling nut, but even I have neglected my bike a little bit in favour of the car in the past. With the ‘R-word’ looming, this has all had to change and I’m now cycling almost as much as I used to in the past. I’m feeling much better for it too! I’ve also managed to shed all of the weight I put on over Christmas, and more! At least I’ve managed to find something positive out of this whole Credit Crunch debacle!
From chatting with some of our customers at M. Steel Cycles, I think quite a lot of people are blowing the dust off their bikes or looking to buy a new one to replace a few car journeys a week. As a fanatic, I’m obviously going to agree, though you’d be hard pushed not to see sense in their reasoning. Running a car can be so expensive. Tax, insurance, petrol, not to mention the money we have to fork out if something goes wrong with it – it can seem like there’s no end to the money that we shed for our four wheeled friend!
Public transport links in Newcastle are particularly good, with decent buses and trains as well as the Tyne and Wear Metro Service. Using public transport is another obvious way to save a few pennies. At M. Steel Cycles, we’ve just got a range of Brompton fold away bikes in stock which are perfect if you’re looking to combine cycling and public transport. These are the only bikes that are allowed on the Tyne and Wear Metro as they become so compact when you pack them away. They’re nifty little things and have almost cult following about them! We’re really happy to be stocking them as they add something completely different to the range of bikes we have at the shop.
I’ve mentioned it before but Cyclescheme is now more relevant than it ever has been. Cyclescheme allows you to get a tax free bike to use to ride to work. This can save you a pretty penny, as well as helping you to get fit and ease a bit of the traffic from the roads. The first step for companies who are interested in offering these discounted bikes to their staff need to register with Cyclescheme on their website, www.cyclescheme.co.uk. Then the staff members wanting a bike need to call into a shop, (preferably M. Steel), that runs the scheme. Once the bike they want is chosen, a voucher will be issued for you claim your bike. The price of the bike, minus the tax, will be deducted for the employee’s wages over a few months. You can use the bike immediately to ride to work and will all yours once the final payment as been made. There’s not been a better time so get on your bike, get fit and save a bit of money in the process!
We recently donated a bike to support the great work done by the doctors in the Northern Oesophago Gastric Unit at Newcastle’s RVI. The bike will be used to auction and raise future funds for the unit. Though many people may not realise it, Oesophageal (gullet) cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the highest incidence of this disease in the world is in the North East of England and Scotland. The unit was set up by Dr. S Michael Griffin MD FRCS in 1989 and is now the largest of its kind in Western Europe. Cure rates are improving as a result of research into this type of cancer so constant support is needed for them to carry on the great work they do. Newcastle’s RVI are a big supporter of Cyclescheme so it was fitting they should receive something back from us.
Until next time, happy riding!