Cycle to Work
Change your commute. Save thousands.

This isn't just a bike discount. It's a complete commute upgrade — save on the bike AND on every journey after. The government wants you to change your habits. Let them pay for it.

Two savings in one

Discount on the bike.
Savings on the commute.

Most people only think about the bike discount. The real win is what you stop spending every single day.

£630
Off a £1,500 e-bike
42% salary sacrifice saving (higher rate)
£4,200
Saved per year on commuting
vs driving to station + train (75% of days)

The bike discount is just the start

A £1,500 folding e-bike costs you £870 via Cycle to Work. But if it replaces even £10/day of driving and public transport — and you ride 75% of working days — you save £4,200 in the first year alone. The bike pays for itself in 7 weeks.

The Commute Maths

What commuting really
costs you

Side by side: car + train, bus, or e-bike. The numbers are stark.

Car + Train Bus Pass E-Bike
Daily cost £18 £8 £0.50
Monthly £360 £160 £10
Yearly £4,320 £1,920 £120
5 years £21,600 £9,600 £600
You save vs e-bike — — £4,200/yr

Car + train: £5 parking + £7 petrol + £6 train. Bus: zone 1–3 pass. E-bike: electricity charging only. Based on 20 working days/month, riding 75% of days.

5-year commute cost comparison
Car + Train
£21,600
Bus
£9,600
E-Bike
£600
The Tale of Two Bikes
Why most Cycle to Work bikes end up in the shed — and how to avoid it.
Panel 1
★ ★ ★ £3,000
"42% off a £3,000 carbon road bike? I'm basically SAVING money!"
Panel 2
? Where do I lock it?
"It's raining. I'd arrive sweaty. And where do I lock a £3k bike? Maybe tomorrow..."
6 months later
6 months £1,740 wasted
"The bike has been in the shed for 6 months. Spiders have claimed it. £1,740 down the drain."
The smart move
FOLD! Under desk
"Folding e-bike. Ride to station. Fold. Train. Unfold. Office. Under desk. No sweat. No theft. No shed."
Be Honest

Could an e-bike actually
replace your commute?

Before you buy, answer these honestly. The discount is only worth it if you ride.

The CapyPay "Will I Actually Ride It?" Checklist
  • Is your commute under 10 miles each way? An e-bike handles this easily, even hilly
  • Do you currently drive to a station or bus stop? A folding e-bike replaces that car journey
  • Can you store it at work? A folding bike goes under your desk — no lock, no theft
  • Would you save on parking, bus, or petrol? That's savings ON TOP of the bike discount
  • Could you realistically ride 3–4 days a week (75%)? Even skipping rainy days, the maths still work
A Day in the Life
What the smart commute actually looks like, hour by hour.
7:30 AM
15 min ride. No sweat.
Leave home. The motor does the hard work — arrive at the station fresh. 15 mins.
7:45 AM
FOLD 15-second fold. On the train.
Fold in 15 seconds at the platform. Carry onto the train. No bike racks needed.
8:30 AM
DESK Under desk. Safe. Done.
Arrive fresh at the office. Fold the bike under your desk. No lock. No theft anxiety.
End of month
£ £ £ £ No parking £50 + No bus £150 = £200/month saved
£200 saved this month. £10 per ride, 20 rides. The bike pays for itself by month 5.
The Bike Saving

How Cycle to Work
salary sacrifice works

The cost comes from your gross pay, before tax and NI. So you save both.

Bike PriceBasic Rate (28%)You Pay (Basic)Higher Rate (42%)You Pay (Higher)
£1,000£280 off£720£420 off£580
£1,500£420 off£1,080£630 off£870
£2,500£700 off£1,800£1,050 off£1,450
£3,500£980 off£2,520£1,470 off£2,030
£5,000£1,400 off£3,600£2,100 off£2,900

Plus a small "fair market value" payment (3–7%) at the end to own it outright.

Our Picks

Folding e-bikes with
belt drive

Belt drive = no chain, no oil, no maintenance. Carbon belts last 30,000+ km. Folding = take it everywhere. These are the bikes that actually get used.

BikePriceWeightBelt DriveYou Pay (42%)
Engwe P20£1,14918.5 kgYes£666
Estarli E20.X£1,42517.2 kgYes£827
ADO Air 20 Pro£1,49921 kgYes£869
ADO Air Carbon£1,518*13.5 kgYes£880
Eovolt Afternoon Pro£2,699~19 kgYes£1,565
Vello Bike+~£2,99012.9 kgYes£1,734

*ADO Air Carbon: early bird price. Carbon fibre + belt drive at 13.5 kg. RRP ~£2,350.

Premium picks

BikePriceWeightStandoutYou Pay (42%)
Brompton P Line£3,585~15 kgBest fold in the world£2,079
GoCycle G4i£3,74917.1 kgCarbon/magnesium design£2,174
Hummingbird Gen 2£4,99510.3 kgLightest folding e-bike ever£2,897
Brompton T Line£5,79914.1 kgFull titanium£3,363
Top Tips

Maximise Cycle to Work

CapyPay Top Tips
  • Go folding + belt drive — a bike you can take everywhere and never maintain will get ridden. A flashy road bike in the shed won't
  • Spending a bit more goes a long way — a £1,500 belt-drive e-bike lasts years longer than a £600 chain one. At 42% off, the pocket difference is only ~£520
  • Test ride your actual commute first — most shops let you try. Ride the route on a weekend
  • Check your scheme has no cap — Cyclescheme and Green Commute Initiative have no upper limit. Some cap at £1,000
  • Include accessories — helmet, lights, lock, mudguards, waterproofs can all go on the scheme. Budget £200–300 extra
  • Factor in commute savings — the bike discount is just the start. No parking + no bus = £200/month. That's the real win
  • Brompton has a direct Cyclescheme partnership — if you want the gold standard, they make it easy
  • Carbon belt = zero maintenance — no oiling, no chain stretch, no derailleur. Just ride. For 30,000+ km

Cycle to Work is just one perk

There are 12 more. Some save you thousands every year.

See all perks →