The Bike Leasing Company, My Experience

You Can Lease Bikes? Really?

I didn’t know that leasing a high end bike was an option until seeing BLC’s stand at the Cycle Show in Birmingham: I’d always assumed that the only way to afford one without a major windfall was to seek 2 or 3 years’ interest-free credit.  So I picked up a leaflet and read it at home later.

First of all I checked the BLC website and noticed a few bike brands which weren’t commonly advertised, which impressed me.  Up to that point I’d only looked at 0% credit options, so my shortlist had been limited to the high volume brands sold through major retailers.  BLC opened up a wider range of boutique options.

So, How Does It Work?

Paul at BLC talked with me about where and how I ride, to help narrow the search to a couple of strong choices.  A little thinking and advice later and I’d made my decision to lease a 120mm full suspension bike to progress from my previous hardtail.  A Merida One Twenty fitted the bill perfectly.

My lovely Merida One Twenty

Phill’s Merida One Twenty

The choice of leasing options was helpful: I chose to pay a heavier initial payment followed by 24 months at a very affordable rate.  I’m only paying for around 2/3 of the bike’s overall value, so in two years I can decide whether to purchase my bike, or hand it back and begin a new lease.  The biggest reason to lease instead of buy was the way that BLC’s lease option makes higher-end bikes available with affordable payments.

The bike was delivered to my work at my convenience, even though Christmas got in the way of deliveries for a short time!  BLC put a mechanic in touch with me, who came to my home – at a time that suited me – to set the bike up.  He (Ben) was pleasant, professional and remarkably skilful, setting the bike up quickly and perfectly with no fuss.  After a quick test ride around the street to confirm that everything was right for me, he made sure I had his number in case anything went wrong and left me to it.

Cut To The Chase: Is It A Good Idea?

There’s no feeling quite like riding a new bike for the first time. Snowy conditions didn’t keep us indoors on the first day we had the daylight and the time to get out.  Making fresh trails in the white powder was even more of a pleasure than when I’d done it in the past, and the bike performed beautifully.  I’m looking forward to spending more and more time enjoying the great outdoors, climbing and descending the pennine foothills on my shiny Merida.

Thanks very much to the Bike Leasing Company for making a potentially complex process very simple, and for delivering and setting up a fantastic top-end bike for me to play out on!

You can look at BLC’s website here, and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter too.

Tell ’em Phill sent you! 😉

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6 comments on “The Bike Leasing Company, My Experience

  1. Clive Chapman

    Fascinating that Phil and potentially a good idea. One I’d never heard of before.

    I guess if the numbers work then happy days, although I can see it being not for everyone.

  2. Phill

    You’re absolutely right Clive. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s a choice that people should be aware of I think. I’d never heard of it until the Cycle Show either but I’m glad I saw the stand now that I have the bike. 🙂

  3. Jamie

    Thanks for the article.

    I know that I can rent a bike for a day or a weekend locally here in Nova Scotia, Canada. But the choices are not great due to make of bike and the fact the bikes are abused by riding them hard.

    Never thought leasing would be an option. I need to check to see if this idea has caught on here. I will let you know.

  4. Phill

    BLC are doing some international business, I understand. It might be worth you emailing them from their page Jamie. hey, mention my name 😉

  5. Jamie

    Thanks Phil. I will check it out.

    I post the question to a local bike shop and local cycling FB page.

  6. Pingback: Datatag Bicycle Security – My Experience

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