Your questions about the Bikes for School scheme answered
Scheme Questions
I cannot see any discounts on my shopping pages
You will see the discounts after you enter your School's Scheme Code. Click here to invite your school to join if your school isn't running a bikes for school scheme yet.
What is Bikes 4 School all about?
Bikes 4 School is a fantastic new initiative aimed at tackling the increasing problems
of childhood health and obesity problems whilst helping to protect our environment.
To encourage cycling, schools can run the B4S scheme where parents and teachers get a discount when they buy a bike, cycle clothes or cycling safety kit while the school gets a percentage of every sale made though the site.
Every purchase is linked to the relevant scheme via each school's unique scheme code. The school can see the order values in their admin section and will receive a quarterly payment. There's no work involved for the school.
If a school isn't part of the scheme yet, you can print this one-page Bikes 4 School leaflet to give to a teacher or the head, or email the Bikes 4 School information to invite the school to join. The school's registration page can be found here.
How can I save?
Bikes 4 School is teaming up with schools and local education authorities all over the UK to help you and your family get on your bike. Bikes 4 School enables you to make huge savings on the cost of new bikes and cycling equipment.
Simply enter your school's scheme code to save £££'s on your next purchase through Bikes 4 School.
Who benefits from the scheme?
The kids benefit from a healthier lifestyle, parents save money on petrol and bikes, the school earns money and the environment benefits too.
How does my school benefit?
Not only do schools benefit by improving the health and wellbeing of pupils and their families, but they also benefit financially.
Your local school will receive cash payments based on the value of all equipment purchased by families of pupils and students. Most schools aim to reinvest this added income in projects aimed at making kids more active and healthy. They can also use the money to improve cycle parking and storage facilities around the school.
What does the school need to do to enrol?
Just fill out the short registration form. As soon as we receive this, we'll contact you to verify the details and provide you with a unique school scheme code.
Every school or college enrolled on the Bikes 4 School scheme will receive an information pack with posters and flyers for parents and families with the scheme code for the unique pages of this web site which have been set up for your school.
The school will be given access to their own Admin pages with information about scheme progress. There is nothing else the school needs to do to run the scheme.
What equipment is available through the Bikes 4 School scheme?
Bikes 4 School is able to provide you and your family with everything you could ever need to get you cycling safely. With one of the UK’s largest selections of cycles and cycling accessories, Bikes 4 School can offer great savings against their entire range.
Can I buy without being with a school?
You can buy bikes and cycling equipment at full retail price, not as part of the scheme. Your purchase won’t benefit a school. Why not find out if anyone in your family or circle of friends is part of a scheme and support their school?
How will we know the school gets their full share?
The school can see the value of every order placed under the scheme at any time. Every quarter the totals will tally with the rebate sent to the school.
The head is too busy, who else can setup a scheme?
Another member of staff can setup the scheme, as long as the head validates it. The scheme takes no effort on the part of the school, as everything will be provided ready to use.
The Admin area allows the coordinator to see the progress of the scheme, but all work is taken care of by us at Wheelies Direct Cycle Solutions Ltd.
Who runs Bikes 4 School?
The scheme is run by Wheelies Direct Cycle Solutions Ltd, bicycle retail & mail order and insurance cycle replacement specialists since 1985. This gives you the peace of mind that your order, or your scheme, will be taken care of by an experienced company with a proven track record in running business and affinity cycle schemes.
Cycling questions
Why should kids cycle?
The Wanless report on the future of the nation's health warned, as far back as 2002, that we are sitting on a health time bomb. Inactivity is already costing taxpayers £2bn a year and, unless we change our behaviour, obesity will cost the future NHS even more. Already one in every seven UK teenagers and one in 12 six-year-olds are dangerously overweight, according to the Department of Health.
Kids could burn up 12lbs of fat per year, according to Dr John Buckley, exercise physiologist at Keele University, by cycling to and from school every day. Yet fewer than 2 per cent of school pupils now ride to school.
Twice as many are dropped off by car than in 1984, yet most children live less than two miles away from school.
By promoting cycling to school, head teachers, local authorities and parents can help to improve not only the health of their children but also the health of our environment.
At what age can children cycle by themselves?
This depends on the experience and nature of the child, as well as the nature of the route to school. Some schools organise a ‘school train’ where kids are picked up on a set route by a cycling adult who escorts a group of kids cycling to and from school.
The BikeforAll website has lots more information about cycling for children and cycling to school.
How can kids learn to ride a bike safely?
Bikeability provides cycle training for children in England to the Government approved 'National Standard for Cycle Training'– a modern day cycling proficiency test. Bikeability gives children the skills to ride their bikes safely by providing training in small groups by accredited trainers.
The Welsh Assembly Government has started to roll out cycle proficiency training in Wales from mid-2008 also under the Bikeability banner, and for Scotland see the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme information on their Cycle to School's website.
How can I teach my child to ride a bike?
The International Bicycle Fund has a set of steps which cover balance, pedalling, turning and more in their "Tips for learning or teaching to cycle" including what mistakes to avoid.
Product questions
How do I choose the right bike?
Our sizing guide will help you choose the most appropriate size bike for your child or yourself.
We also have an children's bike guide to get you started, but nothing compares with the expertise of our Bikes 4 School team who will help you with any questions you may have. If you are still not sure, let us help you; call us on 08450 71 30 20.
With over 20 years experience in the cycling industry our expert team are able to provide quality advice to ensure that you and your family choose the bikes and equipment which are perfect for your individual needs.
How can I transport small children by bike?
There is a range of solutions available, from child seats and trailers to tag-a-longs where the child starts pedalling but is still attached to the parent’s bike.
Should I buy a bigger bike so my child can grow into it?
It may be a tempting thought, but it is dangerous for a child to be riding a bike they can’t control properly which is the case with a bike that’s too big.
How will the bike arrive once I’ve ordered it?
Your bike will arrive fully built, together with a handbook and maintenance instructions.