Italian bikes - Exquisite not exclusive!

Looks and performance, at an affordable price ...it’s possibDo you always have to compromise your new bikes aesthetics v it’s function, shouldn’t all bikes be as attractive to look at as they are functional to ride - it’s a tough one - Should bikes that look stunning automatically perform at a similar level?

Do you have to accept someone else’s interpretation of a great paint scheme, just because your budget is limited and you want the very best fit and durability? All of these are questions that anyone looking to buy a decent road bike will ask themselves a thousand times.

Grupetto Italia have some very positive answers with a NEW range of bikes that look as good as they ride. Grupetto Italia have launched 3 beautiful new models for 2012 all with head turning custom finishes that wrap around some of the classiest frames you’ll see on the road today. Aimed at the Race and Sportive rider that wants to stand out from the masses, the bikes mix classic Italian styling and design references with the very best components and materials available today.

Two carbon models the Mottarone SL and Mergozzo CL line up alongside the columbus tubed CS Maggiore to offer the sort of bespoke bikes you would think you’d have to pay Saville Row prices for, infact, nothing could be further from the truth. At a time when spending £3,000+ on a race bike can be seen as pretty standard, Grupettos range starts at half that figure (£1,500) for bikes that offer exclusivee looks and exquisite performance, at a non exclusive price point.

Grupetto’s Nat Rizzi says “To get a half decent looking frame usually means paying a fortune or compromising quality for a badly ‘retro styled’ far eastern import. We’ve noticed with the growth in sportives and cycling in general that riders are often unhappy with the ‘image’ of their bikes but because of budget concerns they forgo this for perceived performance values from some of the bigger more obvious brands - how a bike looks and makes its owner feel is often grossly undervalued”

Well now thanks to Grupetto you can have it all - Style and Performance in equal amounts, no compromises, and because Grupetto build there bikes to your exact specification you will get outstanding value that fits your budget bracket.

Working alongside some of Italy’s finest independent frame builders they have produced a sensational range that will simply out perform similar priced bikes on both specification and finish. With a small showroom in Amersham, Bucks. and direct sales via their website www.grupettoitalia.co.uk they offer clients the comfort of knowing that the bike they buy is created for their exact cycling needs, not to shoehorn you onto something mediocre.

Nat continues “What the pro’s call form’ on your bike, is seriously lacking in so many riders we see on the road today. We ensure our customers have the perfect combination of fit and function maximizing their performance at whatever level they ride at or are aiming for. We offer a FREE fitting service either remotely or in person, that utilizes traditional bike measuring and set up methods to achieve the simple task of making sure you look and feel right on the bike” If you get it right you get so much more from your cycling experience, whether racing local criteriums or riding a Gran Fondo or the Etape.”

Italians are masters at getting this balance right, from a pair of Berluti shoes to a Riva speedboat ‘The look” is as important as the performance with the ultimate goal of having the very best you can produce. Grupetto’s artisan frame building team are based in Italy’s cycling heartland near Bergamo and all the frames take their names from legendary cycling landmarks in the area. If you want an iconic bike that will not disappoint in comfort or performance in the colours you’ve always wanted, talk to Grupetto Italia.

For further information call: 01494 432 984 or visit: www.grupettoitalia.co.uk

(EDITOR: Looking for something to spend your Christmas money on? That's Christmas has found the perfect opportunity for you!)

‘Jingle’ all the way with my Travel Cash

Britons who travel abroad or visit overseas websites for their Christmas shopping needs could pocket an accumulative £8.6m as my Travel Cash- the prepaid MasterCard® currency card – gives its customers the gift of cashback.

my Travel Cash recently added a fantastic reward for all customers - 1% unlimited cashback on everything purchased, paid directly to the prepaid card account the following month after it has been used.

Research from Santander shows that the average Briton will spend £359 on Christmas presents, with 4.2 million spending 23% of their budget abroad and a further 4.2 million spending 35% of their Christmas budget on overseas websites – collectively amounting to £8.6m in cashback rewards should they all use a my Travel Cash currency card.

As purchases made in cards’ currency are also free, shopaholics can feel confident when playing Santa for their loved ones this Christmas. The cashback earned is only limited by how much the cardholder spends – no hidden tricks or complicated rules just great value, commission-free rewards, back on the card in time for mid-term break in the sun.

Myles Stephenson, CEO my Travel Cash, comments: “More and more people are heading abroad to European Christmas markets or further afield to New York or L.A. There is also a large percentage of the population who purchase from overseas websites.

“For both types of customers, my Travel Cash not only offers a competitive exchange rate but we go that bit further to ensure our customers are rewarded. We introduced the 1% cashback this summer and it is now a permanent feature on our cards. Additionally, we have also scrapped ATM withdrawal fees on all three of our cards[iv], and to top it off, our customers aren’t charged any commission either.”

my Travel Cash (www.mytravelcash.com) offers three prepaid MasterCard cards in Multi-Currency (Sterling), Euros and US Dollars. The cards work like a pay-as-you-go mobile phone, you load them with money before you travel and top them up when needed, meaning you only spend what you load – great if you need to stick to a budget when abroad.

The Express Delivery option means you can get yours in time for your trip, unlike other prepaid currency card providers that can take between 5-10 working days. Order your prepaid card and take advantage of the competitive exchange rates at www.mytravelcash.com. Then, simply take it with you when you go.

thinkbanking highlights the importance of a budget for Christmas and beyond

Christmas can be a big expense: from the turkey and all the trimmings, decorations and social occasions, to presents for friends and family. However, budgeting bank account provider thinkbanking is urging people to consider the importance of a well-planned budget to make sure they start the New Year in good financial shape.

Research from MoneySupermarket.com recently found that, though 21% of people will use savings to cover the festive spend, and 38% will have enough disposable income to finance costs over the Christmas period, 11% plan to use their credit or store card. As a result of 'paying on plastic', however, many people could still be paying for Christmas much further down the line.

Despite the convenience credit can offer for many people, it's not the cheapest way to cover the cost. A credit card with an APR of about 18% and a £500 balance could take nearly 12 years to pay off in total, if you only make the minimum repayments of 2.5% every month.

Having said that, with so many of us feeling our finances squeezed by falling disposable incomes and rising living costs, some people feel that borrowing is the only option -which makes it important they budget for their monthly repayments along with all their other outgoings.

One way of making Christmas more affordable is by spreading the cost over the year - which takes planning and commitment, but could make a real difference to the overall cost of Christmas. You could begin preparing for Christmas 2012 by taking advantage of the January sales: at the start of a New Year, many shops offer discounts on cards, wrapping paper, decorations and other festive items. Why not buy your presents throughout the year? It could save you money and help you avoid the last-minute rush nearer the time.

However, one of the most practical ways of looking after your finances is to draw up a well-planned budget, so you can set aside some money every month and watch it grow over the year - you may be surprised at how much you could have saved by next December!

A spokesperson for thinkbanking commented: "It's important for consumers to think about how they'll cover the cost of big occasions like Christmas. With many budgets really feeling the pinch at the moment, plenty of people don't have savings they can depend on, but there are still steps they could take to fund the festive season without taking on debt.

"Although some people feel that they have no option but to borrow, drawing up - and sticking to - a successful, well thought-out budget could make all the difference, and help them avoid turning to credit cards, overdrafts and other forms of debt.

"This Christmas may not be very far away, but there's still time to set some money aside, which could go towards presents and other expenses. For example, putting £20 a week into a savings pot between now and Christmas Eve could give you around £120 to spend - which could make a big difference to your overall festive bill.

"Plus, if you begin saving in the New Year, you could stand yourself in good stead for Christmas 2012 - which is certainly a New Year's resolution worth making."

FACTFILE:

thinkbanking provides access to a current bank account that makes it easier to budget, by ring-fencing money needed for regular commitments, including savings. The 'Money Manager' service helps customers to manage their accounts effectively. The account comes with predictive banking which can let customers know if they are running short for their necessary expenses. thinkbanking accounts don't require a credit check and are available to UK residents over the age of 18.

For more information, visit the thinkbanking website at www.thinkbanking.co.uk.