Adrian wrote:

Mike Bristow ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying :

They pay VAT on the purchase of their bike

I've never paid VAT on the purchase of a bike. I have several bikes.

But that's because you are a poor hard done by motorist who can only
afford rusty hand-me-downs, instead of being a much more affluent and
well-off car-free cyclist ;-)

But then the last cycle I bought contributed around five times more in
tax to the country's coffers than most people pay in VED :-(

John B