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Where to buy a bike?
(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you're wondering where to buy a bike, you're not alone. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the bike-buying landscape. The demand for bicycles has increased rapidly and, as a result, millions of new cyclists are buying a bike for the first time, wondering how and where to shop.

Unfortunately, at the same time as this increase in demand, the closure of factories meant production was halted for a time. While most factories have opened again, they're still playing catchup. Meanwhile, tightened border controls are delaying distribution, and then a ship managed to get stuck in the Suez Canal, so anything they do produce takes longer to get to your local shop or the warehouse of your favourite online retailer. What all of this means is that the availability of bikes is very low.

In years gone by, the answer to 'where to buy a bike' has been simple and the choice plentiful. Whether you went to your local bike shop, browsed online retailers, or went to eBay, the availability of bikes was comprehensive, and the process was straightforward. However, nowadays, if you're wondering where to buy a bike, it's likely because you can't find stock.

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Of course, it would be in poor taste to even begin to compare this first-world problem to the havoc wrought by the pandemic upon families, healthcare services and other industries, but the fact remains that buying a bike at the moment can be a frustrating endeavour.

As ever, there are things you can do to ease the process. For example, being flexible with your wishlist will give you more options and thus, a greater chance of finding something suitable. The first step to success is arming yourself with knowledge of the various options of where you might be able to buy your ideal bike, because the more places you look, the more chance you give yourself of finding the right bike, in the right size, at the right price.

It's also worth bearing in mind that retailers time their discounts. So for example, in the run-up to Black Friday they may be saving their best deals for when the sales season really starts in earnest. Hold your nerve and you may find a better deal - or you may miss out! The mismatch of demand and supply could make this year a little different.

To help you along the way, we've put together the various methods available for wannabe bike buyers, and we've rounded up a selection of online retailers where bikes are currently in stock, along with deals where current stock availability looks good, so that you have a quick hitlist of places to look when hunting down your next - or perhaps first - #NewBikeDay.

  • How has COVID-19 affected cycling businesses in the United States?

The various options of where to buy a bike

Online retailers

Complete convenience and comprehensive choice

Wide choice on places to shop

To-your-door delivery

Occasional to-the-store delivery, depending on retailer

Can't try before you buy

Need to assemble it yourself

Where to buy a bike online

Our pick of bike deals at Competitive Cyclist

Factor Vista frameset - was $4,799.00 now $3,839.00
Ridley Kids' Road Race 26 bike - was $829.00 now $599.95


Our pick of bike deals at Jenson USA

All-City Space Horse Tiagra 650b bike - was $2,199.00 now $1,650.00
Orbea Gain M20i e-bike - was $5,999.00 now $5,519.00


Our pick of bike deals at REI

Co-op Cycles CTY 1.1 bike - $599.00 plus $20 membership
Cannondale Quick 6 bike - $650.00





Our pick of bike deals at Wiggle US

Laventino Ranger 3 Men's Urban Bike (2020) - was $649.00 now $195
Zannata Z21 Hybrid Bike - was $895.00 now $455.00

Our pick of deals at Wiggle UK

Vitus Emitter Aluminium e-bike - wass £2,799.99 now £2,249.99
Zannata Z21 Hybrid Bike - was £899.00 now £349.99





Our pick of bike deals at Cyclestore

Specialized Turbo Como 3.0 Low Entry e-bike - was £2,800.00 now £2,660.00
Specialized Turbo Vado Sl 4.0 Step-through e-bike - was £3,000.00 now £2,850.00


Our pick of bike deals at Evans Cycles

Schwinn Vantage FB1 2020 Hybrid Bike - was £700.00 now £569.00
Litespeed Ultimate G Ultegra gravel bike - was £6,500.00 now £3,249.00


Our pick of bike deals at Tredz

Hey Disc9 Hybrid Bike - was £625.00 now £400.00
Dawes Arc 2 folding bike - was £1,299.99 now £1,099.00


Our pick of bike deals at Rutland Cycling

Brompton H2L Folding Electric Bike - was £3,069.99 now £2,919.99
Cannondale SystemSix Ultegra road bike - was £4,999.99 now £4,499.00



Our pick of bike deals at Hargroves Cycles

Ridgeback Electron+ Electric Bike - was £2,599.00 now £2,399.00
2021 Bergamont Paul-E EQ Edition Electric Folding Bike - was £3,079.00 now £2,599.00


Our pick of bike deals at Leisure Lakes

Specialized Creo SL Comp Carbon E-Road Bike - was £5,750.00 now £4,999.00
2rbea Avant H60 Disc Road Bike - was £1,159.00 now £999.00



A shelf full of bike helmets at a bike shop

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Your local bike shop

A great choice for those in need of advice as well as a bike

Helpful face-to-face advice

No delivery charges

Professional bike setup

Possible discount on accessories bought at the same time

Lack of choice vs shopping online

Less convenient than browsing online

Local bike shops remain a great source of advice on new bikes, with staff usually super-knowledgeable and keen to get you on the right bike.

The best way to shop is to visit and speak to the sales staff, explain your needs, and heed their advice. However, the advice offered will depend on the knowledge held by the staff members in question, so if you're uncertain, be prepared to do your own research too, and if you're unsure, enlist the help of a friend whose opinion you trust or head to numerous stores to compare and contrast.

In fact, we recommend visiting at least a couple of stores until you find one you're confident in and which has a good range of suitable bikes in stock, and while you will ultimately be led by the price and availability of your ideal bike, do your best to strike a relationship with your preferred store, as this will no doubt prove beneficial down the line when time comes for a service, repair, or extra advice.

Some bricks-and-mortar stores also operate a website, which could enable you to virtually browse the store without ever stepping foot inside and larger stores - such as Evans Cycles in the UK - operate a highly-connected eCommerce business that allows you to buy online and collect in-store, saving you the stress of building the bike yourself.

The other benefit of buying in person is the personable relationship you can build with the staff at your local bike shop who, invariably, are keen cyclists themselves with years of experience, so if you have a question about good routes to ride, how to get into racing, the price of the local bike park uplift pass, or the safest, best or flattest way to get from point A to point B, they'll probably have the answers.

Furthermore, if you're new to cycling or you're in need of some accessories alongside your new bike, there's every chance they'll do you a deal.

  • Why your local bike shop will survive

Where to buy a bike: A screenshot of the Specialized website depicting its electric bikes

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Manufacturer direct

Great if you have your eye on a specific brand

Most will offer delivery or collection via a bike shop

Access to a brand's full line

First access to available stock

No test ride facility

Discounts are rare

If you know the brand - or specific model - of bike you're after, a great way to shop is to go direct to the manufacturer. The exact process will differ depending on the brand in question. Some will offer delivery direct to your door, while others will deliver to your local bike shop so that it can be built up by a professional mechanic.

The benefits of buying directly from the manufacturer are that they typically have stock before shops or online retailers, and typically have a better spread of sizes and colours.

However, the downside is that previous-model-year bikes and discounts are almost impossible to find, as these are often sold off in bulk to retailers.


Where to buy a bike: A screenshot of Facebook marketplace with a collection of second-hand bikes for sale

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Second hand

Often cheaper, but a potential minefield if you're new to cycling

Lowest prices

Best deals

Widest spread of availability

No warranty / protection

A real risk of scams

Can be hard to find the correct size/model

Facebook, eBay, Gumtree, Craigslist, the list of potential places to buy second-hand goods online goes on. So vast is the market for second-hand bikes that even cycling-specific marketplaces exist such as Bikesoup and there are even second-hand bike specialists, The Pro's Closet, doing things a little differently in the US.

If you know what you're looking for, online marketplaces can be a veritable treasure trove of deals and discounts, but if you don't, they can be a minefield of dodgy dealings, scammers, and more.

The biggest concern in any online marketplace is criminals, and if you're not careful with how you pay, you could quickly fall victim to a scam.

However, a less severe but more prevalent concern with online marketplaces is sellers overstating the value of their second-hand bike. There's nobody governing the price of second-hand bikes, so it's up to the seller to decide what they want for it. In the midst of a bike shortage, they are taking advantage and unwitting buyers are footing the bill.

So if you're going to shop second hand online, ensure you do your research and your due diligence, only pay using a protected method, and if you find a deal that looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Also, never meet a stranger with large sums of cash in your pocket unless you're 100 per cent confident they're legitimate, and even then, meet somewhere public and take a friend.


Subscription schemes

Pay monthly and upgrade regularly

Particularly useful for children's bikes or city bikes

Regular upgrades

There's usually no large upfront investment

Ongoing expense

Similar to leasing in the car industry, bicycle subscription schemes allow you to pay monthly to borrow the bike of your choice. However, many also offer the option to upgrade your bike as regularly as you like, making it especially useful for parents whose children have a habit of growing straight after an expensive purchase.

The terms and conditions of each policy will differ from company to company, but one such scheme based in the UK is The Bike Club, whose policy accepts wear and tear as par for the course, but also offers an additional monthly subscription to mitigate against the cost of any extra damage. It also allows you to own the bike outright after 32 months of payments on a single bike, but of course, that means you miss out on upgrading.

Check out our deals roundups

  • Bike deals: All the deals on two wheels
  • Cycling deals: The best cheap cycling upgrades
  • Amazon Prime Day cycling deals: Two days of terrific deals in June
  • Road bike deals: Deals on drop bars and skinny tyres
  • Cheap bike helmets: Low-cost safety without the compromise
  • Cheap cycling clothing: Kit out your cycling wardrobe without paying a fortune
  • Cheap cycling shoes: Super savings on footwear
  • Cheapest Zwift setup: Everything you need to get Zwifting on a budget
  • Electric bike deals: Power your way to savings
  • GoPro deals: Shoot for the moon with top-quality action camera deals
  • Gravel bike deals: Gravel grinding doesn't have to cost a fortune
  • Kids bike deals: They grow so fast, so why pay full price?
  • Rapha deals: Save big on the British clothing brand
  • Specialized deals: Great deals on all things Specialized
  • Wiggle deals: One of the world's biggest cycling sales
  • Wheel deals: Deals on road, gravel and mountain bike wheels
  • Mountain bike deals: Deals from our friends over at Bike Perfect
  • Garmin deals: Smartwatches, cycling computers and more
Josh Croxton

Josh has been with us as Senior Tech Writer since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews. On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Team Tor 2000. He's always keen to get his hands on the newest tech, and while he enjoys a good long road race, he's much more at home in a local criterium.

Does Gopro Cameras Bought on the Rei Card Count Toward Cash Back

Source: https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/where-to-buy-a-bike/

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