Where to buy a bike: Are stocks finally starting to replenish?
There are still lots of supply issues to contend with, so here's our advice on where to buy a bike right now
It's old news now that the pandemic, with its resulting exponential increase in demand for bikes, and simultaneous factory closures, have left supplies very short for a long time. This means the question of where to buy a bike remains as relevant today as it was a year ago.
It's true that stock levels are starting to replenish now, but there are still plenty of shortages for certain brands, sizes, and models. That's true no matter if you're buying a road bike, a gravel bike, or you're in need of an electric bike.
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.
So in order to save you time trawling through copious retailers in search of stock, we've assembled all the best places where you can currently buy a bike, into one handy list. 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.
Where to buy a bike right now
Online retailers
Complete convenience and comprehensive choice
Where to buy a bike online
USA only: Competitive Cyclist is one of the largest cycling retailers in the US, and despite the shortage, there is still a good selection of bikes available.
There are bikes that cover all spectrums from budget commuters to performance road bikes, kids bikes to electric mountain bikes.
Some of the more popular brands covered include Cervelo, Santa Cruz, Pinarello, Bianchi, but there are plenty more to consider.
Our pick of bike deals at Competitive Cyclist
Wilier Cento1HY e-bike - $5,999.99 $4,799.99
Cervelo Aspero XPLR - $5,500.00
Bianchi Sprint AXS - $4,200.00
Kids' balance bikes - up to 31% off
USA only: Jenson USA is another USA-based retailer and usually has a good selection of off-road and gravel bikes, with a smaller selection of road bikes. The brands covered include Colnago, Look, Orbea, Santa Cruz, Yeti, Rocky Mountain, and more. There are even a few Jenson USA Exclusive Builds, which offer great value for money.
Our pick of bike deals at Jenson USA
Marin Palisades Trail 2 - was $1,019.00 now $599.00
USA only: REI is an outdoor retailer based in the USA, and its bike section is pretty huge. As well as its own range of Co-op Cycles bikes, there are bikes from Cannondale, Early Rider, Salsa and more. The options predominantly cover hybrid, road and kids bikes, but there are a few touring and mountain bikes on offer too.
Our pick of bike deals at REI
Co-op Cycles CTY 1.1 - $649.00 $448.93
Diamondback Division 2 - $975.00 $779.99
Cannondale Trail 8 - $635.00
USA only: Moosejaw is an outdoor retailer, so while it doesn't specialise in bikes, the selection is typically broad. The current selection is slightly limited, but there are still options covering road, gravel, mountain and kids' bikes from brands such as Norco, Evil, Niner and Raleigh.
Our pick of bike deals at Moosejaw
Diamondback Mason 1 MTB - $1060.00 $795.00
Surly Disc Trucker touring road bike - $1,999.00
Norco Search XR A2 gravel bike - $1,699.00
USA only: Backcountry, the US outdoor sports retailer, is partnered with Competitive Cyclist, so the product offering typically overlaps, but it's certainly worth double-checking as they don't always share the same pool of stock.
Burley MyKick Balance Bike - $129.99 $89.98
Ridley Kanzo Fast LTD - $8,500.00 $7,000.00
Factor Vista frameset - $4,799.00 $3,839.00
Worldwide: Wiggle is partnered with Chain Reaction Cycles, and therefore shares many of the same bikes. However, it's worth checking both stores because they don't always share stock, and you might get a better discount.
Our pick of bike deals at Wiggle US
Fuji Touring LTD Bike - $1,365.00 $845.00
Rondo Ratt CF2 gravel bike - $4,614.99 $3,111.00
Vitus Energie cyclo-cross bike - $1,299.99 $1,199.99
Our pick of deals at Wiggle UK
Fuji Touring LTD Bike - £1,049.99 £649.99
Rondo HVRT CF 0 Road Bike - was £6,799.99 now £4,999.99
Vitus ZX-1 EVO CRS eTap AXS Road Bike - £4,799.99 £4,099.99
Worldwide: Chain Reaction Cycles is one of the world's largest online bike retailers, selling everything from kids' balance bikes to electric road bikes. Brands covered include Colnago, Cube and Fuji, as well as its own in-house brand, Vitus, which offers great value for money.
Our pick of bike deals at CRC
Vitus Energie EVO C CX bike - $2,599.99 $1,949.99
Cinelli Zydeco Apex CX bike - $1,949.00 $1,949.00
UK only: Cyclestore is a proud dealer of Specialized, Giant and Cannondale bikes, and currently has stock of bikes ranging from a few hundred pounds, right up to the £12,000 S-Works Aethos.
Our pick of bike deals at Cyclestore
Specialized Turbo Como 3.0 Low Entry e-bike - £2,800.00 £2,199.00
UK only: Evans Cycles has been around for decades, and comes with a comprehensive online shop as well as stores up and down the country. There are bikes covering everyone's needs, be they commuting to work or sending gaps in the bike park, with brands such as Specialized, Trek, Cannondale and more.
Our pick of bike deals at Evans Cycles
Pinnacle Laterite 2 - £800.00 £575.00
Pinnacle Laterite 3 - £900.00 £650.00
Schwinn Vantage FB1 2020 Hybrid Bike - £700.00 £489.00
UK only: Tredz is a retailer for brands such as Cannondale, Specialized, Brompton, Merida and more. With bikes covering road, mountain, kids, commuting and more, it's a good place to browse if you're unsure exactly what you want.
Our pick of bike deals at Tredz
Cannondale Trail 7 Ltd mountain bike - £550.00 £479.00
Tifosi Scalare 105 Disc road bike - £1,999.00 £1,729.00
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Disc Red ETap AXS - £11,500.00 £8,999.00
BMC Timemachine 01 ROAD ONE - £12,100.00 £9,675.00
UK only: Rutland Cycling is another UK-based shop with stores around the country. There are bikes covering all spectrums of cycling, both with or without a motor, with brands such as Bianchi, Brompton, Frog, Whyte, Scott and more.
Our pick of bike deals at Rutland Cycling
Raleigh Pioneer Low Step - £474.99 £399.00
Giant Escape 3 Disc - £478.99 £349.99
Giant FastRoad SL 1 - £1,098.99 £819.99
Liv Thrive 1 - £1,098.99 £819.99
UK only: Hargroves Cycles is another stockist of Cannondale, Specialized, Brompton and more, with over 200 different models in stock, each in a range of sizes, at the time of publish.
Our pick of bike deals at Hargroves Cycles
Orbea Vector 15 Hybrid Bike - £1,099.00 £934.00
Ridgeback Voyage Reynolds Steel Touring Road Bike - £1,349.99 £1,079.00
Ridgeback Electron+ Electric Bike - £2,599.00 £2,099.00
Bergamont Paul-E EQ Edition Electric Folding Bike - £3,079.00 £2,079.00
USA only: Walmart might be a left-field inclusion in this list, but if you're after something super simple such as a budget kids bike, then Walmart is worth checking. The one thing it has on its side is an abundance of options, so just do your research and ensure you're not wasting your money on a bike that's not fit for purpose.
Worldwide: French company Decathlon has a presence worldwide and sells many own brand bikes under a range of names, including B'Twin, triban and Van Rysel. Its products tend to be well designed and good value.
Worldwide: Amazon, probably isn't exactly the first retailer you think of when shopping for a bike but there's little the world's largest retailer doesn't sell. It's unlikely you'll find a high-end carbon road bike, but if you're shopping for kids bikes, then Amazon is worth a look.
UK only: Tweeks Cycles is a UK retailer covering all disciplines. The brands stocked include GT, Raleigh, Lapierre, Cube, and Scott to name a few.
UK only: Leisure Lakes is another retailer with stores dotted around the country. Covering everything to electric commuters to race bikes, it's another great place to browse for new-bike inspiration.
UK only: Halfords is more committed to the leisure side of cycling, specialising in the more budget side of things as well as kids bikes. With brick-and-mortar stores in almost every town, you're never too far away if you want to try before you buy.
Your local bike shop
A great choice for those in need of advice as well as a bike
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.
Manufacturer direct
Great if you have your eye on a specific brand
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.
Worldwide: Trek Bikes is a worldwide bicycle manufacturer catering to everyone from first-time amateurs to WorldTour professionals. Their website allows bikes to be ordered direct, and they'll happily deliver it to your local Trek dealer where it can be built up by a professional. Their collection encompasses road, mountain, hybrid, electric and kids' bikes, with all budgets catered for.
Worldwide: German brand Canyon specialises in direct sales of its bikes, which have a reputation for quality and low prices. Its bikes span the whole range from pro level road bikes through hybrids and electric bikes to mountain bikes and e-mountain bikes.
Worldwide: USA-based Specialized has recently added a direct-to-consumer sales model to its business, and that means certain territories can now have any Specialized bike delivered to your home, courtesy of either a courier or a 'white glove service' from a Specialized employee.
Second hand
Often cheaper, but a potential minefield if you're new to cycling
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.
USA only: The Pro's Closet is an online bike marketplace that does things a little differently. By acting as the intermediary between sellers and buyers, The Pro's Closet ensures that all second-hand bikes are inspected, serviced and then sold at a fair price, removing all concerns about the bike's condition as well as any concern around scammers.
It covers bikes of all disciplines for all ages at the full spectrum of budgets, and will even allow you to trade in your old bike.
Subscription schemes
Pay monthly and upgrade regularly
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.
UK only: The Bike Club is a bicycle subscription business that allows you to loan a bike for a monthly fee, upgrading that bike as and when you desire.
Especially useful for growing children, the rates start at £3.50 for balance bikes. The company is also set to launch a similar scheme for adults bikes.
USA only: Revel is an eBike monthly subscription scheme that costs $99.00 per month. After signing up, you'll receive delivery (at no extra charge) of your eBike, the charger and a lock.
Managed via an accompanying app, if your bike is damaged, simply request a repair and it will be actioned within 24 hours, all included in the monthly fee. Then if you wish to cancel the subscription, the bike will be collected free of charge at a time convenient to you.
UK only: Brompton is easily one of the best folding bikes around, and now Brompton Subscription is offering its bikes for a monthly fee.
With a yearly commitment, you'll get the Brompton for £45 per month, which gets you access to unlimited repairs, insurance, and a full service after six months. Or you can pay £60 per month on a rolling 30-day contract and get the flexibility to cancel at any time.
The bike can either be delivered to your door or it can be collected from one of Brompton's many public lockers dotted around the UK.
Check out our deals roundups
- Bike deals: Deals on all things cycling
- Cheap bike helmets: Safety on a budget for road and off-road use
- Cheap cycling clothing: Kit out your cycling wardrobe without paying a fortune
- Cheap cycling shoes: Save on summer and winter kicks
- Cheap electric bikes: Power your way to savings
- Cheap gravel bikes: Gravel grinding doesn't have to cost a fortune
- Kids bike deals: They grow so fast, so don't pay full price
- Cheap turbo trainers: Everything you need to get Zwifting on a budget
- Castelli deals: Save on winter kit just as winter takes hold
- Garmin deals: Smartwatches, cycling computers and more
- GoPro deals: Shoot for the moon with top-quality action camera deals
- Rapha deals: Big deals on the British clothing brand
- Wiggle deals: One of the world's biggest cycling sales
- Wahoo deals: The best prices on Wahoo's range of cycling tech
- Mountain bike deals: Off-road savings from our sister site, Bike Perfect
USA only: Walmart might be a left-field inclusion in this list, but if you're after something super simple such as a budget kids bike, then Walmart is worth checking. The one thing it has on its side is an abundance of options, so just do your research and ensure you're not wasting your money on a bike that's not fit for purpose.
Worldwide: French company Decathlon has a presence worldwide and sells many own brand bikes under a range of names, including B'Twin, triban and Van Rysel. Its products tend to be well designed and good value.
Worldwide: Amazon, probably isn't exactly the first retailer you think of when shopping for a bike but there's little the world's largest retailer doesn't sell. It's unlikely you'll find a high-end carbon road bike, but if you're shopping for kids bikes, then Amazon is worth a look.
UK only: Tweeks Cycles is a UK retailer covering all disciplines. The brands stocked include GT, Raleigh, Lapierre, Cube, and Scott to name a few.
UK only: Leisure Lakes is another retailer with stores dotted around the country. Covering everything to electric commuters to race bikes, it's another great place to browse for new-bike inspiration.
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Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton.
Josh has been with us 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 Somerset-based Team Tor 2000.
These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
