How to buy a used bike during the bicycle boom

Yes, there is a bona fide bike boom happening right now. Spurred on by the pandemic, more people than ever before are jumping on a bicycle. And that is nothing but fantastic. Of course, for the second straight season, finding said bicycle is challenging. There is a shortage not just in bicycles, but also bicycle parts.

Bicycles sales last year were double an average year, and this year is shaping up to be even bigger. Add that to ongoing global supply chain issues, giant tankers getting stuck in canals and everything else, and you get the picture. Yes, you can find a bicycle, but it could take longer than one might expect.

“I have never seen anything remotely approaching this,” said Ryan Zagata, president of Brooklyn Bicycle Company, to the New York Times in a 2020 article. At his bike shop sales are up more than 600 percent. “If you went into a store three weeks ago you could find a bike under $1,000. Right now shelves are bare.”

One workaround is to buy a used bicycle, and put rubber to road sooner rather than later. There are plenty of options from used bike shops, to online sites such as Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace, to the tried-and-true community classifieds and word of mouth. Also consider checking with places such as resorts that offer mountain biking and have a rental fleet. Although the bikes will be well used, there is usually on-site mechanics who will make sure the bikes are ship-shape before letting them go.

Yes, used bike sales are up as well. Keiran Harden of Portland’s Sellwood Cycle Repair said the shop actually got cleared out of used bikes a couple weeks back. It is that busy.

Buying a used bike can save significant dollars. It’s also a good environmental choice to buy used. Here are a few tips to make sure you get your money’s worth.

There are so many different styles of bike from which to choose including everything from a Dutch bike to a folding bike, fixie, city bike, hybrid, road, gravel bike or even a tall bike! It’s important when starting a search to not only narrow down the style of bike but to choose a few models. This way, you’ll be able to comparison shop and know what to look for.

It’s also key to know the proper size of bicycle that suits your needs. It is deflating to find the perfect bike at the perfect price only to find out it only suits a man over six-feet tall.

Spring is the most challenging time to look for a bicycle especially in 2021. But, it is not impossible, so have hope! Of course, fall is always a good time in a normal year. Shops will be selling demo and floor models, bike shows will be offering up heavily discounted product, and there are generally more used bikes for sale after the season ends.

Once you’ve narrowed down the search and found some good options, it is time to take a look.

Harden says there isn’t any one thing to look out for, but more knowing that on sites like Craigslist and Kijiji people are selling anything and everything these days.

“Really, people are just selling not high quality bikes for prices that might indicate high quality,” he says. “People come in a fair amount after they’ve bought a bike on Craigslist for a tune-up and it’s just like this is absolutely clapped out and needs $300 in repairs.”

Buyer beware is an understatement this year.

Then there are new online sites such as Cycling Avenue that offer refurbished bikes with a solid guarantee of performance and quality in addition to purchasing used bicycles from the general public, following a very easy and streamlined trade-in process.

The key components of a bicycle, at least in terms of price, are the same as an automobile. It’s all about the drive train, the wheels, the suspension and forks. A little cosmetic wear and tear is totally fine if the most important components are in good shape.

Look for rust spots, dents and cracks on the frame, around joints, underneath the bottom bracket.

Make sure to take a test ride, work the brakes, shift all the gears one by one and feel how easily it moves from gear to gear. Observe the wheels and see if there are any distinguishable wobbles.

Finding the right price is always a challenge. One helpful place to start might be the Bicycle Blue Book, which will give a value on used bicycles in a range of conditions and for a range of potential sellers including private party, store trade-in and the original MSRP.

In addition, don’t be afraid to call up your local bike shop and ask them what they think. Tell them, there shop will get your service business, and if successful in your purchase, be sure to drop your bike by for a tune-up. And away you go!