Due to the ongoing boom in cycling because of the coronavirus pandemic, buying a new bicycle that you want may be harder than ever. Whether you’re in the market for a road bike, mountain bike, e-bike, city bike, fitness bike, or any other set of wheels, here’s what you need to know when it comes to getting a good deal right now.
When and where?
Larger bike shops typically have semi-annual sales where they’ll blow out their stock. If you couldn’t swing a deal on a particular bike in the past, these sales are the best time to try again.
If you want to buy new, the fall is usually your best bet, according to Jason Boles of The Velo bike shop in Phoenix. This time of year, he said, shops are generally looking to get rid of remaining inventory to make room for newer models. But where you buy your bike also matters.
In parts of the country where it’s warm year round, just-in-time ordering (that is, ordering bikes as needed, rather than having extra stock on hand) is ideal for wintertime consumers. “From October to April, I can usually get you any bike you need,” Boles said. “After that, bike manufacturers slow down production as they start ramping up for the next model year.”
Farther north, most shops have a slow season in the winter followed by a large upswing in sales as the weather warms. “After April, it can often be easier to get a bike in the more northern parts of the country,” Boles said. “Their sales really pick up when the weather is warmer, so they need to have a lot of stock on hand, ready to sell.”
But with bike shortages in many shops right now, you shouldn’t be alarmed if finding a sale is tough.
“There’s already been sticker shock on some of the bikes,” said Brandon Smith of River City Bicycles in Portland, Oregon.
Want to purchase a bike as a Christmas present? You likely won’t get a significantly better deal at the year’s end than you would in, say, September, according to Smith. But you might get lucky and find a salesperson who’s in the holiday spirit.
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Haggling
Price margins on bikes are generally razor thin, and most dealers have arrangements with suppliers on how low they can go, said Jonathan Lloyd, sales manager at Mike’s Bikes in Sacramento, California. It’s typically better to negotiate prices on accessories—which have a greater markup—and services, such as bike fits or bike maintenance.
If you’re a newer customer, though, you might have a better chance of striking a deal.
“I’m not looking to sell you one bike,” Boles said. “I want to earn your business and sell you your next four bikes. In time, I hope you realize all that we offer to our community, be it the shop rides or as a place to hang out with your riding buddies. In order to do all that, we need your business.”
Flexibility
If you don’t have a dream bike in mind, taking advantage of a shop’s overstock (when they have it) is a great way to save money. If you don’t mind riding the previous year’s model, you can almost always walk out having saved a few hundred dollars. But no matter how good a deal seems, never buy a bike that doesn’t fit you right. Proper bike fit is essential, and you’ll regret ignoring it in the long run.
Sometimes, women riders can save a bit of cash by forgoing women-specific models that may have fewer options. Even if they need to swap out the stem and crank arms, Lloyd said, riders may be able to save up to $500 by buying a men’s version in the same size.
However, if your heart and pocketbook disagree, you should always go with what will make you happier in the long run. “You’re going to spend a lot of time on the bike,” Lloyd said. “Get what you truly want and don’t waste your time on regret.”
Internet or IRL?
Online bike shopping is a great way to save money, provided you’re familiar with the given brand and know the exact size you need. Sites like Competitive Cyclist and Jenson USA sell brands like Niner, Jamis, and Colnago, and often have great deals on older (but new) models. Bikesdirect.com has great deals on bikes if you're willing to go with lesser-known brands like Motobecane. We’ve reviewed several bikes from the retailer and have been impressed. Nashbar sells Marin and other BMX and cross brands and offers a lifetime warranty on all products it sells, including bikes.
While some outfits like Competitive Cyclist offer lots of assistance through live-chats to help customers find the right bike and size, buying online can create extra hassle if you need to return a product. And some shops, but not all, will often give you free or reduced-cost adjustments and tunes after a purchase. But which one you goes with depends on your knowledge of bikes, and whether your price price, convenience, or face-to-face service.
Trek and Giant offer a hybrid approach, selling directly to consumers but having a local shop assemble the bike and provide services. While some dealers are grousing about the arrangement, Boles said he thinks it’s the way of the future. And then there’s the company Canyon, which is strictly direct-to-consumer.
Cash or finance?
Smith guessed that 5 to 7 percent of his customers finance their bike purchase through Synchrony Bank. Typically, buyers get six months of financing right off the bat, though they can usually stretch that to 12 months if needed. Just make sure you pay it off before that period is over. Customers can get hit with nearly 30 percent interest from the day they bought the bike, depending on the terms of their loan.
New or Used?
Buying a used bike has one major advantage—saving lots of money—but it’s not always easy to know whether the bike will fit, or whether the seller is being honest about its condition. eBay is a great resource, and looking at seller rankings helps can help you determine whether a product is legitimate (instead of stolen). But it helps to ask an experienced cyclist to review listings and, if possible, travel with you if you're picking up local.
The Pro’s Closet can be an even better option. The site started as an eBay storefront where pros could unload used (or barely used) bikes. But now is a standalone outfit that sells premium used bikes of all types. Its in-house mechanics inspect each bike before it’s listed and the company offers a 30-day return policy. You won’t find the same level of deal as on other online resellers, but you can be more confident that your high-end mountain bike won't shake apart when you hit the first rock garden.
Buying a demo bike from a shop offers the best of both worlds, Boles said. You can save up to 25 percent, yes, but you also know the bike has been well maintained. Plus, you retain the warranty. Cycling should be fun for everyone, and there’s no reason to screw yourself over just to save a few bucks.
After spending nearly a decade as a reporter for The Indianapolis Star, Robert Annis finally broke free of the shackles of gainful employment and now freelances full time, specializing in cycling and outdoor-travel journalism. Over the years, Robert's byline has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Outside, National Geographic Traveler, Afar, Bicycling, Men's Journal, Popular Mechanics, Lonely Planet, the Chicago Tribune, and Adventure.com.
