Where is the best place to buy a used children's bike?

Buying a used children's bike is probably better value than buying new, given how quickly kids grow out of them. Most kids bikes hold their value better than adult bikes, largely because of the constant demand. But where do you find the best deal on a used children's bike?

Classified ads on websites like Gumtree and Freeads are full of people selling kid's bikes. You may get lucky and find a bargain, but buying from classifieds brings some pitfalls. First of all, you have no guarantee of the quality of what you're buying. At best you could find yourself facing a repair bill for more than you paid for the bike when things go wrong. At worst your child could end hurt when something goes horribly wrong. Kid's bike are heavy and built to be abused in the way that only children can, but they aren't indestructible. If you're comfortable checking spoke tension and bearings then it won't be a problem, but if maintaining bikes isn't something you're familiar with then it's worth getting an expert's opinion before parting with your cash.

People often assume that buying privately is cheaper than buying from a shop. Spending 5 minutes comparing prices will quickly show that this is not true. The price people are asking for a used bike is no guarantee of quality, either. Don't assume that the ad asking £50-100 more than everyone else for the same bike is because it is in 'as new' condition. The opposite can also be true. Some people need to sell old bikes quickly and may be in a position to accept a lower price just because they need the storage space.

At iCycle Ltd we offer pre-loved children's bikes from £25. Every bike is checked over by our professional mechanics and comes with a 3 month warranty. Compare our prices against private ads and you'll see that we're often cheaper or certainly better value when you factor in the peace of mind of buying from an established family business. How do we do it? We are passionate about helping more people enjoy the health benefits and shear fun of cycling, and offering low cost pre-loved bikes is our way of doing that.

To view our current pre-loved children's bikes stock click here.

To view our current pre-loved adult bikes stick click here.