Where to Buy Bikes Online in the UK (10 Best Bicycle Shops)

Fed up of traipsing around bike shop after bike shop looking for the perfect bicycle, only to find limited selections, lack of stock and long wait times for specific models to be ordered in?

Well, there’s really no need: shopping online for bicycles has never been easier, with hundreds of options available at your fingertips from a wide range of reputable bike brands.

While you might like to start your search in a physical store to get a rough idea of what sort of bike you might like to purchase, finding the perfect bike couldn’t be easier online. You’ll have access to way more choice, better customisation availability, and seamless shipping options — plus, you can read reviews and shop around for the best prices as you go.

Many online bicycle shops also have chat functions so you can ask any question you might have, and there’s always the option to shop at smaller independent businesses or larger chains depending on your preference.

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In this article, we’ll go over some of the best places to buy bicycles online, including what kind of products are on offer at each outlet, the general price range, and the sorts of brands you’ll find for sale.

Best Online Bike Shops (UK’s Top 10)

Buying Bicycles in the UK

If you live in the UK, you’re far, far better off buying your bicycle from a British bike shop.

There are a whole host of reasons for this, most importantly the complexity of shipping the product — not just physically, but in terms of customs fees and shipping fees.

After Brexit, it became exponentially more expensive to import bicycles (and many other products, for that matter) from the EU, and the same goes for other markets too.

There are few, if any, bike shops which ship around the world — at least not without sizable fees — because it’s just so complex to ship large, expensive products internationally.

But this doesn’t have to mean your dream bike is out of reach. The UK is home to some fantastic bike manufacturers and retailers, so by ‘buying British’, not only will you be saving money on import fees and shipping, but you’ll still be getting a world-class product.

Where Can I Bikes Online in the UK?

There are so many options for buying bikes online in the UK, whether that’s direct from a brand or from an online store which stocks multiple brands (which is what this guide will focus on).

Of course, before you start shopping online for a new bike, you’ll first need to consider what sort of bike you’re looking for and how much you want to spend. In particular, you’ll need to think about what you want to use your bike for: for example, are you looking for a commuter bike, a mountain bike, a leisure road bike, an e-bike, or something else?

Once you’ve got the basics decided, you can delve into the specifics of brands, styles, specs and colours to find the ideal bike for your needs.

One negative of shopping online for a bike is that you probably won’t be able to physically look at and try out the bike before you purchase it. This means it’s extra important to find out the right style and size bike for you — and our handy guide to bike sizes can help with this!

Best Places to Buy Bikes (UK)

1. Chain Reaction Cycles

Like many of the online retailers on this list, Chain Reaction Cycles started off as a brick-and-mortar shop in Ballynure, Northern Ireland — and its first sale was a chain link for just 11 pence!

Now, its huge online shop is complemented by a 10,000sq ft flagship store in Belfast, which has dedicated areas for all disciplines of cycling and running, 180 bikes on display, and a range of in-store services like maintenance courses, performance fitting and professional bike fitting.

However, you won’t miss out on Chain Reaction’s expertise by shopping online. Every product page is rich with detailed descriptions, sizing guides and high quality images, and there’s also a live chat function where you can chat to an expert if you have any queries.

Chain Reaction Cycles has a wide range of road bikes, MTBs, city bikes, BMX bikes and more, including some of the industry’s biggest brands, and you can also shop for components, tools and accessories.

The store stocks bikes at all price points, with road bikes starting at under £300 and going up above the £5,000 mark.

Shipping is free on all orders over £20, bikes included, and your new bike will be built and at your door in less than 10 working days after being assembled and inspected by Chain Reaction’s experts.

All bikes are given a PDI (pre-despatch inspection), with the exception of balance bikes and BMXs which arrive unassembled with detailed instructions on how to build them.

Most bikes delivered to the UK will arrive in a roll-out box, so your bike will be ready to ride once you’ve adjusted the handlebars, fit the pedals and adjusted the saddle. The dream.

2. Leisure Lakes Bikes

Family-run Leisure Lakes Bikes started off as windsurfing business in 1981, based at Leisure Lakes between Preston and Southport.

Brothers Tim and Chris Noy discovered that when it wasn’t windy enough to windsurf, people would bring their bikes to the lakes for a ride, so they diversified their business into bicycle sales.

Now, they’ve gone from having one small store to having 10 physical locations across the UK, as well as a huge online bike store.

Leisure Lakes stocks a wide range of bikes, including mountain bikes, road bikes, gravel bikes, hybrid bikes, e-bikes, folding bikes and more. They also offer video appointments so you can discuss your options with an expert who’ll help you find your perfect bike, which is a nice touch.

You won’t find budget bikes here: Leisure Lakes stocks pretty high-end models, and at the time of writing their cheapest road bike is £749 in the sale.

If you live within 30 miles of a Leisure Lakes store, they will deliver your bike unboxed and ready to ride.

If you live elsewhere in the UK mainland, your bike will arrive built and packed into a special bike box. It will have had a full PDI (pre-despatch inspection) to make sure everything is properly set up, and all the tools and instructions for finishing the bike set-up are included.

3. Tredz

Tredz’ whole ethos is around the power of cycling as a mode of transport, as a sport, as a way to keep fit and as a way of life. As the site stocks over 500 brands, there’s a really wide range of bikes to choose from, from electric bikes to gravel bikes, road bikes to mountain bikes.

The site is easy to use, and extensive product descriptions are complemented by customer reviews, detailed imagery, full specs and geometry and sizing guides.

There’s a live chat function as well as FAQs, and there’s an entire ‘help and advice’ section which discusses everything from bike safety to buyers guides and info on getting kids into cycling.

Bikes are delivered built, so all you need to do is attach the pedals and adjust the handlebars. Tredz even has a detailed video on how to do this on its website, and you get a free Tredz multi-tool and pedal spanner to get your bike set up.

Tredz follows a 16-point check process for ensuring the quality and safety of its bikes, which includes truing the wheels, setting the brakes, inflating the tyres, checking the bottom bracket for play and tightness, and fitting reflectors.

At the time of writing, adult bikes start at around £250 and go up to £14,500, so there’s plenty for every cyclist no matter their needs and budget.

4. Wiggle

Wiggle started off as a local bike shop in 1995, but it’s now an extensive fitness retailer catering to runners, swimmers, gym fanatics and cyclists alike.

Still stocking a wide range of bicycles for all kinds of riders, from road bikes to mountain bikes, e-bikes to TT bikes, plus affordable parts and accessories, Wiggle remains a favourite place for cyclists to get their goods online.

You’ll find everything from top-spec road bikes to toddlers’ balance bikes and kids’ BMXs, with stock available at all price points.

Wiggle’s website has a clever product comparison feature, so you can look at multiple bikes side-by-side and compare their price, specs, accessories, reviews and images, which is really handy when you just can’t decide between several great options.

There is also a chat function if you need a bit of extra support from an expert.

The main selling point of Wiggle is its range, with £300 road bikes sitting next to £4,500 e-bikes and plenty more options in-between.

Plus, it’s part of the Cycle to Work scheme, so you can spread the cost of a new bike tax-free by purchasing through your employer’s chosen partner at Wiggle.

5. Cycles UK

A business launched in 1997, Cycles UK now has 16 stores across southern England as well as boasting a thriving online store.

Cycles is dedicated to delivering a full cycling experience to its customers, from providing bike repairs and bike maintenance classes in its stores, with the goal of getting “people out on their bikes”.

This is not a place for cheap bicycles — road bikes start at £689.99 at the time of writing, with the most expensive road bike costing just shy of £9,000. Cycles UK stocks some brilliant brands, and there’s a really good range of quality bikes on offer.

Product pages are detailed, include full specs, sizing information and a neat little summary of what makes each bike a good choice and what sort of rider it’s made for.

Cycles UK also offers a price promise, so if you find your item cheaper (even up to 7 days after purchasing it), they’ll match the price.

There are three delivery options available at Cycles UK: “Local Hand Delivery”, “Premium Hand Delivery” and “Next Day Courier delivery”. Local Hand Delivery is available in London, Essex and Kent and will see Cycles UK deliver your bike within three to five days in one of their own vans, with your bike fully built and ready to ride. Your bike will also be fully built and ready with Premium Hand Delivery which is available across England and Wales. Meanwhile, you’ll get an almost built bike with Next Day courier delivery.

6. Evans Cycles

Evans Cycles is a large bicycle chain with over 50 stores across the UK and an extensive online retail site. It began in 1921 as F.W. Evans Cycles on the Kennington Road in south east London, trading from this site for thirty years and building its reputation as a quality cycle shop, becoming well-known for building its own frames and bikes.

Its slick, easy-to-navigate website is a great place to shop for a new bicycle, stocking a huge range of bikes for every kind of rider.

Whether you’re looking for an adventure road bike, a folding bike, TT bike, touring bike or kids’ bike, there’ll be something of interest on the Evans Cycles site, and it’s also a one-stop-shop for accessories and components.

Evans Cycles has its own ride-to-work scheme which, when opted into by employers, offers employees up to 43% off the total value of bikes, clothing and equipment with a tax-free salary sacrifice payment.

If you’re looking for a budget bike, Evans Cycles is a great place to look — at the time of writing, road bikes start at £269 and mountain bikes at around £100 in the sale. However, Evans also stocks high-end bicycles too, such as top-of-the-range Cannondale, Specialized and Trek models.

7. Halfords

For bike experts and novices alike, Halfords is probably the most well-known online bike shop on this list.

Halfords has built a strong reputation for its motoring and cycling expertise and products, with affordable quality at the top of its list. It specialises in brands such as Apollo, Carrera, Boardman and Voodoo, and many of the bike brands it sells are exclusively available at Halfords.

The price range is broad, but Halfords best caters to amateur riders looking for a decent, affordable bike that is reliable but without too many bells and whistles. Prices start as low as £140 for a basic bike.

That said, some of the high-end Boardmans and Voodoos can cost as much as £3,900 and have premium components and even a lovely bit of carbon fibre, so cyclists looking to invest in an elite piece of kit can also find it at Halfords.

The Halfords website offers the chance to ‘chat with an Expert’ directly on each page, the product descriptions are vast and there are plentiful customer reviews, so you can easily access lots of useful information when shopping for a new bike.

Customers have two options for bike delivery: a free service whereby the bike is delivered boxed and unbuilt in up to two working days, or a £35 built delivery which takes up to five working days.

8. Sigma Sports

Sigma Sports was founded in 1992, when two friends set up a bike shop with the aim of getting more people into the sport. The now-large flagship store in Hampton Wick in south-west London caters to cyclists of all levels, and the staff run social rides, workshops, bike fitting sessions and mechanics courses. There’s now also a store in Oakham in the East Midlands, and an e-bike dedicated store in Kingston upon Thames.

Online, Sigma Sports stocks a wide range of bikes including road bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes, electric bikes and commuter bikes, as well as kit for cycling, running and triathlons.

There is a live chat service and a dedicated phone line for the retailer’s sales team so you won’t miss out on a personalised experience by shopping online.

You can get really granular with your bike selection at Sigma Sports, as each bike department is broken down into over a dozen sub-categories to help you find the perfect bike for your needs. The shop also stocks a wide range of components from top brands, so it’s a great place to shop for bike parts too.

Sigma Sports also stocks a ‘nearly new’ bike range offering up to 30% off retail prices, including bikes which are shop soiled, have light cosmetic damage or are from its demo fleet. All of these bikes are fully quality checked and inspected by mechanics, and come with the manufacturer’s warranty.

At the time of writing, new road bikes start at £659 and mountain bikes at £440, and there are discount codes available to new customers.

9. Velorution

Velorution is a premium urban cycling store with four brick-and-mortar branches in London and an extensive online store with plenty of options for city cyclists.

Its ethos is providing premium cycling products at affordable prices, and it claims to have the largest selection of folding bikes, British-made cycles, design-led European urban bikes, and premium scooters in the UK.

On its website, bikes start at just over £400 and go up to just over £3,000, so there are plenty of options for mid-range urban bikes. There’s also a good range of electric bikes, from racing electric bikes to folding electric bikes including classic brands like Brompton.

The Velorution website has a nice blog, too, that’s regularly updated with product guides, human interest features, news posts and more. It’s a nice touch that makes shopping on Velorution’s site more of an experience.

Delivery is relatively slow compared to some of the other options on this list, with bikes taking up to 14 days to be delivered if they’re in stock. However, this is because each bike undergoes a pre-delivery inspection and is carefully packed into cardboard bike boxes. The bike may require some assembly on arrival, such as fitting the front wheel, handlebars and pedals.

Best Place to Buy Cheap Bike in UK:

10. Decathlon

Decathlon is the home of the bargain bike. You can pick up a bicycle for as little as £150 at Decathlon, and there’s a huge range to suit every budget, which makes it a popular online bike shop for amateur to intermediate cyclists.

It’s a huge brand, with over 2000 stores across 56 countries, and is centred around making sports affordable and accessible to all. After all, as their website says, “living well shouldn’t just be for a privileged few”.

The site caters to all kinds of sports, from cycling to football, skiing to running, with a wide range of products in each section. In the cycling department, you can buy bikes, e-bikes, turbo trainers, accessories, parts, apparel and even shop for bike insurance, so it’s a really comprehensive experience.

Product pages are rich with images, video, full spec information and generous descriptions so you can fully research before buying — plus there are plenty of customer reviews you can check out too. Bike delivery costs £14.99 for adult bikes, and will usually be delivered in 8 working days.