A new cyclist in London

As one of the stakeholders of The Bike Exchange I had been feeling guilty that although I’ve always worked with internet companies, websites and startups, there was one area missing… cycling.  I had never been a cyclist in London for several reasons - mostly fear of cycling around the packed roads.

The rest of the team are keen cyclists, this made me want to give cycling a try. I was with a friend in central London who was cycling home on a lovely sunny afternoon in September. So I decided to rent a Boris bike out for an hour and follow my friend home. As soon as I dropped off the bike I knew I was hooked.

I quickly decided I was going to buy a bike rather than getting crammed onto the tube for an hour each day to get stuck underneath people's armpits and morning breath. Naturally I visited The Bike Exchange to buy my bike. I wanted to make sure I was going to enjoy it before spending much money on a bike - so I looked for a second hand bike in London on our website. I found a great hybrid bike for a reasonable price and bought it – I haven’t looked back since.

I love cycling. I can leave when I want to, I halved the journey time to work, I feel fitter, I have already saved money and I don’t have to rely on public transport. Cycling opens up London to you: I have lived in London for four years and within three months of cycling I know areas better and the city feels smaller and more accessible.

Unfortunately  my addiction to cycling arrived hand in hand with Winter. I don’t think this will stop me, I’m looking at warmer, waterproof gear to ease the pain. Soon, I may sell my bike that I loved so much to make room for an upgrade – maybe to another second hand bike or possibly to a brand new bicycle. Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to trying out some new bikes and some good rides in the future.

Why buy second hand?

One of the questions The Bike Exchange get asked a lot is “Why would I buy a second hand bike – isn’t it better to buy new?”

Well… it depends on a lot of things….

If you’ve decided to buy your own bike in London, perhaps having experimented with Boris bikes and enjoyed the experience, then it’s worth asking yourself a few questions first:

—Will I regularly keep my bike on the street?

—Am I going to cycle quite irregularly?

—Is price a big factor in my choice of bike?

—Will I mostly use my bike for short commuting trips?

If you answer yes to any of the above, then already you have a good reason to look at the used bicycle market. Here’s why:

—If you can’t store your bike off the street at all times when you aren’t using it – then you dramatically increase the risk of it being stolen. New, shiny, expensive bikes stand out from the crowd and are a thief’s first choice. After all, it’s rarely any more difficult to steal an expensive bike than a cheap one. A second hand bike may meet your needs equally well, and you may just hang on to it longer.

—Don’t let your bike become the two-wheeled equivalent of that expensive gym membership you never used. Why spend thousands on an ultra-light road bike if it will only grace the tarmac every other weekend for a short trip to a friend’s house and back? If you want a bike in London without necessarily having a specific plan for using it, then a second hand bike may weigh on your conscience (and your wallet) less if it does end up languishing in the garden shed.  Cycling in a city isn’t for everyone – we think it’s best to find out without parting with too much cash. If a few months later you find yourself riding every day, then it’s still not hard to justify an upgrade, and of course – you can offset the cost by putting your used bike on The Bike Exchange.

—In many cases you can get your hands on a much higher quality of bike for the same money by going second hand. There are a lot of cycling enthusiasts in the London area who want the latest bike or bike-related gadget, and have more than a few lovingly maintained bikes in their ‘stable’. Often an enthusiast will reluctantly part with an older bike to get their hands on the latest thing – and it’s here the casual cyclist can benefit by grabbing a bargain used bike that has been maintained to the highest standard by an expert. Also there are a lot of bikes that are unwanted presents, hardly used but available for a substantial discount to their purchase price. You’ll find all types of second hand bikes on The Bike Exchange, so get browsing!

—Once again, you don’t need an ultra expensive bike to make a three mile journey to work. By the time you’ve clipped and unclipped your feet at every traffic light, the time your £2,000 carbon frame has saved you will be lost. A £200 second hand town bike will get you there in roughly the same time, and you might find the riding position more suitable and comfortable for an urban environment.

So if you’ve changed your mind, and are now looking for a second hand bike – be sure to check out our tips for buying a bike.

If a second hand bike just doesn’t have the shiny factor you’re looking for, don’t worry – we’ve got some great new discounted bikes too from a range of London bicycle retailers near you. Whether it’s a unique-looking custom fixie, or a top of the range branded racer – you’ll find some great prices and contact details for friendly retailers on The Bike Exchange – get searching!