What is Cyclesite and how does it work?

Cyclesite is a UK marketplace for buying and selling used bikes. Sellers photograph the bike's serial number when listing, and we check it against stolen bike databases before it goes live. Buyers browse for free, message sellers, and pay through Stripe with escrow protection. Listing fees start from £10.99.

Is it safe to buy a second-hand bike on Cyclesite?

Yes. The serial number photo that sellers provide when listing does two things: it proves the seller physically has the bike, and it lets us check the serial against stolen bike databases. If the bike comes back as reported stolen, the listing is blocked. Payments go through Stripe with escrow, so your money is held until you confirm you're happy. If something goes wrong, our dispute team can step in. You can also check any bike yourself for free at cyclesite.co.uk/stolen-bikes.

How much does it cost to sell a bike?

Listing fees start from £10.99 for a standard listing. Auction listings may include additional fees. There are no hidden charges, and you can see the full pricing breakdown on our pricing page before you list.

What bikes can I find on Cyclesite?

Everything from road bikes and mountain bikes to electric bikes, gravel bikes, hybrids, kids' bikes, and folding bikes. You'll find popular brands like Specialized, Trek, Giant, Canyon, Cannondale, and Brompton, plus smaller and boutique brands. Listings cover the whole of the UK, with bikes available in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, and hundreds of other towns and cities.

How are payments handled?

Secure payments are available through Stripe. When you choose to pay through the platform, your money can be held in escrow until you've confirmed the bike matches the listing. Buyers and sellers can also arrange payment directly if they prefer.

Enquiries & Reservations

Last updated 22 April 2026

Enquiries and Reservations

These Terms govern how buyers and sellers interact on Cyclesite before a sale completes: the messages you send, and the escrow reservation you fund to hold a bike while the sale finalises. They sit alongside the Purchase Terms (which govern the completed sale) and the Listing Terms.

1. Definitions

Enquiry. A message a buyer sends to a seller through Cyclesite’s on-platform messaging.
Reservation. A payment authorised through Stripe that funds the Cyclesite escrow for a specific listing, pausing the listing until the sale completes or the Reservation is released.
Advertised Price. The price the seller has set on the listing at the moment the Enquiry or Reservation is made.

2. Enquiries

Buyers contact sellers through Cyclesite’s on-platform messaging. All messages are retained for moderation, fraud prevention, and dispute resolution. Messaging outside Cyclesite is discouraged: we cannot protect you, and we cannot investigate a complaint, if the conversation happens off-platform.

An Enquiry is not a commitment to buy and does not bind the seller to sell. It opens a conversation. The behaviour expected in messages is set out in the Acceptable Use Policy.

3. Price Discussion

Cyclesite does not operate a structured offers or bidding system outside of auctions. The Advertised Price is the price that applies when a Reservation is made. If a buyer and seller agree a different price in messages, it is their responsibility to update the listing price before a Reservation is funded.

Auctions are governed separately by the Auction Terms.

4. Reservations

A Reservation is created when a buyer pays the Advertised Price into Cyclesite’s escrow via Stripe. From that moment:

The listing is paused and cannot be purchased by another buyer.
Funds are held by Stripe Payments UK Ltd. Cyclesite does not hold, receive, or control the funds at any point.
The seller is notified and expected to arrange handover or shipping in line with the Purchase Terms and the Shipping and Delivery Policy.
The buyer has the protections described in the Purchase Terms, including delivery confirmation and dispute resolution.

Before a Reservation is funded, neither the Enquiry nor any conversation between buyer and seller creates a binding contract of sale.

5. Cancellation

Before delivery, either party may cancel a Reservation in line with the Refund Policy. Funds held by Stripe are released in accordance with that Policy.

6. Anti-Harassment and Abuse

Repeated messages after a clear decline, abusive language, pressure tactics, or attempts to take the conversation off Cyclesite to circumvent moderation are breaches of the Acceptable Use Policy. We may suspend the messaging feature, remove accounts, and co-operate with UK law enforcement where appropriate.

7. Use of Enquiry Data

Enquiries are stored and used to operate the platform, improve matching and safety, and resolve disputes. How we handle personal data is set out in the Privacy Policy.

8. Cost

Sending Enquiries is free. Reservations incur the buyer fees set out in the Purchase Terms.

9. Liability

The messaging and reservation features are provided “as is”. Cyclesite facilitates the conversation and the escrow; the decision to transact is always between buyer and seller. Cyclesite is not a party to the sale of the bike.

Nothing in this section excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of the statutory duty to provide a digital service with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.49, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by UK law.

10. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms. Material changes will be reflected in the “Last updated” date at the bottom of this page.

11. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by English law. The courts of England and Wales have non-exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes.

12. Contact

TPSTORES LIMITED (trading as Cyclesite)

Company Registration: 13238473

Registered office: 128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom

Email: support@cyclesite.co.uk

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