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.

Listing Content Standards

These Standards set out what a listing on Cyclesite must contain, what it must not contain, and the quality bar we apply across photographs, descriptions and pricing. Listings that do not meet these Standards may be held for review, edited with seller consent, or removed.

These Standards sit alongside the Listing Terms, the Acceptable Use Policy and the Content Moderation Policy. If they conflict, the Listing Terms take precedence.

1. Scope

These Standards apply to every listing published on Cyclesite, by private sellers and by retailers, across every listing type (standard, auction, and any future formats).

2. Accurate Attributes

Every listing must select the correct structured attributes at the point of publication. Incorrect attributes break search, valuation, and buyer trust.

Brand and model must match the bike being sold. If the brand or model is not in the dropdown, select the closest match and clarify in the description.
Year should reflect the model year where known, or the year of manufacture if not.
Frame size must be accurate. If you cannot measure it, say so.
Condition must reflect the bike as it stands today.
Category must match the bike type (road, gravel, mountain, hybrid, e-bike, and so on). E-bikes must be listed in the e-bike category.
Price must be a sensible GBP figure that the seller is genuinely willing to accept.
Frame or serial number is strongly encouraged. It is used by BikeCheck to verify the bike against UK stolen databases.

3. Photographs

Required

• Your own photographs of the actual bike being sold
• At least one clear photograph of the whole bike
• A photograph of any notable damage or wear
• Photographs taken in good light, in focus
• For e-bikes, a clear photograph of the battery and display

Not permitted

• Manufacturer stock images or press photographs
• Screenshots from other marketplaces or retail sites
• Photographs with third-party watermarks
• Photographs with contact details overlaid
• Photographs of a different bike to the one being sold
• Adult, graphic, violent, or otherwise unsafe imagery

All uploaded images are scanned by an automated image-safety check. Images flagged as unsafe are rejected. Images suspected of being stock or third-party content may be held for review.

4. Descriptions

The description should help a buyer make a decision. Lead with the facts, then add context.

State the frame size, groupset, year, and condition clearly in the first lines.
Disclose known faults, recent service history, and any parts that differ from the original specification.
For e-bikes, state battery age, range and any error codes.

Descriptions must not contain:

External URLs, links, or references to off-platform listings. Our automated moderation blocks web addresses in listing copy.
Telephone numbers. Our automated moderation blocks UK phone-number patterns.
Email addresses. Our automated moderation blocks email patterns.
Instructions to contact the seller off-platform, or to complete the sale outside Cyclesite.
Language that is abusive, discriminatory, or otherwise in breach of the Acceptable Use Policy.
Guarantees, warranties or performance claims we cannot verify (for example, “never crashed” without evidence).

5. Prohibited Listings

The following listings are not permitted and will be removed:

Bikes you do not own or are not authorised to sell on behalf of the owner.
Bikes flagged as stolen by BikeCheck or reported to UK police.
Bikes still subject to active finance, unless the finance has been settled or the lender has given written consent.
Counterfeit or replica bikes and components.
Bikes sold outside the UK mainland. Cyclesite is a UK marketplace.
Listings that bundle services, crypto assets, gift cards, or any item other than a bike or bike component.
Duplicate listings of the same bike across multiple accounts.

6. Pricing Integrity

List the price you intend to sell at. Price anchoring techniques, such as listing at an inflated price to manipulate search filters or to create a misleading perceived saving, are not permitted. Sellers remain free to reduce or increase the price while the listing is active.

The Price Indicator Rules govern the flags shown against listings in search.

7. Moderation and Appeals

Listings are screened at publication by automated checks and sampled for human review. Where a listing is held, edited or removed, we contact the seller with the reason. Sellers may appeal a moderation decision by replying to that notice, or by following the Complaints Procedure.

Repeat breaches of these Standards may lead to listing restrictions, loss of premium visibility, or account suspension in line with the Acceptable Use Policy.

8. Changes to these Standards

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

9. Governing Law

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

10. Contact

TPSTORES LIMITED (trading as Cyclesite)

Company Registration: 13238473

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

Email: support@cyclesite.co.uk

For moderation queries, email support@cyclesite.co.uk.

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Listing Content Standards