During the winter and fall, when fewer people are riding or thinking about new bikes, the market changes, and prices tend to fall. Look out for winter sales as bike shops try to make some cash during their least profitable season.
When Is the Best Time to Buy a Bike?
Written by: Nick Cowie | May 12, 2026 | Time to read: 5 min
Purchasing a bike can feel like a waiting game. Prices go up and down throughout the year, and it can be difficult to know when to strike. There are a few times a year when prices go way down, and buying is ideal.
More about the Author: Nick Cowie
Nick is a writer with seven years of experience in the cycling industry. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, Jiu Jitsu, and spending time outdoors.
Timing is everything when buying a bike. You want to hit the purchase button when the price is at its absolute lowest. Luckily, there are multiple times a year when that can be done. The key is to dial in the exact time when demand for the bike you want is at its lowest. Here’s how it’s done.
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Table of Contents
Seasonal timing
When winter ends and things are heating up, everyone is excited to ride, and the seasonal demand for bikes goes through the roof. As the simple concept of supply and demand shows us, this is not the time to buy if you are looking for the best deal. In fact, the spring and summer are the perfect time to sell a bike because of how many people are looking to buy. The key is to make your purchase when it seems like no one else is even thinking about riding.
The more the temperature falls, the more bikes tend to stay in the garage. Unless you live in a permanently warm climate, interest in cycling tends to wane toward the end of fall and into winter. When there is less competition in the market, you will have more buying opportunities. Local bike shops and online retailers will often have huge sales during the winter just to make sure they have some money coming in during the slow months. Look out for seasonal discounts when buying your next bike.
Wait for newer bike models to come in
You don’t necessarily have to buy a bike in the dead of winter and stare at it for three months before you can ride it. Toward the end of summer, brands start rolling out their new bike models. When this happens, stores and online retailers will realize that they still have inventory of the previous year’s model of the same bike and make price adjustments. If you are not the type of person who has to have the newest thing at all times, this can be a great time to buy.
Similar to the off-season sales you might find in the winter, bike shops will often run late-season sales of older model years when the new ones come in. Once the new model releases and gets all the hype, stores are often simply trying to recoup their cost for the older bikes. That older bike was the newest and coolest thing just a few days ago, so why not grab it at a big discount? The best way to take advantage of hype can sometimes be staying one step behind it.
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Check Upway year-round
Upway offers fair prices on used bikes regardless of the season. We purchase and refurbish used bikes, so there is no competition within each brand for the newest model. Upway simply sells a bike for what it is worth in its current condition. This makes it easy to pick a bike that you want rather than worrying about timing the market.
Upway’s bikes are massively discounted compared to MSRP, so you are always getting a deal. We also have countless curated collections to help you decide which bike is right for you. Upway will even buy your old bike, giving you cash and store credit toward your new one. There is no easier way to buy and sell bikes for fair prices than with Upway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time of year are bikes cheapest?
When can I get a good in-season deal?
When brands start rolling out their collection for the next year, the previous year’s prices usually drop. The longer you wait, the more the prices will drop, but the selection might not be as good. Keep an eye out for late summer or early fall sales.
When does Upway have deals?
Upway has deals year-round. Check in on our website to see what is on sale. All Upway bikes are discounted since they are certified pre-owned and refurbished. Upway is a great way to get bike discounts when buying.
Key Takeaways
- Buy when no one is buying: We all know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but there are other sales, too. When there is low demand, prices drop. If you can wait til winter to buy your next bike, you will likely find some great sales. Take advantage of the off-season and save cash for riding season.
- Don’t just look at new bike models: Often, the newest model is very similar to previous years with marginal adjustments. The discount you get on a two-year-old model outweighs the tech you are missing out on.
- Upway is always discounted: Discounts never go out of season with Upway. Be sure to check in on our site for special bike sales and go through our collections for our discounted refurbished bikes.
