How to buy secondhand children's bicycles (without breaking the bank)

Nothing beats a bit of half-term cycling with the kids - what better way to have fun together and burn off a little energy into the bargain? It's also free...if you have bikes already. The price of brand new bikes has become eye-watering in recent years and many entry-level models are unreasonably heavy, which can do a good job of putting children off cycling altogether. So how to get kids on on a decent bike without breaking the bank?

Buying used kids' bikes online

At the risk of stating the obvious, sites like eBay, Gumtree and Facebook marketplace are crammed with kids' bikes to suit every budget. If you're not a spanner monkey, steer clear of obviously neglected examples. Everything else can be serviced by your local bike shop. And if they're too busy, try one of the mobile bike repair services that have flourished in recent years.

If you know a keen cyclist, ask them for advice before you buy. The bike industry does a good job of dressing cheaper kids bikes with unnecessary features - notably suspension - which add weight and complexity. Keep it simple.

Bicycle cooperatives and used bike shops

Ask your local council if there are any bike cooperatives in your area. Our local bike co-op receives hundreds of donated, abandoned and recovered cycles that their team renovates and sells at extremely reasonable prices. They have no shortage of children's bikes.

The advantage of this type of outlet is they triage bikes before they bother renovating them or putting them on sale. Our local bike co-op sends a good number of poor quality kids bikes for recycling because they'll cause any future owner more trouble than they're worth.

Win an e-bike for you and your family

We're giving away an e-bike, accessories and a year's free cycle insurance. It's a bike that's more than up to the job of carrying young children as passengers or could be used independently by a child of 14 or older...that's if you don't keep it all to yourself. To enter, all you have to do is request a quote for ETA cycle insurance.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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