Reasons to buy a new bike in 2026
Ultimately, because life isn’t a dress rehearsal
by Robert & Nadezhda
Despite the fact that Bikeradar seemed to go off-grid this week and shoot itself in the foot, there are still many good reasons for buying a new bike in 2026. I won’t go into the reasons that Bikeradar gave not to do so; rather, I’ll try to celebrate cycling culture and lifestyle, whilst reminding you about the value of great local bike shops. Independent bike retailers like my own options locally: Bikemonger, Chevin Cycles, Moonglu and Paceline – some of the very best – who have supported you (and me) in times of need, and who now need your support in return. I’ll remind you about those positive endorphins released by cycling, and the current chaotic state of the world, whilst cycling and retail therapy combined is a great release from this turmoil.
Yes, cycling is currently in a somewhat diabolical state of affairs. In truth, it needs sending to Dignitas and to be allowed to fade away peacefully in its current format. To heal itself properly and to try to work through where the ailments begin. We are all in need a rewrite, and one that values the local bike shop more; the local bike club more, and the general consumer. One that starts to operate more freely without the false promises of too many distributors and marketing people over too many years, who too frequently speak with forked tongues, adding costs for brands without adding real value to their inclusion. Thankfully, there are a few good distributors, and a few unbelievably good and ethical marketing agencies – usually, in our experience, small and based in Italy but with a powerful impact for their size. It’s a sad indictment on the current model though, that these are in the minority. Many brands now deal with matters themselves, and it’s easy to see why they feel better able to do so.
However, in the main the cycling industry has been damaged by its own failures and a degree arrogance in some quarters, alongside the obvious outside impact factors and a stupid adherence to false logic. Yes, the whole situation is a total mess, and the industry still has too many false influencers – both men and women – who believe that marketing is best served by an addiction to sticking their bums out and looking aimlessly like simpletons into a cloudless sky, whilst trying to sell bikes to clearly more intelligent people… and failing, whilst not even selling or saving their own sanity. There’s a failure to realise the harm that this does to women’s cycling – and to genuine content creators, where too many women have worked too hard for too long without recognition.
Ironically, the bike and kit sales don’t increase through such marketing, but the voyeurs get a regular supply of free material to view, whilst women cyclists still have to fight hard for parity from an industry that still too frequently shows it’s adherence to the ‘pink it and shrink it’ mentality that was once deeply ingrained within its dna. Women want more from bikes and cycling, and they are finally beginning to get more; and 2026 may just be the year for this to really take a hold.
So you see, the cycling industry is in turmoil and they need you to buy bikes – but press pause before rushing in, and look at the vast opportunities that this current envionment creates for you, the consumer.
Express yourself and your free spirit
Add to this calamity that the corners of many bike shops are only just being started to be cleared of space to allow for a meaningful selection of women’s cycling product, then you can see whay women in particular have been reluctant to support mant brands. After all, why would women want to buy themselves women’s specific clothing or cycling shoes, or indeed, a bike! How many bike brands produce extra small frames for women. Sell these small frames as framesets that alow you to build up the bike with the correct size components. It’s too common to see extra small bikes with the wrong size handlebars on them. Yes, cycling is slowly beginning to change – but only at the pace of Donald Trump filling in the New York Times crossword puzzle. The answer – go out and buy that special frameset that fits you and build that bike, taking the advantage of lower prices for components.
Frankly, the cycling industry is in a real mess and they desperately need you to buy a new bike, even if the large multinational brands fail to understand that the global economic climate has forced you to concentrate more on feeding your families. However, the life we lead is no dress rehearsal, and we need something to be cheerful about in all this chaos. It’s a time of economic uncertainty, yes. And that does impact greatly on life in general, but should also make us more determined to stay focused, fit and healthy through cycling.
This period of uncertainty does make current prices hard to beat, and many global brands are finally accepting that times have to change regarding pricing. As I say, now is a great time to seek out that new cycling challenge, to get fit, or simply to relax away from work with friends, by asking that cycling ride on a new bike and sharing a few more coffees. It’s a time to set your spirit free and stay active away from work and the chaos of it all. We need to celebrate our life and to seek new adventures – and riding a bike is just such great fun, after all! It brings an element of brightness to the cloudy skies that often trouble the world – and right now we all that light – including you.
Sharing the burden, whilst taking advantage
The cycling industry is awash with bikes at the moment. They made too many and sold too few. The larger brands have warehouses filled with stock, and offers have never been so good for medium-ranged bikes. At the higher end of the cycling spectrum, the technological innovations have leapt like Salmon, upstream and away from the competition. Braided carbon structures with a quality unmatched by carbon lay-ups, are now affordable, as brands such as TIME offer framesets that allow you build your own custom bike, re-using that grouset, that wheelset and that superb seatpost you love. Carbon technology doesn’t get any better than TIME, and in terms of other aspects, your current groupsets and wheels are going to be good for many years to come.
Yes, you’ve diligently replaced your cassette, chain and chainrings with regularity. You know that the groupset was equal to that of a TdF winner only 5 years before, and so why not re-use it on the world’s finest high-performance carbon frameset for far less than the cost of a full bike from some frankly meaningless brand that only wants you to choose and off-the-peg option and pay more for the privilege of an ill-fitting bike, without your favourite components.
No, remember what I said: the industry needs your support right now; so, haggle and turn elsewhere if you have to. Turn to that world-leading frameset option and build that dream machine by re-using and recycling parts and wheelsets, and be green and eco-friendly whilst allowing yourself the opportunity to ride one of the best bikes in the world, for far less than you thought possible. Yes, brands that sell the very best carbon framesets will last you longer and will give a better return of investment in cost and comfort, and you get to reuse key elements of your old bike in the process – so buy that SCYLON frameset and smile like a kid again!
The dichotomy of supporting an industry that hasn’t supported you
Yes, it’s true; the cycling industry hasn’t always been a good bed fellow to cyclists. There’s a dichotomy in the fact that I’m asking you to support the industry now, by buying new bikes, whilst also telling you how it hasn’t really been on your side that well in the past – especially not for women. However, cycling is a way of life for many of us, and without the local bike shop you’d be left floundering when your bike needs fixing. You’d be left alone when the cycling cafe attached to shop closes down. And, you’ll be aghast when the online shops start to push up prices becausee they can, as they no longer have local competition to worry about.
That club that was attached to the local shop may stop operating and organising rides and trips. Those summer evenings and weekend jaunts into the hills and elsewhere. You’ll be limited in so many ways, and bereft as you realise what you’ve lost. Cycling shops are closing at a terrible rate across Europe, and without them, the cycling consumer willlose a wealth of expertise and assistance that cannot be replicated online. Local knowledge and advice will be gone. That wise head that told you to pause and simply upgrade the wheelset of the groupset or the frameset, rather than the whole bike.
Ultimately I guess, buying a new bike is a spiritual thing and not a necessity. We do it because we can and because it feels absolutely bloody marvellous to sit astride a beautifully engineered piece of cycling art such as the TIME SCYLON. Not because it makes financial sense – which it often won’t. Neither does having children, but they’re also an unmatched element of joy in life that I couldn’t imagine being without.
Ultimately… because we can!
And so, as we enter 2026, forget about the fact that a few idiotic men are creating global chaos and destroying lives – for just one moment. Think about the fact that you deserve to smile, to ride into new adventures and to feel the freedom and joy of cycling on a very beautifully engineered piece of carbon engineering, and then sharing the finest carrot cake with freinds.
Get to that local bike shop and argue a deal to buy that dream frameset, and ride the bloody hell out it and keep smiling, despite the chaos all around you. And why, because ultimately cycling is a way of life, and people such as TIME make such wonderful bikes, that it would ultimately be a crime if we didn’t help to bring these creations to life on our local roads!
