Ciklet, used bikes reconditioned by professionals and guaranteed for 12 months

With an DNA linked to sport, road cycling and gravel, Ciklet supports athletes in their buying, trading and selling processes. The young company offers high-end road bikes selected and reconditioned by its team. With a 12-month warranty.

Ciklet was founded in 2022 by two triathlon and cycling enthusiasts. Othmane and Christian, the founders, met 10 years ago at the EPPG triathlon club (Le Pré-Saint-Gervais). They teamed up to simplify the experience of buying and reselling used bikes.

What’s the difference between a used bike and a bike reconditioned by Ciklet?

A used bike, like those found on peer-to-peer resale sites such as Le Bon Coin, can be a good deal, but it hasn’t been checked, tested or refurbished. It’s a lottery… With Ciklet, you benefit from the largest selection of reconditioned and guaranteed road bikes in France. All bikes are reconditioned in the company’s workshops by professional mechanics who carry out a 34-point inspection. After the inspection, the bikes are offered for sale with a 14-day trial period and a 12-month warranty. Delivery takes 3 days, or the customer can pick up the bike directly from the workshop in Pantin (93). What’s more, you benefit from pre-purchase advice on size, gearing and after-sales service from sales and technical advisors.

Where do the bikes come from?

Bikes are bought from individuals or professionals via an online bike estimator, with an estimate in less than 2 minutes. It’s the only platform to offer an instant buy-back price!

Questions/answers with Otmane Chouklati, co-founder of Ciklet

Why the name Ciklet?
First for bicycle, for the “Cikle” (cycle) of the bike’s life, for the French touch. Like the spelling of the word Ciklet, we want to break the codes of cycling and simplify the used bike market…

What motivated the creation of Ciklet?
First and foremost, a passion for cycling! Christian and I are two cyclists who love beautiful bikes. Having been cyclists for over 15 years, we’ve encountered problems buying on the used market. Product quality, doubts when buying or selling, random prices and product availability. The used market is very random and unstructured.

Why did you choose the high-end reconditioned bike niche?
First for our know-how, then for the business model. We try to provide the best experience for our customers. Each bike goes through several inspection stages, which take an average of 2 hours of work, as well as transport management, photo taking, detailed technical sheets, and customer follow-up and advice. These fixed costs are incompressible, so the business model is not viable for entry-level bikes.

What is your mission?
To build confidence in buying and reselling used bikes. To offer a wide choice of bikes and the best advice for athletes. To develop the reflex of reconditioned second-hand goods.

Can you give us your market figures and forecasts?
The sports bike market in France represented €750 million in 2022, with the used market accounting for 23% of the total. The used and reconditioned second-hand markets are growing in all sectors (clothing, automotive, furniture), and cycling is a rapidly growing market, so pessimistic forecasts for our market are a 15% annual growth.

What do you think you can bring to the market?
• 12-month warranty
• 14-day satisfaction or money-back guarantee
• Technical advice
• Split payments for used products
• Immediate buy-back

How did Ciklet’s founders develop their expertise in reconditioning used bikes?
By recruiting professional bike mechanics and technicians.

What is the profile of the professional mechanics who work at Ciklet?
Alexandre, 10 years in bike mechanics, having worked for several entities: Decathlon, Alltricks. Bob, 3 years of experience, with a strong specialty in road bikes and our super bike geek. Benjamin, our engineer and PhD student, retrained in bike mechanics. Learning with the team and bringing innovative solutions and a different perspective to mechanics.

How does Ciklet position itself in relation to other players in the used bike market?
We have a strong position in road bikes. Our activity requires a significant mobilization of cash flow, so at this stage, we cannot be present in all segments. We made a choice linked to the market and which also corresponds to our know-how. Today, we are the French leader in reconditioned used road bikes with the largest selection and choice. With 65 bikes, we can offer bikes in all sizes and with all technical components. With different types of brakes, transmissions, and ranges. There will always be a road bike for you at Ciklet.

What is the difference between a used bike bought on Ciklet and a new bike of equivalent range?
The warranty levels vary depending on the brand. Today, a new bike can be guaranteed for between 2 years and “for life” depending on the brand. At Ciklet, bikes are guaranteed for 12 months. In terms of bike quality, the bikes are of the same standard as new. We are currently working with manufacturers to extend warranty periods, particularly for components.

How does Ciklet guarantee the quality of its reconditioned used bikes?
We have a process in place for checking bikes at 34 control points. With over 150 reconditioned bikes, we have developed this in-house expertise. We also test the batteries of electronic components. In the future, we plan to equip ourselves with a micro-crack detector in the frame to complement the expertise of our mechanics.

How are bikes purchased on Ciklet delivered? Is there an option to pick them up directly from the workshop?
Bikes are prepared and packed in recycled cardboard boxes, then sent via 24-hour express delivery so that the bikes don’t stay in warehouses and to reduce handling risks. There’s also the option to pick up the bike from our workshops in Paris 20th arrondissement.

What services are offered before purchasing a bike from Ciklet?
We offer to take back your bike when you buy a Ciklet bike. We have developed an algorithm to estimate the trade-in value of your bike. We also offer a choice of wheels. All our bikes come with a selection of wheels. In many cases, we can change the stem, crankset or cassette depending on your level and discipline.

Are there plans to expand Ciklet’s selection of bikes in the future, particularly with mountain bikes or e-bikes?
We plan to expand our range of bikes to include mountain bikes and offer a complete gravel range. For e-bikes, we will focus on sports bikes, but that will come later.

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