buycycle was founded in Munich in 2021 with a clear mission: to make buying and selling pre-owned bikes as straightforward, secure, and trustworthy as it should be.

The idea began with a familiar experience. 

While searching for his first triathlon bike, Jonas found what looked like the perfect option on a local marketplace. The price was right, the description sounded convincing, and a meeting was arranged at the seller’s home. But in the moment, with little time, limited space, and the pressure of a seller waiting for a decision, it was impossible to properly assess the bike’s true condition. The purchase went through, followed by weeks of uncertainty about whether it had been the right choice.

That experience raised a simple question: why is such a high-value purchase often reduced to a rushed decision with no meaningful protection?

Together with his friends Theo and Flotti, Jonas explored the issue from both sides of the transaction. 

Buyers lacked the ability to inspect and test properly. Sellers faced friction at every step: repeated questions, no-shows, unclear expectations, and the practical challenge of shipping a bike safely, including something as basic as finding a box that fits and packaging it correctly. 

On top of that, trust was fragile. Many platforms offered limited safeguards, and scams were common, often involving attempts to move conversations and payments off-platform.

Europe had an abundance of excellent gear sitting unused in basements and garages, equipment with real value and a long life ahead. The market was not short on supply, it was short on a process people could rely on.

buycycle was built to solve that.

We created a dedicated marketplace for pre-owned road, gravel, and mountain bikes, designed around trust and convenience. Buyers receive time to inspect their purchase at home, with 48 hours to evaluate it properly and without pressure. Payments are handled securely through escrow and only released when the transaction is successfully completed. Sellers receive a purpose-built shipping box designed specifically for bikes, continuously improved through real-world feedback, so shipping becomes reliable and simple. Every step stays on-platform, clear, transparent, and structured.

Since then, buycycle has grown into one of Europe’s leading marketplaces for high-quality used cycling and sports gear, with tens of thousands of listings across more than 30 countries.

Who we are

buycycle is powered by a small, dedicated team of passionate people based in Munich. 

Our founders are Theo, Jonas, and Flotti, three friends who met in Munich through university, sports, and riding together. With backgrounds in consulting and technology, they chose to build buycycle because the problem was personal: they experienced first-hand how difficult and risky the used market could be, despite the quality of gear available, and wanted to change that. 

• Theo handles strategy and growth.

• Jonas leads product and engineering.

• Flotti runs operations and finance, with a strong focus on sustainability.

We believe in building something bigger than just a marketplace. Our mission is to make the used sports gear market work the way it should - seamless, trustworthy, and accessible to everyone.