Planning a bike fleet for your company, school or tourism business is different than buying a single bike for yourself. It requires a strategy focused on longevity, ease of use, and maximum uptime.
In this guide, we’ll break down the top considerations to ensure your program is a success.
1. Partner with a Trusted Retailer
Buy from a trusted retailer with genuine experience in supplying volume bikes - a partner who understands that these bikes are part of a larger program, not just a one-off sale.
2. Limit Your Range
Standardisation is key to an easy to manage program when buying a fleet. Try to limit your range to one model or a few very similar models to make maintenance infinitely easier. When your spares and consumables (like tyres, tubes, and brake pads) are all the same, your inventory stays low and your bikes stay on the road. If you’re maintaining the bikes yourself, you will also come to know that one model and better be able to troubleshoot and fix.
3. Prioritise Simplicity and Durability
Avoid unnecessary complexity. When buying a bike for yourself it’s tempting to get all the bells and whistles - but look for simplicity when buying a fleet. Choose the simplest configuration possible to reduce the risk of damage or need for tuning/alignment. Your supplier should be able to advise you on best approaches here.
4. Know Your User Demographic
To ensure your bikes get used, you need the right models and sizes. Work closely with your supplier to determine the best split of sizes based on your group data. The goal is to ensure more bikes are used more of the time.
5. Choose the Ideal Model for the Use Case
How will your group actually use these bikes? If you can communicate the level of skill and type of terrain then your supplier can advise on the best models for performance and longevity.
6. Demand Quality, Branded Parts
Avoid the trap of buying "cheap" no-name bikes off a marketplace to save money upfront. This almost always proves more expensive and frustrating over time for fleet bikes. Low-quality parts fail faster and are harder to replace so stick with branded parts like Shimano that are simple to maintain and easy to source. At Reid, we use high-quality components and offer a lifetime warranty on frames and rigid forks because we stand by our build quality.
7. Bundle Your Accessories
A bike fleet isn't complete without the essentials: helmets, locks, and lights. If you purchase these at the same time as your bikes, you can usually secure a much larger discount. Margins on parts and accessories are typically better than on the bikes themselves - so use that to your advantage to kit out your fleet for less.
8. Plan for Basic On-Site Maintenance
Regular maintenance will save you in the long run. We recommend having a small maintenance station on-site that includes:
- A sturdy mechanic stand.
- A floor pump.
- Basic tools.
- Chain lubrication - regular chain clean/lube is the easiest way to increase the lifespan of drivetrains in your fleet.
If you’re ready to start planning your fleet, you can read more about our experience here or contact Reid for guidance and obligation-free advice on the options and a discounted volume quotation.
