RideUp launches bike subscription service with 6 bike partners
Ride Up, a brand new bike subscription service which gives consumers access to a wide range of bikes from a variety of bike brands, launches this weekend. Instead of buying the bikes, customers will be able to rent them for a fixed price starting at £90 per month from ‘RideUp’.
Customers can choose from a range of new road, gravel and e-bikes online, and collect the bike from one of 15 RideUp Centres across the UK, including Ride247, The Service Course, and Velobarn.
Bike brands on offer include Basso, BH, Cooper, KTM, Orro, and Reilly, giving consumers access to aspirational bikes on an inclusive monthly plan. Subscriptions start from just 6 months and all bikes come with insurance provided by Laka and servicing provided by RideUp Centres.
RideUp is the brainchild of Russ Downing (ex Team Sky and former British Champion), Ryan Owens (Olympic cycling silver medallist, Tokyo 2021), and Tim Hammond, ecommerce entrepreneur.
Tim Hammond, co-founder said “RideUp gives bike brands the opportunity to embrace subscriptions like the car industry has and let customers upgrade to the latest model every year.
Chris Taylor, BH Bikes. “With over a Century of experience in cycling and are excited to partner with RideUp and their new bike subscription channel which will give cyclists access to several key areas of the BH Bikes range including Road, Gravel & e-Gravel, via their flexible monthly plans. RideUp’s circular economy will help ensure that premium performance product becomes much more accessible. We have worked with the RideUp team to refine the range on offer, to best suit their customer needs and we look forward to working closely together as the business grows.”
Unlike normal bike purchases, customers are not tied into long term finance plans and can cancel their subscription after the initial period. Should they wish to purchase the bike, they can also pay the balance between what they have already paid and the bike’s retail price.
“Reilly Cycleworks are excited to working with Tim and Russ at Ride Up,” said Chris Ratcliff who heads up business development for Reilly. “With the cost-of-living crisis, now seems like an opportune moment to be launching a bike leasing service to ensure high-end bikes remain affordable and accessible. From day one, we’ll be adding the Reilly Fusion titanium aero road bike and Gradient T47 gravel bike to the fleet. Titanium is the perfect material for a subscription-based model given is durability and the ease with which it can be refurbished between rentals.”
Co-founder, Russ Downing said: “With new bike models coming out every year or two, you can now change to the latest model when it comes out. I know I would upgrade to the latest model every time if there wasn’t the cost of buying or the stress of selling my current one. And with the current financial climate, why would you put a bike on a long-term finance plan or buy now pay later, when you can simply rent it and give it back when you want to?
In keeping with the circular economy, RideUp will also recycle the best pre-owned bikes, which are then refurbished, serviced and made available in the pre-owned bike subscription selection, starting from just £70 per month.
For more information contact:
Tim Hammond via 07415 407079 or [email protected]
Russ Downing via [email protected]