Refurbed sells bicycles: Cycling meets Recycling

The booming online marketplace for refurbished goods, refurbed, is expanding its range in the sports category to include bicycles and has announced a cooperation with the children's bike brand woom as well as the bike refurbisher Bike Gorillaz. The bicycle as a means of transport is increasingly in trend among Germans, according to the background. According to the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transportation, over 80 percent of Germans use a bicycle, and 55 percent even consider it an indispensable means of transportation. The bike refurbisher on their part features more than 60 different bike brands. In addition to e-bikes and city bikes, bikes from the popular children's bike brand woom will also be added starting in March. The cooperation allows sustainability to be further improved and bikes to be kept in use for as long as possible, said Paul Fattinger, Co-CEO of woom GmbH.

"Our goal is to make cycling sustainable even in terms of acquisition. For this, we have two approaches on our online marketplace. The first involves the refurbishment of (e-)bikes, where all components are thoroughly checked — from the gears to the brakes, to the rims, the wheels, the software, and the batteries. The second approach is to offer new bikes made from recycled materials, thus promoting circular economy," explains refurbed Co-Founder Peter Windischhofer.

Among the standout products are the city bikes from Vélosophy, a Swedish bike manufacturer that donates a durable bicycle to girls in Global South countries for each bike sold, aiming to improve their access to education. As in other categories, bicycles also come with free shipping, a 30-day return policy, and a one-year warranty. To continue functioning as a climate-friendly alternative in daily life over the long term, the longevity of the e-bike batteries is particularly important.

"Unlike tablets, where battery replacement accounts for an extremely high percentage, the battery in e-bikes is designed for longevity and doesn't need to be replaced often. The average e-bike batteries manage 500 to 1000 charge cycles — meaning they function over distances of 25,000 to 100,000 kilometers," explains refurbishment expert Moritz Winter from Bike Gorillaz.

This fact also makes e-bikes the perfect subject for refurbishment, according to Windischhofer. In his view, the entry price is "the only pain point when it comes to e-bikes." It is attractive for many to get an e-bike that is like new and comes with a one-year warranty at a reduced price.

"Cycling is an essential component of climate-friendly mobility of the future. By purchasing a refurbished bicycle, you not only save the emissions that would be generated from new production, but you also save money compared to buying new. It's better for the environment and for the household budget," explains Windischhofer.