Black Friday bikes: road, mountain bike, equipment discounts

What is Black Friday cycling?

The Black Friday refers to the Friday after Thanksgiving, the American holiday celebrated on a Thursday. Retailers in the United States have turned it into the starting point for end-of-year shopping, and this event has established itself in France. On Vélo-Store, the Black Friday offers focus on cycling gear and equipment, organised by type of practice just like on the rest of the site: it’s a chance to replace a worn part, get an outfit for the cold, or find a gift for the upcoming holidays.

Six sections to find your gear

• Road: the Black Friday road offers include helmets, shoes, jerseys, and shorts, as well as cassettes, brakes, saddles, and 700 tyres.
• Mountain bike: the Black Friday mountain bike deals combine mountain biker gear with forks, pads, stems, wheels, and off-road tyres.
• BMX: the BMX section collects helmets, rider outfits, and race and freestyle parts, from handlebars to sprockets.
• Urban: the Black Friday urban bike category caters to everyday journeys, with city helmets, rain jackets, bags, and child seats.
• Spare parts: the discounted spare parts are sorted by function, whatever the type of practice: braking, transmission, suspension, wheels and tyres, pedalling, components.
• Equipment: the cyclist's equipment covers what’s used on all bikes: locks, electronics, protection, luggage, and transport.

By practice or by part: where to start?

To equip a specific bike, start with its practice: the mountain bike page highlights forks, tyres, and brakes designed for off-road, while the road page features cassettes and thin tyres. If you already know the reference, for example the model of pads noted on your brake, the spare parts page can find it faster. Gravel riders will pick between road and mountain bike; the Gravel page brings together everything for this practice all year round.

Information to check on your bike before buying

• Transmission: the number of gears at the back, which must match the cassette, chain, and derailleur, and the type of freewheel body.
• Tyres: the ETRTO size marked on the side, width, then diameter in millimetres (28-622 for a road tyre of 700 x 28C).
• Disc brakes: the exact model of the brake before choosing pads, and the disc attachment, six holes or Center Lock.
• Handlebar: the diameter of the handlebars at the stem, 31.8 or 35 mm on most current bikes.
• Clothing and helmet: head circumference, foot length, and measurements, to be noted in the brand's size guide.

How to assess a Black Friday discount?

On a discounted item, check the crossed-out price and the listed price, then read the product sheet in full: it’s this that specifies the model, size, or colour involved in the discount. Compare strictly the same reference: a cassette exists in 11 and 12 speeds under the same brand name, a helmet with or without MIPS, a pedal sold individually or in pairs. Finally, check what’s included, discs, cleats, or adapters: a part that doesn't fit your bike will never be a good deal, even at a reduced price.

Which brands can you find during Black Friday?

Shimano, a Japanese group, covers almost everything in cycling: Tiagra, 105, and Ultegra road groups, Deore and Deore XT mountain bike transmissions, hub gears Nexus, and XC302 shoes.

Favero, an Italian manufacturer from the province of Treviso, integrates a power sensor into its Assioma pedals: the UNO measures on the right side, the DUO measures each leg separately.

adidas has adapted its Samba for cycling with the Velosamba, a shoe with a basketball look that takes SPD cleats with two bolts.

Met, an Italian helmet maker, offers the Trenta for road, whose 3K Carbon version includes a carbon structure, the Idolo, and the Rivale MIPS.

Quad Lock, an Australian brand born in Melbourne, secures smartphones to handlebars with a case for each phone and a two-step patented locking system.

Abus, a German security specialist, offers its foldable Bordo locks, Granit U-locks, and frame locks.

After Black Friday, other opportunities

The operation's pages retain the same address from one edition to the next. For the rest of the year, the clearance section hosts end-of-line products and replaced colours, the new arrivals showcase newly listed models, and the bargains collect discounted items. The brands page leads to each manufacturer, the workshop to tools and maintenance products.

Frequently asked questions

When is Black Friday?

The Friday after Thanksgiving, about a month before Christmas; the following Monday is known as Cyber Monday. This Friday remains the heart of the operation, but at Vélo-Store, the Black Friday discounts run throughout November: you have time to check your bike's specs and browse the pages by practice.

Where does the name Black Friday come from?

It is said to come from the police of Philadelphia, which nicknamed the day after Thanksgiving due to the crowds and traffic jams. The idea of retailers moving from the red to the black on this day came later.

Does Black Friday also apply to spare parts?

Yes: there is a section dedicated to them, and every practice has its categories for transmission, braking, wheels, and components. It’s the perfect time to replace chains, cassettes, pads, or tyres, after verifying compatibility.

How to choose the right size when ordering during the event?

Measure yourself rather than relying on your usual size, then record the measurements in the brand’s size guide: fits differ from one manufacturer to another, especially between a fitted road jersey and a looser mountain bike outfit.

Can we prepare our Christmas gifts during Black Friday?

Yes, the operation takes place ahead of the holidays. Without knowing the shoe size or head circumference of the person, choose an accessory that doesn’t require sizing: lights, locks, smartphone mounts, or workshop tools.