The Classifieds section is a member-to-member community feature. BeginnerCyclists.com does not broker, verify, or guarantee any transaction. Buy/sell/trade at your own risk.

1) Eligibility to Post in Classifieds

18+ only (same as the forum).

Must have a registered account in good standing.

No selling if your account exists mainly to advertise.

2) What's Allowed

Bikes, frames, wheels, components, helmets, shoes, lights, trainers, racks, tools

Cycling clothing and accessories

Cycling-related services only if approved by staff (example: local tune-ups)

3) What's Not Allowed

Stolen goods or anything "no questions asked"

Counterfeit items or replica-branded products

Anything illegal or restricted where you live

Personal data sales (lists, emails, etc.)

Off-topic items (if it's not cycling-related, don't post it)

4) Required Post Format (Must Include)

Every listing must include:

Title: Item + size/model + price (example: "Trek FX 2 (L) – $350 – Local pickup")

Price: required (no "make offer" only listings)

Location: city/state or general area (don't post your address)

Condition: new/like new/good/fair + any issues

Photos: real photos of the item (at least 1)

Payment & shipping: specify pickup/shipping options and who pays fees

Listings missing these may be removed.

5) Honesty and Disclosure

Be upfront about:

Cracks, dents, worn drivetrain, wheel trueness, brake wear

Repairs, replacements, and known problems

Compatibility details (wheel size, axle type, cassette/freehub, etc.)

If you "forgot to mention it," that's still on you.

6) Communication Rules

Use forum messages to negotiate details.

Don't publicly post personal info (phone, address, full name).

No harassment, pressure tactics, or guilt-tripping.

7) Payment Safety (Strongly Recommended)

We recommend safer options like:

Local pickup + cash

PayPal Goods & Services (or another buyer-protected method)

Avoid risky methods for strangers (wire transfers, gift cards, crypto, "friends & family" for shipped items).

8 ) Shipping Guidelines

If you offer shipping:

State shipping cost or how it's calculated

Pack items properly (especially bikes/wheels)

Provide tracking once shipped

Agree on who covers insurance/signature confirmation (recommended for high-value items)

9) No Auction-Style or "Bidding Wars"

First come, first served (unless you clearly state a different method).

Don't create chaos by taking bids in the comments.

10) Updates, Bumps, and Closing Listings

Mark your thread SOLD / TRADED / CLOSED when done.

Limit bumps to once every 72 hours (3 days) unless staff says otherwise.

Price drops are allowed and encouraged—edit the original post and note the change.

11) Anti-Scam Enforcement

We may remove listings or restrict access if we see:

Brand-new accounts posting high-value items

Refusal to provide photos with today's date or requested angles

"Ship only, hurry, weird payment methods"

Pricing far below market without a clear reason

Staff decisions are final to keep members safe.

12) Liability Disclaimer

BeginnerCyclists.com is not responsible for:

losses, damage, shipping issues, chargebacks

misrepresented items

disputes between members

We will help moderate behavior, but we can't guarantee outcomes.

What made you want to get into cycling?

For me, I bought a bike because my health was declining and I wanted to lose some weight. I rode 20 miles on it and fell in love. I used to ride as a kid, but grew out of it, but now I'm back and loving it more than ever.

How about you all? What's your story?

What had been your longest bike ride in one day?

Mine was 101 miles back in 2023 with around 6,650 feet of elevation gain.

I need to start doing a 100-mile bike ride every season.

How about you all? What has been your longest ride yet?

What do you wear on the bike?

I wear cycling apparel. Bib shorts in the summer or bib tights in the winter. Cycling jersey, bike socks, cycling gloves, and a cycling jacket or windbreaker if needed.

I prefer the spandex stuff.

How about you all? What's your kit look like?

Tell us what bike or bikes you own in a reply to this post!

I have a Trek Domane road bike (full carbon), Trek Marlin 29er hardtail mountain bike, Specialized Chisel full suspension mountain bike, and a Trek Checkpoint gravel bike.

How about you all?

What are your bikes?

Howdy friends,

I'm Shawn. I'm the founder of this forum.

I created this forum to be the online community companion to my Beginner Cycling Tips blog.

This forum was created for beginner cyclists and seasoned cyclists who want to help beginners.

A bit about me:

I'm a road, gravel, mountain, and adventure cyclist. I have been cycling as an adult for around 15 years. I'm 41, male, married, and I live in Southern Illinois, USA. I'm also into hiking, camping, and just about anything outdoors.

I run quite a few forums and blogs, as well.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

Howdy and welcome,

This is where you can request forum technical support, make forum suggestions, or post general forum feedback.

Please create a new topic for each request, suggestion, and feedback you want to publish.

Please make sure you select the correct prefix to help with priority and to keep things organized.

Try to be as detailed as possible, especially for support requests.

Our staff team is volunteers. Please give them time to respond.

Effective Date: February 5, 2026

BeginnerCyclists.com ("we," "us," or "our") operates an online discussion forum (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what choices you have.

By using this Site, you agree to this Privacy Policy.

1) Who This Site Is For (18+ Only)

This Site is intended for adults 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has provided personal information, contact us, and we will take steps to remove it.

2) Information We Collect
A) Information You Provide

When you create an account or participate, you may provide:

Username/display name

Email address

Password (stored in a hashed/encrypted form, not readable as plain text)

Profile information you choose to add (bio, location, website, etc.)

Posts, replies, private messages, and any content you submit

B ) Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, we (and our service providers) may automatically collect:

IP address

Browser type and device information

Pages viewed and actions taken on the Site

Date/time of visits

Referring/exit pages
This data is typically collected through server logs and cookies (see Section 6).

C) Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Keep you logged in

Remember preferences (theme, language, etc.)

Provide basic Site functionality and security
Some cookies are essential for the forum to work.

3) How We Use Information

We use the collected information to:

Create and manage user accounts

Provide forum features (posting, messaging, notifications)

Maintain security and prevent spam, fraud, and abuse

Moderate content and enforce rules

Improve site performance and user experience

Communicate important admin messages (policy updates, security notices)

4) Legal Bases (General)

Depending on your location, we process personal data based on:

Your consent (e.g., optional profile info)

Contract/legitimate interest (e.g., operating the forum, security, moderation)

Legal obligations (e.g., responding to lawful requests)

5) When We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information in limited cases:

Service providers (hosting, email delivery, spam prevention, backups) who help run the site

Legal compliance when required by law or valid legal process

Protection and safety to investigate and prevent fraud, abuse, or security threats

Business changes if the site is transferred or merged (data may be transferred as part of the transaction)

6) Cookies: Your Choices

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

Block cookies or delete existing cookies

Note: blocking essential cookies may break login or forum features.

7) Data Retention

We keep information as long as needed to operate the forum and meet legal or security obligations. For example:

Account data is retained while your account is active

Posts may remain visible to preserve discussion continuity

Logs and security data may be retained for a limited period for abuse prevention

8 ) Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have rights to:

Request access to the personal data we have about you

Request correction of inaccurate data

Request deletion of certain data (with limits—see below)

Object to or restrict certain processing

Account Deletion / Content Removal

You can request account deletion. Some content (like posts) may remain visible but be anonymized (e.g., attributed to "Guest" or a deleted user) to keep threads readable. We may retain certain information for security, legal, or record-keeping purposes.

9) Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect your data (such as encryption/hashing for passwords and access controls). No method of storage or transmission is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10) Third-Party Links

The forum may contain links to third-party sites (YouTube, retailers, cycling sites, etc.). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. Please review their policies separately.

11) International Visitors

If you access the site from outside the country where our servers are located, your information may be processed and stored there. By using the Site, you consent to this processing.

12) Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Effective Date" above. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13) Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or want to make a privacy request, contact:

BeginnerCyclists.com Admin
Contact form or admin email: @Shawn

Welcome to Beginner Cyclists — a friendly place for new riders to learn, ask questions, and share progress. To keep the community helpful (and drama-free), please follow the rules below. By using this forum, you agree to them.

Important: This forum is 18+ only. If you're under 18, please do not register or post.

1) Be Respectful

Treat people like you're chatting face-to-face. No harassment, hate speech, personal attacks, bullying, or deliberate stirring up drama.

2) Keep It Beginner-Friendly

No gatekeeping. Beginners ask beginner questions. Help them out or move along.

3) No Illegal or Dangerous Advice

Don't encourage illegal behavior (traffic violations, trespassing, etc.) or unsafe riding practices. Safety comes first.

4) Stay On Topic

Post in the correct board and keep threads focused. Off-topic replies are fine in moderation, but don't derail threads.

5) No Spam or Low-Effort Promo

No spam, link dumping, AI junk posts, or "drive-by" promotions. If you're here only to advertise, you'll be removed.

6) Self-Promotion Has Limits

Sharing your blog/YouTube/affiliate links is allowed only when it makes sense and adds value to the discussion. Repeated promotion = spam.

7) No Scams, Referrals, or "Too Good To Be True" Deals

No referral links, pyramid schemes, giveaways that require sign-ups, or anything sketchy.

Keep It Clean (Enough)

Light swearing is fine, but don't make it a hostile or graphic environment. No porn or sexually explicit content.

9) Privacy Matters

Don't post personal info (yours or anyone else's): addresses, phone numbers, workplace details, license plates, private messages, etc. Doxxing = instant ban.

10) Photos and Content You Post Must Be Yours (Or Allowed)

Don't steal photos, videos, or articles. If you share something, credit the source and include a link (when allowed).

11) No Medical/Legal Guarantees

People can share what worked for them, but don't present medical or legal advice as fact. If someone is injured or unwell, encourage them to consult a professional.

12) Marketplace (If/When Enabled) = Use Common Sense

If the forum has a buy/sell/trade area: be honest, use clear photos, set fair expectations, and handle transactions at your own risk.

13) Report Problems — Don't Start Fights

If someone's breaking rules, use the report feature or message staff. Don't escalate in public.

14) Staff Decisions

Moderators may edit/move/remove content to keep things organized and safe. Repeated rule-breaking can lead to warnings, temporary suspensions, or bans.

Quick Reminder

We're here to help beginners ride more, ride safer, and enjoy it. If you're posting in good faith, you'll fit right in.

Thanks for being part of Beginner Cyclists!