Triathlete with a high-performance carbon bike preparing for a race in a scenic outdoor setting

5 Reasons Triathletes Are Turning to Used Carbon Bikes in 2025

June 2, 2025

Carbon bikes have always been a triathlete’s dream — lightweight, aerodynamic, and race-ready. But in 2025, more triathletes are ditching the “new or nothing” mindset and turning to high-quality used carbon bikes for their training and competition needs.

At Brooklyn Carbon Bike Co., we’re seeing a big shift in buyer habits. Here's why the multisport community is going pre-owned.

🏁 Lower Cost, Higher ROI

New triathlon bikes can start at $4,000 and climb well beyond $10,000. Used carbon options deliver nearly the same performance — at a fraction of the price.

💸 Save 40–60% on premium builds
💪 Redirect savings to coaching, races, or nutrition
💻 Perfect for athletes building their own “pain cave” on a budget

📦 Immediate Availability

With global supply chains still strained, new triathlon bikes can come with waitlists of 6 months or more. Used bikes? They're ready to ship or pick up now.

⏱️ No delays
🚚 Fast delivery
📍 Pick up in Brooklyn or ship anywhere in the U.S.

⚙️ Aero Gains Without the Retail Pain

We stock tri bikes and aero road bikes with real-world gains:

🚴 Cervélo P-Series
🚴 Trek Speed Concept
🚴 Felt IA
🚴 Giant Trinity

Each one has been inspected, cleaned, and tuned to race.

🌿 Eco-Friendly Racing

Triathletes are also looking to reduce their environmental impact. By choosing pre-owned gear, you’re extending the life of high-end components and reducing waste.

♻️ Reduce manufacturing demand
🚯 Keep carbon frames out of landfills
🌍 Train smarter, live cleaner

🎯 More Than Just the Frame

Buying from BCBC means you’re getting:

🔧 A full inspection report
🔋 Top-tier components (Ultegra, Dura-Ace, Force, etc.)
🎒 Expert advice to get the right fit for your race needs

✅ The Bottom Line

You don’t have to compromise on performance to be smart with your gear. A used carbon triathlon bike offers the same edge, without the financial stress.

👉 Browse Our Triathlon-Ready Bikes

Race faster. Spend smarter.
Brooklyn Carbon Bike Co.

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Be weary of "new" condition

Received my bike today from BCBC — a 2023 Trek Emonda ALR. It arrived partially disassembled and wrapped in a ton of foam for protection. As expected, I had to reinstall the handlebars, front tire, seat, etc. — all minor stuff. No problem for me. I figured I’d take the time to check its condition and make sure all the components were tightened to spec.

I did find some noticeable mar at the bottom of the front fork and on either side of the rear axle — through the paint and down to the aluminum. Not visible from a distance (or in the pictures online…), but easy to see up close. I thought, "Whatever, I got the bike for what I considered a good deal, and now I’ll baby it less and won’t panic when I add a few of my own."

The really frustrating part is the rear hydraulic brake line. It’s maybe 4–5 inches too long, so it sticks out and twists awkwardly between where it exits the headtube and enters the handlebar grip. Worse, it has a couple of deep kinks — like "folded in half" kinks — the kind that mean I should replace the brake line entirely.

What I thought was a good deal now feels less like one, as it's costing me time and more money because the bike didn’t arrive in the condition it was advertised. They did send me pedals I didn’t order — a nice gesture, I guess — but they’re pedals I don’t need. Really I’d rather return them in exchange for a properly installed brake line.

Overall, I’m happy to finally have the bike of my dreams. But I’m disappointed it’s already headed to the local shop for repairs, given how it arrived compared to how BCBC described it.

Great Price, Great Communication, FAST BIKE

The Team at Brooklyn Carbon was great to work with. I found my bike through Facebook Marketplace and had a buddy of mine do extensive research on the operation while I did my own. Buying a bike online can be sketchy, even more so when you put Carbon into the equation.

What we found was a communicative, accurate, and trustworthy vendor for 2nd hand carbon bikes that deliver on-time or ahead of time. The bike was delivered with great care (wrapped with paper, foam, and spacers as needed) and a nice, thick box as well. I had no issues with the quality of the bike upon assembly - everything appears to be accurate to my bike's posted description.

I have gotten some great miles in already and am only regretting not upgrading my bike sooner.

Thank you to the team!

Great bike ride in 5 boroughs NYC bike tour - 2025

I rode my Trek Madone 5.2—purchased from Mike last year—on the 5 Boro NYC Bike Tour on May 4, 2025, in rainy and slippery conditions. The bike performed flawlessly, with fantastic handling, speed, and reliability that truly stood out. Thank you, Mike, for not only a great bike but also for your continued support!

100% would buy again

After scouring the used market for six months for a particular bike, I found one at Brooklyn Carbon. Mike was a pleasure to work with, very responsive to my texts/emails, gave me all the information I asked for. Then, me being from out of town, Mike re-arranged his schedule to bring the bike closer to me, saving me 2-3 hours worth of driving. Very knowledgeable, and the bike was in terrific condition, as advertised. He gave me all the time I wanted to test ride. I will gladly recommend him to my friends.

Top-Tier Customer Service and Quality Bikes!

I had an amazing experience at Brooklyn Carbon Bike thanks to Mike, the owner. He was incredibly knowledgeable and truly went above and beyond to help me choose the perfect bike. Mike allowed me to test ride three different bikes for about an hour, which made a huge difference in finding the right fit. On top of that, he gave me a crash course on road cycling and walked me through every single detail of the purchase. His attention to detail, patience, and genuine passion for cycling made the entire buying experience absolutely top tier. Mike is the best—highly recommend Brooklyn Carbon Bikes!