FAQ's

Halfords provide a bike build service for any bike purchased through Halfords.com or from one of our Halfords retail stores. Please note that we do not offer the bike build service for any bike purchased from any other retailer or route.

For £15 in‑store or £35 with home delivery, our experts will assemble your bike and include a free 6‑week adjustment check to keep it running smoothly. You’ll also get a one‑off 5% discount to spend on bike parts, accessories or clothing.

What are the benefits of the Halfords bike building service?

It’s a popular myth that bikes arrive pre-built. While we’d love for that to be the case, the truth is that bikes arrive in parts that need to be carefully assembled. And that’s where the Halfords bike building service comes in.

So, why should you take advantage of our bike building service?

Built by experts

Here at Halfords, we have been supplying and building bikes for over 125 years. Our 3000+ trained technicians build millions of bikes each year, ranging from the smallest kids’ bike to the largest adult bikes and including both electric and mechanic types.

These technicians attend a training course and assessment that covers every element of the bike building process, and also undertake training on how to construct specific bike brands. All of which means that by using the Halfords bike building service, you’ll be putting your bike into the best possible hands.

Convenient and hassle-free

When you’ve bought a new bike, either for yourself or as a present for a loved one, you want to get it out on the road as soon as possible. What you don’t want is to spend several frustrating and stressed-filled hours trying to piece it together yourself. The Halfords bike building service takes the hassle out of building a bike by doing it for you, on a day that you choose and at a time that suits you.

Safe and secure

Not only will our technicians build your bike, but they will also safety-check it for you to make sure that it’s ready to ride. We offer a handover process too, giving you dedicated time with a colleague to check that everything’s set up to your satisfaction before you take your bike off on its maiden journey.

If you have any further questions about our bike building service, check out our  FAQs.

Shop All Bikes

We don't currently offer bike trials or e-bike trials

E-Bike batteries are normally made of lithium compounds to make a Li-Ion battery, usually made up of lots of smaller 18650 size cells within a casing. The batteries should be cared for in the same way as mobile phone batteries, avoid heavy knocks or piercing the battery pack, and must not be left completely uncharged for long periods of time or they may eventually become incapable of holding a charge at all.

From flat, it would take around 3.5-4 hours to charge a battery to 100% full, but will be around 80% full after 1.5 hours  the battery automatically slows down its charging rate in the last 15-20%.  Try to let the battery get to around a 30-40% charge before recharging. Most batteries are good for around 1000 recharges, so an E-bike being used for commuting so a bike used for commuting 20 miles a day should last for around 7 years.

An electric bike, or E-bike, is one which has an electric powered hub which is designed to assist with pedalling rather than powering the bike without input from the rider. When riding up a hill, the motor will activate to help you reach a better cruising speed on an incline to make it easier to ride. The hub can be located in either the front or rear wheel, or in the central hub with the pedals.

The legal definition of an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) or E-Bike is an electrically assisted bike where an additional motor is fitted to supplement the cyclist. Fitting a bike with a full electric mode or a throttle changes the definition of the bike to one of an electrically-powered motorbike, where a license, insurance, road duty and MOTs would be required.

To define the difference between an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EAPC) and an electrically powered motorbike  that is a bike which can be powered solely be an electric motor  the EU specified a speed limit of 15.5mph (25kph) before the motor cuts out and no assistance is given. If you exceed this speed when cycling, the motor will cut out.Most riders will normally cycle at around this speed, and as the sensors are sensitive to speed changes, it may give the impression of an intermittent fault with the motor as you go above and below this speed.

In England, Scotland and Wales, no license, insurance, road tax or MOT would be required for an e-bike. However all of these things are required for riding an E-bike in Northern Ireland with the battery fitted, as well as a motorbike helmet.

E-bikes tend to be heavier than mechanical bikes (around 20kg) and only certain cycle carriers can support them. These are typically tow bar-mounted ones and you can find a full list of e-bike compatible bike racks here.

We're able to get spares for the mechanical parts of the bike, such as the drivetrain  chains, chainwheel, derailleurs and for the consumable parts of the bikes such as tyres, tubes and so on. Depending on the electrical part which may need replacing, our colleagues may be able to fit these in-store. If there is a fault on the bike which can't be repaired in store, the bike would be sent back to the manufacturer for repair.

All bikes will come boxed unless specified that you would like the bike built when you order or reserve it. You may be able to pick up your bike in as little as an hour if you collect it boxed. Building adds ½ day to the collection date. All Halfords stocked bikes which can be collected in store, and premium bikes ordered online for home delivery, such as Boardman and VooDoo, have the option of being built free of charge; sadly this option is not available for Apollo and Carrera bikes. Adding delivery to a built bike will normally make the delivery time around 7 days.

Yes, its perfectly fine to fit an E-bike to a rear mounted cycle carrier, provided it has the crossbar to fit it on. In this case, the bikes weight around 20Kg, so you would only be able to carry two at a time.If your bike has a step-through crossbar, you would normallyuse a false crossbar to mount the bike onto a carrier. Most false crossbars will only take a maximum of 15Kg, so would be unable to support the weight of an E-bike with a step-through crossbar. In this instance, we would recommend a tow bar mounted carrier.  

                 

To change the the rim size on a bike you should consider a 1.5"" drop in tyre width for every inch bigger you're making the tyre. As you increase the size of the tyre, the width of the tyre will increase too, so by reducing this it will make the tyre fit within the frame. Moving down in size is much easier and will allow you to fit wider tyres on the rims, increasing comfort and ridability. However, it's always worth checking out the clearance of the frame, and whether there is any adjustment needed in the brakes.

Unless otherwise stated, adult bicycles are designed to carry a rider of up to 120 Kg (18st 12lbs) and up to 20 Kg of luggage. All luggage carried must be securely mounted on the frame, uniformly distributed and fitted as low as possible, to minimize any adverse effect upon stability. The maximum total weight of the cycle, rider and luggage should never exceed 160 Kg. Unless otherwise stated, folding bikes are designed to carry a rider of up to 85kg (13st 5lbs) and up to 15Kg of luggage.

An electric bike, or e-bike, has an electric-powered motor that's designed to assist with pedalling.

The motor can be located in either the front or rear wheel, or in the central hub with the pedals. All electric bikes are 'pedal assist', which means you must be pedalling for the motor to activate and assist you. Having that support is what makes e-bikes great for cycling up hills or into head winds, as you get the extra power without the extra effort. In most cases you can also ride your e-bike like a normal bike, though you may feel the additional weight of the motor and battery when it's not turned on.

The law treats electric bikes in the same way as conventional push bikes, so you do not need a driving licence, insurance, road tax or MOT. To stay within the law, the following must be adhered to:

  • The electric bike can't exceed 15.5mph (25km/h) in power-assisted mode
  • The motor must be a maximum size of 250 watts; power is immediately cut when the brakes are applied
  • The minimum age for riding an electric bike is 14 years of age
  • An electric bike must weigh a maximum of 40kg

Electric bike motors will automatically cut out above 15.5mph, for example when going downhill, at which point it's all down to your pedal power. Fitting a bike with a full electric mode or a throttle changes its legal definition to that of an electrically-powered motorbike, where a licence, insurance, road duty and MOTs would be required.

Electric bikes are legally known as 'electrically assisted pedal cycles' (EAPCs). To be road legal, an EAPC must have working pedals which activate the electric motor assistance, a rated motor power of 250W or less, and must not assist the rider when travelling at over 15.5mph.

All electric bikes display a maximum mileage range based on ideal conditions, but this can vary depending on real-world factors, including:

  • Combined weight of the rider and any luggage
  • Assistance mode selected
  • Battery capacity
  • Route conditions (e.g. terrain type and inclines)
  • Temperature and climate
  • Tyre pressure
  • Wind speed and direction

Most e-bike batteries will take between 2–6 hours to charge up to 100% from being fully depleted, though charge time will depend on the brand of the system and charger.

You can also purchase a spare battery and charger from us if you'd like to ride longer distances or charge in multiple locations.

E-bike batteries are safe, provided they are bought from a reputable retailer, comply with UK/EU safety standards, and are used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

For extra peace of mind, Halfords has been independently audited and listed on the Bicycle Association's E-Bike Positive Brands Register, meaning our safety practices, battery testing and quality controls have been rigorously checked against legal requirements and industry good practice, so you can buy with confidence.

Purchasing a battery from an unregulated retailer or failing to follow manufacturer instructions can result in a fire hazard.

Batteries must be charged regularly.

Batteries that are not maintained over time are designed to enter a “safe mode”, which may require a chargeable diagnostic reset or even a replacement battery.

If you do not ride your electric bike regularly, it is recommended to:

  • Store the battery in a dry environment away from direct sunlight
  • Avoid areas that are too hot or too cold (temperature extremes)
  • Store the battery fully charged
  • Recharge it every couple of months
  • Avoid leaving it continuously plugged in for more than 24 hours

You still need to use your gears just like you would on a mechanical bike; the assist modes do not replace them. If you're approaching a hill, adjust the assistance mode for the terrain and then use your gears to make climbing easier. You should never be in a high gear at a very low cadence with the motor doing all the work, as you risk burning the motor out. It also isn't advisable to ride in turbo/boost mode all the time, as it can wear through parts such as your chain and cassette much more quickly due to the forces being applied.

Always choose a mode appropriate for the type of riding and conditions.

Just like a mechanical bike, you'll need to service your electric bike at regular intervals as key components wear out over time, and on an e-bike, worn components can cause more resistance and reduce range by draining battery life. Halfords recommends the following:

  • An interim service every 6 months
  • A major service once every 12 months

Yes, all Halfords e-bikes are designed to handle British weather. After a ride, wipe the bike dry, specifically the electrics, and store it indoors.

Yes, however, as e-bikes tend to be heavier than standard bikes (around 20kg), only certain cycle carriers can support them, typically tow bar-mounted ones.

Visit your local Halfords for a recommendation suitable for your e-bike and car.

Maintain your electric bike in the same way you would a mechanical bike.

Ensure the battery is installed and the bike is unplugged from mains power, then wash it by hand using a degreaser on the drive chain and a bike-specific cleaning product for the frame. Don't get your disc brakes wet or greasy, and always lubricate the chain and cassette after washing.

Like many electrical devices, your e-bike may sometimes require software updates.

You can normally choose to be notified about updates when you register your e-bike with the manufacturer. Updates can sometimes be done via a smartphone app, or you may need to visit your local Halfords. Your e-bike will still work if you don't update the software, but if you have a service plan with Halfords, they'll always ensure your bike has the most up-to-date software.

If you get an error code on your e-bike's display, pop into one of the Halfords stores and their experienced technicians will take a look and carry out a repair or update if necessary.

Spares are available for mechanical parts such as:

  • Drivetrain chains
  • Chainwheel
  • Derailleurs
  • Consumable parts such as tyres and tubes.

If an electrical part ever needs to be replaced, Halfords can source it for you, and it's recommended that you have a Halfords cycle technician fit any electrical parts, as doing it yourself could void your warranty.

In some instances, replacement battery keys can also be sourced based on the original key number, or a replacement barrel may be supplied with new keys.