Bikebook

Bikebook, the platform to find and book bike mechanics

Bikebook is an online platform based in Brighton (United Kingdom) that connects cyclists with bike shops and mechanics in their area. The service allows users to compare prices, services and reviews from local professionals and book the service online, with the option of dropping the bike off at the workshop or using a mobile mechanic who comes to the customer's home.

The company presents itself as an alternative to scattered internet searches and large national service centres, arguing that it channels spending towards independent local workshops. Using the platform is free for cyclists, with no hidden fees according to its own description.

How booking works

The process is divided into three steps. First, the user enters their postcode and the platform shows the available mechanics according to their requirements. Then they select a professional, a time and optional extras, and the mechanic gets in touch to finalise the details. Finally, the bike is delivered to the chosen workshop on the agreed date; if the customer cannot travel, they can search for mobile mechanics in their area.

The platform includes search filters by distance radius, type of professional (mechanics, workshops, mobile mechanics), e-bike qualification, offers and accessories. Users can read real reviews from other cyclists and track the status of the repair through a tracking system, as well as approve additional work from their phone with photo and price included.

History and evolution

Bikebook was founded in Brighton in 2020, after three cyclists struggled to find someone who could service their bikes that same week and at what price. The bikebook.co.uk marketplace launched in 2021. In 2022, Workshop was added, a management tool for workshops covering bookings, job tracking and messaging. In 2024 the company expanded its activity to mobility retailers and jewellery repairers, and brought in triathlete and double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee as ambassador and investor.

The company puts its current activity at more than 400 connected service departments, 38,000 jobs recorded in the last month and an average rating of 4.8 stars from workshops. These figures come from the company's own presentation.

Workshop, software for workshops

Workshop by bikebook is the side aimed at professionals. It is a workshop management platform that centralises online bookings, a single job board, customisable statuses, automatic SMS and email updates, payments, invoices and supplier stock control linked to each job. The stated goal is for the team to spend time repairing rather than on admin tasks.

Workshops can register on the platform to attract customers and list their services. The company offers a free trial version of Workshop.

Team and approach

The founding team is made up of Ryan Elson, Jake Fieldsend and Sam Elson, accompanied by development, business development and sales profiles. The company states that most of the product's features come from requests from mechanics themselves and that it maintains a model in which both cyclists and workshops must benefit.

Bikebook also publishes articles about the cycling industry and keeps positions open to expand the team.