Halfords, one of the UK’s most recognised names in motoring and cycling retail, has reported a strong rebound in cycling sales. The company said the cycling segment was its ‘stand-out performer,’ delivering 9% YoY growth in the first half of its 2026 financial year (April-September 2025).

For many readers outside the UK, Halfords may need an introduction. It is the country’s largest motoring and cycling retailer and service provider, operating more than 370 stores, 498 garages, and a large fleet of mobile service vans.

Beyond retail, Halfords also operates consumer garages and mobile service vans and offers fitting and repair services.‍

Cycling Returns to Growth

The company says this growth follows a difficult period marked by heavy discounting across the industry. According to the report, Halfords generated £208m in cycling revenue, with sales up 9% in the first half of its FY26.

CEO Henry Birch highlighted the importance of this turnaround. In his words:

“I am very pleased to be announcing a strong set of HY26 results that show good financial, strategic, and operational progress. Cycling was the stand-out performer, with Like for Like (LFL) sales up 9%.”.

The company noted that the UK cycling market showed signs of recovery and that conditions stabilised compared with the previous year, when industry-wide discounting had put pressure on margins. Halfords also said that a warm, dry summer helped support demand.

Halfords reported strong results in key areas of cycling, including children’s bikes, where the company says it represents two-thirds of the UK market. Its performance cycling brand, Tredz, also recorded double-digit growth in the first half.

Cycling accounted for 23.3% of Halfords’ HY26 revenue mix, compared with 36.3% from motoring retail and 40.4% from Autocentres.

Market Conditions and Operational Context

Halfords attributes part of its cycling performance to the structure of its retail offer. The company noted that a large proportion of its cycling range is own-brand, including Carrera and Boardman, which it says typically represent “excellent value relative to competitor brands.” It also highlighted that own-brand ranges support consistency across quality and pricing.

Halfords stated that market conditions also contributed to the improvement. It said the cycling market had “consolidated faster than expected” following a period of heavy promotional activity in 2024, which had previously put pressure on margins. The company reported that the market environment in HY26 was more stable, and that this supported its cycling performance during the period.

Outlook for the Year Ahead

Halfords stated that it remains confident in meeting its full-year FY26 expectations. The company’s outlook indicates an expected underlying profit before tax of between £36m and £40.7m, based on compiled analyst consensus. It also said that capital expenditure for the full year is expected to fall between £60m and £70m.

Birch said:

“Looking ahead, there are significant opportunities for us to create further value through improvements in our technology and data capability, which are key areas of focus for us as we plan for the future. While the operating environment remains unpredictable, our combination of needs-based products and services, as well as market leading positions in both motoring and cycling, give us the confidence that we will continue to grow our business in line with our plans.”