Don't be tempted by 'cheap' bikes

The Guardian recently carried this review of a £70 bike, headed:

"Asda claims its new bike is the country's cheapest. It may also be the nastiest and most poorly built".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/22/asda-cheap-bike

Supermarket bikes don't come ready to ride - you have to get the assembly finished off, which may mean paying someone. The componentry is often cheap and nasty, and won't last very long, and may not be replaceable or worth replacing.

When thinking about cost, always consider the lifetime costs of what you're buying, not just the "first cost" that you part company with in the shop. We're all tempted by what looks like a bargain, but what looks cheap may not be cheap and if it's a bike it may even be dangerous.