Self-assembly bicycles are a "dangerous time bomb", an organisation representing cyclists said yesterday.
The Irish Cycling Campaign (ICC) has called for a ban on the sale of "flat-pack" bicycles, which have been sold by a number of supermarket multiples in the past months.
Both Dunnes Stores and Supervalu have sold semi-assembled bicycles as promotional items.
Purchasers have to attach the pedals, handlebars and wheels onto the basic frame. A spokeswoman for Dunnes Stores, where the bicycles were sold as a promotion in April for €99, said they had "sold very well" and the company may stock them again in the future. Supervalu spokeswoman confirmed they had been on sale, also for €99, during the spring.Both supermarkets said the bicycles passed all safety standards.
David Maher, spokesman for the ICC, said the sale of bikes "like a grocery item" by shops that have no experience on how to assemble bicycles was leading to lower quality bicycles.
He said it meant people who did not fully understand the mechanics of building a bike were assembling them and that it was only a matter of time before a serious accident occurred.
"Only fully assembled bicycles with a full guarantee and warranty should be sold," he added.
Tony O'Regan, a Limerick-based importer and distributor of bicycles, described self-assembly bicycles as "potentially very dangerous".
"For instance, if you are attaching the brake caliper to the wheel, a special tool is required. Or for tightening the pedals the normal spanner at home is not going to get the correct torque, or tightness. That could be really dangerous, particularly if the cyclist was going uphill and pressing into the pedal for support. These are the kinds of dangers I'd be concerned about."
Shay Connaughton, of Cycleways, in Dublin, said self-assembled bikes "are becoming more and more widespread and more of a dangerous time bomb.
"Only last week I saw someone cycling down the street with the front wheel on back to front. I suppose any potential accident is going to be a low-impact collision, so people haven't kicked up too much of a fuss."
A spokesman for the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs advised anyone with concerns to e-mail productsafety@entemp.ie
