We find our spending on bikes going through the roof, but do you hide how much your kit really costs from your significant other?

>>> Woman files for divorce due to husband’s bike obsession

Research by Santander suggests that 1 in 10 cyclists hide how much they spend on their hobby from their partner. The research also suggests that 23% of us have lost track of how much we spend on our pride and joys.

While we all know that the money we spend on bikes could probably be spent better elsewhere, or saved for a rainy day, that’s just not as fun is it?

The survey also listed cycling as the third most expensive sport to take part in with the average rider shelling out £88 per month. It may not surprise you to know that golf was the most expensive sport at £214 with football in second at £141.

So do you hide your expenditure from your significant other? The advantages are obvious, you get to spend what you like and they’ll never know… will they?

To have and to hold

Dave (not his real name) is a wife deceiver. After reading reviews in mbr, he bought a top end Orange 5, which as you can see gets the luminous orange paint job (the bike in Dave’s left hand).

Eighteen months of hard trail riding later this bike was starting to look a little tired so Dave decided to upgrade to the new model with the tapered head tube. You’d think he’d want a different colour but no, the replacement is identical — same ‘Neon Orange’ and an almost duplicate specification.

But there’s a very good reason for that, which I’ll let Dave explain. “It’s garage camouflage. It can fly under the radar and I don’t have to answer any awkward questions.”

Who from?

“Her in doors.”

Dave currently owns three bikes but he didn’t see the point aggravating his wife. “It’s the usual stuff — how many bikes do you need? What’s wrong with your old bike? That sort of thing.”

Dave has had the new bike for four months now so has the ruse worked? “So far she hasn’t noticed and she would say if she had.”

This story probably says more about relationships than it does about bikes but it’s not unusual.

Dave says he’s got a friend who lives with his girlfriend and parents and is saving for a new flat but he’s bought an expensive trail bike that he keeps hidden in a mate’s garage!