Maintaining cheap bikes
I'm one of those type with the garage shop that everyone brings their bike to for repair. Glad to do it but when I get the low cost ones it's is a bit disappointing because I inevitably find pitted bearing cones, deformed rims, dangerously crappy brakes, etc. And, since the tolerances are so sloppy, clean repacked bearings don't stay that way very long. Steel is normally very ductile which deforms leading to I'll fitting components. Rims tend to be single-walled making them very susceptible to distortion. Makes me angry that certain bike companies scheme to get unsuspecting or unknowledgabe people to buy these tanks. I always advise to get a good used bike and overhaul. We have a saying in Spanish - Lo barato questa caro (cheap stuff is expensive).