Keen cyclists are often accused of showing off their trophy bikes. But what if that bike is made of pure 24 carat gold?

The team at luxury goods company Goldgenie.com have added a golden sheen to smartphones in the past. Now they have coated a full-sized men’s racing bike in the precious metal.

The bike with the Midas touch will set you back a stunning £250,000. It is drenched with gold - even the gears glisten with the stuff. And there’s some diamonds to light it up at night as well.

As for being saddle sore, forget it. The rider of this golden bike will enjoy a soft San Marco suede saddle and SR4 racing tyres. There's also the option of a custom design using other exotic skins and precious stones.

Cyclists are not the first to be tempted by gold. Back in August, the makers of the James Bond filmscommissioned a gold Aston Martin to mark the 50th anniversary of the film Goldfinger. 

But while Goldgenie's bike may mark a golden age of luxury, you are unlikely to get anywhere on it fast. Gold is notoriously heavy - so when it comes to speed, those on second-hand rattle traps will probably still be ahead.