Thieves steal record breaker's £2k bike from his front door

Published on Thursday 11 December 2008 09:22

HE has cycled 18,000 miles through 20 countries and four continents, but now record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont has had his bike stolen from outside his front door.

The round-the-world cyclist is appealing for the return of his training bike, which was stolen from the communal stairwell outside his West End flat last week.

The 25-year-old's training schedule has now been thrown into disarray, as he tries to keep up his gruelling six-day-a-week regime without the use of the specialist mountain bike.

Mr Beaumont said: "It is very frustrating. It has taken away from my training. It is a real annoyance.

"I simply would like it back. I'm not interested in pursuing this. If it is handed into a police station and I get it back, I will be really grateful."

Mr Beaumont grew up in a farm cottage in Perthshire, before his family moved to Newburgh, Fife. He studied economics and politics at Glasgow University, and moved to Edinburgh ahead of his epic cycle in 2007.

He smashed the round-the-world cycling record by 81 days, circumnavigating the globe in just 194 days.

His video diaries of the journey formed the basis of a documentary, The Man who Cycled the World, which was broadcast in August.

Since the trip, he has become a household name across Scotland and particularly in Edinburgh, where he has made his home.

He had only had the off-road training bike, worth around 2000, for two months when it was stolen last Monday.

Thieves cut through two locks to remove the bike from railings outside Mr Beaumont's flat on the top floor of a shared stairway.

He said: "It is an unbelievable place to be taken from. It was secured inside the close.

"I think it is probably an opportunist. Anyone who knows anything about bikes will realise it is worth a bit."

The bike is a full-suspension off-road model made by Dutch manufacturer Koga-Miyata. It is blue and silver, and has slick tyres.

Mr Beaumont said if the bike is not returned soon, he will have to order another one, which will take three to four weeks to be delivered.

He added: "Not having a bike is hampering my training.

"I know there's a good buzz in the city about the world cycle, so I'm sure someone will come forward."

The theft was reported to police, who are appealing for any witnesses to contact them.

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating the theft of a pedal cycle from the common stair of a flat in the Gardner's Crescent area of Edinburgh.

"We would urge anyone with any information to contact police."

As well as cycle training six days a week – on a road bike and in the gym, now that his mountain bike has been stolen – Mr Beaumont is adding the finishing touches to a book he is writing.

He is also in high demand at charity events across the country.

Not content with his cycling record, he is also preparing to break another one – in rowing. He is in training for a 3300-mile row across the North Atlantic as part of a 12-man team in June.