Bristol cyclist reunited with 10,000-mile ride bike
A CYCLIST who rode 10,000 miles across Europe and Asia then had his bike stolen just yards from where he works in Bristol has now got it back.
Sam Swain, 22, from Stapleton, had his bronze-coloured bike stolen from a rack in Quakers Friars while he was at work in nearby Italian restaurant Carluccio's.
But after the Post ran the story earlier this week, a friend of Sam's phoned him up and said he was standing next to the Dawes Super Galaxy hybrid bike in St Paul's.
Sam, who made the epic trip with his father, Mark, said: "I was quite calm about it at first because I couldn't be sure it was mine until I saw it. When I got there, I knew immediately that it was definitely mine. It's just so awesome to get my bike back.
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"It's not the monetary value of the bike – I rode it for a year and it just has so many memories for me.
"It would have been a nightmare to have lost it."
Police are investigating the theft of the bike on June 1.
An 18-year-old was arrested after the bike was found but later eliminated from police inquiries.
Now officers want to speak to a boy, pictured right, about the theft.
PC Mike Woods said: "This bike is of huge sentimental value to the victim and I am pleased that he now has it back.
"However, we still need to identify the person responsible for taking it and our enquiries are continuing. I would appeal to anyone who knows who took it, or recognises the person in the CCTV, to get in touch with the police."
Anyone with information about the person in the picture should contact PC Mike Woods on 101 or phone Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
Sam's father has written a book about their trip called Long Road, Hard Lessons.
It is being published on Monday by Tinderbox Ltd and will be available on the Amazon website.
The father and son journey started in Ireland and among the countries they visited were India, China and South Korea.
Comments
by Donmarcos
Sunday, June 17 2012, 10:32AM
“In a month with so much anti-media feeling (thanks Rupert, Rebekah & co) it's great to see them doing something to help people. Well done Sam for taking the trouble to publicise it, you deserved to get it back.”
by Commenter42
Friday, June 15 2012, 7:43PM
“That's a bit a trouble to go to get some free publicity for a book launch.”
by torysarecool
Friday, June 15 2012, 3:54PM
“Loving the book plug there.”
by avonside40
Friday, June 15 2012, 2:28PM
“Hey, I got rated down for exercising a sense of humour? But seriously, considering the number of security guards that wander around Quakers Friars, and the cameras, and the mobile phone tracking, it seems incredible that it has taken so long for the police to be able to do anything. In my naivety, I find it incredible that *anything* can be stolen from within Quakers Friars! But I guess those guards are just there to safeguard the shops and to stop people skateboarding or cycling through there - not actual genuine criminal activity ;-)”
by ANDYJRM
Friday, June 15 2012, 1:33PM
“Glad you got it back!
Hope that the little ****** is caught - preferably by vigilantes rather than the police. That way he will at least get a decent punishment.......”
by avonside40
Friday, June 15 2012, 9:10AM
“Very glad you got it back! Otherwise, you might have have to start driving a car! ;-)”
by moonetta
Friday, June 15 2012, 8:39AM
“glad you got it back , my son was mugged on his 8th birthday for his new bike ... horrible feeling”
by geeveeh
Friday, June 15 2012, 8:39AM
“Happy that someone has got something back that was stolen but not so happy that it means another nuisance cycle back on the road.”