A round-the-world cyclist from Scotland has had his bike stolen before even crossing the English Channel, with the crime taking place between Sunday night and Monday morning in Southwark, London.
Josh Quigley – who, you may remember, was fined £75 by in February for riding his bike in Bedford town centre – abandoned a previous attempt to ride around the world in 2016, having completed 10,000 miles.
> Round-the-world cyclist fined for riding his bike through Bedford town centre
The 24-year-old, a suicide survivor who now campaigns on mental health issues and hopes to inspire others through his travels, set off last week from Edinburgh on his sixth attempt to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle.
But yesterday morning he discovered that his bike had been stolen from outside St Christopher’s Inn, the hostel on London’s Borough High Street where he had spent the night.
In a video posted to Twitter, he explained that normally he would take his bike inside with him on overnight stops, but staff at the hostel told him he had to leave it outside.
MY BIKE HAS BEEN STOLEN
It was chained with a padlock outside Costa Coffee on Borough High Street in London.
I remain hopeful, but low chance of getting it back.
My focus now is on trying to get another bike and continue this challenge.
This won’t stop me! pic.twitter.com/B14VlbvN9N
— Josh Quigley (@JoshQuigley92) April 22, 2019
He also tweeted about the theft to the London-based Twitter account @stolenride, which tries to reunite owners with their bikes.
I’m currently attempting a round the world cycle and my bike was stolen in London.
It was chained outside Costa Coffee / Sainsbury’s on Borough High Street.
I’ve cycled over 15,000 miles through 16 countries on it.
Any help getting it back is appreciated pic.twitter.com/abM6W93bw5
— Josh Quigley (@JoshQuigley92) April 21, 2019
In a separate post, Quigley, who aims to visit 60 countries and ride 50,000 miles over the next five years, wrote: “Goodbye my friend.
“When I first met you I wasn’t doing too good.
“We went on a journey.
“You saved my life and helped me believe in myself I won’t get to finish with you, but I will finish.
“To whoever has you now, I hope you give to them what you gave to me.
“Life.”
Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.