Bike belonging to teen in global cycling record bid stolen

Sydney: Twenty countries and 11,000km into an attempt to make a round-the-world cycling record, a British teenager has had his bike stolen in northern Australia.

On Tuesday – the 103rd day of his attempt to be the youngest person ever to cycle around the world – Charlie Condell, 18, woke in a hostel in tropical Townsville to find that somebody had made off with his precious bike.

Also stolen were his passport, camping gear and cycling wear.

Condell said after 11,000km, he was very attached to his black and green Cervelo bike, which he calls Colin.

Queensland police have made a rare public call for the bike to be returned.

His record attempt could not be reached without reuniting him with his bicycle, police said yesterday.

“The bike does mean a lot to me,” Condell told the national broadcaster ABC.

“I know it's just a bike and you can always get another one, but that particular bike has gone through a lot of suffering and it’s also brought me through a lot of amazing experiences.

“I’ve had so many messages, lots of people offering help, places to stay, a couple of free bikes offered,” he added.

Condell has ridden the bicycle across Europe, the Middle East, India and South-East Asia, and plans to cycle the east coast of Australia before hitting New Zealand and the United States.

He hopes to finish the epic ride before March 20 when he turns 19, beating a 19-year-old fellow Briton who currently holds the record. — dpa