86-year-old Kent cyclist has bike stolen while in A&E

An 86-year-old Kent cyclist, who still regularly rides over 150 miles per week, had his treasured Thorn Audax bike stolen while he was in A&E.

Minster resident Bob Friend’s bike was taken from outside the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate last Thursday.

Mr Friend had been cycling in Canterbury earlier that day when he was bitten by a dog. He carried on to meet friends before attending A&E as his GP surgery was closed.

After being discharged from hospital the following morning, he found that the bike had disappeared from where he had left it.

Mr Friend’s daughter, Diane Robertson, told Kent Online: “Dad is more upset about his bike being taken than he is about the dog bite.”

Adding that the bike was worth more than £1,000 when her father bought it 14 years ago, Ms Robertson said: “It’s more about the sentimental value because of how long he’s owned it and how far he’s travelled on it.”

The bike is a blue racing model with front hub dynamo, a bar bag at the front and a BMW badge. There is also a rack bag at the rear containing waterproofs, tools, a spare tube and lights.

Ms Robertson has launched an appeal on Facebook for its recovery.