Cyclists get off to a bad start

11:00am Friday 20th April 2007

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TWO cyclists planning a round the world fundraising trip starting from Prestwood hit a stumbling block even before their journey began -their bikes were stolen in Cambridge.

John Mitchell, of Green Lane, Prest- wood, and Tom Bishop, of Cambridge, who are both 24, made the 70-mile trip between their home towns as a warm up.

It’s really close now, but I’m not nervous as we’ve been planning it for so long. I’ve just got itchy feet really.”

John Mitchell

But after stopping at a pub in Cam- bridge on Good Friday, April 6, they returned to find their £1,200 bikes stolen.

Mr Mitchell said: "It was the worst start we could have had for our trip. The bikes were all locked up in the city centre in a bike area and they were just gone."

Fortunately, a bike shop in the city - Cambridge Station Cycles - stepped in to offer the men new bikes at a discounted price.

Mr Bishop, who has just completed an archaeology degree and a global politics masters degree, said: "Since the theft it's been quite manic. The shop donated about £1,500 of kit to the cause - they basically took 40 per cent off the normal price. They've really put us back on the road, but it's all been a bit of a slog. My bike is ready back in Cambridge and John's should be with us on April 25. We're leaving Prestwood for Cambridge again on Monday, and we're hoping to leave Cambridge on April 26, assuming the bike's okay."

The stolen bikes have not been recovered, but the intrepid duo hit the news in Cambridge with an appearance on the BBC Look East programme.

The pair were housemates at South- ampton University for four years, and hope to raise at least £10,000 for Médecins Sans Frontières and Friends of the Earth during their 18-month-long trip. They will only use environmentally friendly transport to travel through Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia, China, Japan, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.

Mr Mitchell, who has a masters degree in oceanography, said: "The main objective is to get around the world without flying. It's really close now, but I'm not nervous as we've been planning it for so long. I've just got itchy feet really."

For enquiries about the trip, or making a donation see www.bishandjohn.com