Cyclist’s prize bikes stolen after accident (From Bucks Free Press)

Cyclist’s prize bikes stolen after accident

9:59am Friday 11th November 2005

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A KEEN cyclist who was badly injured in an accident had his remaining two prize racing bikes stolen the day after he returned home from hospital.

James Foster, 28, suffered a fractured vertebra, four broken ribs and a broken collarbone, and spent six days in hospital following an accident on his bike outside High Wycombe railway station on Tuesday, October 18.

But the following Monday, October 24, an intruder broke into his garage and stole Mr Foster's remaining two bikes. They were worth around £5,000 in total.

Mr Foster's wife Beth, 27, said his training bike was written off in the accident, and now he has nothing to look forward to riding when he recovers.

She said: "Both the bikes were sentimental to him. He took it like another accident, like another bone breaking,"

Mr Foster, of Wheelers Park, High Wycombe, added: "The timing is never good when someone breaks in and steals from you. But this is like kicking a man when he's down."

Mr Foster was on his daily 17- mile morning circuit when he collided with a car at 6.50am. He says he remembers nothing after that until he woke up in Stoke Mandeville Hospital. He is in pain when he moves and must wear a neck brace for three months.

But he said: "It could have been worse I could have been in a wheelchair."

The Fosters have also suffered financially. Although the bikes were covered by household insurance, the policy only pays £500 for each bike when their real value is five times that, said Mr Foster.

However, Mr Foster is already looking for replacement bikes, and is sure he will be cycling again soon. "But I may think twice about cycling in the dark in the early morning," he said.

Mr Foster has been serious about cycling since he was a teenager and regularly races around Buckinghamshire and neighbouring counties with the Willesden Cycling Club.

Contact police on 0845 8 505 505

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