A TALE OF TWO BROMPTONS

We rode into the centre of Gent the other day for a few essentials, a bit of retail therapy and a coffee. Nothing unusual so far. On returning a couple of hours later to our bikes we were confronted with the sight of our helmets on the ground but no Bromptons!!! At best this was very inconvenient as we are moored a good walk across the other side of the city. The bikes had been locked together and to the bicycle rack so someone had been determined to steal them.

Margaret looking pensive at where the bikes had been.

OK what do we do? Take the tram back to Soraya and work out where we can buy a pair of new Bromptons. I telephoned the insurance company and asked the procedure. After a short conversation they said we should get a police report, buy the new bikes and submit all with the claims form they would send. All very efficient but still hugely annoying. Fortunately we had the Bromton bag with us so it was literally only the two bikes plus locks etc that were missing. We thought 'no time like the present' so we googled where the local Police Station was and off we went. Upon arrival it was closed, so it's back tomorrow morning. Walking back across Gent from the Police Station to our tram we passed by a large modern covered market/performance space lovingly called the Sheep Hut. In the distance I saw a couple of bikes parked and as I rushed off I mumbled 'there's a couple of Bromptons and one is green'. Margaret couldn't work out why I'd suddenly veered off the route to the tram but as we got closer we saw they were our bikes!! Amazing. They were locked together with a new lock. Fortunately and stupidly there were not locked to the railings that they were leaning against.

Two locked Bromptons.

What now? We decided to move them quickly to a new location. They had, however, been locked in opposing directions so movement with peddles clashing and the steering was almost impossible. After a bit of shoving and pushing we managed to move to a very central area and we flagged down a large people carrier type of taxi as the bikes had to go in as one piece. We're not sure if he believed our story or just thought we were the people stealing the bikes. We got them back to Soraya.

Angle grinding off the lock.

Next morning it was out with the angle grinder to remove the thieves lock then on the bikes to a bike shop for two new locks. So whilst it was all a bit of a hassle, it all ended well. We were incredibly lucky. We did decide to go to the Police Station to report the incident. Asking whether the area was covered by CCTV we were told no! CCTV coverage was only in the red light 'prostitute' area and the area where students drink. We were not in either. He did comment that if someone was stealing a bike and there was a choice of a regular bike and a Brompton they would steal the Brompton. Two Bromptons together I suppose you would say 'were a steal!'