Edinburgh tourists’ bikes stolen within three hours after cycling across Europe

Edinburgh tourists were devastated after their bikes were stolen from outside their hotel.

Gabriel Landais, 44 and Malika Baron, 31, from Nantes, France, were enjoying cycling around the UK and seeing the sites before they arrived in Edinburgh on Monday, July 8.

After seeing so much of the world thanks to their bikes, Gabriel said it now feels like a ‘part of him’ has been taken.

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He explained that the pair had checked into their accommodation just off Leith Walk but were told they weren’t allowed to store the bikes in their room. Instead, Gabriel and Malika chained them up at the entrance.

After heading out for their first dinner in Edinburgh, the pair came back to find the bikes gone.

He said: “We locked the bike next to the entrance door at 7pm. We went to eat at the Black Fox next to the hotel, and when we came back at 9.30pm, the bikes were gone. It has been a terrible feeling, a lot of material stuff has been taken but also feels like the loss of a close friend.

“Those bikes were our way to move around. We are on them for about six hours a day. For instance, it was a great feeling to tell myself that we have been able to cycle from Cardiff to Edinburgh in one week, travelling through so many landscapes and towns thanks to our bodies, it’s a real achievement. Those bikes already helped us to travel from Nantes to Lisbon two years ago, or cycle across the Alps last year, from French Alps to Italian lakes, Dolomiti, Hungary, Vien, Austria and Germany.”

However, Gabriel insists that it won’t break his spirit and he and his friend spent Tuesday searching for new bikes so that they can continue their journey. However, they hope to find them again.

“It’s only a machine with moving parts that is nothing without us. With that in mind, it’s easier to move forward, we bought new bikes yesterday and this is our story, with or without the bikes we have lived so many great moments. It’s okay to be ashamed, angry, sad, but in the end, we have to let those feelings go.”

He added that he still feels lucky and grateful for what he has and the pair will continue their travels up to the Highlands.

Both bikes are full 105 groupset, DTSwiss PR1400 wheelset with Continental 4 Seasons 32mm.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said; “We received a report of the theft of two racing bikes from Middlefield, Edinburgh, around 9.45pm on Monday, July 8, 2024.