By Elizabeth Hayes
A champion cyclist has been left without wheels after her $15,000 bike was stolen over the weekend.
Alison Shanks’ custom made bike was taken while it was on display at an outdoor adventure expo in Christchurch.
“I was just gutted really. I just couldn’t understand why someone would want to steal it because it’s not really worth anything to anyone else,” she says.
The specialist bike can only be used at a velodrome and should be pretty easy to spot. It is currently featuring an energy drink advertisement.
Shanks is not even asking for the whole bike back. Her sponsors will chip in for a new bike frame, but it is her custom made handlebars that she says will be impossible to replace.
She has a national training camp next week, and just hopes it will be returned before then.
“We will be riding on the track every day, so without it… I’m not sure how running round the velodrome would go,” she says.
Shank says the bike can be returned, anonymously if necessary, to any local bike store.
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