Day 34

20/09/2011 – Day 34

Budapest

After three long days on the road it wasn’t until quite late the next morning that we ventured out onto the streets, only to find my bike had gone!

They had cut the chain, moved M’s bike out of the way and taken mine. Bike gone, chain gone, just the 3 month old Scott sportster left standing on its own.

OK, funny things here, the bikes were behind two secure doors, chained together to the lift cage, out of sight of the street. Only my bike was taken and M’s bike was left on its side stand and not damaged. Sounds like an inside job to me.

When we reported it the hostel staff were indifferent to the point of hostile, the guy on duty was very aggressive towards us. While we were talking they said there was no need for the police and there was a bike shop just across the street where I could buy a new bike.

When we entered the shop and told the guy my bike had been stolen it was almost like he knew, then we realised that the shop sells the same brand of bike! He tried to sell me a local brand of cheap eastern European crap and not the big brand he also stocks, all very suspicious to say the least.

We decided to look further and the next shop we stopped in they were genuinely shocked and apologetic for this to have happened to me. They showed me their bikes and we talked about what I needed fitting. They made phone calls and arranged for parts to be delivered the next day. They did their best to get me on the road again, what a contrast!

Next stop the police for a report number; again they were apologetic and helpful. But as we all know the chances of getting your bike back are next to zero.

All in all a trying day, I know it is an inside job, I know the guy across the road is involved, I think my bike is probably inside the building still but what can you do?