AN ABINGDON man’s bikes have been stolen two months before he is due to take part in a 100-kilometre charity cycle ride.

Charles New was training for the London Nightrider charity ride to raise money for prostate cancer research.

His father Ken was diagnosed with the disease last year and is now undergoing radiotherapy.

But on Monday, April 9, Charles found that both his bikes, worth more than £800, had been taken from their storage unit.

The Nightrider is a night-time event around the capital on June 9, starting at 11pm at Crystal Palace.

Mr New has already raised about £700 for the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Mr New, 33m from Coopers Lane, said: “I’m shocked about it. I would feel slightly better if someone was getting something out of them but the frames were cut to remove them.

“And the fact that I was trying to do something good makes me livid.”

Mr New had bought a top-of-the-range lock to protect the cycles, but this was left untouched as the thieves cut through the bike frames to remove them.

He said: “They used a pair of bolt-cutters to cut the frame.

“The bikes had some pretty expensive components, so they must have been broken up. The police have been very helpful.

“I loved the mountain bike that was stolen and any chance I have of getting back, whatever is left of it, would be welcomed.”

The stolen bikes were a metallic orange Kona Koa mountain bike with Fox forks and a red and white Giant OCR road bike.

Mr New said one of his friends had since offered him the use of a bike to train on and, if necessary, take part in the ride on.

Abingdon police said no-one had been arrested over the theft but anyone with information should call them on 101.

To sponsor Mr New, see uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ CharlesNew