Top cyclist wants his very special bike back

MUCH is made of Vittorio De Sica’s ground/heartbreaking 1940s motion picture, The Bicycle Thief, which is based on a very simple ideal for a story — man against the elements.

In this case the elements are of a society that is often cruel and unforgiving, and that a job in post-war Rome is looked on as the luckiest of good luck charms.

Fast forward to 21st century Ireland. I, a life-long cyclist, both competitive on the Irish national squad and more recently, as a commuter, believe strongly in the merits of the bicycle as a commuting and health solution.