A British cyclist’s world tour took a shocking turn when his bike was stolen in Argentina, only for it to be returned in pieces. However, in a surprising twist, the cyclist has been promised a replacement bike from the manufacturer.
Zsolt Lokodi, a British national originally from Transylvania, Romania, had been on a bikepacking adventure around the world when his Surly Long Haul Trucker was stolen from a hotel garage in Argentina. After three days of police efforts, Lokodi was reunited with his bike—but it was far from the whole, intact bicycle he had left behind. The frame was sawed into pieces, and essential components such as the chainset and his beloved Brooks saddle were missing.
Lokodi, who had ridden the bike—named Ulysses after the legendary Greek hero—approximately 60,000 kilometers over two years, initially felt disheartened by the damage. However, the story took a turn for the better when he reached out to Surly, the bike’s manufacturer. The company offered to send him a new bike, a Disc Trucker, which he expects to receive within the week.
“I reached out to Surly and shared my story,” Lokodi explained. “They told me that, given the circumstances, they were able to send me a replacement bike, which really lifts my spirits.”
For Lokodi, who had worked as a carer in the UK for 20 years before embarking on his global cycling adventure, this marked a rare case of a ‘horror story’ with a ‘happy ending.
Before his bike was stolen, Lokodi had already traveled extensively by bike, including rides along the length of the Rhine River and through Central Asia. His journey had taken him from the UK through Turkey, Malaysia, the Far East, and Central America, before arriving in Argentina, where the theft occurred.
Lokodi believes the thief dismantled the bike with a saw, likely to sell the valuable parts. What remained was returned to him, and Lokodi donated the salvageable components, including the fork and wheels, to a local bike shop. The wheels, though worn from extensive use, were still in usable condition after 6,000-7,000 kilometers of riding.
While the bike was being recovered, Lokodi stayed at the hotel free of charge, with the hotel eager to make up for the theft. After retrieving the damaged bike, he traveled back to Chile, where he hoped to find a more affordable replacement. It was from there that he received the good news from Surly.
In keeping with the theme of his journey, Lokodi plans to name his new bike “Penelope,” after Ulysses’s wife, and continue his adventure. His plans include traveling back through Europe, exploring India and Nepal, and ultimately returning to the UK.
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