I HAVE to hand it to you, like me, you have good taste.

I guess that you are also well over 6ft 4in otherwise you would not need a silver/black, 22in-sized frame, Giant brand bike, with disc brakes, upgraded adjustable front suspension, new saddle with blue stitching, new big silver pedals, new crank, new brake and gear cables, not forgetting the new chain, gears and a rear luggage carrier, one silver and one black bottle holder.

Don’t forget to paint all of the scuff marks to the frame, carrier and front forks. Just beware though, the gears are in need of tuning, don’t want you to stall, and end up under a bus!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention the black plastic toe clips, it takes practice to get used to them; I may be wrong to presume, but if you ride with the pedals ‘upside down’ you could catch the clips on the tarmac if you corner fast at an angle, it might hurt if you came off !

You obviously really liked the bike, as in the process of stealing it, you wrecked the locked roof/bike rack combination and also damaged the roof of our car, which my wife and I bought brand new only a year ago. So don’t concern yourself too much will you, my insurance will pick up the tab for the repairs to the car and a hire car (as will everyone else’s insurance premium) altogether ca.

£1,000.

We though, both hard working and honest people will have to pay £250 excess, the bike rack part will set us back a further £90, oh not forgetting the bike, replacement value of £500. Peanuts for you though isn’t it, you don’t have to pay a penny! But don’t worry; the police and insurance company are keen to make your acquaintance.

The problem is, like many hard working and honest people we do not have such sums available; it’s nearing Christmas. We go to work and save up for what we want.

Something you might like to consider in future?

Not only have you caused great upset and financial hardship, you not only inconvenienced us, but also children who were due to attend cycle skills training which I have had to reschedule.

VINCENT LICENCE, Calmore.