Cyclist's journey cut short in Santa Fe

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) - One man’s quest for adventure may have been cut short after his bike was swiped during a pit stop in Santa Fe.

Colin Sproule, 25, was on the tail end of a grueling 2,500 mile bike ride when he made the decision to stop in the Capitol city.

“Was having a few mechanical problems and Santa Fe was the closest bike shop probably about 40 miles off the route so I cycled out here to seek repairs,” Sproule said.

The Canadian left Calgary August 14, setting out for an adventure on his bicycle, he chose the Great Divide Route created by the Adventure Cycling Association.

“Essentially what it does is follow the Continental Divide from Canada down through to the New Mexico, Mexico Border,” he said.

With the exception of what Sproule calls the inevitable mechanical issues with traveling so far off road, he said the ride had been pretty smooth that was until Tuesday night.

Sproule said he rode over to the Kmart on St. Michaels Drive from his motel to pick up some batteries and that he was in and out.

“Unfortunately it was not locked up so foolish mistake on my part pretty classic bike error,” he said.

Someone capitalized on that error and rode off with Sproule’s bike and the bags that were on it he said he actually saw the person riding away on it.

The bike and the accessories on it cost about $1,500.

Sproule filed a police report and took to the internet asking people to keep an eye out he said the response has been pretty amazing.

“The cycling community of Santa Fe has been really great to me I had a couple people email me about the possibility of lending me a bike to finish the trip or get home,” Sproule said.

At this point he has not made a decision yet as to what he plans to do but he did say it would be pretty great to be able to finish his adventure on a bike that someone lent to him.

Sproule is offering a $350 cash reward for the return of the bike although he told KRQE News 13 he did not expect the bike to turn up while he is in town.

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