A STUDENT who took up cycling despite his brother having been killed while riding has appealed for help after thieves stole his bike while he was buying his mother a birthday present.

David Brady began cycling despite his brother, Paul, having died after an incident on the A19 in January 2008.

Paul Brady, a promising young scientist and national rowing champion, was cycling to George Stephenson High School, in Killingworth, Newcastle, where he was spending a gap year working as a laboratory technician when an incident occurred on the A19 in North Tyneside .

The 23-year-old’s inquest heard he may have been hit by a 38- tonne truck.

The driver was arrested but no charges were brought.

David, of Newton Hall, Durham, began cycling soon after Paul’s death and still wears his brother’s old cycling gloves.

The exercise helped him slim down from 16 stones to 12 stones.

His black Carrera 2 bike, which he bought for £400 in 2010, was stolen in Durham city centre on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Falmouth University student was in Grainger Games, in North Road, buying his mother Veronica a Nintendo DS brain training video game as a 56th birthday present when the bike was stolen.

David had left it outside, unchained but visible through the shop window.

He believes it was taken when he turned his back to go to the till.

He said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I feel very bitter and stupid for having lost it so easily.

“I chose cycling because of what happened (to Paul).

“Once I got into it I really enjoyed it and could see why Paul liked it. In a way it’s good to keep it going.”

Mrs Brady said: “I wasn’t keen when David started cycling.

Paul’s death knocked everybody.

It still hurts.

“But my sister said you can’t stop him just because of what happened to Paul.”

Durham Police are investigating the theft.

David appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone who can assist the investigation is asked to call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555-111.