how to start a tour

I have a (privately published) book by a reverend gentleman who cycled north from South Africa to Cairo during the second world war. His bicycle was stolen from outside the bank while he withdrewn money just as he was to start. In his case, it had not occurred to him that he needed to lock up the bicycle.

Another bicycle was procured. He travelled with a (never used) siren on his handlebars to frighten elephants, and he had leather bags hanging over the top tube to carry water. He wore a woollen jacket at all times and a sun helmet. Otherwise he had very little luggage, and managed to find somewhere to stay just about every night. Eventually he ran out of time and much of the journey up the Nile by train and riverboat.

I had my new bike stolen within 5 hours of buying it last summer. Nothing really seemed to ease the frustration and helplessness of the situation (I was broke from spending my last penny on the bike, and was now out of transportation). I had my eyes peeled for the bastard for a few months (...did I really think he/she would be riding it down the street?), but in the end I just had to let it go and buy a new one.

Since then I've bought a D lock (I had a cable lock before) and I also lock my tires to the frame. Even then I still worry.

Bike thieves are really the lowest of the low...

Very sad.

One bit of advice not mentioned is to 'trash' your new darling. Mat black paint, sticky tape, get rid of the makers name and model stickers etc. These professional thieves know what they want and intend to sell. A 'trashed' bike is much less sellable unfortunately.

Alternatively, ride a (well specc'd) wreck - that looks low value.

Thanks to all for the comments, advice and sympathy.
Since our initial stumble, things have been looking up, perhaps it's karma working in our favour. The Cambridge press have loved the story and with the papers, radio and local tv covering the story, a local bike shop (Station Cycles) decided to help us out and are supplying our new bikes for less than half price, arriving today (hopefully). We have also managed to get some money back from house insurance and so shouldn't be too much out of pocket, if at all. The worst thing is that we've missed out on our warm-up tour and that we'll have to break in our Brooks saddles from scratch again.
So it's not all doom and gloom after all, and we have learnt lessons from it too. Our replacement bikes are the same Ultra galaxies but we will be sure to scruff them up straight away, we are carrying D-locks and cable locks (for the front wheel) at least until we are out of England. We will also be more careful with the bikes whilst in cities and if we do have to leave them will do so under cameras if there are any.
With our bikes arriving very quickly (there happened to be a Dawes rep in the shop when we were trying to sort out the replacements), we should be OK to keep to our leaving date on the 23rd April. Thanks to everyone for their comments, which soothed our pains in a low time for us both! Lesson learnt: it's never as bad as it first seems.

Its amazing how well a disaster can turn out. Hope you have a great trip.

yeah, for sure i agree with number 12 simonhill. you gotta make your bike look like a piece of junk. i put black tape over any writting or bright bits on the bike and actually on most of the frame is black tape too. my bike is not very expensive so if it gets stolen its $1000aus to replace and not $5000 like a lot of cycle tourers i have met. i also just take my bike into any shops, pubs, hostels and certainly never leave the panniers on the bike if it is unattended.