Bobby on a Bike began as a plan to cycle across the USA, the idea came to Neil in October 2000 whilst out walking his dogs, he'd spent many days, weeks and months as a teenager watching his father, Robin, undertake challenges for charity. It all started with the Gloucester marathon in 1982, back in the days of the original 'flared' trousers ! Things went on from that, Robin completed numerous marathons, 3 London's, a Paris and a number of less well known.
The running began to incorporate walking, the first marathon walk he did was from Wellington, Somerset (his home town) to Wellington, Shropshire. Then came the 'biggy' - Wellington to Scotland and back again. Robin was a special constable at the time, with Avon and Somerset, he too was helped on his events by colleagues.
2000 saw Neil reach 35, and an 'ants in the pants' period of wondering what to do leading into his forties...on putting the idea of 2 months off work to cycle across the USA for charity to his bosses, it soon became apparent that this was not going to be happening, they picked themselves off the floor, trying to control the laughter...and politely said 'no'. So....it was back to the drawing board to think of a challenge that would only take a month, or the equivalent of the entire leave allocation for 12 months.
Canada to Mexico, 1,800 miles along the west coast of the USA was now the plan, originally known as 'cycle challenge 2002', but re-named 'Bobby on a Bike' by Neil's father in law, Norman (the support driver for 2002). For you first timers to the site, a 'bobby' is a polite nickname for a police officer, taken from Sir Robert (bobby) Peel, who is seen by many as the father of the original British police constable.
The first ever Bobby on a Bike took place in April / May 2002, with Neil and Tony riding and Norman Wilcock in support. Their good friends, John Bishop and Glenna Trout, helped a great deal in organising American Police Dept support for the ride. During the planning and preparation a team of cycle cops from Antwerp visited Neil and Tony, rode with them for a day and helped to promote awareness and raise funds for their chosen charities.
The plan in the USA was to cycle from Police Dept to Police Dept, stopping each night to eat drink and be merry with fellow law enforcement officers, not forgetting to raise a few dollars for charity as they went. Despite a crash for both Neil and Tony, at the 81 mile point on the first day, the event was a complete success. Charities on both sides of the pond benefited from the event, with over £15,000 being divided, the beneficiaries being, The Prostate Cancer Charity, The National Asthma Campaign (UK), The American Lung Assoc and The Fred Hutchinson Organization (USA).
On May 12th 2002, Neil and Tony stood at the Mexican Border, having just cycled 105 miles, looked at each other and said 'where shall we cycle to now'?
...a further request to take 2 months off work to cycle USA coast to coast was politely rejected...
So, in May / June 2005 the Bobby on a Bike team cycled from Canada - Mexico once again, but in fewer days than before. The team changed slightly, with Chris Rodda taking on the support role, assisted by Neil's son, Matthew. Jeff Cribb joined the cycle team, originally offering to take the support role, but before he knew it, he was on his new TREK and pilling on the miles in preparation....and how glad he is he chose to cycle :-)
The charities to benefit from this ride were, Suffolk Help in Multiple Sclerosis and The Miles Alder Trust.
Once again, the event was a great success, they met some wonderful people on the way, all saying, this was the one thing that stands out, the fantastic support and hospitality from the American people...the trip even inspired one police dept to organise a return leg of BOAB.
Coos Bay Police Dept flew into the UK in May 2006, to cycle UK Coast to Coast, as with Bobby on a Bike, they created a website for people to read about their adventures, www.coosbaytouk.org. They spent nearly 2 weeks in the UK, learning about the different policing styles and roles, also completing a 400 mile cycled ride, from Suffolk to Somerset. Jeff rode with them to navigate, whilst Neil, his wife, Mel and friend, Kirsty supported them. The end of the ride saw the entire thing come full circle and finish with lunch in the sun, in Robin's back garden in Somerset.
To date Bobby on a Bike has donated £32,000 to charity.
Bobby on a Bike seemed at an end... but....June 2008 saw the hardest ride to date, 4,295 miles across the Trans America route of the USA. Joined by friends they'd met from previous rides, Jim Halloran, Robert Lounsbury and Nick Furman, Neil and Jeff, joined by newcomers to bobby on a bike, Paul Ward and Laura Hicks, cycled across the USA in 26 days, averaging between 90 and 100 miles per day.
The monies raised from the 2008 event have been shared between The Prostate Cancer Charity and East Anglian Children's Hospices.
2008 saw the total, bobby on a bike has donated to charity, rise to nearly £40,000.
Thinking it was time to sit back and concentrate on a book, Neil and Jeff spoke about cycling the 2006 Coos Bay to UK route across the UK....just because they could.....however, after the sad death of their friend Gene Butler, who lost a very quick battle against cancer. They put the idea of a memorial ride for Gene, to his colleagues on the firearms dept at Suffolk Police, there was no hesitation......what a great way to remember a friend and raise money for the hospice that looked after Gene and his family. www.bobbyonabike.com/rideforgene.htm
It looks like there will be a reunion for all the bobby on a bike team, with Tony returning to ride with Neil and jeff again and for the first time with Paul and Laura.