Bobbies on the Beat: Riding 80 miles a day – we must have been in Seine!

Oct 6 2010 By Mark Cowan

WHEN three biking bobbies from the West Midlands pedalled their way up to the Eiffel Tower they could be forgiven for not showing their joie de vivre.

For the three constables had just completed a marathon 400-mile cycle raid from Solihull to Paris in aid of Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Pcs Adrian Mills, Neil Shuter and Robert Maxwell had nursed sore legs, a puncture and almost being run down by a car during the four-day ride

When they arrived beneath the French landmark, Adrian admitted he wanted to throw his bike over the bridge and into the Seine.

But knowing they had raised about £3,000 for the much-needed charity but a smile on their faces.

The officers hit upon the charity riding idea during a quiet night-shift on the streets of Solihull and decided to make it international rather than riding acorss the UK.

The only problem was two of the trio had not ridden a bike for years when they came up with the idea to help the charity.

But they put their fears to one side when they set off from Solihull police station on September 26, riding up to 80 miles a day to complete the trek by last Friday.

“We had a rousing speech before we set off from a gentleman from Acorns and it was quite emotional,” said Pc Mills, aged 25 and an officer for five years.

“That was something that really pushed us on.