83-year-old Bradenton cyclist dies after achieving lifelong goal

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — At age 83, Bob Blanchard has finally achieved his seemingly impossible goal.

Earlier this month, a Bradenton man reached an unimaginable milestone: he rode his bike 200,000 miles.

He had been taking part in cross-country bike tours for most of his adult life, but to achieve his goal he needed one more ride.

He left Bradenton in May and reached Houghton Lake, Michigan, a few weeks later. About 1,500 miles was enough to reach the 200,000-mile mark.

However, the joy and joy did not last long. His journey ended in tragedy.

“I think because of the tragedy – the suddenness of it – it was just really hard for me… I’m sorry,” said Bob’s girlfriend, Judi Windle of Parrish.

Last Thursday morning around 8:30 a.m., a driver hit Blanchard as he was riding his bike through Bay City, a small town north of Saginaw. According to family members, Blanchard was leaving his son’s house on his way to his daughter’s house.

“I felt angry. I felt shocked. I felt disbelief,” said his son, Tommy Blanchard.

According to his children, questions still arise about how the collision with the cyclist who was the first to practice safety rules occurred.

“You can’t ride a pedal bike 200,000 miles and have all those miles become unsafe,” said Scott Blanchard, another of Bob’s children.

Meanwhile, in Manatee County, Windle is struggling.

“I’m expecting those morning texts,” she said through tears. “Those afternoon texts.”

In 2016, she lost her beloved husband of 53 years and never wanted to love again.

Then in 2020, she met Blanchard. They bonded over shared picnics on the Braden River during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We just clicked,” Windle said.

Now her heart was broken again.

If there’s any consolation, she knows her late boyfriend died doing what he loved.

“As hard as it is to lose Bob, I said, ‘God bless him.’ He did what he loved. Few people can die saying, ‘I did what I love and I did it ’till my last breath.’ And yes, that is comforting,” she said.

According to WJRT-TV, the driver who hit Blanchard is a former officer who claims he was looking down in his car before the collision.

Michigan authorities are investigating the matter.