Coma, commitment & cycling: 'OUR LOVE'S GONE THE DISTANCE'

Even in their 80s, life is one wild ride for these two!

- Kasia Jillings

It was 1956 when a young Joy Dromgoole and Bruce Crabtree first caught one another’s eye as students at Auckland’s Takapuna Grammar School.

“I was 13 and Bruce was 15,” recalls Joy. “The bus would drop us girls back to school from cooking class, and we’d quickly duck behind it where the boys were waiting and give our baking to whoever we liked. Bruce says he ‘got the baking and the girl.’”

They share a rare love that has seen them delight in their family, support one another through hard times and travel the world together by bike.

“Since the late 1980s, we’ve ridden over 45,000km, which is apparently the circumference of the globe,” says Joy.

According to NASA’s measurement of 40,075km, they’ve actually cycled around the Earth and then some, despite only taking up the sport in their 40s.

“We share so many special moments while we’re cycling, like Bruce giving me a flower he’s picked as a surprise every ride to put on the side of my handlebar bag,” tells Joy, who has always appreciated Bruce’s romantic gestures.

In their early courtship days, Bruce even joined a choir to spend more time with Joy.

“I had a chance to sing in the church choir,” explains Joy. “Bruce, who was normally sailing at the weekends, decided to join too. He always walked me home after rehearsals.”

The pair also enjoyed their Saturday evenings at the EdenRoskill RSA.