I have significant arthritis in my neck. I regularly do McKenzie type neck exercises and core exercises. It helps but it doesn't eliminate the problem. But the help for me was significant. This summer I did a four day ride ranging from 60 to 75 miles a day. My neck held up until the fourth day. I think I ended up with trouble because day three was a tough ride into the wind so I was a lot more tense.
If I don't keep up with the exercises all the time my neck gives me grief. Sometimes it gives me grief anyway.