ARID deserts, lush forests and spectacular mountain ranges will all pass under the wheels of David Davies motorbike when he takes part in Enduro India 2008. The 57-year-old Dunmow man is undertaking one of the greatest challenges of his life, to ride thr

ARID deserts, lush forests and spectacular mountain ranges will all pass under the wheels of David Davies' motorbike when he takes part in Enduro India 2008.

The 57-year-old Dunmow man is undertaking one of the greatest challenges of his life, to ride through more than 1000 miles of India's breathtaking scenery.

Mr Davies, a financial consultant from Church End, said: "It will be an amazing experience.

"It's an awe-inspiring country that I've always wanted to visit but never had a chance to."

The Enduro India event is a fund-raising rally that generates money for essential causes including children's charity Rainbow, the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Its route sees a team of up to

150 bikers riding Royal Enfield Bullet motorbikes, with modest 350cc engines, across a large

part of the southern area of the vast subcontinent.

Taking in regions including Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the two-week ordeal is a gruelling test of both man and machine.

Mr Davies said: "The bikes we ride, Royal Enfields, will be fairly recently built, but they're based on designs that go back 50 or so years.

"Fortunately, there will be a lorry accompanying us with plenty of spares to allow us to fix any breakdowns en route, as well as medics to attend to anyone who becomes ill or has an accident."

The Enduro India organisers ask each participant to raise at least £4500 in sponsorship, of which around £1500 will cover the cost of the trip.

Mr Davies is paying the £1500 himself, but hopes to raise the £3,000 through sponsorship.

"My daughter Georgina is the driving force behind the fund-raising - she's come up with the idea of giving our friends a jar each to fill up with loose change," he said.

"It can be difficult for people to just pledge £50, but if you just put your change in a jar each week you'll be surprised how quickly it adds up."

The 57-year-old got back into motorcycling three years ago, after a break of more than 30 years off.

Swapping the experience of riding his two-year-old Triumph Rocket around Dunmow for that of riding a Royal Enfield across rugged Indian terrain should prove to be quite a challenge.

"India's an amazing place, a real world within a world, with all sorts of scenery," said Mr Davies.

"I'm very much looking forward to the challenge."

If you would like to find out more about Enduro India, an annual rally, visit www.enduroindia.com