Motorbike challenge for pensioner

Tony Dicker's trip will take him to cities, mountains and national parks

A 70-year-old fundraiser is back on a motorcycle for the first time in decades to ride 1,200 miles in India.

Tony Dicker, of Cyncoed in Cardiff, will face hairpin bends and unfriendly wildlife when he takes part in the Enduro India challenge.

Despite not having ridden a motorcycle for 40 years, he has bought a Royal Enfield Bullet to prepare for the ride.

He is raising funds for Cancer Care Cymru after his wife Anne died from the disease in 2003.

Mr Dicker, who leaves on Sunday, said despite his lack of recent experience on a motorcycle, he felt confident he would complete the course.

There's a few broken limbs but I'm not expecting to come off

Tony Dicker

"I've ridden and driven about one-and-a-quarter million miles in my life and I've had one accident when I overturned the car in February 1992 on black ice in Kent," he said.

"About two-thirds of people come off during the [Enduro India] challenge apparently. There's a few broken limbs but I'm not expecting to come off - I'm careful."

All riders use Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles and Mr Dicker bought his last year to practice on the streets of Cardiff.

Despite his complaints about the Welsh capital's traffic, he will face sterner tests in India.

The 10-day journey from Goa to Cochin in southern India will take him to mountains, cities, tea plantations, national parks and even a wildlife sanctuary featuring elephants, hyenas, bears and big cats.

"One day we do 250km, another day is 300km and there are several of about 200km. It's a fair old whack each day and I was thinking it would be a little bit less than that," he said.

Challenging stages

The Enduro India website describes the section of the journey to Ooty as "one of the most amazing rides in India".

The site says: "This 'road' doesn't appear on any maps and certain stages have been closed to foreigners since the 1960s.

"Riding this road, and its 100 hairpin bends, is one of the most amazing and challenging stages on the rally. Don't rush it, riding on earth doesn't get much better than this."

Mr Dicker, who has run four London marathons, said the hairpin bends did not really frighten him and he was "really, really excited" about going to India.

"I haven't ridden in Switzerland but I've got friends there and when you drive up the passes with hairpin bends it's wonderful. On two wheels [in India], it's a bit different," he said.

Cancer Care Cymru chief executive Debbie Whiteley said: "Tony is an absolute inspiration with his energy and sense of adventure."