Convinced To Sign Up By A Good Buddy, My Coaching Consisted Essentially Of Laps Around Regent's Park On The Bike I Received From My Parents As A Batmitzvah Present.

Though not normally gullible, the portents weren't promising in the lead up to my participation in the Norwood bike ride in Croatia. Swayed to enroll by a good friend, my training consisted primarily of laps around Regent's Park on the bike I received from my parents as a batmitzvah present.

Over three months, my brakes broke and I lost the key to my bike lock while it was chained. My man and training partner broke his hand and a bike he was due to borrow was robbed. But ignoring the danger signs, we joined 25 other riders on the cycle, which raised £32,000 for Young Norwood.

Also taking part were two Ravenswood residents - Richard Tooke, 52, who has Downs's syndrome, and Jon Feuchtwanger, 62, who has a mild learning incapacity and dysphasia, which is affecting his speech.

The residents cycled on tandem bikes with Ravenswood sports experts Nigel Trumper and Michelle Bass and were a consistent inspiration.

Beginning in Makarska, southern Croatia, riders were transported by ship to the pretty island of Hvar, where a nice morning cycle was followed by the major business of a 1,200 foot climb. Everybody was exhausted but the group mentality was a great motivator.

Makarska Riviera is part of Dalmatian coast of Adriatic, about 60 kilometers long and only a few kilometers wide, squeezed under soaring mountain Biokovo. Bright climate and long pebbly beaches make this region a well-liked tourist destination. A string of settlements along the coast from the border with the Omis Riviera on the northwest to the Neretva delta on the southeast. We are very proud to offer you the large number of quality accommodation facilities in all the places of the astonishingly beautiful Makarska riviera.

Makarska is a town in the Split - Dalmatia county of Croatia, population 13,716 (2001). It is found on the Adriatic coast of Dalmatia, about 60 km southeast of Split and 140 km northwest of Dubrovnik. It is a traveller centre, found on a horseshoe shaped bay between the Biokovo mountain and the Adriatic Sea. The town is noted for its palm-fringed promenade, where trendy cafs, bars and speciality shops overlook the pretty harbor where many pleasure craft are tied up.

Arrival to Makarska over Biokovo, from Vrgorac offers an astounding superb view of riviera, from Drasnice, Podgora, Tucepi, Brela, all of the way to the Split, and in front to the islands Brac, Hvar, Korcula and cape Peljesac.

Center of Makarska is an old town with narrow stone-paved streets, a main church square where there is a flower and fruit market, and a Franciscan priory that houses a sea shell collection featuring a giant clam shell. The majority of the city's hotels are found just off the bay and their own non-public beaches.

In Makarska, one can find many hostels, pubs, bar, pizzerias, coffee bars, pastry shops and everything else needed for a tranquil and carefree holiday in the sun-bathed shores of the Mediterranean. Tourism in Makarska began way back, even before the development of the hotel Osejava in 1914. The biggest town square is found in the town center, close to the waterfront - the square of Andrija Kacic Milosic,where many cultural events take place. The square was named after the most renowned dalmatian poet.

For some, the rapid descent was even more alarming with the dramatic drop of the cliffside just inches away. Ari Raymond, a 26-year-old promoting executive from Hendon, was riding in memory of his late cousin, a Ravenswood resident.

"Having seen the difference in my cousin whenever he came back for weekends with my family, I knew there was something the work Norwood do," he revealed. "But I couldn't quite appreciate how much and to what lengths they are going to give residents the top level of care attainable. Seeing the tandem teams made me aware of how much I am taking for granted in my life."

Hopeful of a restful Saturday, participants found out that the leisurely walk along the promenade reported by last year's group had been supplanted by a difficult trek up a mountain higher than Ben Nevis.

Reaching the 4,600 feet summit was very rewarding but the return journey on loose stones was even harder than the challenging walk up. The trek took eight hours to complete.

On Sunday, there had been another ship journey to the island of Brac for a 1,700 foot climb by bike. Hurting bodies took some time to heat up but the whole group made it and were rewarded by ten kilometres downhill and an incredible beach at the end of the forty mile route.

The bicyclists also included businesswoman Nina Forman, whose family were among the Ravenswood founders. The 36-year-old from Golders Green started out "really nervous" but ended up enjoying herself immensely. "Whilst it was tough work, I am up for challenging myself."

Leonie Gold, 30, an assistant news editor from Borehamwood, expounded that "facing a relentless bike climb on our first day, I puzzled how I was intending to make it. Then I turned round and saw Richard and Jon pedalling up the mountain on their tandems. This was all of the inspiration I needed. It also helped being besieged by a number of the most beautiful shore I've ever seen."

Norwood intends to raise £800,000 from bike rides this year, writes tagza.com.