A cyclist from Manorbier recently completed the challenge of riding push bikes from Eilat to Mount Hermon in Israel in unbearable heat.

In four days, 20-year-old Josh Fiddy, a member of Tenby Aces from Manorbier, and his friend, Sebastian Burst from Linkenheim in Germany, also aged 20, cycled over 500km through the Negev Desert, then along the Jordan Valley in temperatures up to 40 degrees C, before on the final day cycling up Mount Hermon where their finishing line was.

"We cycled right through the Negev Desert in headwinds and temperatures reaching 38 to 40 degrees, climbed out of the Mitzpe Ramon Crater, cycled past the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth, along the Jordan Valley to the Lake of Galilee, through unbearable heat, and then from the Galilee to Mount Hermon, the northern peak of Israel," said Josh.

"Most people who cycle Israel, ride from north to south, as the prevailing wind pushes you, and you don't have to climb the crater or Mount Hermon, but we wanted to be different, so cycled south to north," he continued.

It took the duo, who camped at nights, 80km on the first day and they realised how much harder it was going to be than they thought.

By 100km into the first day, the pair were sheltering in a derelict bus shelter from the desert heat and strong winds.

"We were deciding how we were going tell our support team that we were not going to be able to make it to Mount Hermon, and should change to a tour of the Negev Desert," explained Josh.

"But we carried on, we prayed to God for help and strength, and the support team encouraged us not to give in.

"The second day, we fell into a rhythm, and made up lost time, making it to the Dead Sea by sunset.

"The third day was hard, as the heat was very intense, and it was a long distance, but after cycling for around an hour extra in the dark, we made it to the Galilee," said Josh.

On the fourth and final day, the cyclists started at the Galilee and cycled the final 77km to the top of Mountt Hermon, which has an elevation of 2,814 m (9,232 ft) and a prominence of 1,804 m (5,919 ft).

"The scenery and nature we saw was unbelievable, the beauty of the landscape, the deserts, the seas, the oasis, the mountains, were all incredible. It is an experience that I am sure we will never forget," said Josh.

"We celebrated with champagne at the top, with sore legs, sun-burnt bodies, and sore bums from the saddles.

"We couldn't have completed the challenge if it was not for the awesome work of Ina Lackert (Germany) and Jasmine Marrero (USA), who acted as our support team, carrying all the food, camping equipment, and liquids.

"They cooked our many meals, took lots of pictures, and set up the camp each night, and packed it up again.

"Thanks also go to our friends and family, with their messages of support, and finally to God, who answered each and everyone of our prayers during the challenge!" added Josh.