Worcestershire CCC opener Daryl Mitchell will swap his bat for the saddle at the end of the 2017 season to take part in the Professional Cricketers' Association's latest Big Bike Ride.
Daryl – who was elected as new PCA chairman earlier this month – will put the onus on pedal power rather than stroke play for five days.
The 33-year-old is aiming to cycle for 360 miles from October 13-17 – with one of the stages ending in Worcester.
The third PCA Bike Ride is to support the PCA Benevolent Fund and Tom Maynard Trust charities and is also part of the PCA's 50th Birthday celebrations.
The schedule has still to be completely finalised – it will be tested in the Spring – but the plan is to start from Edgbaston and finish in Cardiff via Sheffield, Crewe, Worcester and Monmouth.
The intention has always been to link the two charities by starting at Edgbaston where the PCA was founded 50 years ago and finishing in Cardiff where the Tom Maynard Trust is based.
It will certainly be a challenge for Daryl and the other riders taking part but will also bring a sense of achievement and fulfilment that raising money to help others can bring.
Daryl said: "I went bike shopping recently and it certainly upset me the price of push bikes these days!
"It is a challenge isn't? I'm always looking at new challenges and I've threatened to do the last two Big Bike rides and either not been able to or bottled out of them.
"I'm committed to doing this one and am looking forward to the five days ride.
"My father-in-law is a big bike rider so hopefully he can show me the ropes and I can get a bit of training done when time permits in the summer.
"I haven't got a bike at the moment apart from a mountain bike and it is pretty dusty in the garage to be honest.
"It's two great causes. The PCA Benevolent Fund was part of my benefit year as well. I've just given a cheque over to the PCA for that.
"I played against Tom (Maynard) and know Matt (Maynard) very well so that's a great cause as well.
"I am sort of looking forward to it – with a bit of apprehension!"
The route as it stands at the moment is:
Day 1: 99.6 miles – Edgbaston to Sheffield Collegiate CC – (via Atherstone, Loughborough & South Wingfield)
Day 2: 60.0 miles – Sheffield to Crewe – (via Buxton, Alderley Edge and Middlewich)
Day 3: 85.3 miles – Crewe to Worcester – (via Market Drayton, Ironbridge and Cleobury Mortimer)
Day 4: 56.3 miles – Worcester to Monmouth – (via Ledbury, Mitcheldean and Lydney)
Day 5: 57.6 miles – Monmouth to Cardiff – (via Abergavenny, Newbridge, Caerphilly and St Fagans CC)
