A local businessman will be turning to pedal power next week when he saddles up for an Alpine charity bike ride.
A member of the Pembrokeshire Freewheelers Cycling Club, 56-year-old Allan Keating, of Mount Pleasant, Saundersfoot, is one of four members from the club to be embarking on a 473-mile challenge.
The cyclists begin their ride next Friday (August 29) in Geneva and expect to cross the finishing line in Nice just over two weeks later on Sunday, September 14.
"The ride over the 'Route de Grandes Alpes', takes in some 15 alpine ascents, the highest being just under 300-metres," explained Allan, who is taking part in the event to raise money for Cancer Research in memory of his wife Vee, who died from breast cancer just over two years ago.
"I took up cycling after my wife died and have been doing it for about 12 months now, and although I've been on some quite long rides in this country, I've never done anything like this," continued Allan, who runs his own company, Microaid, an IT Services and Payroll Bureau.
"The three people I'm going with are experienced cyclists, who have in fact cycled in the Pyrenees before, so I will have good support from them.
"The ride is not supported by ancillary vehicles or anything like that, so we will be taking everything we need with us, or we have to buy it along the way," explained Allan, who is also a member of Tenby Golf Club.
"It is not like some long sponsored rides, a sort of relay, all four members will be cycling the whole route - all being well.
"Since January I've lost over a stone in weight so that's a bit less weight to haul up the mountains.
"My training has included cycling up hills like Freshwater East, but even that can't be called an Alp.
"One thing I think puts it into perspective is that the highest Alp (Col D'Iseran) has the ski resort of Val d'Isere about half-way up and before it gets steep."