World Cup winner Vickery has signed on as an official ambassador for rugby charity Wooden Spoon, and has admitted he feels humbled and proud to help raise funds for disadvantaged, disabled and socially deprived children.
Gloucester legend Vickery will haul his hulking frame on to the road for TNT's Great British Bike Ride, from July 5 to July 9.
Cycling from Land's End to Twickenham, Vickery will pedal the punishing 330-mile course alongside a host of other rugby celebrities, including the BBC's John Inverdale.
The Raging Bull cannot wait to make a fool of himself slogging his hefty frame up steep hills – all in the name of a good cause.
Fearsome tighthead prop Vickery was forced to call time on an illustrious playing career earlier this season, after sustaining one too many serious neck and back injuries.
The former Wasps Heineken Cup winner said though he no longer tilts his body to the rugby cause, it did not mean he could not put himself through the wringer in other ways.
Vickery said: "I did a lot of biking when I was rehabbing, and quite enjoyed it, but I've never done anything quite like this.
"So it's going to be a big challenge, and I'm looking forward to it.
"It's going to be a good gang, and people can join in.
"I've trained a little bit, but it's more the time on the bike that will be important.
"Because I'm such a heavy lump the uphill climbs can be a bit of a struggle.
"It's good focus for me, mentally as well as physically.
"I haven't let myself go after I stopped playing by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a good tool for my brain and to keep fit.
"More than that, it's a great cause and I want to raise as much money as possible for the Spoon.
"If I get made to look a bit silly along the way, then so much the better."
Vickery said he had accepted the role as official ambassador with Wooden Spoon in order to help the charity progress in the long term.
Hailing Spoon's work to improve the lives of youngsters across the country, he said he is only too happy to help.
He said: "Coming on board as an official ambassador allows me to have real clarity and real commitment.
"It's not about next month, it's about the long-term, years to come and hopefully trying to build a relationship.
"I'd love to be able to look back in one or two years and feel I've helped make a difference.
"I'm proud and humbled to become an ambassador for such a great charity.
"Sometimes there's a misconception about this charity. It's involved in rugby, but it's not for rugby players, it's for youngsters, and it uses rugby as a vehicle for fund-raising.
"So my role is to raise awareness, help raise money and take the charity forward and try to improve it.
"You're trying to give people opportunities, and trying to give them hope.
"I helped launch a boat for the disabled down in Henley, and you see the look on the kids' faces, just going down the Thames on a boat, and it's incredible.
"It's something you could take for granted, but then you realise it's only because of the hard work of a lot of people that things like that happen.
"Those sorts of things are going on all over the country through Spoon, and it makes a real difference to people's lives."
The TNT Great British Bike Ride will this year raise funds not only for Wooden Spoon, but also for Help for Heroes, the RPA Benevolent Fund, the RFU Injured Players Foundation and the Rainbow Trust.
The four-day route spans Land's End to Tavistock on the opening leg, next up is Tavistock to Yeovil, then Yeovil to Winchester on day three, Winchester to Esher on the penultimate shift – finishing at Twickenham on the day of the Middlesex Sevens.
Anyone interested in taking part must raise a minimum of £400, and can enter at www.greatbritishbikeride.com.