Businessman Richard Fikkert is swapping the refined world of beauty care for the macho life when he joins Harley Davidson bikers for a special centenary ride along Route 66, in America, next month.

Richard is set to join other enthusiasts from around the world to take the trip of a lifetime to celebrate 100 years of the Harley.

His beloved Harley Davidson Softail Deuce has already been shipped across to America and Richard, joined by friend and fellow enthusiast Mike Hall, was flying out today to pick up the bikes and head for the start of this 2,500 mile ride along the most famous route in the world.

The lads will be stopping off en route to join in the many Harley celebrations along the way and expect the ride to take 11 days.

The journey ends in a mass rally at Milwaukee, where 50,000 bikes are expected and many events are lined-up, including a tour around the Harley Davidson factory.

Richard, 38, heads the family run firm Fikkerts Ltd, based in Crossflatts, which specialises in manufacturing natural, herbal skin care products for the gift trade.

"We supply such firms as Boots, English Heritage, National Trust, S F Cody and Heals, in London, so this is about as far away from the world of beauty as you can get!

"We are obviously limited to how much we can carry on the bikes, so you can imagine the aroma from the bikers by the time they have arrived in Milwaukee -- but I don't think it will be quite the right time to sell perfumes and essential oils, do you?" said Richard.

"This is certainly the chance of a lifetime. It is every biker's dream to ride Route 66 and I am sure we will return with some amazing stories to tell."