"I've been a regular runner for years and I've never been swooped by a magpie," he said.

"Pedalling is new to me, I've only ever commuted to work about 10 minutes, now I'm trying to get fit and do this ride in Cambodia.

"I never realised how much debris there is on the side of our roads, how rough they are."

The Pedal for Progress ride was organised to raise money for the Cambodian Children's Fund (CCF), to help fund one of its satellite schools for 12 months, Mr Mugavin said.

"The are trying to raise enough money to cover school books, teachers, school maintenance and food," he said.

"Food is a big incentive to go to school for children in Cambodia because in the past they were expected to look after siblings or go out to work.

"CCF is an Australian-based charity which is organised out of Phenom Penh.

"They want to change people's perception of education, and its role to lift people out poverty. It has the power to lift the whole community."

Mr Mugavin, a chef with Tasty Plate, is running a number of fundraising events including a raffle to win a dinner party, with a goal of raising $3500.

He has a long association with Cambodia, having travelled there on three previous occasions to visit his sponsor child Lyhour.

The ride will begin in Siem Reap, near the Ankor Wat temples, and travel to Phenom Penh.

Mr Mugavin will be the only Victorian member of the 12-person ride team to make the six-day trip.

"The bike ride is designed to raise enough money to support the satellite school," he said.

"The group is aiming to raise $80,000 to fully fund the school for 12 months. In Australian dollars it's nothing, this would not even cover one local teacher's wage."

Mr Mugavin heads to Cambodia for the Pedal for Progress ride in November. Anyone wanting to support the ride can email mugavinjames@yahoo.com.au.

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