WHETHER they are working off extra Christmas kilograms or taking in the sights of the south-west, riders of all shapes, sizes and ages are venturing out on the Port Fairy to Warrnambool rail trail.
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Although the 37-kilometre track is not officially complete, riders have already begun making the most of it, particularly the first 23.5-kilometre section from Port Fairy to Illowa and the 6.5-kilometre stretch from Levys Point to Warrnambool.
Both Warrnambool and Port Fairy visitor information centres have reported a large amount of interest in the track .
"We've had quite a lot of feedback and people making inquiries every day," Moyne Shire tourism officer Andrea Lowenthal said.
"Warrnambool and Port Fairy are great family destinations and people really like that they can ride and know that their kids are safe.
"Some people do a very short ride, they are holiday riders who maybe get on a bike once a year but it's great because they just go as far as they like and then come back."
Enjoying the ride with his son yesterday, Brett Pullyblank, of Melbourne, said it was a great way to spend an afternoon.
"It's an easy ride, especially now the surface is compact. You don't need to be an athlete," he said.
Koroit is proving a popular resting point for hungry riders, among them Melbourne's Charlotte Moltzer who took the opportunity to refuel at the town's bakery with her family.
"It's nice to be off the main road and cycle in peace in the countryside," she said.
Koroit Bakehouse owner and member of the Koroit business and tourism association David Francis said he was thrilled to see the popularity of the rail trail grow.
Mr Francis said he had seen a steady trickle of riders come into his shop, particularly on weekends in the past four months, but in the past two weeks the bakery had been a hub for rail trail riders.
Mr Francis said many visitors commented on the beauty of the ride which aims to showcase the local scenery and wildlife .
"There were plenty of detractors and people who thought it would be a waste of money so the people behind getting it up-and-running should get kudos for having the vision for this," he said.
Riders can get an extra boost on the trail with free water and a sausage sizzle lunch as part of a special Moyneyana family ride on January 15 to raise money for the restoration of the Koroit railway station.
