WHEN triple Olympic rowing champion Drew Ginn looks for a challenge outside his chosen sport he doesn't approach it with baby steps.In 2005 Ginn contested the Ironman Australia Triathlon at Forster, which consists of a 3.8km swim, 180.2km cycle and 42.2km run.Tomorrow the 34-year-old Port Melbourne resident will line up for the 261km Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic, the longest one-day race in the southern hemisphere.His introduction to competitive cycling followed back surgery for a ruptured disc after winning his third Olympic gold medal in Beijing last year, with Duncan Free in the coxless pair.He used cycling to regain fitness after Christmas, then started attending Fooscray Cycling Club road events."I had in my mind I would want a bit of a challenge by the end of the year and the Melbourne to Warrnambool is the biggest challenge you can get," Ginn said."I have no idea how half of this is going to happen with food stations and things like that. For me it is about having a challenge."Although Ginn hasn't ruled out a return to rowing, he has tested for track events at the Australian Institute of Sport. It may lead to the national time trial and pursuit championships next year, where he can gauge his suitability as a long-range candidate for the 2012 London Olympics."I'm a novice to what is required but all the numbers I've been producing in the last one (testing) are positive," Ginn said."I'm at the stage in my life where if I don't make it, all my sporting life hasn't been wasted."I'm enjoying it. I like getting out on the road with friends. "While I can keep the dream alive I will certainly pursue it."Ginn part-owns two Podium Bike Hub stores in Melbourne with former rowers Matthew Long and Christian Ryan.Ryan, formerly of Warrnambool, won an eights silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.Ginn said there were similarities between the sports in terms of physical demands. "The thing I'm aware of from a physiological standpoint is both have big motors," he said."The biggest difference is size. Cyclists tend to be a lot smaller."Ginn is 194cm tall but an intensive preparation for the Melbourne to Warrnambool has trimmed his weight to 81kg. Regular weekend training rides from Melbourne to his farming property in east Gippsland have enabled him to cover distances from 150 to 250km."For three months I was doing 450km a week, then a few 600 and 700," Ginn said."In the last month and a half I started ramping it up."Ginn conceded that covering 261km would be a vastly different proposition tomorrow at race pace.He said he was approaching the event in the same way that he tackled an ironman triathlon."If I come away from it having learnt a few really good things about myself and competing I can take it into the future."