So said more than 30 mountain bike riders, who gave up watching the first session of the Boxing Day Test to ride from Warrnambool to Port Fairy and back again.

The group left Warrnambool about 7.30am yesterday, following the rail trail to Koroit and Port Fairy.

They made the return trip about 10am, completing a total of about 75 kilometres, which helped burn off the Christmas calories.

Warrnambool Mountain Bike Club president Brett Easton said he was encouraged by the popularity of the annual event.

“There were somewhere between 30 and 40 riders, probably closer to 30. I was impressed,” he said.

“The concept is getting out there — going for a ride and getting Christmas lunch moving.

“It’s about getting off the couch and for a few of us it was a family day. I had my parents there on bikes they’d bought for Christmas.”

Easton said the club had both new members, such as Rob and Rose Owen, as well as long-time regulars take part.

The youngest rider was five-year-old Fred Hughson, who managed five kilometres.

“He’s pretty young with his first bike. He did the start then he said ‘I’m pretty puffed’,” Easton said.

Club members will return to competition with the TP180, a three-hour enduro at Thunder Point Coastal Reserve on January 18.

“Entries are starting to come in. We’d like more people to get their entries in,” Easton said.

“It’s generally a bit of a late run but the more entries we can get in early, the easier it is for us.”