The Bendigo Bank foursome will contest the 50km class in the Rockshox Gold Triangle Epic.

The epic challenge will be run as part of the national championships which are being hosted by Bendigo Mountain Bike Club for the first time.

Souter, 32, was one of the first to take up the lunch-time cycling challenge.

“Depending on the weather and work commitments, the size of the group on a Wednesday usually varies between four and eight,” Souter said yesterday.

“It’s just a great way to keep fit, and also for relaxation,” he said of the cycling hit-outs.

Macauley and Baker joined up at least three years ago and have since taken on the challenge of various races.

Both are looking forward to competing in such an elite event.

“To have a national championships so close to home is fantastic,” Macauley said.

“It was too good an opportunity to pass up,” he said of entering the event.

Baker has ridden on the Sedgwick trails several times.

“The single track sections can be tricky.”

Training for the trio has varied between two and six days a week.

The Rockshox Gold Triangle Epic will be part of the build-up to the one-day Otway Odyssey next February.

A field that includes two world champions will line up in the 105km marathon at 7.55am on Sunday at Sedgwick.

Cyclists will also be able to tackle a 25km course, or as the Bendigo Bank-team is doing, the 50km trek.