But instead of mounting the roads on high horsepower two-wheelers, his posse is aboard low-grunt postie bikes which groan up hills.

“Originally we considered doing the bike ride on Harleys and BMWs, but it was going to be too easy, so we wanted to make it as hard as we could and we’ve succeeded in our goal,” Mr McGinn said.

The Posties Bikes for Prostate ride left Mr McGinn’s hometown of Hobart on Friday and will conclude in Cairns on September 9.

Already a fundraising target of $50,000 has been reached, but it is hoped more will be raised by the 12 riders, including Wodonga couple Andrew and Janet Crocos, and six support crew.

Among those supporting the cause is bale wrap supplier Tapex which is donating $5 from every roll of blue wrap sold to Australian Prostate Cancer Research.

The colour is symbolic of prostate cancer and riders visited a Staghorn Flat farm on Monday to promote the deal with some bales wrapped in blue.

Mr McGinn, 56, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 52 and three months later had his prostate removed.

“If I had not pursued the specialist the blunt reality is I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

“We want to get that message out there because we’re finding it frustrating how hard it is to get guys to do health check-ups.”

Mrs Crocos, a relief teacher, echoed Mr McGinn’s sentiment.

“That’s the main objective, we want men to get in and get themselves checked,” she said.

Mrs Crocos and Mr Crocos, who recently retired as a wild dog control manager, have known Mr McGinn for three or four years through motorbike circles.

The mail bikes were bought from Australia Post, after having delivered parcels and letters around Hobart and each amassing an average of 30,000 kilometres.

They will be sold off at the end of the trip with ride co-ordinator Eric Myers saying they were a big change for the participants who come from as far away as Western Australia.

“We’re all big bike riders but these are one-tenth of what we normally ride,” Mr Myers said.

“They’re like little toys to say the least.

“Most of us are used to riding large BMW-type touring or off-road bikes.”

The Honda postie bikes have a top speed of 70km/h with some riders struggling to go beyond 30km/h when riding uphill.

To donate, or follow the adventure, go to Postie Bikes for Prostate on Facebook.