Federal parliamentarians get used to the rough and tumble of political life but those participating in the 2008 Pollie Pedal had to contend with strong headwinds, a huge dust storm and driving rain.

For Parramatta MP Julie Owens, the extremes of weather were all just part of the experience.

The 2008 Pollie Pedal was the 11th in the charity fundraising event's history and covered 1030 kilometres from Melbourne to Sydney.

By the time she finished the gruelling eight-day cycle last Tuesday, Ms Owens had, with colleagues Tony Abbott, Pat Farmer and Chris Hayes, contributed to raising $200,000 for prostate cancer research at the Millennium Institute at Westmead.

Ms Owens also made history by completing the ride for a third consecutive year and being the only female politician to do so.

"The worst bit was a massive headwind and ridiculous dust storm other side of Junee," a tired but jubilant Ms Owens recounted at the barbecue staged by the Millennium Institute at the finishing line at Westmead.

"There was a 40 kilometre an hour headwind and dust and then, the next day squally rain, so everything was just covered in mud from the dust storm the day before.

"This morning's final leg was wet and horrible and there were three spills."

Ms Owens, a fit 49-year-old workaholic, was due back in her electorate office on Wednesday and said she would spend much of the next week regaining muscle strength by eating large amounts of carbohydrates, doing gentle stretching exercises and a little more easy cycling.

Apart from meeting new people and supporting a worthy cause, Ms Owens said the highlight of the ride was when Australian international road racer and six-times Tour de France veteran Stephen Hodge led the group on a 50 kilometre downhill race on the second last day.

"We rarely got below 45 [kilometres an hour] and we screamed along down Razorback out of Mittagong. It was just fantastic being on the back of a world class legend. Just magic," she said.