An experienced cyclist who was shot multiple times by an unknown man while riding on a popular trail in country Victoria says he thought it was "lights out" on his life.

Kelvin Tennant, 72, a retired school teacher, was riding his motorised push bike through the popular Myrtleford-Everton Rail Trail about midday on February 18 when a man got out of his car and started shooting at him.

Mr Tennant was shot once in the abdomen and twice in the face, leaving him with severe hearing difficulties and vision problems.

One of the bullets fragmented as it struck his face.

The grandfather of eight said he yelled at the gunman: "Why are you doing this to me?" after being hit, but the shooter did not respond and remained silent during the exchange.

"I thought at one stage this is it, lights out any moment," he said.

"I thought it's over but I suddenly had a very strong conviction that this day is not the day that God is going to let me die."

Mr Tennant said he was surprised the gunman did not then stand over him and "finish the job" and was surprised that he then drove off.

Extraordinarily, Mr Tennant did not reveal to two other riders who helped him after the attack that he had been shot.

Police call for two riders to come forward

Police are yet to make any significant inroads in capturing the gunman, but believe the offender was driving a dark-coloured sedan.

Kelvin Tennant (L), with his wife and grandchildren, says he harbours no anger towards the gunman. ( Supplied: Nick Tennant )

Mr Tennant could not provide them with an accurate description of the man.

Police have also called for two other riders, who stopped to help Mr Tennant but left before emergency services arrived, to come forward.

After spending 20 days in The Alfred hospital and rehabilitation facilities Mr Tennant said he harboured no anger towards the gunman.

"I'm neither here nor there, in many ways I feel sorry for the people that do these sort of things, I'm not going to waste energy on being angry," he said.

"I've been given back to my family and I'm going to make the most of what I've been given."

Mr Tennant said he was familiar with the area and often rode the trail.

He said the experience had not deterred him from riding there in the future.

"I've done tens of thousands of kilometres now and what are the odds of meeting someone like that again? I'd happily do that [trail] again," he said.

Police have called on anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.