For both Napier City Council chief executive Wayne Jack and pharmacist Andrew Spence yesterday was a busy day.
Busy with a few work commitments as well as busy on two wheels.
They were part of the 17 riders who kicked off the competition ingredient of the great Summer Cycling Carnival which began on Wednesday and runs through until tomorrow.
Well, sort of. The real competitive element effectively sparked up with the elite time trial events. But an hour before a group of mainly local club riders set out to ride the 20km course across the flats and hills of Greenmeadows and Puketapu in the Traffic Design Group Flying Lap. And the non-combat riders were keen to post their own targeted times.
Mr Jack, who took up cycling about five years ago after having been a competitive swimmer, had several targets lined up yesterday but had to taste the course for himself first.
"It's not often people get to ride on an elite course and it's great to get the public involved in things like this."
His target was not to get overtaken (they took off two minutes apart) and go for a time of around 35 minutes - which he achieved.
But at something of a cost.
"That is brutal," he said while catching his breath and wiping away the perspiration after crossing the line.
"How the elite guys can do two laps is beyond me - it shows the very different league they are in."
Mr Jack said Napier had again "turned it on" for the championships and carnival.
"And look, the wind has stayed away so far," he said with a smile.
For Mr Spence, who has enjoyed riding for about 20 years, it was his first stint on the elite course, having missed the opportunity last year as he had been out of town.
So the family shuffled the holiday dates this year and he was able to take on the clock over the course he often rides on throughout the year.
"It's such a great thing to be part of and it's great for Napier and the region," he said, and his target of 35 minutes was well achieved with a 34.05.
"Oh yes, I'll be heading in to work later," he added.
Both agreed it was a challenging but enjoyable start to the day.
Michael Klingenberg travelled down from Cambridge to join in, and said he took up cycling about 18 months ago.
His fiancee, Kirstie James, was set to ride in the elite women's time trial event so he decided to have a shot at the course as well.
With a smile he said he took up cycling as he "had to keep up with Kirstie" when she went out riding.
Ms James summed the course and the region up for everyone.
"This is so beautiful here, and no wind," she added.
Last year's time trial events were seriously wind-blown.
Teenager Max Williams posted the fastest time with a 30.45min which equates to an average speed of just less than 40km/h.
He and 15-year-old Jonno Williams are both in the Under-17 National Development Team and showed their class, with Jonno knocking the course off in just under 33min.
There were claps and cheers from friends and family as they set off and returned, with former racing professional and event ambassador Julian Dean acknowledging what the participants had achieved in the event, which is steered by the Hawke's Bay Ramblers Cycling Club.
"It is a testing course out there and it's tough over on the back side of it with those climbs."