Kevin Kalff needs a good breakfast after biking the 20km from his home in Hastings to his Napier workplace.
The Napier Police Area Commander has been one of the many cyclists participating in the commuter challenge, which started Monday last week.
The joint initiative between Bike Hawke's Bay, MP Chris Tremain and
the Radio Network is aimed at encouraging people to bike to work daily over a two-week period.
As an added incentive, free breakfast is given to cyclists at a different Napier business each morning. Those who cycle on at least five of the days also go in the draw for a trip for two to ride the Otago Rail Trail.
Inspector Kalff said he had regularly biked to work before his two-month trip overseas in August/September.
The cycle challenge had provided him with the motivation to "get back into it".
"Some parts of the anatomy were sore for the first few days but I'm getting back into the rhythm," he laughed.
Mr Kalff is no stranger to the bike, having cycled daily from Lower Hutt to Wellington when he was working there.
He also completed the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge for three consecutive years.
He does not consider himself a top cyclist but Mr Kalff said he got into biking to keep fit, an important aspect of his job.
"I never got the opportunity to go for runs at lunchtime so I got into that," he said.
Mr Kalff said he thought the commuter challenge was a "fantastic idea" and encouraged others in the region to take part.
* The final breakfast for the bike to work challenge will be held tomorrow at Classic Hits, Dickens St, Napier from 7am-8.30am.
