In the sport of cyclocross, not quite.
Sure, there is some pedalling involved in the sport which draws big crowds to events in Europe, but the 30 elite competitors taking part in the national cyclocross championships in Wanaka today might be carrying their bikes as much as they are riding them.
The 25 elite men and five elite women will tackle a 3km course at Lismore Park for 50 minutes which involves wooden barriers, a mud hole and a couple of ''evil hills'', event organiser Andrea Murray said.
Cycle World Dunedin managing director Matt Dunstan is one of six Dunedin-based riders taking part, with a leg of the national points series to follow at Queenstown tomorrow.
Dunstan said the sport, which had its origins in France and Belgium as a way for road cyclists to keep fit during winter, had grown across New Zealand, and Dunedin had a local series in which up to 50 people had taken part.
Some might wonder why competitors do not use mountain bikes, but Dunstan said the weight of the bicycle was just as important as its strength, and road bicycles were used in the sport's infancy as well.
''That's all they had when they started,'' he said.
''And I guess it adds another factor to it. In theory, you can do it on a mountain bike, but generally with the mix of terrain, you'll be faster on a proper cyclocross bike.
''Having to lift them up, if you can get it as light as possible, that's to your advantage as well and there's quite often some stairs.''
Yes, stairs. Obstacles play a large part in cyclocross and Dunstan has already encountered a few different hurdles so far.
''We went up into the grandstand at Littlebourne at Otago Boys' [High School] one day.
''At Tomahawk, we had to go through a stream, so it was a salt-water crossing on a freezing day.
''And at Whare Flat one week, we went through the confidence course, so with the swinging tyres, people were hitting the people behind them.''
The bicycles look solid yet sleek, but there are restrictions. Tyres may not be more than 33mm wide, the handlebars cannot be more than 50cm wide, and all bikes must have drop-down bars.
The championships today will be held from 11am, with the elite class racing at 2pm.
The final leg of the national points series will be held at Whare Flat next weekend.
