But cyclors can.
The 38th America’s Cup will usher in what has been described as some of the "boldest" changes in the event’s 174-year history.
A cost cap, more regular racing, strengthened pathways for female sailors and a role for influencers on board a battery-powered AC75 are all part of the protocol for the event.
Yep. Battery-powered.
No need for the likes of Bond or former Otago multisport great Dougal Allan to supply the power through what were essentially exercycles.
They are out of work.
"It's a big change for the Cup, but I was not intending on being involved in the future," Bond said.
"With my age and stage and family, it probably wasn't going to work for me going forward, so personally, it hasn't interrupted my plans.
"But I know some of the guys and, although it had been rumoured, it will be disappointing for them."
Bond and wife Lizzie, who live in Dunedin, have four children. And his new challenge is being a stay-at-home dad.
"I've largely put myself and my sporting career as a priority for a very long time, so it's a little bit of a mental shift in the pace of the day."
Bond is among New Zealand’s greatest athletes.
He teamed up with Eric Murray to win Olympic rowing gold in the coxless pair in 2012 and 2016, and also claimed gold with the eight at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
He won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the cycling time trial and is an America’s Cup winner.
These days, his fitness regime is restricted to working out in the garage.
While the America’s Cup is seen by some as a corporate event, Bond said Team New Zealand got by on "a little bit less".
"It was certainly a novel opportunity and it was a great team to be involved with.
"They do have the reputation of the sort of Kiwi No 8 wire, where they just muck in and get stuff done, and that's not a beat-up. That's actually the way it is."
The decision to host the event every other year and have an influencer on the boat is another huge shift for the Cup.
"It's just the commercial reality that you have to move where the eyeballs are and, if you don't adapt, you're dead, sort of thing.
"The sport and the event face competition for commercial viability and these are the steps that people, who have far more information and knowledge than I do, have made to try and evolve."
