Usually, her arms only come in handy for steering her bike. World champion cyclist Alison Shanks has been brushing up on her rowing skills, and sailing for that matter, ahead of a unique challenge later this month.
The 30-year-old pursuiter has agreed to participate in the Anza Challenge - a five-day relay race around New Zealand against a crew from Australia.
Teams will row, sail, bike and run 1300km around New Zealand to raise money and awareness for the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.
Shanks, who had a hip operation four months ago, said she was planning on pacing herself during the rowing legs.
She has a Commonwealth Games gold medal to defend in Scotland next year but the will to compete, whatever the contest, is still strong.
''We're actually racing against an Aussie team and we're head to head against them for the five days,'' Shanks said.
''And it is a fantastic cause. The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation gives kids the opportunity to participate in sport.
"Sport has given me so much over the years and I think everyone deserves an opportunity to give sport a go.''
The Anza Challenge starts in Wellington on October 15. The teams have to row, what amounts to the length of Cook Strait (230km), on rowing machines.
Day two, the teams run and cycle the 415km from Nelson to Christchurch.
There is an early rise on day three for the 355km run and cycle to Dunedin, where the teams will tackle the world's steepest street, Baldwin St, before a run into the Octagon. Expected time of arrival is from 5.30pm to 6pm.
There is a 141km run from Hamilton to Auckland the next day and day five will see the teams run to the Viaduct Basin to join their America's Cup yachts for the match race on the Waitemata Harbour.
On the Sunday there is a 10km fun run around the Auckland Domain.
Joining Shanks in the New Zealand team are former All Black Marc Ellis, television presenter James McOnie, Black Stick Gemma Flynn, Olympic gold medal rowers Nathan Cohen and Joe Sullivan, paralympians Danny McBride (rowing) and Nathan Smith (cycling) and Olympic silver medallist Blair Tuke (sailing).
Once the event is finished, Shanks will turn her attention to the Oceania cycling championships in Invercargill in late November.
''That is sort of the next stepping stone for me, really. The world cup season is still being decided by BikeNZ ... and long-term, there is the Commonwealth Games in July.''
Shanks and husband Craig Palmer will relocate to Cambridge, where BikeNZ is based, in January. The couple are in the process of building a house.
''It is going to be sad to leave Dunedin but I guess you have to go where the jobs are. That is the reality of it, really.''
