The 33-year-old is best known for his exploits on the water where he won Olympic titles with Eric Murray in the coxless pairs at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

But he switched to the saddle with his achievements on the bike seeing him win time trial bronze at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Oceania title.

Bond has now targeted a place in New Zealand's men's eight crew at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic regatta.

Before switching to cycling he was unbeaten in 69 races with Murray, who could now also compete in the eight.

"Your heart has to be in the right place to really commit to something like that and perhaps it wasn't [with cycling]," Bond said to Stuff.

"What day to day training and environment was I going to enjoy the most? 

"I thought the eight.

"I had the chance to take a step back and reflect on what I've done in cycling and what the process would be over the next 15 months moving forward.

"I really started to think 'this could be my last opportunity to get to the Olympics', or to compete on the big stage.

"And, if it is the last thing I do in sport, what would I regret not doing? 

"Or what do I want to do the most?"

Bond is also an eight-time world champion and could compete at Rowing New Zealand's trials next month.

"Certainly walking away from a job that's half done was the hardest part about it," he said to 1 NEWS.

"Cycling New Zealand have been really supportive and really good, the coaches, the athletes couldn't be anymore opening and encouraging in my transition and I really appreciate that."