He’s a Canterbury and New Zealand cycling hero, Olympic athlete, mentor, coach, and now a real estate agent. Cityscape spins the wheels with the legendary Hayden Roulston.

What have you been up to since retiring from cycling in 2016? I set up my coaching business guiding a range of athletes, from weekend warriors right through to riders that go on to win national championships. It’s been really rewarding but at the same time very stressful knowing your guidance has a huge outcome in a rider’s career. I was also men’s endurance development coach for Cycling New Zealand.

What’s your favourite part of Canterbury to see on two wheels? The Port Hills and the Akaroa hills. We are so lucky to have that sort of terrain on our doorstep. I just liked being up high in the hills looking down on the amazing city we live in and also knowing it was an easy ride home!

What’s your take on Christchurch’s upgraded cycleway network? I think they have done a great job to be honest, but both cyclist and motorist still need education on road etiquette. It is easy for one to the point the finger at the other but at the end of the day both are at fault sometimes.

You’ve recently started a new career – what brought you to real estate? Cycling is literally all I have done, so making this change hasn’t been easy. I actually ran into [Harcourts gold business owners] John and Lynette McFadden about 18 months ago and they mentioned if I was ever keen to go into real estate, to get in touch. I felt a little too comfortable doing what I was doing and I felt like a change and a personal challenge. I’ve always loved property and follow the market closely, but to be perfectly honest I just felt like it was now or never to change careers.

Outside of work, what are you passionate about? My family are the most important thing in my life. I’m married with three children, Moses, Rose and Eli, and I treasure time with them. I still love cycling, anything fitness related, and I am a big fan of boxing and mixed martial arts.

What are you looking forward to this year? I'm looking forward to my new career. I've been an athlete my whole career then involved in coaching. For me, a change is like a holiday. Apart from that, being around my children growing up, pushing the boundaries, learning and testing the waters and all that, for me it’s really great to be a part of.

What do you think Christchurch needs the most? A 250-metre indoor cycling velodrome. After seeing it transform the likes of Invercargill and Cambridge, it would be amazing in a big city like Christchurch. It is also exciting entertainment literally right in front of you, and has the ability for other sports to use the facility and benefit too.

If you could make one change in New Zealand, what would it be? I would make kids’ sport free or at least heavily subsidised. Kids’ sport is now unaffordable for many, and with the price of everything rising it is only going to get worse.

Fave material possession? Probably my old faithful road bike, and my gravel bike.

Favourite drink? Red wine, but I am also enjoying a few beers nowadays.

Your vice? Those that know me well know I love my chocolate.

What excites you about Christchurch in the winter? I love winter. I love running in those cold but sunny mornings. Winter sport with my kids is also a positive, although a rather cold positive at times.

If you could invite anyone, living or dead, to dinner, who would it be? Eddy Merckx. He's an old time cyclist, one of the really big ones. David Beckham would also be quite good.

What are you binge-watching at the moment? I am very bad (or good) at binge-watching. I tend to like series like Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, and Californication.

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