Roger Aiken, one of the very best domestic riders, said he was never good enough to move up to the next level in the sport and never really wanted to turn pro badly (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
One of the best road and cyclocross riders in the country on his day, Roger Aiken has said getting fit and maintaining his condition is harder than ever.
The Team ASEA man was a comfortable winner in Sunday’s sixth round of the Ulster Cyclocross Series, albeit in the absence of Glenn Kinning who has won three of the opening five rounds.
And though he still gets a buzz out of winning, Aiken said he’s not at the level of previous years, purely because he’s getting older.
“Philip Cassidy told me he didn’t use a heart monitor or speedo training; so I just go on feel”
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“A couple of years ago I was unbeaten but because I’m getting a bit older I’m not at that level anymore,” he confessed.
“I’m starting to feel old; I have to do a bit more training to keep the weight off and it comes back on easier.
“My motivation isn’t what it used to be either. I was never that motivated anyway for the push bike; certainly not as much as other guys.
“I like cycling for sure, but as far as applying yourself to training; I’ve never had a massive love for it.”
Winning the opening stage of the FBD Rás into Emyvale in 2005; Aiken has been best known for his off road riding in recent years but he is a special on the road too.
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In his early 20s Aiken was one of the standout riders on the home scene and raced on the continent for a spell with what is now An Post-Chain Reaction.
But he felt it was never for him – partly because he knew he wasn’t good enough.
“I could never see myself getting to the next level and there was no ambition there,” he said.
“I went to Belgium at 24 and saw the work you had to do to move up.
“Maybe if I committed a wee bit more and if someone had said there was a possibility I could progress but there wasn’t.
“It was hard out there to do the big training, you needed a three-year plan but I was going day to day and when you’re not getting results it becomes harder.
“It was something to do when you were 19; ride the bike. So I took a year out of work but I had a good job and to give that up to chase a big lottery, it was something I wasn’t prepared to do.”
He still has goals, such as the cyclo-cross nationals and the road season next year with Team ASEA.
“I have an eye on the road season next year which is why I’m doing these cyclo-cross races but I don’t want to burn myself out by March so I'm not taking it overly seriously.
“When I go to race, I race 100 per cent and I don't sandbag but there's a long year there.”
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