Six times Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Sir Chris Hoy has said he is "evangelical" in his desire to change the UK's cycling culture – but does not see himself as a bike-riding Jamie Oliver.

In an interview with the Times he said that he would like to give something back to the sport that had made him Britain's most successful Olympian and "see our country become like other ones where cycling is just part of the culture."

Asked if he'd become the government's official cycling champion – a position that doesn't exist but was recommended by the Get Britain Cycling parliamentary report – he said:

"In theory I would love to do it. But it's a massive commitment. You would have to eat, sleep and breathe it."

The image of a barrel-chested, prodigiously thighed Knight of the Realm sticking up for cyclists' rights certainly does have an appealing aura to it. In the same way Jamie Oliver captured the public's imagination with his campaign to improve our diets, maybe Hoy can improve attitudes towards cycling?

Certainly Chris Peck from national cycling charity CTC believes so:

"Someone like Hoy would be a huge benefit as a cycling ambassador. As such a highly regarded figure he could also help maintain and build a cross-party consensus on cycling, as well as championing cycling in government, local authorities, schools and workplaces."

Hoy is keen to play down the Jamie Oliver comparisons though, telling the Times:

"I would love to see more people on bikes. I am not saying it as a Jamie Oliver crusade – one person trying to change things in a massive way – but if I can help out in making it more easy, more appealing, more popular. I am a bit evangelical about it, but I genuinely believe that cycling can change people's lives for the better."

Though admitting he had no interest in becoming a politician, he said it would give him an "immense sense of pride" if he was able to help to ensure that in 20 years' time there were "bikes everywhere".

He also said that now was the perfect time to act, following British riders' success in the Tour de France and Olympics.

"If we don't do it now, when can we do it?" he asked. "We are at the peak of our attention from the general public. If we don't do it now people just settle into it and think, 'Well, this is the way it's always been, we are different from the rest of Europe and that's just the way it is'. We do have to strike now."

Hoy said that being involved in such a culture change might be even more satisfying than his Olympic medal triumphs, in the same way Lord Coe had admitted that organising the London 2012 Games had been more of an achievement than winning his two gold medals.

"Who knows. At the moment it seems so far off. Imagine in 10 to 20 years' time, bikes everywhere, and the immense sense of pride that what you have committed your life to since you were a wee boy is becoming popular and people are understanding it and enjoying it."

What do you think? Would Hoy make an effective cycling champion for the UK, or are there more suitable candidates out there?