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I started working for Evans cycles in April 2009.  Currently I ride a DMR Rhythm 24inch wheel, I use this mainly for street riding and skate parks, I also own an Iron Horse Sunday team (I use this at Aston Hill and PORC, but am hoping this year to use it more in Wales, Scotland and France – Mega Avalanche, here I come!).

I started working at Waterloo Road in a shop floor position until August 2009 when I got a promotion to a key holder position in the Rathbone Street West End store. In October I moved to Chalk Farm in the same position. In February 2010 I did 2 months at head office to work on the till system help line that was being introduced to all stores.  In April 2010 I was offered at Assistant manager’s position back at Waterloo Road store which I accepted.

The best thing about working at Evans is being around bikes all day as I have a big interest in them. Also the people play a big part, customers and work colleagues are very like-minded people. Every day brings another challenge/problem to solve whether it be shop or customer related.

The reason I still work at Evans it feels so young and is growing so fast. There are chances to move up in position and move around to different stores or departments for other experiences are exciting.

I joined Evans out of convenience at first as when I started at uni there was a store (Holborn) in the bottom of my halls! Why did I stay at Evans though? Because the atmosphere within a store tends to be great, I’ve made more best friends at Evans than anywhere else.  I’m very lucky given my position that my bikes tend to change fairly regularly but I normally cover all bases, road, tri, singlespeed, mtb. Most of my miles are commuting but if I’m in the UK a trip to Afan is always good. I try and get away at least once a year to ride my bike overseas as well just for a change of scenery.

 

I have worked since June 2006 full time and from October 2001 part time whilst I was studying.  I worked in store throughout uni and full time in holidays, became assistant bike purchaser, then bike buying manager and later Bike Buying and Merchandising manager.  The aspect of Evans I like the most is the atmosphere – its friendly company in a friendly industry.  The reason I am still with Evans is because the company has tremendous potential, it helps bring cycling to new people every year and most of the time we have a laugh.

On a snowy day in December, coming back home from a muddy ride through Richmond Park, got a puncture. I changed the tube and carried on home, stopping in at Evans, Chiswick to buy some more patches. A sign in the window stated Part Time Sales Assistant wanted, so half joking said to the guy serving me 'Don't suppose that position is still open?' to which the reply was 'Go for it; it would be nice to have someone in the shop older than me'!  One week and one trial day later, started splitting my time between parenting the nearly teenage daughter (nightmare) and selling lots of lovely bikes!  Day one:  thought I knew a lot, day two realised I knew nothing.  Now at day several hundred and still realise that there is always something new to learn!

 

I currently own a big blue steel ‘bus’ which I use on a daily basis, panniers included.  An old Klein hardtail (XT & XTR) which has seen active service in the Peaks, Lake District, North York Moors, Cornwall, but these days nowhere more demanding than a towpath or Richmond Park.  I recently acquired a (very self-indulgent) BMC Racemaster, which took me round my first 'sportive' on a beautiful sunny day in Northern Ireland back in June (North Down CC Coastal Challenge).  Felt so good at the end I could have ridden it again!

 

 

 

I was Part Time for one year and have been Full Time for one year, during which I quickly became the Assistant Manager, and then a move from a Metro store to Fulham.  A career at Evans is the best fit for me as I love the bikes, the chat (staff & customers) and getting bums on saddles!  Seeing other staff raise their game & bring something extra to the store.

Working at Evans Cycles is not just a job for me - it’s my lifestyle. Every day I meet like-minded people on the shop floor, some of them adding to their collection of steeds, some just looking a for a new angle on riding.

 

It’s not often a customer comes into the shop and I just sell them a bike, more often than not we swap stories on an amazing piece of trail we’ve just ridden or a new downhill line that’s been thrashed.

 

For 3 years I’ve been working at Evans and I still enjoy the shop floor. Working in this company you have a chance to work your way up and putting your input into a passionate business. Unfortunately I had to refuse two job promotions one in bike purchasing and the other as assistant manager due to me giving birth to a future mountain bike champ Willow Ophelia Pearson - remember the name!

 

Any chance I get to ride I take it, on my Cove Handjob bombing down fast flowing single track or downhilling onboard a Kona Stinky Primo. Over the years my riding has taken me to the French Alps, Scotland (7 Staines, Fort Bill, Innerlithan) the Lakes, Hamsterley and local trail Dalby forest.

 

My three words to describe Evan Cycles, passionate dedicated staff.