When talking about bikes there is one name particularly synonymous with innovative design work and high production standards over the years - Evans Cycles.
During 2012, Evans Cycles celebrated 91 years of providing cycling equipment - though the company is now focused on selling high quality bikes as opposed to designing and building them.
Originally founded in 1921 as F.W. Evans Cycles (by F.W. Evans), the first store was located in southeast London, on Kennington Road - a location the business traded from for more than 50 years. Over time it gradually gained a reputation for its frames and bikes.
The achievements (in regard to the design of its bikes) were recognised when the business was awarded with a silver plaque for 'The greatest improvement in cycle design, construction or equipment during the year 1925'.
This particular award recognised the low cost production and innovative design of one of the store's rear wheel dropouts.
Evans Cycles would continue to make innovations throughout the 1930s, with the launch of the Evans RR (featuring a high manganese frame) in 1934 and the 21" touring bike in 1939.
F.W. Evans then passed away in 1944, and the business was eventually sold in 1950, to a man called Joseph Smith.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the store would continue to sell and produce high-quality bikes. However, during the 1960s, Gary Smith, Joseph's son, became increasingly involved with the store - leading to the development of the store into a specialist retailer of high-quality bikes.
The business operated from the Kennington Road store for more than 50 years. The decision was taken in 1977 to relocate the business to Waterloo - a site that the business continues to trade from to this day.
During the 1980s, they continued to produce more of their own-branded bikes and the business continued to grow. Stores in Woking and Wandsworth opened in 1984 and another in Kingston opened a year later - all under franchise.
Further stores would also open in Croydon - in 1990 - and in Waterloo Road, in 1996. During the 1990s, Gary Smith worked with Mark Rice, who was the owner of the Croydon store franchise, to bring all of the franchised stores under the control of the company.
It was at this time that the business branched out further - launching a catalogue from which customers could order items by post. This allowed it to supply a bigger range of cycling products to a considerably larger audience. In order to successfully do this a distribution centre would be required, which led to the establishment of one in Surrey.
To take advantage of the growing opportunities the Internet could offer, Evans Cycles then launched its website in 1999.
In the next decade, the company would continue to expand further - with stores opening in the West End and Holborn. Between 2003 and 2007, the business would go national, opening a number of stores across England and Scotland.
Active LLP then acquired a majority stake in the business during 2008, with the family of Joseph Smith retaining a minority investment within the business.
A growth in the popularity of cycling- thanks to national, government-approved schemes such as Ride2Work - saw Evans Cycles once again expand, with a further nine stores opened, as well as the state-of-the-art Central Workshop in London.
In 2011, Evans Cycles celebrated its 90th birthday by opening its 43rd store - in Guildford.
Evans Cycles used to be known for the top-quality bikes that it manufactured itself, though now the company focuses on selling the best bikes by other manufacturers. This article charts the growth of the business from its beginnings in a small London shop to the well-known Internet retailer it is today.