Meet a Wanderer – Bob Evans

Here are Bob’s thoughts around our questions…

1. Favourite bike?

The short answer to this must the “the last bike that I bought”. I started racing in the 1960s on a steel bike that probably weighed around 15kg or more. This didn’t seem to slow Eddy Merckx very much but I’m certainly grateful for the fast, light, comfortable bike that is the modern carbon, aero, fat-tyred and disc-braked equivalent.

2. Miles per week?

Well, it’s kilometres for us, non? When I was riding more seriously it was around 400k per week in the summer. Now I’m pleased if I do 150k, less in winter because when it’s cold, wet, windy or icy I’ll be on the Wattbike and Zwift. Perhaps this should be my favourite bike…(This sort of question is better directed at Peter Baker.)

3. Standout ride and why?

Difficult one this. I suppose that the ride that is seared into my memory is the one that I did with Dom Lowden and Frosty a few years ago on Gran Canaria – 160k and 4,200 metres of climbing in one day. As you can imagine, the legs were a teeny bit tired after that. The beer(s) afterwards however, have never tasted so good.

4. Why you started riding?

As a kid in south-east London you rode a bike to get around. Inevitably, this meant trying to ride faster than the next kid and so, like the progression from soft to hard drugs, it was inevitable that I joined a cycling club, worked in a bike shop to feed my habit and then moved on to racing – Crystal Palace, Brands Hatch, road races, etc. Bearing in mind the inevitable ‘the older I get the faster I was’, I thought I was doing quite well at road races but then I discovered sex, drugs and rock and roll (too much of the last two and not enough of the first) so of course it all fell apart for a few years.

5. Longest ride?

In one day? In the recent past I guess it was one of the Gran Fondo Pinarellos – from memory around 210K plus into the Dolomites. Lovely rides though.

6. What’s your biggest cycling achievement?

Being still able to ride at 77 and getting a Bronze medal in the World Masters Games road race a few years back

7. Favourite local road?

This has to be the road from the A27 junction at Wilmington going south towards Cadence Cafe. Great views on both sides. (I know I’m not alone with this choice). Also the last 500 metres of the road before my house after a long/hard ride.