He left his shop to be run by his manager and joined the Royal Air Force when war broke out in 1939.

The firm was acquired by equity companies in 2008, entered administration in 2018, and was then purchased by Sports Direct (current Frasers Group).

He created what The Bicycle UK magazine described as a quick-release and reversible rear wheel device, an ingenious feat for which he was awarded the Cyclists' Touring Club's first silver plaque as the inventor or producer of the greatest improvement in cycle design, construction or equipment during the year 1925.

[3] Evans edited the Cyclists' Touring Club's Cycling magazine before opening a bike shop in Westminster Bridge Road known as F.W.

[3] When Evans died during the war (knocked down by a milk float) his wife took over the business for several years, before selling it to Joe Smith in the 1950s.

[4] During this time the Evans Cycles mail order catalogue was launched, requiring a central distribution centre, later established in Leatherhead, Surrey.

[8] British private equity firm ECI Partners then acquired a majority stake in the company in May 2015[9] for £75 million.