A couple of news snippets from Evans Cycles, the UK’s largest specialist cycle retailer. First up in the announcement of two new stores, extending Evans’s already sizable empire yet further.

The first store to open will be Chiswick at the end of February 2007. The 1700 square metre store in Chiswick High Road will carry up to 150 bikes on the shop floor as well as a huge range of cycling accessories and clothing. There’ll be a workshop and two full-time bike mechanics – Evans is expecting increased demand for servicing and repairs.

“We’re delighted to be opening a store in Chiswick” said Michael Rice, managing director, Evans Cycles. “It’s a prime location for us, being just outside the Congestion Zone, we’re expecting to see sales driven by commuters avoiding the Congestion Charge and the ever-increasing tube prices”.

Plans for the Hendon store, set to open in May 2007, include a huge 3000 square metre shop floor capable of showcasing 300 bikes, accessories and clothing. Again, there’ll be a workshop facility and fully trained mechanics. Both the Chiswick and Hendon branches of Evans Cycles will have the extended hours of 8am to 8pm during the week.

“The opening hours of 8am to 8pm have been a success,” said Michael Rice. “We introduced these opening times 2 years ago to cater for commuters and have proved to be a good service to them”.

Evans watchers will be unsurprised to learn that that’s not all that the chain has planned for 2007 – it’s in the process of confirming locations for a further three stores to be opened this year.

In other Evans news, the chain has struck a deal with the Metropolitan Polics to supply bikes to officers and staff to ride to and from work. 40,000 Met workers will be entitled to a tax break and, in effect, lots of money off a new bike through Evans’s Ride2Work programme, a government-backed scheme based on the Green Transport Plan. The Metropolitan Police joins 773 other organisations already taking advantage of Ride2Work.