Pinnacle Arkose
Price £825 to £1,400, evanscycles.com

Despite the boom in biking that has gripped the country for the past decade, cycle shops are still closing at an alarming rate. Evans, however, is stubbornly holding out against the tide. Founded in 1921, it’s the UK’s largest high-street cycling retailer with more than 1,000 employees and 250 qualified mechanics. It stocks over 40,000 products and has more than 50 stores. It’s safe to say that what Evans doesn’t know about bikes isn’t worth knowing. So if you are in the market for a bike, it’s not a daft place to start your search. One model that may catch your eye is the all-new Arkose. It’s made by Pinnacle, which is Evans’s inhouse brand. This means it won’t appeal to badge snobs, but canny riders can get themselves on a quality machine at remarkable prices. There are seven bikes in the range, divided between dirt and road, and rising in price from the £825 D1 to the flagship £1,400 X. What really makes the Arkose frame stand out from the crowd is its unparalleled versatility. You can fit either single or double chainrings, electronic or cable gears, disc brakes and larger wheels to suit your needs. Internal dynamo light routing and mudguard mounts are all standard. Time for a visit!

Cool kit

Waterproof and rack-mounted, this posh bike bag from Samsonite means you’ll arrive in style. Messenger bag, £95, samsonite.co.uk

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter@MartinLove166