TRAINING WITH KEV
Place of birth: Johannesburg
Date of birth: 06-06-1978
Resident of: Plettenberg Bay
Height: 172cm
Weight: 64kg
Years riding: 14
Advice money can't buy ...
South Africa's favorite mountain biking son, Kevin Evans, has joined forces with Dryland and the
Cape Pioneer Trek to supply you, the rider, with training and nutritional advice. Kevin, the South
African mountain bike marathon champion, is one of cycling's' really nice guys and extremely
knowledgeable in his field.
His years of experience, racing locally and abroad, as well as his
intimate knowledge of the terrain in the Karoo and Garden Route, will add immense value to the
riders' efforts in training for the Cape Pioneer Trek.
Here is a bit more about the man himself:
Born in Johannesburg on the 6th of the 6th 1978, I was extremely fortunate my parents, Leon and Carol Evans
moved out of the city and down to the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay when I was only 4 years old. I have
lived here ever since and would not choose another place to live unless I really had too. We have lived in
the area now for 25 years. The last 12 years we have stayed on a small holding in the Harkerville Forest
which is well known for its mountain bike trails.
Growing up in a small town was fantastic especially for the fact that you have to be an outdoors person. I
went to school in Plett, then High school in Knysna. I participated in various sports from cross country
running, athletics, rugby, cricket, soccer, hockey and cycling which was even a school sport! I began to
enjoy my cycling the most and competed in my first Knysna Crosscape cycle tour at 10years old.
I began
mountain biking at the age of 14 and immediately from then on I was hooked. I raced the national circuit as
a junior in 1995 and 1996 but struggled to compete with the top guys. But none the less I really enjoyed the
sport and even when not racing the circuit I continued to ride mountain bikes for the pure pleasure and fun
factor.
In my school holidays I worked full time as a waiter in my fathers restaurant Cranzgots, and part time as a
professional lifeguard on the beaches of Plett. All of my spare cash went straight into my bikes and with a
semi-sponsor from Wheeler bikes and Adventure Sport Trading I was able to ride some decent bikes.
After I matriculated in 1996, I went overseas for a few months and decided to travel a little whilst
broadening my horizons before I decided on what I was going to do with my life. When not travelling I was
helping my father with Outeniqua Biking Trails, a hire/touring company he started after selling the
restaurant which he ran successfully for 15years. In 1999 I decided to go to the States to Oregon to
complete a course on Professional Bike repair and Shop operation. I qualified there as a bicycle technician,
UBI (United Bicycle Institute) and returned home to Plett to open up a bicycle shop. As there was a gap in
the market for a bicycle shop in the town, Leon and I decided to open a small shop and see what happens.
The shop became popular and looked after many local riders and after three years we were in a bigger
premises and it is a successful business. I also began to ride much more as it was part of owning a bike
shop. In 2001 after Gary Stanley had moved to Knysna to run Knysna Cycle Works, he saw a small potential in
me as a competitive rider and helped me with my training. He always said it was a long term programme but if
I stuck it out I could be one of the best in 4 or 5 years. And as the years went on I raced more and more
starting with small sponsorships and slowly moving up to what I have now. This is my third year as a
professional cyclist and thanks to my Leon who runs the operation of the shop full time for me so that I can
race and train as I do.
My Fiancé, Karen, who I met in 1998 and have been together with for nearly ten years now has also like my
whole family have been a fantastic support for me and without that stable support, it would be very difficult
to race at the level that I'm currently competing at.
Kev's Average Program
Kev's Intermediate Program
Find out more about Kevin:
www.kevinevansracing.blogspot.com
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