..the only shop (or chain) to get almost as much bad press as Dave Hinde.

To quote someone else on their service standards; "I had the misfortune to be with a mate as he tried to buy a bike in a recently opened branch up this way. The shop was empty apart from us. We stood by the counter for five minutes as the so called assistant chatted on the phone. Then we stood there for another five as he chatted to one of his colleagues. After that they both walked off into the workshop. Another "assistant" sauntered over after a couple of minutes, and asked how he could help us. I said "I'd like to be served ten minutes ago", then walked out. "

 A fair assesment.

 I'm not sure I'd trust a company whose mechanics are unable to put a headset in the right way up to build my bike. I'm not sure I'd trust a company whose mechanics don't feel the need to use the retaining pins on disc brake pads to build my bike.

 I'm sure the bike is fine, as a bike, but before this own brand marque can go anywhere, Evans have to sort out their service problems. I know at times it looks like I am on a one man mission to slate them, but I'm not alone in thinking this, and I feel that the poor service provided by Evans is letting cyclists down. Sort it out, chaps. I'll even come and work for you as a consultant to change it all if you like!

 I had the opportunity to ride one of these for a couple of days in the Alpajarras after snapping the rear deralleur hanger on my own bike. It felt well dialled and handled the rocky single track no problem. The only problem was the brakes fading, but I guess they would be OK for the UK.

So given the components you are getting I reckon anyone with a £1,200 budget should give it serious consideration.

The only reason I would ever take a bike back to the place I bought it from would be if there was a problem with the frame - it would be interesting to know what guarantee Evans give on their frames.

I know at times it looks like I am on a one man mission to slate them

No, no, it's never, ever seemed like that at all :-/

It looks as if this review didn't quite get the story right.

Dave Weagle wrote, "I had absolutely nothing to do with designing that bike. Its an off the shelf K2 Apache design with different stickers."

You can read more here: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=347045

Arrogant staff, useless store, rubish service every time I have been in.

I would not buy anything from them on principle, and I am a pretty undprincipled sort of bloke.

Don't knock em, Evans gave me a great deal on a trek top fuel 8 2007 @ £915 plus 20% discount on all accessories and my mate got the tent Peak 2.0 for £1000, nice bike, full XT setup, ergon grips, much lighter than my trek, well made, top notch all round. If I could fault anything it's the cheapy monochrome paint job, at least they chose a nice colour, and the shite name. Who in their right mind suggested 'tent' as the name of an XC bike?

That said the Trek's getting it's first full service at the LBS so they can set it up 'properly'

Oh and in case you're reading this mate, good as the Tent Peak is, it's still not as good as my Trek

Evans must be borrowing serious lolly off someone. They're opening in some pretty pricey central London locations - stupidly so, in some cases. Their sotre on Shaftesbury Avenue has only one close rival - the Evans on Rathbone Place! So of course, each shop will get half the business it could.... Doh.

Shouldn't worry about them too much. Eventually the loans will be called in and they'll disappear as quickly as they came.

Kris, Action Bikes in Twickenham aren't a million miles away and I've always been very impressed. Also, try Richmond Cycles, have heard good things about them in the past.