DJ ‘never enjoyed exercise at school’ ahead of 400-mile bike feat

Radio presenter Owain Wyn Evans has opened up about his long-standing struggle with exercise, revealing that bullying during his school years made physical activity an unpleasant experience. As he prepares to embark on a nearly 400-mile cycling journey for Children in Need, Evans spoke candidly about how this challenge is not just physical but deeply personal. The BBC Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show host will cycle from Glasgow to Cardiff over five days, covering a distance of approximately 643 kilometers between November 9 and 13.

Originally from Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, Evans acknowledged that this upcoming feat is mentally demanding. “Mentally, for me, it’s been a challenge,” he stated, adding his hope to motivate others to embrace exercise and to understand that their previous negative experiences do not have to define their relationship with physical activity. This is Evans’ second endeavor organized to support Children in Need, following his 24-hour drumming event in 2021 that successfully raised over £3 million.

Despite his enthusiasm, Evans confessed the difficulty of this undertaking. He explained that during his school days, he was often bullied and never felt comfortable in places linked to sports, such as changing rooms or playing fields. “I was bullied and I found going into a changing room, football field or rugby pitch… were places I didn’t feel safe when I was growing up,” Evans shared. He hopes that viewers watching him take on this tough journey might relate to his experience and realize, as he has, that it is possible to change their own attitudes toward exercise later in life.

Evans described himself as neither a cyclist nor an endurance athlete, admitting surprise at taking on such a physically demanding challenge. “I didn’t even own a bike before this,” he said. While he expressed some doubts, asking, “Am I good enough? Am I going to be able to do this? Will I succeed? Will I finish?” he emphasized his deep commitment to Children in Need, a charity he calls “incredible” but one that faces overwhelming demand for support. As for the practical aspects of preparing for the ride, Evans has been training around Cardiff and Penarth, noting that confronting steep hills and unfavorable weather—forecast to be cold, wet, and windy—are among his greatest concerns. Yet, as a former weather presenter, he remains pragmatic: “I know there’s one thing about the weather you can’t do, and that’s change it!”

The BBC highlighted that Evans’ challenge represents the longest distance ever covered by a Radio 2 presenter for Children in Need. Ending the ride in Cardiff holds special significance for Evans, who said, “That was something I wanted to happen from the very beginning, so I think it will be a very emotional moment—arriving in Cardiff on that final morning.” Though he has traveled extensively across the UK for work, Evans expressed a strong connection to his Welsh roots, describing the feeling of “hiraeth”—a deep longing for home—that he experiences whenever he is away. Through this ride, he aims to honor that connection while raising vital funds for a cause close to his heart