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I have always intended, but never got around to writing up the history of the bicycles made by Highpath Engineering. But here is a very brief summary that will help to put this bike in context.
Summer 1984: Cleland Cycles Ltd forced to stop production by the deliberate action of Ron Kitchings Ltd. By this time, David Wrath-Sharman, a Sculptor/Engineer and vintage car restorer who had bought a Cleland Aventura in 1983, had already started improving his bike. Years of promotion and marketing by Apps meant that there was a demand for Clelands but no supply so D W-S responded to requests to make Clelands for other people by setting up Highpath Engineering in his garden shed workshop in Highpath road, Guildford.
The first Highpath produced Cleland was made in 1985. But there was no Apps style £430 per bike, batch production here. At Highpath every bike was a unique, one-off design to fit each prospective owners requirements and riding style, resulting in £2000 price tags. And due to the high quality and reputation of these bikes there was soon a one year waiting list. But David was not happy with simply making bikes to order so he started to experiment. Designing and evolving more and components and frame designs until every bike built became a unique prototype. The most radical designs were made by David for his own use and evaluation. In 1989, David and Highpath Engineering moved to a watermill in mid Wales. There he concentrated on designing, developing and prototyping bicycles, human powered vehicles, and bicycle components.
This 1986 Highpath Hi-Lite can be considered to be the next step in frame design after the Aventura. It has the same basic geometry but offers a lower step-over height and a lighter, yet torsionally stiffer frame. I may be wrong, but I think this bike may be the first Hi-Lite that David built. Subsequently the Hi-Lite frame became the preferred design for the majority of Highpaths and Cleland style frames were only made when this was specifically requested by the purchaser.
Summer 1984: Cleland Cycles Ltd forced to stop production by the deliberate action of Ron Kitchings Ltd. By this time, David Wrath-Sharman, a Sculptor/Engineer and vintage car restorer who had bought a Cleland Aventura in 1983, had already started improving his bike. Years of promotion and marketing by Apps meant that there was a demand for Clelands but no supply so D W-S responded to requests to make Clelands for other people by setting up Highpath Engineering in his garden shed workshop in Highpath road, Guildford.
The first Highpath produced Cleland was made in 1985. But there was no Apps style £430 per bike, batch production here. At Highpath every bike was a unique, one-off design to fit each prospective owners requirements and riding style, resulting in £2000 price tags. And due to the high quality and reputation of these bikes there was soon a one year waiting list. But David was not happy with simply making bikes to order so he started to experiment. Designing and evolving more and components and frame designs until every bike built became a unique prototype. The most radical designs were made by David for his own use and evaluation. In 1989, David and Highpath Engineering moved to a watermill in mid Wales. There he concentrated on designing, developing and prototyping bicycles, human powered vehicles, and bicycle components.
This 1986 Highpath Hi-Lite can be considered to be the next step in frame design after the Aventura. It has the same basic geometry but offers a lower step-over height and a lighter, yet torsionally stiffer frame. I may be wrong, but I think this bike may be the first Hi-Lite that David built. Subsequently the Hi-Lite frame became the preferred design for the majority of Highpaths and Cleland style frames were only made when this was specifically requested by the purchaser.
