The 2nd Annual Tour of Aufderheide was held last weekend in Westfir, Oregon. It was intended to be an adventurous ride through the magnificent West American outdoors, but it unintentionally claimed a victim. One of our favourite builders, Rob English, crashed, suffering multiple broken bones and other serious injuries, and is still in hospital.

Rob sent me an email letting me know about his latest build while I was still on holidays in the UK, so it was a great shock to hear about his accident just afterwards. Giles’ V3 was completed with the same ingenuity and finesse he applied to all of his work, which earned him the Best In Show award at last years NAHBS. Giles, the owner of Rob’s latest frame, had nothing but praise for it.

The V3 is a design that Rob has been perfecting over the last few years, and incorporates ENVE carbon tubes for the seat mast and head tube married with Rob’s distinctive pencil-thin steel seat stays and main triangle. Giles had invested in a suite of anodised Chris King components, the colour of which was matched to highlights on the frame by Eric at Colorworks.

Head to the English Cycles website for more images and Giles’ testimonial — but before you do, please click here to make a donation to Rob’s Medical and Recovery Fund. And Rob, from all the readers of Cycle EXIF, get better soon!







