Who are we?

Chris Bell has a BSc degree in electronics and a Diploma in 3-dimensional design. He is well-known for his 'EGGring' cycle chainrings which have enjoyed an enviable reputation ever since their introduction in the 1980's, have been exhibited in London's Science Museum and Millenium Dome, and have been used to win Olympic gold medals.

A passionate advocate for appropriate technology, Chris is proud to use a bicycle for everyday transport. He also programs RISC OS computers and remains bewildered by the forces of marketing which have swamped the World with the technically-inferior Micro$oft PC.

Before moving into engineering, Chris spent 12 years teaching science and technical subjects in the UK and Africa.

Dave Wrath-Sharman came to the world of engineering design with a background in fine-art. He became well-known for his pioneering work designing and building offroad cycles long before the 'mountain-bike' arrived on the British scene, and he is the acknowledged World-authority on cycle hub-brakes, having produced some of the only ones that really work!

Dave is known for his 'first principles' approach to design. These days he collaborates with other designers through Highpath Design and Development, and he uses his imaginative skills and experience in projects ranging from battery-assisted recumbent cycles to energy-efficient cars.

Lewis Whiteland contributed a lot of his time and skills to Highpath Engineering between 2001 and 2007. He made hundreds of chainrings, helped to prototype new products and did invaluable work upgrading machine tools. In 2005 he kept the business going single-handedly for over a month while Chris was unwell. Today, Lewis is busy repairing very expensive cars in Surrey!

Emma Palfrey worked here in 2008. Her particular contribution was to sort out the manufacture of Shorteners and Swing Cranks, designing a jig that cut production time in half. These days she passes on her design and engineering skills as a CDT teacher.