Rob Jefferies was a huge character in every respect. A big, powerful man who could tear up the track and leave you floundering in his considerable wake. An intelligent, thoughtful and amusing companion who, no matter how long since your last meeting, would continue the conversation uninterrupted on the most mundane subject and make it both fascinating and funny (what Rob didn’t know about track chainrings wasn’t worth knowing…). A man who gave his time to others in the name of the sport he loved.
It turned out that Rob was as vulnerable as the rest of us when hit by a car, and British cycling has lost yet another of its great characters to the motor vehicle. Most of the people donating to this auction knew Rob and mourn his needless loss as keenly as I do, and have generously donated to raise money in his memory. All proceeds will go directly to Rob’s family to help with funeral expenses.
Now for the fun bit. Email your bid(s) to [email protected] by midnight, Friday June 24, listing the lot number and item description. Highest bidder wins (please do not use round numbers, ie £100). Successful bidders will be notified by email and given payment details the following week. Thank you for looking, as they say on other well-known auction sites…
Ian Cleverly
Lot 1 – Pinarello FP1
One brand spanking new Pinarello in patriotic red, white and blue. The Pinarello FP1 2011 is the top of the range Pinarello aluminium frame bike. The geometry and tubing derives directly from their legendary Dogma. The FP1 has 6061 aluminium tubing with triple-layer T6 treatment, including a magnesium and silicone component to intensify fusion during casting. TIG-welding, full-carbon Onda 30HM3K rear monostay and Pinarello’s Onda fork. Shimano Tiagra groupset. Frame size of your choice.
Lot 2 – Bradley Wiggins’ signed yellow jersey from Critérium du Dauphiné
Wiggins became the third British rider to win this tough week-long stage race, joining Brian Robinson and Robert Millar in the history books and setting himself up nicely for the upcoming Tour de France. Brad has very kindly donated one of his yellow jerseys to the cause. We are not sure whether he has washed it, though…
Lot 3 – Geraint Thomas’ signed green jersey from Critérium du Dauphiné
Anything Brad can do… Thomas kicked off last year’s Dauphiné in style, taking the green points jersey on the opening road stage to Saint-Laurent-du-Pont. The fact that he relinquished the points competition 24 hours later means there is only one of these, and that’s what you are bidding for, complete with signed number 39.
Lot 4 – Maglia Rosa Special Edition
For the special edition of Herbie Sykes’ definitive English language book on the great race, author Herbie Sykes undertook a Giro d’Italia of his own. He travelled 2,400km in five days to gather the autographs of 14 genuine Giro legends. Each man hand-signed the 120 books to help create a truly unique document spanning some seven decades. Between them they account for 17 Giro d’Italia wins, a further 31 podium places, and over 80 stage victories. Magni, Balmamion, Gimondi, Battaglin, Moser, Bugno… the list goes on.
Lot 5 – David Millar signed jersey, cap bottle and musette
The only British rider to wear the leader’s jersey in all three Grand Tours signed a Garmin-Cervélo jersey for us. Also included are limited edition ‘Racing Through the Dark’ cap, bottle and musette, which, unless you were lucky enough to be at Millar’s book launch, you will struggle to find.
Lot 6 – Signed ANC Halfords jersey
Four of the legendary British 1987 Tour de France team, subject of Jeff Connor’s excellent book Wide Eyed and Legless, have signed this original ANC jersey: Malcolm Elliott, Adrian Timmis, Graham Jones and Paul Watson. A piece of cycling history.
Lot 7 – Signed Team GB jersey
Sir Chris Hoy, Shanaze Reade, Lizzie Armitstead ,Liam Phillips, Wendy Houevnaghel, Joanna Rowsell, Hannah Mayho, Ross Edgar, Matt Crampton, Jess Varnish, all on one Team GB jersey!
Lot 8 – Geoff Waugh motor-paced print
A superb image from the lens of Mr Waugh, capturing the Triumph motorbikes and paced riders in full flight at the Herne Hill Good Friday meeting in 2008. Measuring 30″ x 20″, the print is mounted on Foamex board and it’s a beauty.
Lot 9 – Stelvio print by Gerard Brown
An iconic shot of an iconic climb by Gerard, one of the best cycling photographers in the business. The Stelvio Pass is the highest paved road in the Eastern Alps and this brutal mountain is captured to perfection in this print, available in the winning bidder’s chosen size.
Lot 10 – Continental Tubulars
One pair of Conti Competition tubulars with super-grippy Black Chili Compound and VectranBreaker puncture protection. Handmade by very strong women in Germany. Rob would approve.
Lot 11 – Cycling Weekly bumper bundle
Our friends at Cycling Weekly have put together a bunch of top-quality material: The Official Treasures of the Tour de France by Serge Laget and Luke Edwardes-Evans – a handsome history of Le Tour including 40 items of fascinating memorabilia; Phil O’Connor’s splendid photographic tribute to Team GB’s medal haul at the Beijing Olympics, Gold Rush 2008; Le Tour de France official history DVD and Jon Stroud’s Little Book of Cycle Racing; and a classic 1952 design Cycling T-shirt. Hours and hours of pleasure for any cycling fan.
A huge thank you to all who donated and helped with this auction: Cath Wiggins, Bradley Wiggins, Phil Griffiths, Gayle Howells, Geraint Thomas, David Millar, Cycling Weekly, Shelley Childs, Richard Hallett, Herbie Sykes, Geoff Waugh, Gerard Brown, Abby Burton and all at British Cycling.
