As Team GB revels in its triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Renishaw, a global leader in engineering technologies, is basking in its pivotal role in providing additive manufacturing (AM) expertise for the creation of a highly successful track bike for British Cycling.
During the Games, Team GB clinched a total of 65 medals, with 11 medals secured in cycling, eight of which were from the track events. To equip the riders for the intense competition, British Cycling’s bike needed to deliver peak performance in speed, balance, and aerodynamics. This necessitated cutting-edge design and manufacturing capabilities, with metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) playing a crucial role in enhancing Team GB’s chances of maximizing their medal tally.
The 2024 Olympics witnessed remarkable achievements for Team GB’s track cyclists, culminating in a standout moment when Katy Marchant, Sophie Capewell, and Emma Finucane secured gold in the women’s team sprint, breaking the world record for the third time in a single day.
At the helm of Team GB’s cycling success stands British Cycling, the governing body for cycling in Great Britain. British Cycling is dedicated to providing riders of diverse backgrounds and skill levels with the resources to hone their abilities across various cycling disciplines, including BMX, mountain bike, road, and track cycling.
The organization’s equipment and apparel development team consistently pushes the boundaries of innovation to craft cutting-edge bikes for Team GB’s cycling squads.
Following the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, British Cycling decided to expand its partnerships with Lotus Engineering, Renishaw, and Hope Technology to develop and manufacture the bike for the 2024 Olympics. However, owing to COVID-related delays from the 2020 Games and tighter deadlines for the 2024 event, British Cycling faced significant time constraints in delivering an optimized bike.
Dr. Oliver Caddy, lead project engineer at British Cycling, highlighted the shift towards additive manufacturing due to time constraints, emphasizing the benefits witnessed in the Tokyo bike. Ben Collins, lead AM applications engineer at Renishaw, elaborated on the intricate design possibilities enabled by additive manufacturing, facilitating the creation of lightweight yet robust components critical for the athletes’ performance.
Renishaw’s collaboration with British Cycling led to the production of a groundbreaking aerodynamic seat post, featuring a unique hollow center and a backward-leaning design to enhance airflow through the bike.
Additive manufacturing enabled the swift production of bespoke titanium components tailored to individual riders, with over 1,000 parts manufactured by Renishaw to support 32 track bikes and spares.
The state-of-the-art bike, a result of this innovative partnership, was proudly ridden by Great Britain’s track cyclists at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games National Velodrome, showcasing the fusion of technology and athleticism in pursuit of excellence on the global stage.