Renishaw and British Cycling on Track for the 2024 Olympic Games

In 2019, British Cycling, the cycling federation of Great Britain, turned to Renishaw, a metal 3D printing specialist to help design lightweight, high-performance parts for athletes’ equipment. With this collaboration, the goal was to create faster bikes for the track cycling events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After 7 medals won at these championships and continued success through the Commonwealth Games, the partners are continuing to put their trust in each other. That’s why British Cycling and Renishaw are announcing a renewed partnership, this time with the 2024 Paris Olympics in mind.

Track cycling is an intense sport. Athletes can reach speeds of up to 75 km/h, but riders are often separated by less than a second. High-quality equipment is therefore needed to improve their performance. With the goal of improving performance, 3D printing has already proven itself in the industry, including Pinarello’s Bolide F HR 3D, the high-speed bike that is said to be the fastest in the world.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Ed Clancy Obe with British Cycling designers (photo credits: Renishaw)

Renishaw and 3D Printing for Better Track Bikes

In order to design better performing parts for sportsmen’s bikes, Renishaw first leveraged 3D printing to produce prototype plastic and metal parts. The goal was to conduct aerodynamic tests to ensure the parts were lightweight, efficient and strong. The British manufacturer then used its RenAM 500Q systems to 3D print aluminum and titanium components. Customized handlebars for each athlete that were lighter and stronger were then incorporated into the competition bikes. Renishaw also provided a carbon fiber design for the frame to minimize drag and improve overall rider speed.