LOCAL engineering firm Renishaw is helping Team GB go for gold again by designing new racing bikes ahead of the Olympics next year. 

Renishaw - which is based in Wotton, Stonehouse, Woodchester and Charfield - designed the bikes Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny rode to win multiple medals in Tokyo 2020. 

The engineering company uses metal 3D printing technology to create strong and light bike parts including handlebars that allow athletes to increase their speeds.

Seven medals - three gold medals, three silver and one bronze - were won in 2020 by British athletes riding bikes Renishaw helped design.

The partnership between the sport’s national governing body British Cycling and Renishaw began in 2019 and has now been renewed ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Renishaw engineers hope they will increase the bike’s speed even more through new advanced designs. 

“We’re really excited to be working once again with the British Cycling team after the success in Tokyo,” explained Ben Collins, senior applications engineer for Renishaw’s Additive Manufacturing Group.

Gazette Series: British athletes Katie Archibald, Neah Evans, Josie Knight and Anna Morris using the Hope-Lotus track bikes British athletes Katie Archibald, Neah Evans, Josie Knight and Anna Morris using the Hope-Lotus track bikes (Image: SWPix)

 “Creating a bike light enough for Olympic competition that also stayed within the Union Cyclist International guidelines was a challenge, but it also gave us the chance to showcase how beneficial additive manufacturing can be across all industries.”

“It was great to see how well the bike performed at the Tokyo Olympics, where the team won three gold medals, three silver and one bronze. It was a huge triumph for both the team and us. 

Gazette Series: The Hope-Lotus track bike - which Renishaw helped design The Hope-Lotus track bike - which Renishaw helped design (Image: SWPix)

Stephen Park, performance director for British Cycling, said: “We have a fantastic relationship with the team at Renishaw. 

“They’ve been integral in helping create what we believe is the fastest track cycling bike in the world and one which we are now refining towards Paris. 

“The partnership allows us to create world leading parts that allow us to optimise our bike for each individual rider, which is unlike anything we’ve been able to do in the past. 

“The key benefits of working with Renishaw is the experience of the engineers, designers and all the employees, along with the incredible technology in terms of manufacturing capability.”

All photos by SWPix.