British Cycling unveils new Hope-Lotus track bike ahead of Paris Olympics

British Cycling has unveiled its new Lotus-Hope HBT Paris track bike ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and we’ll soon be able to see it in action as it will make its debut at the upcoming World Championships in Glasgow.

The new bike, which continues the collaboration between Hope, Lotus and Renishaw, is an updated version of the Hope HBT which enjoyed plenty of success at the Tokyo Olympics. Back then Team GB bagged six gold medals, topping the track cycling medal table in the process.

The new bike bears a striking resemblance to the previous model with one very eye-catching exception, a new wavy, 3D-printed Renishaw saddle.

Per the UCI’s rules, teams must present their bikes for inspection ahead of the Paris Olympics at one of four events in 2023. The last of those events is the World Championships in Glasgow where Team GB will use the bike for the first time, along with “64 pieces of kit and equipment in total”.

What’s new?

The arms race to create the fastest track bike always leads to some unique and out-right strange designs as brands and teams take a holistic aerodynamic approach.

That approach led to the original Hope HBT, which caused a stir when it was first released in 2019 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics thanks to its wide seatstays and fork.

Those defining features have made a return once again, although British Cycling says that they’ve been refined. It hasn’t specified what these changes are, but the top of the fork appears to have a more rounded profile and to be slightly slimmer.

Similarly, the head tube used to have an hourglass shape at the junction with the fork, but it’s also been slimmed down and the whole tube is now completely straight.

British Cycling

The front of the bike has been refined to improve aerodynamics.

The bike can be used with both drop handlebars, for bunch events like the omnium, or time trial extensions for races against the clock. For the new bike, the team have transformed the drop bars into riser bars, removing any stack height from the headset. Instead, the bars start at the top of the head tube and angle upwards.

As the front of the bike is the most important part for aero efficiency, it’s safe to say that these changes have all been made with aerodynamics in mind.

Renishaw’s split seatpost

GCN

Renishaw's split seatpost is an eye-catching addition to the bike.

Most of the changes have refined the bike’s signature look, except for the very unique Renishaw split seatpost.

Like a standard aerofoil-shaped seatpost, it appears to insert into the frame, but then it immediately splits in half to leave a gaping hole below the saddle. The shape of the post also zig-zags, angling backwards towards the rear wheel, before bending back to connect with the saddle.

It’s a striking look which bears a similarity to Trek’s IsoFlow technology. First introduced on their newest Madone last year, IsoFlow technology is essentially a large hole at the top of the seat tube below the saddle which improves airflow to reduce drag. The design caught plenty of attention in the world of road cycling when it was first released last year.

Like Trek’s IsoFlow technology, Renishaw’s new seatpost will be designed with the intention of reducing aerodynamic drag, and British Cycling says that the overall design of the bike is the result of extensive testing.

“The bike has been through rigorous testing to optimise its individual elements, including unique Lotus forks and handlebars that allow for increased aerodynamic porosity, coupled with the Hope HBT Paris frame which includes refinements to headstock and seatstays.

“Additive manufacturing experts Renishaw provided additional support in the design and production of wind tunnel models and other crucial components,” they said in a press release.

Along with Renishaw and Hope, British Cycling also worked with Lotus who have an impressive track pedigree, having created Chris Boardman’s Lotus 108 Olympic track bike in the 1990s.

“Lotus is proud to have again played its part in helping British Cycling push the boundaries of sporting performance in the quest for Olympic medals,” Mark Stringer, Lotus’ commercial director, said in a press release.

“Through the deployment of our expertise, innovation, tools, techniques and processes developed to engineer high-performance Lotus cars, we’ve been able to deliver efficiencies to give British track riders the best possible opportunity for success.”

Beyond the notable seatpost and minor refinements to the front of the bike, the testing doesn’t appear to have led to any major revamps to the rest of the bike, with the overall tube shapes appearing to have remained the same.

Whether that similar formula can deliver the same success for Team GB at the upcoming World Championships and Paris Olympics remains to be seen.

Watch the upcoming World Championships, where the bike will make its debut, live on GCN+ - some territory restrictions apply.