The Olympic Games not only represent the greatest sporting stage for elite athletes, but they are also a laboratory for technological innovation in the sports equipment industry. Brands and manufacturers work to develop lighter, more aerodynamic, and more efficient bicycles, applying advances that can later be transferred both to mountain bikes and to road bikes used by amateur and professional cyclists.
At the Rio Olympic Games, track cycling was the scene of an unprecedented innovation: the United States pursuit team competed with bicycles designed with the drivetrain on the left side. Traditionally, the drivetrain has always been mounted on the right side, but Felt decided to revolutionize this configuration. According to their engineers, moving the chainring, chain, and cog to the left side improved aerodynamics and bike handling by optimizing weight distribution and the center of gravity on every lap of the velodrome.
Although this innovation was not enough for the U.S. team to win the gold medal, it did demonstrate how technology continues to evolve in the world of cycling. In fact, many of the improvements developed for high-level competition end up being applied in disciplines such as road cycling or mountain biking, where factors like aerodynamics, weight, and air resistance play a key role in performance. Another example of how innovation at the Olympic Games influences the equipment of cyclists around the world.
Tuvalum Team
