Sports Engineering Hub further enhances facilities with cycling efficiency rig

The Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub (SSEH), located at Silverstone Park, has added to its capabilities with the launch of a pioneering pedalling efficiency rig (PER).

The PER acts as a bicycle dynamometer and shows up the mechanical losses of a bicycle (and thus its efficiency) more accurately than other methods currently in use.

This is achieved by measuring rider input and output power via a roller surface in a controlled environment.

The project has received £450,000 of Local Growth Funding from the Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which last year also supported SSEH’s installation of cycling test lab in partnership with Silverstone University Technical College.

SSEH Managing Director Rob Lewis commented: “We are very pleased to launch the pedalling efficiency rig, a project which has been made possible through the continued support of Bucks LEP.

“The rig will open up new opportunities for teams and manufacturers to investigate the efficiency of the bicycle in a way that has not been possible before, encouraging future development and innovation within the sport.”

Attending the launch of the rig were representatives of Bucks LEP, existing SSEH customers and industry figures.

Richard Harrington, Chief Executive of the Bucks LEP, said: “Despite the critical importance of data in monitoring cyclists’ performance, there is a lack in the technological capabilities necessary to capture realistic data on how everything works together.

“We are excited to see how this new facility will drive cycling productivity further. The capability we hope is of national if not international significance and unique in its colocation with other test capability such as the wind tunnel.”

SSEH already has an upgrade for the rig in the pipeline, replacing human rider input with a mechanical system. This will help to deliver a repeatable input power profile without the issue of rider fatigue.

Rob added: “We are very excited to add this rig to the list of facilities we now have available at Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub and believe that we are well on our way to providing customers with the tools required to fully optimise every aspect of their performance under one roof.”

The rig rounds off the variety of services now available at SSEH, providing a true ‘one stop shop’ for both professional cycling teams and industry manufacturers looking to optimise the performance of their athletes and equipment.

Many of the leading professional and national cycling teams are now SSEH customers thanks to its combination of facilities and location.

The Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub is one of four specialist engineering facilities at Silverstone Park. CLICK HERE for more information.

Pictured is the official opening of SSEH’s new pedalling efficiency rig at which Buckingham MP Greg Smith cut the ribbon