UK bike part company targets Paralympics with AMRC help

Great Britain's, China's and France's Paralympic cycling teams are all using parts designed by UK business WattShop.

The Head of Innovation at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru, Mike Booker, has helped WattShop in realising these parts.

WattShop created the Cratus crank, a stiffer, narrower crank that increases aerodynamics.

After a change in UCI regulations in 2019, founder Dan Bigham needed to redesign an interface place in two weeks, so reached out to partner Meggitt, who went to the AMRC.

WattShop's Anemoi extensions were released for 2021, which went to Tokyo with Team Denmark, who won silver in the Team Pursuit. 

WattShop and Booker have adapted the components for Team GB Paralympics.

A professional cyclist himself, Wattshop founder Dan Bigham broke the UK Men's hour record in 2021 and the world hour record in 2022, using equipment designed by his company.

WattShop's upgraded part was released last year, in time for the 2024 Olympics, along with the Cratus Crank. Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain and the USA cycling teams, across Track and Time Trial, all used WattShop parts in Paris.

Bigham says, 'For WattShop components to pick up multiple Olympic medals and records across different nations is a dream for the WattShop team. Although for me it was a nightmare racing against my own equipment, knowing how fast it is!'