Description
Tony Purnell, former Head of Technology at British Cycling, will talk about how engineering helped Great Britain top the cycling medal table at the Tokyo Olympics.
Professor Tony Purnell FREng, FRSA was the Head of Technical Development at British Cycling, where he worked across all aspects of technology – from improving data analysis to assisting the coaches with the development of organisational software and tools to optimise rider performance. Tony Purnell is Visiting
Professor at Cambridge University Engineering Department, and a Fellow-Commoner in Engineering at Trinity Hall Cambridge. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Manchester University and a masters the MIT Sloan School of Management. His dissertation was on Formula One aerodynamics. He founded Pi Research, was principal of the Jaguar and Red Bull Formula One teams and a technical consultant to the FIA and
IndyCar Series.
The Team GB track bicycle for the Tokyo 2020 caused a stir on its announcement. It's wide forks and unusual titanium-carbon frame were a radical departure from convention. With the onset of the pandemic and delay to the Olympics, it would take another eighteen months for the world to see the results.
Among other accomplishments in a prolific career, Tony Purnell was Technical Director of British Cycling and responsible for the design of the 2020 bike. In this talk he will share some of the revolutionary features and technical challenges that enabled the team's success. Reflecting on the development of this bike and some other innovations he has been responsible for, Tony will ask the question ‘Can innovation be forced?’.
Main Sponsor
TTP is an independent technology company where scientists, engineers and designers collaborate to invent and develop new products and technologies.
Working across a wide spectrum of industries, we create breakthrough solutions that bring strong commercial value to clients and the benefits of technology to all.
Date: Thursday 30 June 2022
Time: Doors open and refreshments served from 6.30pm. Talk starts at 7.00pm. Ends around 8.30pm following discussion.
Venue: Lecture Theatre 0, Cambridge University Engineering Department, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ (directions).
Parking: Parking on the CUED site is limited. It is reserved for the speakers, university staff, helpers, those with disabilities and our elderly members. If you have a disability that makes it difficult to walk, contact us to request a place.
The nearest public multi-storey carparks are Grand Arcade and Queen Anne Terrace (www.cambridge.gov.uk/parking), which are 0.5 mile, 10-15 minutes walk.
There is ample cycle parking on site.
All welcome. Free to attend. Booking required.
This event is organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Cambridgeshire area, supported by the IET Cambridge Network and sponsored by TTP.