Lotus 108

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The Lotus Type 108 (originally known as LotusSport Pursuit Bicycle) is an Olympic pursuit bike. The revolutionary frame is an advanced aerofoil cross-section using a carbon composite monocoque.

The use of monocoque frames for bikes is not new. But their development was improved through the work of Norfolk based designer Mike Burrows who advanced both the design and build through utilizing carbon fibre mouldings. Burrows design was initially rejected by British cycling manufacturers, however, it was to be received more enthusiastically by the British Cycling Federation. Unfortunately the design was considered illegal by the UCI. Therefore the project was prematurely shelved in 1987.

In 1990 the UCI revoked the ban on monocoque frames. Shortly after this Lotus Engineering became involved in the project through a friend of Burrows who took his design to the Lotus factory. The potential was evident and Lotus’s knowledge and aptitude at using carbon fibre techniques allowed the design to finally realise its potential. By February 1992 Lotus Engineering had acquired the rights and marketed the bike as the LotusSport Bike. In addition the design was modified and perfected through a series of wind tunnel tests.

The success of this was emphasised when Bryan Steel was able to shave five seconds off his time for the two kilometres pursuit at an International race meeting in Leicester.

The profile of Lotus and Burrows was raised at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. A new world record of 4 minutes 24.496 seconds was established as well as Chris Boardman wining the 4000m pursuit lapping World Champion Jens Lehmann (cyclist) in the final. The publicity of this medal, the first British cycling medal at the Olympics in 72 years, confirmed to Lotus of the potential of marketing a production version. This was to become the Lotus Type 110. ^[1]

Following the Olympics the Type 108 was modified with the introduction of a set of elongated tri-bar handlebars to suite the, since banned, superman position.

A total of fifteen Type 108’s were built including one prototype in 1991, as well as three frames for use in the Olympic Games. A further eight replicas that were offered for sale at £15,000 each. Of the fifteen at least two are on display, one at the Lotus Factory at Hethal, and another frame (supposedly Chris Boardman’s gold medal winning bike) at the Science Museum in South Kensington.

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