Lotus Super . . . bike?

[paunch]

I was reading the Exige brochure the other night (yes, that's how bad it's gotten ) and there is a section that describes some events in Lotus history (Chaging the Rules . . .) that had an impact on the sporting world. Most were impacts on auto racing (Lotus Type 78 was the first F1 car to use the Venturi principle for downforce, ground effects). But, one that I completely forgot was the Lotus Type 108 carbon fibre monocoque time-trial bike used by Chris Boardman. Here are some pics:











I'm a fan of cycling and I remember Boardman riding this wild looking TT machine. He won the prologue in the Tour de France a couple of times on the Lotus bike and held the yellow jersey for several days. As far ast TTs go, he was dominant in that discipline.

I don't suppose anyone has a Lotus bike as part of their Lotus collection?

[Allan Gibbs]

What is the back wheel solid and the f? Is it to prevent the air flow through the back wheel?

[Buz]

It is more aerodynamic to have solid wheels. The front can not be solid because the rider can not steer as well at high speeds and can lose control in cross winds.

[rcollum]

A couple of Lotus Ltd. members have these bikes. It was designed for pursuit racing at the Olympics. This bike, and others like it, were outlawed later. I heard that the solid rear wheel functioned as a sail, and could provide extra thrust under certain conditions. Chapman would be proud!

--Bob

[fitfan]

Lotus has done a number of interesting things "gravity" race cars, the TT bike program, and Chapman was even working on a plane w/ Rutan. I would really like to know more about the aircraft idea!

as for TT bikes, the "flying wings" have been illegalized - all TT bikes must now have a classic triangle frame and there is a whole formula to keep them very "normal"

rear disk has minimal drag, and are still legal.

[JonBeniston]

Originally Posted by paunch

I don't suppose anyone has a Lotus bike as part of their Lotus collection?

IIRC, that bike cost more than an Exige!

[paunch]

Originally Posted by rcollum

A couple of Lotus Ltd. members have these bikes. It was designed for pursuit racing at the Olympics. This bike, and others like it, were outlawed later. I heard that the solid rear wheel functioned as a sail, and could provide extra thrust under certain conditions. Chapman would be proud!

--Bob

Yup. That bike shown in the pictures is a track bike, particularly for pursuit. I'm not sure, but I think he road a similar frame in TTs as well but I'm not 100% certain.

So, how did the Lotus Ltd. members get these bikes? Were they generally available?

[IanW]

According to William Taylors 'The Lotus Book' the type 108 bike shown is the pursuit bike used by Chris Boardman to win Gold at the '92 Olympics in Barcelona; 4 were built for the games & another 8 built for sale at £15k a go.

The TT bike was the type 110, introduced in '93 & used by Boardman in the 94 TdF to win the prologue & lead before retiring through injury, he & a French chap also used the T110 in the World Championships in Sicily that year to win Gold & Silver. According to the book the 110 was available to order for £1650 at the time, would guess its this bike that people have.

[paunch]

Originally Posted by IanW

According to William Taylors 'The Lotus Book' the type 108 bike shown is the pursuit bike used by Chris Boardman to win Gold at the '92 Olympics in Barcelona; 4 were built for the games & another 8 built for sale at £15k a go.

The TT bike was the type 110, introduced in '93 & used by Boardman in the 94 TdF to win the prologue & lead before retiring through injury, he & a French chap also used the T110 in the World Championships in Sicily that year to win Gold & Silver. According to the book the 110 was available to order for £1650 at the time, would guess its this bike that people have.

Cool!! Thanks for the info. I do remember Boardman winning the prologue in 94. In 95, he was the heavy favorite to win the yellow jersey again on the first day but crashed in the prologue (it was raining), fracturing some bones in the process.

That Lotus Type 108 pursuit bike would be quite a collectors item. I wonder if Lotus has a museum or somesuch in Hethel?

[over40]

Boardman was fast. But no discussion of his achievements is complete without discussing Graeme Obree.

http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/individ...eme_obree.html

The more I read about this guy the more it looks like the UCI had it out for him.

Jon

[IanW]

Last time I visited Hethel (July '02) they had a bike on display in the visitor area, can't recall whether it was a 108 or 110, I'd guess they've probably got one of each tucked away somewhere!

[tvacc]

I seem to recall that there was some sort of promotion on the Esprit...buy a special model and you got the bike.

I know that several were sold out of Lotus USA....I suspect that is where a few of the Lotus Ltd members alluded to in the earlier post got them.. It should be said that the fact that they were Lotus Ltd members had no effect on their ability to get the bikes....I think it was more a matter of how much money they had to spend....perhaps their individual connections with Lotus USA let them know that the bikes were available. I think they were 12K or something like that.

Kyle Kaulback has one....it is in the LOG 19 Panoramic picture at Watkins Glen...he is right in the center of the photo.

[Joe168]

yep! that bring back a lot of memories. I think this track bike has a single arm rear. just like the ducati 916. It was so cool.

I saw one on the road in Woodside, CA few years ago. The guy didn't look like Boardman. But the bike is easily spot. Great design and one of the kind! Hope Lotus keep up the great designs in all wheel sports.

[vernasca]

Currently we have 2 bikes in the reception area, a 108 and a 110. The 108 is Lotus' but the 110 belongs to someone who works here. After Lotus designed the 110, they were supplied to a pro cycling team (I want to say ONCE but I might be wrong). They used them for a season and they were then returned to Lotus. Lotus sold these bikes to staff at £1000 a pop and they all sold. The 110 in reception is fitted with a Mavic remote shift system (no cables/wires leading from handlebar shifters to gear mechanisms) but I couldn't be sure if all 110s were this way equipped from new.

[Alphonse]

One, if not more of those bikes is currently part of the Barber Museum collection. Barber Museum is in Birmingham, Al. and hosts one of the largest private Lotus collections in the world. They have some really fantastic stuff there. It is also a motorcycylists dream land for any so inclined.

AL B.

[PaulOz]

Hey Guys.
I really do apologise for just popping up here and pimping my wares..... I know its really not the done thing..... but I got pointed here by a mate on another forum in case someone may be interested;
I'm a UK based artist, and have an ebay auction running for my piece of the legendary Lotus bike (I'm also a cyclist).
Let me know what you think - or see Paul Oz Home to find out more about me.

Borardmans Olympic Lotus bike oil painting - Paul Oz on eBay (end time 13-Sep-09 19:45:00 BST)

[...m...]

...cool painting!..

[AnsisK]

Someone on these boards has one. I can't remember his name, but he also has a variety of FF and vintage Lotus. Try a search (he had a recent post of pictures of his whole garry)

Originally Posted by rcollum

I heard that the solid rear wheel functioned as a sail, and could provide extra thrust under certain conditions. Chapman would be proud!

--Bob

True, but the solid wheel isn't a Lotus invention.

[lotus69f2]

Originally Posted by AnsisK

Someone on these boards has one. I can't remember his name, but he also has a variety of FF and vintage Lotus. Try a search (he had a recent post of pictures of his whole garry)



True, but the solid wheel isn't a Lotus invention.

The solid wheel was a Mavic piece, and I don't think they were the only ones who had one. The wheel itself did not act like a sail, though one of the problems with a solid wheel is crosswinds, if you are riding a bike with a solid whell in a crosswind and it gusts it can blow you over. The solid wheel, in case the obvious isn't obvious is to reduce drag.

The sail effect comes from the Lotus 108 (as pictured in this thread) and 110 chassis which can generate propulsion in the right wind conditions.

THe whole design is an exercise in aerodynamics.

I am the one with the bike and the thread mentioned above.

See it here: My Lotus Barn

To jump directly to bike jump to post 113.

I am not the only one on the forum with one of the 110's, gospeedV8 has one as well. There are numerous threads on the Lotus bike on LT.

[Beena]

There's a bunch of pics here as well:

WTB: Lotus Sport 110 time trial Bike

My original eBay ad from when I sold mine is still up as well!

Lotus