Cervélo TestTeam, which brings together expertise from key strategic partnerships across the bike industry, has appointed Damon Rinard as Race Engineer for the Team.
Emulating the world of motor racing, In this position, Rinard will be the collaborating engineering between Cervélo TestTeam’s race mechanics and its equipment partners to develop and provide the best equipment possible. “Damon will be working with our head mechanic Alejandro Torralbo and me to establish accurate and efficient test protocols,” said Thomas Campana, Cervélo TestTeam Managing Director.
Cervélo TestTeam comprises a number of complementary bike industry operators. The main partner companies are:
Škoda
Zipvit
Zipp
3T
Rotor
Vittoria
Speedplay
Castelli
fi’zi:k
2XU
Quarq
Catlike
Bicycling
Providing further support on accessories, cabling, maintenance and apparel, Cervélo TestTeam’s Supplier members include:
Elite
nokon
Morgan Blue
Reporter
Commenting on the concept of a dedicated Race Engineer, Phil White, Cervélo’s co-founder and CEO of Vroomen.White.Design said that it was “a natural step for the Team. I’ve always had a passion for auto racing, so it makes sense to me to bring elements of that world to pro cycling if there are obvious benefits. We are the first cycling team to make testing such a prominent activity within the team.
The move was received very positively by our equipment partners. Zipp has roots in motorsports, so they immediately understood the benefits. In fact, within a day of Damon’s arrival Zipp started to liaise with him for some new projects. Another equipment partner, 3T, recruited its Chief Engineer from Ferrari’s F1 team, so they also understand the benefits of this system.”
New Race Engineer Rinard added, “We’ve begun work on a variety of projects with our partners and our riders. Considering that we’ve only been at this since December there is already a significant amount of activity underway with Zipp and Vittoria, as to the kinds of wheels and tires the team will use in the classics. We’re also working on the apparel with Castelli and on helmets with Catlike. TestTeam riders Roger Hammond (also an engineer) and Daniel Lloyd are currently working on different projects, but nothing we’re prepared to talk about quite yet.”
Damon Rinard joined Vroomen.White.Design in December 2008, as the company’s Advanced Senior Research and Design Engineer. Prior to that he enjoyed a distinguished career with GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics Inc, Velomax Wheels and mostly recently Trek.
