BMW Design Works developed the handbike in collaboration with the US Paralympic cycling team for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The car manufacturer was a sponsor of the Games in 2016, but also wanted to provide active support. This is because the athletes’ equipment is crucial, particularly at the Paralympics, yet they are underfunded compared to their Olympic counterparts. This leads to numerous ‘homemade’ items, which are geared more towards cost than the athletes’ needs. The athletics participants and a team from BMW spent over two years developing and testing innovative design solutions.

The racing wheelchair is made of carbon fibre and is therefore particularly light yet sturdy. The use of a casting process allowed the handbike to be aerodynamically optimised. In addition, the inward camber of the wheels was reduced, enabling power to be transferred more effectively downwards through the wheels. The seat shells are always individually tailored to the athletes – a technique borrowed from motorsport. The 3D-printed racing gloves are also made to measure. Visually, the sports equipment was intended to be eye-catching, dynamic and unexpected.

North American elite athletes won four gold, two silver and one bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro with the handbike. The award-winning design object is on permanent loan from BMW Designworks. It will be on display at the museum in 2023 as part of the ‘Design for the Olympics’ exhibition.