Launch of Renvale RT, Professional Mountain Bike Team

BY: Dan Collins

Published: 11th February, 2014

A cross-country cycle racing team, Renvale RT, has been launched in East Anglia with support from the motor racing industry and Bury St Edmunds performance bike shop Revel Outdoors. The five-strong team, which has been kitted out with new Cannondale mountain bikes and team clothing from Pactimo, gave the bikes their first test in Thetford Forest on Saturday under the watchful eye of Revel Outdoors owner Jamie Wightman and shop/team mechanic Mike Stoveld.

Captained by Steve James, who is also Commercial Director of team sponsor Renvale, the team will compete at National XC level and in the National Championships. Steve, an Elite XC rider from Diss, is joined by William Cheaney, Matt Dennis, Simon Ernest and Ian Mockett. Steve said: “Renvale decided to sponsor a Professional Cross Country Race Team because of the close links between Formula 1 and cycling. The technology coming into cycling now has a great synergy to Renvale’s main business of electrical and electronic parts in F1. Technological advances such as electronic gear shifting, power measuring and wireless systems can all be found on racing cars and are now becoming the norm for top-end bikes either on the road or off-road.”

For the 2014 season the team has secured sponsorship from Cannondale UK. The riders will use Cannondale F29 Carbon Team issue bikes with Cannondale’s world renowned Lefty fork. The bikes are equipped with full Sram XX1 groupset, custom manufactured carbon wheels built with Cycleops Power Tap rear hub so no training session is wasted and Schwalbe tyres for sure-footed grip on any terrain in any weather. All the bikes have been professionally built, set-up and fine-tuned at Revel Outdoors, one of Cannondale’s main UK dealers, which will also service the bikes throughout the season. Revel Outdoors also runs the CannondaleSpares.com website, the UK's leading source of Cannondale spare parts and accessories. Renvale RT will be wearing custom designed clothing manufactured by Pactimo and selected for quality, performance and style. All team riders will be wearing Kask helmets, which are unrivalled in the marketplace, supplied from Revel Outdoors and chosen for the fit, comfort and weight.

Revel Outdoors owner Jamie Wightman said: “I’m an active XC racer myself and have known and ridden with Steve for many years, so the partnership with the Renvale RT was an exciting opportunity which allows us to showcase some of our high end products, and the technical expertise of the workshop staff.”

The team finished off the launch with a team win in the final Eastern cyclo-cross League race on Sunday with Steve coming in 1st place, Matt in 3rd and Ian in 11th.

Keep up to date with the team on the RenvaleRT Facebook page, or follow them on twitter @RenvaleRT.

Thanks to Darren and John Styles (http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomoldbloke) for all the pictures.

Click any of the images below for a larger view / slideshow