Olympics: How to win sheets, shoes and hot pants

Chris Hoy won his sixth gold with victory in the keirin. Photo / AP

In cycling, the British measure everything.

They measure the cadence, torque and power output of the riders. They measure their calorie intake and how much sleep they get. They measure their time on their feet.

It's other details, too: Made-to-order shoes, bringing their own hypoallergenic sheets to the athletes' village to ward off sickness, their so-called "hot pants" that warm riders' legs to the optimal temperature before a race, and the uber-detailed video analysis of past performances.

It must work: in London, Britain won seven golds, a silver and a bronze out of a possible 10 medals.

Rival teams have accused the British team of having "magic wheels".

"It's a natural reaction when you get beaten to point the finger and say, 'You have the advantage'," said Chris Hoy, who won his sixth gold with victory in the keirin. "If we don't perform well, instead of looking at someone else, we look at ourselves and say, 'What can we do to make amends?"'