Going for Gold
In track cycling competitions, athletes often warm up on stationary bikes. They can then wait up to one hour before they race, meaning muscles cool back down. Researchers at Loughborough University, led by Professor George Havenith and Dr Simon Hodder investigated this, and discovered that muscles kept consistently warm produced a higher performance output in races.
They therefore developed a series of bespoke heated tracksuit trousers for TeamGB at the London 2012 Olympics. Providing consistent heating after warm-up, cyclists went on to win gold medals, including Britain’s most decorated Olympian, Sir Chris Hoy.
Cycling hot pants