bhilden@druxj.UUCP (HildenbrandBE) (07/11/84)
Some corrections regarding the article posted on the events at
the US track(i.e. cycling) trials.
First off, Rory O'Reilly did not set a world record, but an
American Record, Lothar Thoms or some big East German still
holds that mark at 1:02 and some change. By the way, you
should have seen Rory's bike-- it must have cost $6-8000
and was not in any way shape or form what you would call
conventional.
On Leonard 'Harv' Nitz's performance in the 4000 meter pursuit,
the time of 4:36.?? is beleived to be a world record, though
this is only the outdoor world record, Robert Dil-Bund(swi) went
4:32-33 at the 1980 Moscow Olympics indoors.
To add a further damper to the proceedings the track at Colorado
Springs(site of the trials) is at 6000 feet, which as everyone
knows has about 1/2 the drag of sea level air--hence the records.
I'm not trying to put down our team, I've ridden against these guys
and they are fast!! I think with the Eastern Bloc Boycott we will
probably get a medal or two. However, cycling journalism has a
long way to go.
Cheers,
Bruce Hildenbrand
p.s. - If there is interest for semi daily updates on the Coors
Classic let me know.