Gary Watts wrote: "His comments about Lemond were correct from my recollection. Here's a photo of Lemond FLYING past me at the 1977 US Nationals on the track.
http://209.190.31.210/
Lemond decided to ride the track for something to do while waiting for the road race later in the week. I went to watch the road race on Saturday at the top of the big climb they used next to Lake Washington. Greg and Jeff Bradley LAPPED the field and Lemond won. He was quite a good rider and obviously made good on that talent later on."
Thanks for the picture, Gary.
Here's a quote from an interview with Dave Perry (who owns a bike shop in my neighborhood):
http://www.nyvelocity.com/
"I'm five years older than Greg. He said I looked younger than him. Considering the pre-mature aging of Tour de France war veterans, the way I figure, he looks pretty good.
"I'm one of the lucky ones to have ridden in the bike race that went by Greg LeMond's family home, near Carson, Nevada, that inspired him to join the peloton. We saw him at his first race. His family brought him in their VW camper van from race to race, win to win. Suddenly all us former Senior Slayers became slayed seniors.
"As a teenager Greg was a blossom, his blond attitude and fresh power was amazing. His father, Bob LeMond, also got hooked on bike racing and became a Cat 1 master threat. Greg was nurtured by the support of his family, the Reno club with Roland Della Santa bikes, and the Northern California cycling scene.
"In my last race, the Vuelta de Bisbee, Greg raced with Cat 1 as a junior. In the TT he blew by me like a rocket. That was it. Greg was part the reason I quit chasing the goal of being a professional cyclist. How could I be in league with this kid?"
Mordecai Silver
NYC