Retiring US Cyclist About To Drive Family Nuts During Mexican Vacation

[rando]

I was shocked when I heard Tom Zirbel was planning an attempt on the hour record at the velodrome in Aguascalientes, Mexico on Friday September 16. Specifically the US record of 51.505 km set by Norm Alvis 20 years ago. That's two days from now. If successful it would complete the near sweep of national titles Rally cycling has taken this year.

Good luck Tom! (and family who will doubtless be under just as much stress.)

http://images.cyclingtips.com/content/uploads/2016/05/GM6A8948.jpg

[rockdude]

Tom has the potential of killing Norm's record. Kill A$$ Tom...

[rando]

Today's the day. Based on the tone of one reply the excitement for this niche of a niche event is palpable here on Paceline.

[kramnnim]

https://twitter.com/Rally_Cycling

[tv_vt]

5 minutes left, looking like a new record will be set.

Got it - 53.037km!

That's 33 mph. For an hour. Yikes.

[kramnnim]

I guess the person tweeting is too busy celebrating to update us.

[sandyrs]

Wow!

[ultraman6970]

Guy did great... 53x13 in the track, this guy is hulk!

[guido]

Killer effort. Chapeau!

[kramnnim]

Faster than Dowsett, nice.

[rando]

That ended up going great for him. Faster than the first slough of Pro Tour guys after the UCI rule change. Can't think of any American currently capable of besting him. Might be some time before he loses it.

[rockdude]

That ended up going great for him. Faster than the first slough of Pro Tour guys after the UCI rule change. Can't think of any American currently capable of besting him. Might be some time before he loses it.

Phinney can beat Tom and last week when I was talking to him, He more or less said so. But this is about Tom. What a Hell of Ride. I knew Norm's record was a little soft and Tom had a great chance beating it. Now Norm is out to take my record.

[rando]

Before suffering the most horrific crash possible he stood to make good on those remarks. Not because he could beat a national level rider. The only feasible reason he makes an attempt after today is to beat another gold medalist for the world hour record.

Having registered it as doubtful you are acting as his conduit as I do him attempting it. Please withhold any further attempts to sidetrack discussion of the feat accomplished today that are lacking in merit.

[guido]

I always felt that Tom got a raw deal not getting a ride in the big show. This effort sort of shows it was their loss...

[rockdude]

Before suffering the most horrific crash possible he stood to make good on those remarks. Not because he could beat a national level rider. The only feasible reason he makes an attempt after today is to beat another gold medalist for the world hour record.

Having registered it as doubtful you are acting as his conduit as I do him attempting it. Please withhold any further attempts to sidetrack discussion of the feat accomplished today that are lacking in merit.

What are you trying say?

I am not taking anything from Tom, he in one of the Strongest TTer in US history. Last week at the Track, when he was doing his last big workout he was killing it. I was riding at a 49kph pace and he was riding away from me like I was sitting still.

[shovelhd]

That track is one of the fastest in the world. A friend set an hour record there. Congrats to Zirbel. Nicely done.

[rando]

What are you trying say?

To let Zirbel have his moment before dousing it. Something your stealth edit went a ways towards.

[ghammer]

i'd like to add to this. he's a tall, thick, heavy guy with oodles of power. if i were him i'd:

1. enjoy this moment. 53km/hr+ is a big deal
2. consider breaking wiggins' record. if there's anyone out there who can do it is him. wiggins had a bit over 1km/hr faster time than Zirbel, which amounts to 5 laps ahead of him.

The current hour record requires roughly 181 laps in a 333m velodrome in 1 hour. Zirbel did about 176 laps in 1 hour. He needs to improve by 2.5-3%, which I don't assume to be easy, but in the grand scheme of things is quite realistic. Didn't say "feasible" - but sure warrants some reflection.

regardless, a great feat. well done.