Wearing the colors of Israel, Louis Cohen of Brooklyn and Bob Silver, partners in the six-day bike race now at the Madison Square Garden, last night were riding for the honor and the glory.
Cohen, 22, and Silver, 24, both went into bike racing against the wishes of their parents, and nightly they knock on wood as they continue their 146-hour grind. Usually, they manage to knock on one of the wooden seats directly under the blue and white flag which waves with the banners of other nations at the garden.
Between fitful periods of sleep which never total more than three hours during twenty-four, Silver says he worries about his father’s fish business. “I find that a little worry helps to keep me awake,” he explains, “but about the time sprints are announced Iforget all about the fish business, because you can’t think of herring and steal a lap at the same time. I found that out.”
Cohen and Silver have different methods of training. “I just loaf for about ten days before every race,” Cohen related last night. “Then by the time the race starts I’m fed up with loafing and I get down to work.”
“And i train by hopping on my bicycle to deliver herring and salmon all over Brookiyn.” Silver said.
During a breathing spell last night they explained in turn that they ate food served in the Garden “like herses,” that they are on friendly terms with the German team of Wissel and Schon, that team of Wissel and Schon, that they are glad no swastika flies over the track, and, when asked how they were doing, they said in chorus, “We’re doning all right.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
