Peterson's Bike Wins Him Buss And New Cycle

Steady rain and slippery roads cut the turnout to 21 at Sunday's Harvard-Wellesley bike race, but the weather didn't stop the cyclists from breaking the record for the 12.5-mile course.

Lars Peterson, an Eliot House sophomore, broke the tape with a time of 33 minutes flat. Just seven seconds later, freshman Jim Summers came in second.

Both beat the record of 33.47 set last year by Dan Richmond, now a senior. Third over the line was senior Mark Alper, with a time of 35.12.

At Wellesley, 50 girls cheered Peterson to the finish, and the president of the Wellesley Outing Club awarded him a kiss and a laurel crown. Later, the Bicycle Exchange presented Peterson a 3225 racing bike.

Of the 21 entrants, 17 finished. Once cyclist, riding an 1180 sprint cycle, had a flat tire, and two were injured when their bikes slipped on wet trolley tracks. The last one vanished entirely. If you know him and he's safe, tell somebody, so the timers can go home.