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The Mail Bag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.All Americans all the timeEditor:What's up with the lack of Olympic track event coverage on the majorAmerican networks? It was great that some of the networks covered the roadrace and time trial, but track coverage has been almost non-existence onAmerican TV. Track events have been some

This place is as busy as Penn Station.

The green line of Athens tram line.

Canada's Lori-Anne Muenzer breaks down her day.

The track is sold out all week.

Sarah Ulmer embraces Katier Mactier after the individual pursuit final.

McGee's daughter wants to check out daddy's gold.

Spain beats the once unstoppable German to take bronze

The Brits are second once again

Great Britain's Chris Hoy explains his 1km win.

Leontien Zijlaard-van Morsel gets ready to roll.

The Sponsor: Oakley's Steve Blick striking a pose with the TT medalists

Pic

Mactier, Ulmer and the soon-to-be-retired Zijlaard-van Moorsel

Reed

Ulmer has come a long way since her Olympic debut

Depending on the venue you happen to be at, there are two ways the post-race press conferences can go. At some events, including the men’s and women’s road races, the press conference room is outfitted with hearing devices that allow members of the media to hear translation of what the athletes are saying in Greek and French, while up on the podium is a translator taking care of English-language needs. It’s a reasonably smooth process that keeps things moving along at a decent clip. On the other hand, you have the venues that are not outfitted with hearing devices, like the velodrome.

A diverse community in Athens

Last year's surprise at world's - Katie Mactier - made the final again

The Brit's brought a bit of flavor from home...

Van Moorsel settled for bronze

... as did the Cubans.

Four men from Oz set a new mark of 3:56:342

The Dutch team were all given some pretty hip recumbents...

The Brit's break 4:00 and still turn in the day's second-best

... just for cruising around the village

France gets some unwelcome company

Michael Barry stops for lunch in the cafeteria.

Germany manages to field a team - something they couldn't do a year ago

Kristin Armstrong, Dede and Michael Barry along with Gord Fraser on a training ride outside of Athens

Ng represents Malaysia in Athens.

Oh Canada: Gord and Michael

Carney

The U.S. women: Barry, Christine Thorburn and Armstrong

Pipp

Colby Pearce practices for Tuesday's points race

The Japanese proved surprisingly strong

Ulmer en route to another world record

The French outfought the Aussies for bronze

Wiggins grabs the gold for Britain

The Aussies were, after all, up against the defending Olympic champs

McGee joked that he felt caught with his pants down

Tina Pic

The German juggernaut

Haedo

The U.S. team rode its fastest, but not fast enough

Fiedler and his son celebrate with a victory lap

Mirabella turned a personal best, but missed qualifying

Mactier cracked Ulmer's record, but didn't keep it

Escobar rode to the bronze

England and Wong grind up Mt. Washington in near-whiteout conditions

Wiggins just rolled away from McGee – then praised him for raising the bar in the individual pursuit

McGee said it was a pleasure to battle without harming their friendship

Ulmer briefly lost her world record – then took it right back

No more golds for Van Moorsel – she will be racing for bronze

Talk about your close calls. On Friday afternoon disaster nearly struck the Olympics, when a fire broke out at the Mount Parnitha mountain-bike venue, tearing through a kilometer of the 6.1km course. According to a source that was at the site, the blaze came within 100 meters of several of the venue’s buildings, and the course, which will play host to the men’s and women’s cross-country races on August 27 and 28, has been shortened to 5.3km. The source, who requested anonymity, said arson was being blamed for the fire and that at least one Athens Olympic Committee employee had been

The Germans started in the team sprint and just kept on going

NCCA Licensed riders and teams now have the opportunity to buy booth space at a special price for the upcoming VeloSwap in Denver, Chicago and San Francisco. VeloSwap is offering a 20% discount off individual or club booth registration to any current NCCA collegiate club or license holder. Collegiate members are also eligible for a 20% discount on vendor passes, which allow registered exhibitors early access to VeloSwap. With the hundreds of vendors and unbelievable deals on new and used equipment, there is no better time for collegiate riders to attend a VeloSwap, "The World¹s Largest

Meares celebrates gold and a new world mark

Meares realizes that she's won

Hoy

No gold for Tournant, but he keeps the world record

British fans were out in force

And Chris Hoy gave them plenty to celebrate

Hoy's teammate, Bradley Wiggins, set an Olympic mark in the qualifying round of the individual pursuit

Meares sets a new 500 standard

Aussie McGee will tackle Wiggins in the gold-medal ride

Nimke racing to bronze in the kilo'

Julich (r) making the rounds with his fellow medalists Demet and Hamilton on Thursday

A case of nerves: Hamilton finally relaxed after the finish

Canoe racing at the Olympics.

Julich: Morale played a big part

Scene from the aquatic center.

Hamilton and Julich during the anthem