Crossing America in under 10 days was the equivalent of Roger Bannister running and breaking the 4-minute mile barrier. Haldeman was unsuccessful in his first two attempts to break 10 days in 1981. He rode from New York to Santa Monica, California in 12 days and 18 hours. After falling short of the 10-day mark he rested for six hours and then rode back to New York in 10 days, 23 hours. Although both cross country rides set new transcontinental records, they had not surpassed the elusive sub-10 day goal.
Haldeman tried to break the record again the following year when he was invited to enter the Great American Bike Race. The race began on August 4, 1982 and was filmed by ABC Television and shown on the Wide World of Sports. Haldeman won the race from Santa Monica to New York covering 2,976 miles in a time of 9 days, 20 hours and 2 minutes. He was the first cyclist to eclipse the 10-day barrier across America. ABC documented the race with a two-hour prime time program and won an Emmy Award for the best Sports Documentary. The 1982 Great American Bike Race can still be viewed on a ten part series on YouTube. He always remembers the Great American Bike Race as being the most difficult. It took him almost four months to recover and regain feeling in his hands. The four riders in that first race were the pioneers of endurance cycling and set new standards for equipment, diet, and sleep management. He credits his parents and his crew for their nonstop support.
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