Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 2, 1995 TAG: 9505020109
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Kent Bostick was considered too old to be a competitive cyclist. The feeling among the spandex-clad set was that Bostick would be torched regularly by the younger guys.
That was 21 years ago.
At 41, Bostick is just beginning to assume the mantle of elder statesman in cycling. That doesn't mean he's slowed - before competing in the Tour DuPont, Bostick earned a gold medal in the pursuit race at this year's Pan American Games in Argentina.
His time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, 20 seconds, in Monday's time trial of the Tour DuPont was 47th fastest. He is 5 minutes, 49 seconds behind the Tour's overall leader, Lance Armstrong.
Bostick, a member of Team Shaklee, is the oldest cyclist ever to ride in the Tour DuPont. According to Tour officials, Bostick is believed to be the oldest competitive cyclist in the world today.
Perhaps Bostick has been able to keep pedaling longer than most cyclists because he began his racing career at the ripe old age of 20, which is several years older than most riders begin. By the time Bostick began racing, many of his competitors had years of experience on junior circuits.
``When I was 20, they used to think that was old,'' Bostick said.
Despite his late start, Bostick has made a habit of finishing early throughout his career. He holds the indoor track world records in the 100-kilometer and five-kilometer races.
He still is in great shape. Bostick rides in as many races these days as he did a decade ago. This year, he probably will compete in at least 80 races. He also pedals 40 miles round-trip each day to his job as an engineer near Albuquerque, N.M. His wife, Carolann, also is a top-level cyclist.
Bostick would have finished faster in Monday's time trial if not for a leaky tire. Bostick thinks he could have trimmed as much as one minute off his time had his rear tire not gone nearly flat.
After the trial, Bostick was disappointed with his equipment problems. He also said he can't climb as well as he did a few years ago. That's about the only effect his age has had on his racing.
``I'm losing my maximum heart rate,'' said Bostick, adding that the younger riders ``climb a little better than I do.''
Bostick said there are no secrets to his longevity. He simply advises those who seek his secrets to ``eat the right foods, get enough sleep, train hard.''
``Cycling's a long-term journey,'' Bostick said. ``It takes a lot of years of experience, a lot of training to get to the top. You can start riding in your early 20s and become a good rider. You've got to do it every day. You've got to work.''
by CNB