Prehistory
In the early 80’s American racing turned pro. Most of the top riders took out professional licenses and began riding in Euro races like the Tour de France. Not just the whose who but most up-and-coming riders chose to up their game with the pros. Of course the largest group came from the younger riders 19-22 years old, riders (well) full of themselves and critical of the older generation for not taking the risk to challenge “Bernie” (Hinault) and “Larry” (Fignon) - notice how they made fun with the names of riders - same thing the U.S. Hockey Team did to the Russian team names in 1980. Irreverence can be useful in dealing with seemingly invincible competitors. I don’t agree 100% but it’s done either intentionally or out of true disregard to respect.
This irreverence extended toward established American riders reluctant to follow their contemporaries into the professional class of bike racing. These perennial amateurs were referred to (by the neopros) as “dinosaurs”. I don’t know why except I figure at the time a dinosaur was a general derogatory term.
Enter The Bostesaurous Rex, Kent Bostick.
Kent, the college educated scientist and full time hydrologist for Bendix corporation was one of the most powerful riders in America when the mass exodus to pro racing in Europe occurred. Just past the 1984 Olympics in L.A. USCF (U.S. Cycling Federation) opened up most domestic races to pros so there was a lot of mixing at home here between dinosaurs and professionals - and Kent Bostick was seen on the podium more often than not. He was really strong!
However Kent did not want a professional career. He already had a job as a hydrologist.
I consider Kent a friend, and have for a number of years, though I have to admit I’m not sure if he ever gave me a second thought which makes him ultimately interesting (to me) and a bit on the (um) eccentric side. Yes, I also rate The Bostasaurus as a nut.
Case in point:
One year at the National Road Race Championships on Milwaukee’s lake front, Kent was attacking on the punchy hill as the group left the shoreline to the upper level streets. His attack initiated the final break away that eventually would win the race. However on the way up the hill his chain broke leaving him on foot. Turning around on the course he coasted to the parking lot, went to his car and tools therein, fixed the chain, then when the break-away came past on the next 11 mile lap, he jumped in the break reasoning he would’ve been there anyway if his chain hadn’t broken. The USCF did not agree with his logic and gave him a 1 year suspension which ended just in time for the next Milwaukee Nationals.
Bostasaurus not pictured above but you can see the steepness of the hill that ate his chain.
Can you imagine me riding in a car with Bostick on our way to Milwaukee from Denver, listening to his logic for missing 11 miles of racing, and a championship at that? Brutal, but as stated, ultimately interesting. I’d never come up with any rational like that, only the weird and wonderful Bostasauraus could come up with that one.
Kent went on to a good deal of success and had plenty of good teams to ride for.
He excelled in anything really hard, like time trials and later pursuit racing. There was a time when winning the National Pursuit had some kind of jinx on it. Year after year the top pursuit rider would be beaten by some unknown the following year. This went on til it was sure that California’s Mariano Fredrick would easily take the win at Nationals, qualifying him for a 1996 Olympic berth. Enter Bostasauraus, almost fossilized at 44 years old with no pursuit back ground to speak of. He took on the young California rider and completely embarrassed Chris Carmichael (National Team Director), the national team coaches who’d spend so many millions developing the (then) existing team via “Project ’96”. Kent won in style and though he did not do well in Atlanta, he went on to put the 40-44 track records out of site in Manchester that year.
Confident and likable Kent is an icon of American Masters Track racing. He lives in Tennessee, still works as a hydrologist, and I noticed is a pretty good dad.
He’s planning on coming to L.A. this year to race in the Worlds. In the Team Pursuit Mike will be one of his teammates. Kent’s been here before and some of you may recognize him.
If you happen to run into him here and feel compelled to mention I coach you. His response is likely to be: “Who?”.
Another fun character in my collection:
Kent Bostick
Take care of yourselves, have fun, and be well rested these next couple weeks,
Roger
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