CYCLING: BREAKING AWAY : 42-YEAR-OLD OSWELL LEADS THE MOUNTAIN-BIKE PACK.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News Tracy Oswell has outlasted most of his mountain-bike competitors in longevity longevity (lŏnjĕv`ĭtē), term denoting the length or duration of the life of an animal or plant, often used to indicate an unusually long life. . Now, the 42-year old father of three is beginning to watch his grown children fade away Verb 1. fade away - become weaker; "The sound faded out" dissolve, fade out change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the from the sport. There appears to be no end in sight, however, for Oswell. The Acton resident recently won the age 40-44 downhill division in the World Mountain Bike Championships in Vromont, Canada, and wrapped up his seventh consecutive title in the Amateur Cup Series in the Super Masters (age 35 and over) division. Oswell can clinch Clinch, river, c.300 mi (480 km) long, formed by the junction of two forks in SW Va., and flowing generally SW across E Tenn. to the Tennessee River at Kingston. his sixth state title in a row with a victory in the series finale
A series finale is the very last installment of a television series, usually a sitcom or drama. in Big Bear this weekend. ``The oldest guy out there is 68 years old, I'm 42,'' Oswell said. ``I feel like a baby. I just see it as a personal challenge to try to beat all these young kids.'' His daughter Jennifer, 21, and sons Tracy Jr., 19, and Jeff, 14, have already thrown up the white flag trying to beat their father. ``It would be a miracle if I could say that,'' Tracy Jr. said. ``It would be the talk of the race. Every year, he keeps getting faster. It is totally cool to watch him beat guys half his age.'' Oswell's success has not come without sacrifice. He rises each morning at 5 a.m. and works a full day at his cabinet and carpentry business, Oswell-Wilco. After work, Oswell trains up to 40 miles a day along with meeting with clients and soliciting sponsorship. The ritual gets even more hectic during the racing season when Oswell packs the family into the Dodge Ram
The Ram is a full-size pickup truck from Chrysler LLC's Dodge brand. The name was first used in 1981 on the redesigned Ram and Power Ram, though it came from the hood ornament used on pickup for weekend competitions. Oswell, who has competed in 14 races since the second week of May, has not had a free day in more than a year. ``It is a pretty tight schedule. There are a lot of other things that need to be done with three kids and a wife,'' Oswell said. ``A lot of the chores have not been done since May.'' His wife Vivian, however, has been understanding. She even raced occasionally but commitments to her house-cleaning business have kept her off the course in the past few years. Oswell began riding mountain bikes in 1984 as conditioning for motorcycle racing motorcycle racing Sport of running motorcycles on tracks, closed circuits, or natural terrain. The main types are (1) road racing, conducted on a course made up wholly or partly of public roads; (2) trials, conducted both on and off the highway; (3) speedway racing, . Oswell, who began riding motocross motocross Form of motorcycle racing in which cyclists compete on a closed course marked out over natural or simulated rough terrain. Courses vary widely but must be 1.5–5 km (1–3 mi) in length, with steep inclines, hairpin turns, and mud. professionally at age 14, won more than 100 races before retiring in 1987. Oswell said mountain biking mountain biking Sports medicine A sport in which participants use specialized bicycles to navigate rough, steep trails covered with unforgiving rocks Injury risk Concussions, fractures, death. See Extreme sport, Novelty seeking behavior. offered a perfect cardiovascular alternative to running after tearing ligaments in his ankle. The thrill of racing is now what attracts the 5-9, 160-pounder to mountain bikes. Oswell has watched the development of mountain bikes come full circle from the days of no suspension to today's high Today's High The intra-day high trading price. Notes: In other words, this is the highest price that a stock traded at during the course of the day. More often than not this is higher than the closing price. See also: Today's Low tech machines which have the look and feel of motorcycles. ``For me, it is the accumulation of racing anything on two wheels,'' Oswell said. ``With motorcyle racing it is an awesome feeling when you hit a big jump and are floating through the air. The rush I get when you come out of a turn clean knowing you have gone as fast as possible. I love to compete. Once a competitor, always a competitor.'' That is readily apparent on a visit to Oswell's isolated 15-acre residence, located in the foothills of the Angeles national forest The Angeles National Forest (ANF) was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. It covers over 2,600 km² (650,000 acres) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los . His garage is filled with nearly 15 mountain bikes and countless parts. There is also a practice track built during his motorcyling days. In nearly three decades of riding motorcyles and mountain bikes, Oswell has had his share of bumps and bruises Bruises Definition Bruises, or ecchymoses, are a discoloration and tenderness of the skin or mucous membranes due to the leakage of blood from an injured blood vessel into the tissues. Pupura refers to bruising as the result of a disease condition. but has never broken a bone. Oswell attributes his good fortune to experience, technique and simply smart riding. He said he has been able to apply most of his handling skills from motorcyling to mountain bikes. Oswell, who is sponsored by Team Foes/Azonic, specializes in downhill racing, similar to skiing, where competitors compete solo against the clock, negotiating their way around marked turns along a 1- to 2-mile layout. ``You have to know your limits and work up to it,'' Oswell said. ``Kids who are 20 years old ride on pure instinct. They go as fast as they can over sections, which they do not know what they are getting themselves into.'' Neither did Oswell. He said he never competing for a world title when he got his start competing in local competitions. Oswell finished seventh in the downhill competition in 1994, sixth in 1995 and fifth in 1997. In 1998, Oswell slipped to 27th with mechanical problems. ``I saw it as whipping WHIPPING, punishment. The infliction of stripes. 2. This mode of punishment, which is still practiced in some of the states, is a relict of barbarism; it has yielded in most of the middle and northern states to the penitentiary system. up on these guys for all the times that have kept me from winning,'' Oswell said. ``Mechanical failures are part of the races and the machines. It is a combination of everything. There is no limit to how fit you can be if you're a step ahead of the guys and your pedal pedal /ped·al/ (ped´'l) pertaining to the foot or feet. ped·al adj. Of or relating to a foot or footlike part. snaps. You can't win on a piece of junk bike. You can't win if your face is in the dirt.'' ``The guy who makes the least amount of mistakes is the man who is going to win.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--Color) Tracy Oswell, 42 and a father of three, again won the Amateur Cup Series in the Super Masters division and will defend his state title in Big Bear this weekend. (2--Color) Tracy Oswell practices in the mountains of Acton on a small track he built behind his home. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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