John Howard’sLessons in Cycling
Road racing secrets from an Olympian, an Ironman champion and the 152 mph man himself.
John Howard shares what decades of racing and coaching taught him: how to fit your bike, ride efficiently in the pack, corner, climb, descend, eat and train to win. A team of world champions rides alongside him.
Made for road racers, triathletes and anyone serious about riding faster and safer. First released on VHS in 1991, the film has been remastered and AI-enhanced for today’s screens.
- Featuring
- John Howard
- Director
- Mark Schulze
- Producers
- Patty Mooney and Mark Schulze
- Presented by
- John Howard’s School of Champions
- Music
- Buzz Barnaba
- Studio
- New & Unique Videos®
- Run time
- 60 minutes
- Awards
- Silver Medal, International Film & TV Festival of New York. National Telly Award.
- Listing
- IMDb
Watch the trailer
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Learn how to win from the legend himself
Most of the film was shot on John Howard’s own training roads in Southern California, with race footage from around the country and a dash of offbeat humor. It moves from clear explanations to demonstrations on the road with world-class riders.
- Fit your bike precisely, and find an efficient, powerful riding position.
- Shift, brake, corner, climb and descend with control.
- Ride safely in the pack, in smooth pace lines and echelons.
- Plan your fluids and diet, and design your own training program.
- Build the mindset that wins races.
Beginners learn the basics that some racers take seasons to figure out. Experienced riders get the advanced techniques Howard used to win.
John’s team of champions
Jeff Pierce
Tour de France stage winner
Smooth, no-nonsense cornering.
Marianne Berglund
World Road Champion
Clockwork pace in the pace line.
Martin Graf
Former Swiss National Champion
Raw cruising power, filmed with a helmet camera.
Paula Newby-Fraser
World Champion triathlete
The life-saving “hot stop.”
Dr. Nick Martin
Sports nutritionist
Fluid replacement and diet.
Denise Mueller
Track and offroad champion
Bike-fitting techniques.
About John Howard
John Howard didn’t win races and set records out of luck or raw talent. He did it through a commitment to excellence, and a set of mental and physical skills he calls the Howard Performance Technique.
He has been a color commentator for CBS Sports and WGN, and head coach of the U.S. National Triathlon Training Center in San Marcos, California. He was featured on That’s Incredible, interviewed by Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, and leads motivational seminars and fitness workshops across the country. His Southern drawl and easygoing manner win over audiences wherever he goes.
- 7-time USCF National Champion
- 3-time member of the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team
- Gold Pan American Games
- 2-time winner of the Red Zinger Classic
- Winner 1,000-mile Tour of Baja
- Winner Tour of Newfoundland
- Winner Tour de L’Estrie
- Champion Ironman Triathlon World Championship
- 512 miles 24-hour world record
- 152 mph world speed record, 1985
- Coach to Denise Mueller-Korenek’s 183.9 mph world record, 2018
Denise Mueller, then and now
In this film, a teenage Denise Mueller demonstrates bike fitting. John Howard had spotted her drafting behind him on a charity ride, told her father she belonged in racing, and coached her to a string of junior national titles.
Decades later he coached her again, toward a record no woman had ever tried. In 2018, at the Bonneville Salt Flats, she rode 183.9 mph in the slipstream of a pace car and became the fastest cyclist on Earth.
The paced bicycle speed record, coach and rider
Making the film
Mark Schulze directed and Patty Mooney co-produced. Much of the riding was filmed from the back of a pickup truck, with a Steadicam and a helmet camera putting viewers right in the pack.
The original VHS box, 1991
John Howard’s School of Champions presented the film, and the U.S. Cycling Federation endorsed it. Sponsors included Bicycle Guide, Triathlon Today, KHS Bicycles, Spenco, Seat Shifter, AME Eye Shades, Etto Helmets, Elexis and Shimano.
The back cover shows John’s 152 mph record run at the Bonneville Salt Flats, riding in the slipstream of a streamliner.
What reviewers said
“Lessons in Cycling will teach the beginner many of the fundamentals that some racers need several seasons to learn.”
“Novices and Category 4 and 5 riders can save some hard knocks by studying this tape.”
“John Howard is a convincing, enthusiastic speaker… Picture and sound are well done.”
“Is Lessons in Cycling a good buy? Absolutely.”
John Howard on video
More cycling films
Watch the full remastered film for $5, no subscription. It’s also on Vimeo On Demand and Red Coral Universe. For educational use or licensing, contact us.
Watch the full filmPatty Mooney and Mark Schulze are San Diego filmmakers and the co-founders of New & Unique Videos®, making independent films since 1985.