bicycle legend John Howard holds classes at Papa Wheelies

All great athletes harbor little secrets learned from years of rigorous training and competition. When the stakes are at their highest, those athletes rely on their acquired secrets to get an advantage. 

Michael Jordan will always be remembered for his deftly timed push-off of Byron Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. The move went unnoticed by officials but gave Jordan just enough room to bury the game and series-winning jumper.

The aging and seemingly overmatched Muhammad Ali used his “rope-a-dope” strategy to tire and eventually knock out the favored George Foreman. The strategy was initially Ali’s way to cope with grueling sparring sessions but proved to be the advantage he needed to reclaim his title.

The name John Howard might not be as instantly recognizable as those of Jordan or Ali, but his athletic accomplishments are equally impressive. Howard has been a national cycling champion a total of 18 times, competing in the United States Cycling Federation and the National Off-Road Bicycling Association. He holds the world record for distance traveled by bicycle in the span of 24 hours (539 miles) and held the cycling speed record for 11 years (152.2 mph). Howard was the 1981 Ironman Triathlon World Champion and was named Competitive Cycling Magazine’s Cyclist of the Decade for the 1970s.

But none of those accomplishments explain why Howard will be speaking and giving classes at Papa Wheelies in Portsmouth next week, from Wednesday, May 14 to Monday, May 19. Now retired, Howard has dedicated his life to teaching the strategies he learned during 35 years of competitive cycling. His passion has become mentoring riders who love the sport, passing on secrets that, in years past, gave him the edge over his competitors.

“It is incredibly gratifying,” said Howard, who works with riders of all ages and skill levels.

Howard said he revels in the opportunity to work with riders who thrive on all aspects of the sport. “If you don’t enjoy it, then what’s the point?” he asked, adding that he likes coaching and teaching just as much as competing. “It is exactly the same feeling, from my point of view. You see the intensity in their eyes and you remember that sensation.”

Howard said his proudest moment as a competitor was winning the gold medal as a road racer in the 1971 Pan American Games. He remains the only American to take home the gold in that competition. The win put the United States on the cycling map and brought sponsorship money to the sport, paving the way for famed cyclists like Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong. Today, Howard is still paving paths for new generations of riders. 

“I want to take my experience and transfer it to someone who hasn’t seen it before. I get the same buzz. I live vicariously through them,” he said.   

Howard looks forward to sharing his cycling wisdom in Portsmouth next week.

The classes will include body position analysis and body balance training for riders of all ages. The focus of these classes is to establish the correct biomechanical practices for each rider. The body positioning analysis starts with a diagnostic test. Each rider’s movements will be tracked by a specialized computer program that detects inefficient motions. “We try to look at all of the muscle groups,” said Howard, noting that most people overuse some muscles while neglecting others. “We try to bring all of those muscles into the equation, which delays the buildup of lactic acid. That’s especially important in races of endurance.”
For instance, a seat incorrectly positioned by just three centimeters can lead to hyperextension of the hamstrings and put undue stress on the lower back. The key to efficient riding “is to create a force vector that is as linear as possible,” Howard explained.

Once a rider has made the necessary changes, Howard guarantees a 15 percent more powerful cycling motion.  

As a coach, Howard has guided riders to 167 national championships, and two of his students have won Olympic Gold Medals. Each rider, in turn, has furthered Howard’s understanding of cycling. “Every student or rider teaches me something. Every rider is unique,” he said.

Howard’s program is always evolving. He understands that the educational process never ends. “What holds back a lot of athletes is that they think they have it all figured out,” he said.

The body positioning analysis is an individual two-hour session, which costs $250. Body balance training is a group program that includes a step-by-step strength manual and costs $125 per person. A discount price of $315 is offered to people wishing to take both classes. To register, call 603-427-2060 or visit www.papa-wheelies.com. Papa Wheelies is located at 653 Islington St., Portsmouth.