Mastering Cycling

John Howard has a remarkable resume as a professional cyclist, endurance athlete, and coach. He spent 10 years on the U.S. national cycling team and raced in three Olympic Games. In 1971 he won first place in the Pan-Am Games road race—America's only gold medal ever in that event. He has won other major road races, including the Tour de L'Estra, the Tour of Newfoundland, and the Tour of Baja. An American pioneer on the European racing circuit, he won a stage and finished third overall in the Tour of Ireland in 1973. John was a cofounder of the coast-to-coast Race Across America (RAAM) and finished second in the inaugural race. In 1987, he set the 24-hour cycling distance record of 539 miles. In 1989, he was inducted into the U.S. Cycling Hall of Fame. Howard's achievements don't end with traditional bike racing. In 1985 he set the bicycle speed record of 152.2 mph, riding behind a custom-built land rocket on the Bonneville Salt Flats. He won the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in 1981. In 2000 he set the 24-hour canoeing record of 104.6 miles. He has been named a masters cycling national champion an unprecedented 18 times. He now runs one of cycling's best-regarded coaching clinics, the John Howard School of Champions. By his estimation, John has ridden more than 1/2 million miles during his career.

"Mastering Cycling imparts much knowledge and many lessons. It speaks to all riders and has special value for those intent on staying one wheel ahead of Father Time."Ed Pavelka -- Publisher of RoadBikeRider.com e-mail newsletter "John Howard was the first recognizable name in modern-era cycling, and his versatility continues as a world-class masters racer and coach. Mastering Cycling speaks from the master's own perspective about what it takes to live the sport we love." Chris Carmichael -- Coach of Seven-Time Tour de France Winner Lance Armstrong "John is a true master of the sport of cycling. His varied accomplishments attest to his knowledge of training techniques on and off the bike. Mastering Cycling is a valuable resource for cyclists of all ages and abilities."Bobby Phillips -- "Baltimore Bullet"

• Foreword Acknowledgments Credits Introduction Chapter 1. The Masters Cyclist Chapter 2. Same Sport, New Challenges Chapter 3. Essential Bike Setup Chapter 4. Training Off the Bike Chapter 5. Training Indoors On the Bike Chapter 6. Perfecting Bike-Handling Skills Chapter 7. Planning a Performance Diet Chapter 8. Preparing to Race Chapter 9. Strategies for Every Event Chapter 10. Dealing With Injuries and Setbacks Chapter 11. Cycling for Life Glossary About the Author