[CR]John Howard Frames by Dave Moulton - - > Skip Hujsak in Austin TX. USA. - Speed - Fixed Gear

(Example: Bike Shops)

From: "Raoul Delmare" <Raoul.L.Delmare@worldnet.att.net>
To: "C.R. List" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, "Bruce C." <BruceCumberland@comcast.net>, <strattonh@insightbb.com>
References: <4057F22E.76199840@insightbb.com> <056a01c40c7c$79db4df0$0000a398@DXROOM>
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 09:33:50 -0600
Subject: [CR]John Howard Frames by Dave Moulton - - > Skip Hujsak in Austin TX. USA. - Speed - Fixed Gear

Hey Angel , thanks for that message !

I was working in an Austin , Texas , bicycle shop at that time . I remember when John Howard came in , said hello , shook hands , showed really lovely photos of those frame-sets and bicycles , talked only briefly , left his business card , and said goodbye .

As I recall , later there were other "generations" of John Howard bicycles , made by other manufacturers . Two other manufacturers at two different times ?? Made in Asia ??

I'd had the pleasure of seeing John Howard quite a few times , and of speaking with him both in person and by telephone , a very few times . But I believe that was the only time I got to shake his hand . On all occasions he had a quiet smile , and seemed unassuming , almost to the point of being a bit shy . He always seemed like a really nice guy to me . Although , I know there are some less than nice stories circulating about him ( which may all be perfectly true , for all I know ) .

Anyway , I was very impressed by the beauty of those Moulton-for-John-Howard frame-sets . I've always remembered those photos , from the day John Howard came into the shop .

And , historically speaking , that small shop had been the main source for Skip Hujsak frame-sets . However , at just about that time , Skip and his wife Vicky were setting up their own little shop , for the very first time . So , it might have made sense for the shop I was in to look for another line of top-quality frames . However , there were plenty of financial problems , at that shop , at that time . So , we sold no John Howard branded bicycles .

And , speaking of that small bicycle shop in Austin , where I once worked , and of Skip Hujsak , and of John Howard - - - That little shop was where the World Land Speed Record bicycle was stored , out on the shop display floor , for something like a little more than a year !!! The bicycle was the creation of Skip Hujsak . It ushered in a new era , by having a "jack-shaft" to allow for one EXTREMELY TALL gear ratio , without the need for the problems caused by an extremely large single front chainring . ( no this was not the first application of a "jack-shaft" on a bicycle - but it was the first modern use , which set a modern ultimate speed record ) John Howard had made a couple of attempts on the record . He'd taken the bicycle to a very straight and level stretch of highway in Mexico . The Mexican authorities were willing to shut down that section of the highway for the record attempts . However both the bicycle , and the pace vehicle ( wind-breaker ) had problems with the rough and abrasive surface on that road . So , the bicycle was sent back to Austin , for quite a while . Skip Hujsak had also made a rigid little display-&-storage stand for it .

It was a very fun item to show to customers and friends . It had one "fixed" gear ( or should I say one "stiff" gear ? ) , no "freewheeling" ( a little pun on the name of another shop in Austin - you Central Texas folks will know what I mean ! ) . The display stand held the rear wheel off the floor , and the stand was quite strong . You could start the rear wheel spinning by grabbing the tire , and by slapping your hand down against the tire . Then , if you were very quick , you could put both hands onto one pedal and lean most of your body weight against that pedal . You could actually get the cranks going 'round and around !! The fly-wheel effect was fairly massive , even though the parts were not really all that heavy . The gearing was unbelievable . If you got the pedals really going , at perhaps something like maybe ten to twenty ( 10 to 20 ) r.p.m. , the spokes of the rear wheel began to make a sort of quiet , but spine chilling , howl . Some folks liked the demonstration and asked to see it when they came in . Some folks were nervous about it , and never wanted to hear that sound again .

There was a small ( somewhat BMX-style ) lever on the handlebar for releasing the tow cable . There was no way this machine could be pedaled from a slow speed . It was towed up to about 50 - 60 m.p.h. .

When John Howard telephoned from California one day , to ask for the bicycle to be shipped out to him , I happened to answer the telephone . He , and the bicycle , and the pace vehicle , and the crew , all went to the Bonneville Salt Flats . They were successful in setting a new all-out speed record . If I recall correctly ( and please correct any mistakes I make ) the old record had been set by Paul Abbott at something like 130 M.P.H. ?? John Howard , on that Skip Hujsak bicycle , set a new record at 151 M.P.H. ?? That was the first bicycle ride to ever break 150 m.p.h. ??

In my own personal experience , THAT was the "Ultimate Fixed Gear" . Plus it was fun to play with in the shop ! :^) I will never forget spinning that rear wheel up to some small speed , and hearing the quiet , but unearthly , howl of the spokes . I wish I'd had John Howard's permission to take it outside , walk it about one block over to the top of the hill on that street , hop on , and "coast" it down the hill . And what do you call it on a "fixed-gear" bicycle , when your feet are not supplying any power , your just allowing gravity to pull you downhill . Is that coasting ??????

:^)

Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas


----- Original Message -----
From: Angel M Garcia
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Cc: strattonh@insightbb.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 6:03 PM
Subject: [CR]John Howard Frames and FUSO FRX and Lux by Dave Moulton


More info on the John Howard frames, and how the FRX and Lux models of the FUSO came about as per Dave Moulton:

"When I opened my own frameshop in San Marcos, CA 1983, I suddenly had considerable increased overhead that the custom frames could not support alone. John Howard had approached me to build a line of frames with his name on it and so production of the John Howard frame began with the opening of my new shop. I built the frames, John Howard did his own marketing and distribution. This really was a nice frame with some special features like chrome chainstay and dropouts and engraved seatstay caps and a paint finish equal to my custom frames. In retrospect it was probably underpriced for the amount of work that went into it. The John Howard frame was only produced for a little over a year and in 1984 when my contract with John ended that's when I started the Fuso line of frames to fill the void in my frameshop production. With lessons learned from the John Howard frame the original Fuso had less frills. The design and workmanship was the same, so the Fuso would perform the same as anything else I built. But to cut cost and keep it affordable there was no chrome or engraving and the decals were simple vinyl stick on type. Later around 1986 with experience gained I was able to improve the finish. I needed to give this model a new name to distinguish it from the previous model, so I dubbed it the 'Fuso FRX.' FR stood for Fuso Racing and the 'X' was for the Extra work that went into the paint finish. Apart from that the frame was the same as it always was. Some people had always lamented the demise of the John Howard frame and so about the same time, 1986 I introduced the Fuso Lux (Short for luxury) with the chrome and the engraved seat stay caps. The Lux also had the decals 'buried' under 8 clear coats, hand sanded as did the John Howard, a very labor intensive process. Dave Moulton."

Angel Garcia, noting that Dave Moulton has been very gracious in answering many questions, Long Valley, NJ