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feedback wanted on John Howard/Dave Tesch bike

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
Well, there were a couple of big time American builders back in the day: Tesch, Eisentraut, and Cuevas. You are certainly buying a piece of history. I suppose this isn't John Howard's bike, but a model named after him.

It will probably weigh 21 lbs, and not ride as well as current steel bikes.

Being part of that era, I lack sentimentality about bikes like these. I think bikes today are better performing. But if you are into vintage, it looks like a good deal.
 

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
Thanks San!

I'm not interested in it for history or anything other than that it's the right size.
 

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
seller says the head-tube is 142mm.

I know there are various variables, but when I was measured, I was told to get something close to 57cm(ST) x 55cm(TT) x 18cm(HT)

what am I missing here? If the bike is 57x55, why such a discrepancy with the HT? I can't imagine the angles are so odd that, well, me must be dumb *shrugs*
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
LordOpie said:
seller says the head-tube is 142mm.

I know there are various variables, but when I was measured, I was told to get something close to 57cm(ST) x 55cm(TT) x 18cm(HT)

what am I missing here? If the bike is 57x55, why such a discrepancy with the HT? I can't imagine the angles are so odd that, well, me must be dumb *shrugs*
I looked at the picture again, and it seems OK for a head tube length. 55cm TT (21.65 inches) seems a little short for me, and I am 5'11" with average arm length. But you could compensate with a longer stem.
 

SuspectDevice

Turbo Monkey
Aug 23, 2002
4,157
359
Roanoke, VA
The bike has americanized "crit" geometry. People were nuts for bikes like that then, 1/3 TT bike (short TT and HT), 1/3 track bike (steep st angle, ht angle, higher bb) 1/3 road bike (gears and brakes mostly).

John gave me one of those he had laying around as my first nice road bike back in about '94, I rode OK, but was a little stiff for my tastes. An ENO hub would make one a pretty fun points-race bike though....

"Crit" geometry is dead now, thank god.