Paul O'Hara-Hoke

From the ashes

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:57:09 -0400

42.14.23.37 is today’s magic number. No it’s not my measurements nor is it my IQ [unless...

Stretch it out

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:49:49 -0400

Back in June while riding the Tour de Grand I started experiencing problems with cramps in my Gluts....

Support

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:28:00 -0400

Over the past few months I’ve written about things like how my training is going, how...

Time off

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:09:26 -0400

Ever now and then you hear your body speaking back to you “take the day off, heck take a few...

That'll put hair on your chest

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:42:08 -0400

My day started with my inside voice calling out to me “Paul it’s time to wake...

Fence Sitter: One who is undecided about something. Hairshirt...

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:28:00 -0400

Fence Sitter: One who is undecided about something. Hairshirt vs. Ellicottville NY Hill Training weekend??

Ok so I get a call this morning from one of the guys [Peter D] I was going to ride the Hairshirt with… “Are you going to do it”…[followed by me wimping out]…”your training to ride across Canada, whats not ready”.

An hour later I’m in a tailspin wondering if I should reconsider and thinking what a wuss I am. Heck I’m riding across Canada, so what possibly could be the downside of doing a 322km ride? 11hrs or so (less is I ride with the supra fast dudes), 7000-9000 calories burnt and the pleasure of knowing I can do it (which I know already).

So here is what I decided…….

[Update June 22:] I am such a gluton for punishment. Hairshirt it is!

Is that something burning?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:45:26 -0400

Sniff Sniff. Is that burnt toast I smell??? Ahh that sweet smell of my legs burning, like 2 rather...

Hairshirt: By Paully’s modern dictionary this might mean a...

Tue, 25 May 2010 13:42:00 -0400

Hairshirt: By Paully’s modern dictionary this might mean a few things.

A medieval religious form of punishment/penance for clergy. The shirt was made of course horsehair and was very uncomfortable
What wearing your Aunt Maud’s sweater feels like
What you say to a guy when you are suggesting they do a little upper body “man-scaping” - “Hey is that a hairshirt you got on?”
A 322km double century, unsupported cycling ride that you do in one day.

Hmmm, well despite the interesting options I’ll stick with #4. And so we get to Paully’s next crazy adventure, the Hairshirt hosted by the Toronto Bicycling Network. 322km of unsupported cycling pleasure; and all in one day!

So you ask yourself: Why would someone with any sense want to do such a thing to their body? Cause its there!! And because I’m a glutton for punishment. Not to mention the ultra distance thing blends in with my SNKCR training.

Next on your question list is: Do you really need to do this as SNKCR training? Absolutely! Okay its not so much an “absolutely”, maybe more like a yah only if you like big saddle time. And I like saddle time.

Lastly you ask: And what do you get for doing this? A million dollars… worth of self confidence and the personal satisfaction that you are able to do it.

I heard about this event last year while participating in a 400km Brevet (another 1 day event). And though I finished 309km [in 11hrs including stops] of that 400km Brevet the distance bug had sunken it’s teeth into me. I loved the big miles I was training for and loved trying to do a 400km Brevet.

Fast forward to 2010 and here I am preparing to ride across the country to help kids with cancer, and as part of the training for that I’m planning on doing the 322km Hairshirt.

The really crazy thing about all this is I’m enlisting a few of my buddies to come along with me. I know they can do it, heck I’m not what I’d call an uber cyclist so if I can do it I know they can. Last week I sent a message to Team Amazing Amelia members asking who wanted to join me and I got back some hilarious responses. The best was Christina who noted that she will be doing her hair that day and unfortunately can’t come. Well Christina, save that hair cause I’m going to make a shirt from it [figuratively speaking of course].

On a serious note though, which causes me to put forth great restraint; it’s challenges in life that make one push beyond their comfort zone that help define who you are… who you can be. And in some cases who you can help.

There is a big parallel to the Hairshirt and what the 49 riders for this years Sears National Kids Cancer Ride are doing. They are doing it despite whatever personal adversity it may pose and despite the doubt about if they can do it. Regardless of the multitude of reasons they are doing it whether it’s because it’s there, or its a personal challenge. The net effect is that facing that doubt and adversity will make the lives of kids across Canada better; all the while making them a better person.

So I’ve shown you my Hairshirt, what does yours look like?

Ahhhhh the burn a.k.a Lactic Acid. Above is an image of that...

Tue, 25 May 2010 10:02:00 -0400

Ahhhhh the burn a.k.a Lactic Acid.

Above is an image of that lovely bed-fellow, Mr. Lactic Acid molecule.

Lactic Acid … that glorious sensation that combines the twinge of stiff muscles with the knowledge that you “done good”.

I’ve been reading my fellow SNKCR riders blogs and can see that the weekend offered us a nice respite from the cold and wet weather allowing us to put in some good long rides.

I for one managed to get in a good 157km ride on Sunday. With what started out as a simple “Want to do a 160km ride Sunday” email to my regular riding buddies I managed to arrange a group of 7 of us for a ride from Acton out to Erin, Orangeville, Grand Valley, Belwood and back.The route is a shorter version of my 195km Shelburn route and takes you through a little over 1000 meters of some yummy climbing. I love this route as it takes you through some great roads that are usually very quiet, and then there is that yummy climbing thing. All-in-all it was a moderately paced ride and approximately five and a half hours [riding time] later we pulled into my driveway and enjoyed a nice cold beer [hey its good for the blood!]. The only casualty for the day was Dave Swindell’s rear wheel that popped a spoke around the half way mark, fortunately it was still ride able.

Holiday Monday was reserved for a ride with the Brampton Cycling Club as I was looking for something faster paced, though I have to admit the legs were lacking the juice for an all out hammer fest with the Sportif bunch, so I bailed on Dave Swindells ride and went with the [slightly] more moderate Classic group. I felt like a whimp at first but the pace was just right for a nice day in the saddle.

This week is my lighter recovery week which translates to about a 50% drop in volume [distance] and works out great for me as I’m at a customer site for part or all of the weekend.

Though I’d rather be riding I do need the recovery time and will thank myself in a few weeks when I do the Hairshirt… but that’s another story

It's not all fun and games, or maybe it is

Tue, 18 May 2010 13:08:51 -0400

First off to my loyal readers [cause theirs tons of you ;)] I must apologize for the infrequent blog...

Lazy day(s)

Sun, 09 May 2010 12:13:00 -0400

This weekend was to mark me breaking 3000km of training so far, though mother nature had her own...

California Dreams

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:02:36 -0400

I’m taking this week as a recovery week; the fact of the matter is I really had no option...

Ride like a Belgian

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 22:13:41 -0400

Sore ribs or not I made sure that nothing was going to keep me off my bike this weekend. I’m...

On the mend

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:17:56 -0400

Well you can’t keep a British Bulldog down for long. We’re too ornery, that and as...

Newton's laws of motion

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:37:37 -0400

Heart still pumping hard to crest the hill, skidding tires, flinching as the air escapes your lungs....

And the winner is?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:11:07 -0400

The bike raffle winner is: Ticket number 00295, sold to Pierre Gelineau. Congratulations Pierre,...

Brrrrr. Was out yesterday for what has been my regular Sunday...

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:00:00 -0500

My Rad Jake (Kona)

Winston Churchill Rd

Winston Churchill Rd

Brrrrr.

Was out yesterday for what has been my regular Sunday training ride. This winter has been really good to us cyclists as the snow has been minimal and the temperatures moderate.

Over the past several weeks I’ve been scheduled to put in 90km rides and have found it hard to complete the distance. Not because the legs or lungs give out; rather the cold gets in. At about the 60-70km mark I start feeling the chill seeping into me and despite the effort being put in. And I find myself subconsciously remapping the course to bring me home early.

Part of this is the fact that I’m working hard and sweating so my 2 base layers and jacket are soaked. Today’s technical garments are amazing with their ability to pull a lot of sweat to the outer layer where the airflow around your body can dry it off; despite this they can only do so much. Ideally you don’t want to sweat a lot though I find it hard to moderate my body temperature on winter rides. You open your jacket to cool down a little; 5 minutes later you are cold so you zip up again and the cycle starts all over.

Lately I’ve just kept zipped up and lived with the base layers getting a little cool.

Sunday’s ride was much the same though the 2c temperatures combined with a fresh dumping of snow made for some excitement. Descending into the town of Erin I came over a hill to see a 6+ inch snow drift in front of me.

At speeds of 35+kph my Rad Jake steers like a tank so you just have to trust in your bike skills and keep a straight line through it. As the front tire hits the drift you feel a momentary sense of fright with the wheel slipping sideways; then it grabs hold of the tarmac on the other side and the bike snaps straight and upright. Unconsciously I found myself out of the saddle with the bike gripped between my knees; then I was on the other side of the drift clocking 45kph. With a deep ex-hale the rush of the maneuver quickly faded and turned into a subconscious analysis of how it turned out. Chalk one up for my motocross and mountain bike skills; but that’s enough excitement for the day.

My intent was to head into Orangeville. The route from Acton to Orangeville is very hilly and makes for a good climbing workout with well over 1000 meters of climbing; given we are not in a mountainous area that’s not too bad. Heading out of Erin I found myself at a t-junction with the choice of going the distance or creating an alternate route that took me across the wind instead of dead into it. The best laid plans of men and mice; I chose the later. Some of my best training rides are somewhat impromptu. The route was almost as hilly by not as mentally debilitating as I had the wind cutting across me most of the way; allowing me to stay a little warmer.

At 20+lbs the Rad Jake makes for a great winter training bike. Just enough weight to make me work like a dog but not enough to strip me entirely of any sense of accomplishment.

Rolling into the driveway I glanced down and read 79.68km. Not the planned 90km but regardless I accomplished what I needed to; besides I’m good with mentally rounding that to 90km!

Paul O’Hara-Hoke

2010 Rider – Sears National Kids Cancer Ride: http://pauloharahoke.snkcr.com

Caffeine and the adrenaline monster

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:00:00 -0500

So after I posted last nights blog entry I was inspired to do a bit of research of my own on this...

Is not a Maxwell House morning

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:30:04 -0500

You’ve all seen those commercials with Maxwell House coffee.. “the best part of waking...

Hmmm the smell of Ben-Gay.

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:53:01 -0500

You can tell the die hard cyclist at a glance. They are the ones who limp into work on Monday...