The Toque Torque Experience: By Don Harlan

To sum it up; “The Coach Who Cares”!  Every thing I read said to find a coach who cares.  Where else will you find a coach who cares about an OLD Masters rookie, has the patience to coach a novice, reads every training note you care to write, provides a weekly one on one personal training review, offers a comprehensive training philosophy and all the training plans, logs, gym workouts, stretching exercises, general health articles etc, etc etc:  It’s a long list.  And; do all of that while having a fantastic 2012 season and becoming the Canadian National Crit Champion -- That would be “Coach” Ben Chaddock, Toque Torque Cycling!

2012 Project

Three months of landscaping our new home in Greenville SC didn’t leave much time in my schedule for cycling this spring.  Luckily most of that was finished before the brutal South Carolina summer arrived – at the May 2011 US Pro Championship, I believe it was Quinn Keogh who described our beautiful southern weather as “a zillion degrees with a kazillion humidity”.   Since July I am back to 125 / 160 miles a week and enjoying every mile of every ride including the conquering of Paris Mountain.  Not many of those rides go by without a recollection of something the “Coach” said or did, and the habits he engrained are part of everything I do whether on the ride, in the gym, or even reading about or discussing cycling.

Just to list a few:

Looks great!

• Did I get enough sleep last night?
• Am I ready to ride?
• Have I got the right clothes to be comfortable?
• Do I have liquid and food to match the ride?
• Should I ride or take a rest day?
• It’s OK to do a recovery ride today.
• How’s the cadence, throw in a couple of HC or LC drills?
• How’s the heart rate, deep diaphragm breathing to control. 
• Am I going to do a zone ride today?
• Think form – focus.
• Do some standing drills.
• Min-Min / relax; or, crush some tarmac?
• Record the ride in my training log – not only what I did, but how I felt.
• Don’t forget “MY After” chocolate milk (from Toque Torque Cycling long before the commercial was chic)
• Post ride stretch / massage.
• Maybe cold shower on the quads (sorry Coach – no ice bath for me, it’s an age thing).
• Repeat 5x – Ah, wind in your face, It’s great to be a teenager again.
• Take a nap – Age reality and necessity sets in -- until the next ride.

Dec 1st, 2011: Ready!

With Toque Torque Cycling I ride stronger (my coach didn’t want me to talk about speed / pace but it’s about 10-15% improvement), with the right frame of mid, with better form, and most importantly more enjoyment – and “Coach”, not only did I conquer Paris Mountain, I seldom let a week or two go by without a ride to the top, both directions and multiple times on some days.  As I recall, the fear and challenge of climbing is why I called Toque Torque -- Thank You!

Want a better more enjoyable ride?
Call Toque Torque Cycling!



Don Harlan worked with Toque Torque Coaching from December 1st, 2011 to February 1st, 2012 with the hopes of conquering the long climb up Mt. Mitchel on May 21st. After an unforeseen move to a beautiful new house in Greenville, NC, we decided to part ways due to Don's time constraints however we' kept in touch and he has kept riding! Now it seems that Mt. Mitchell is very doable indeed! In fact Don just messaged me on Monday with an update that he climbed the US National Road Race course up Paris Mountain twice while holding his heart rate consistently low, which was one of Don's weak points when we first started working together! Congratulations Don! 

Adventure time!

Fog, but no snow in the winter time!

Beautiful scenery. Don't forget to breathe!

Paris Mountain: Sept 23rd, 2012

Never know what you'll find on your bike!

View of Greenville, SC from Paris Mountain summit

Mt. Mitchell's sweeping slopes