@toddsdonald I can see you are frustrated but a lot of what you are saying just isn’t true. Follow David on Strava - he uses the product every day of the week.
I am not sure anyone is crazy about the name but it is just a name and the Sufferfest brand is still alive and well within the new platform and there is a new video - Tapers, that I just checked out on Sunday that is fantastic.
The sport science is there, the community is still here and the workouts are still great. Check out some of the new stuff - the ProRides are terrific (I did Strade Bianchi and it was awesome), the On Location videos with Mike Cotty are great as well (check out Cirque du Litor - it is a great climb). In my opinion, both new video genres do a great job of mimicking the stress levels of competition and outdoor in the mountain rides respectively and I look forward to doing more of them during the winter season.
Check out the podcasts - I have listened to all of them and they are a great addition to the other content. They are short but provide meaningful and actionable information. It is great to hear directly from Neil Henderson, Mac Cassin and Dr. Jinger Gottschall.
Check out the new strength videos - including several that are specifically targeted to the core and lower body.
Like I said in my earlier post, I am still a Sufferlandrian and there are plenty of us that are still here. Sometimes things get messy when a new platform is launched - the minions are there to help if that is your issue. Otherwise check out the new stuff - I think you will find there is a lot there to help you with your training and if not then best of luck to you as you find your path.
If anyone thinks Sufferfest has gone, then check out the new video, Tapers. It’s full of all the good things about Sufferfest we love. It proves the Sufferfest hasn’t gone.
When the GCN videos were introduced some people kicked up a fuss then and didn’t like them. With the channels on the app you can choose what type of content you want - if you don’t like GCN or pro rides or whatever just choose what you do like.
As far as I can tell, the change to SYSTM makes it clear that the app has a complete system to make you a better, faster athlete with strength, mental training and the cycling/running/swimming workouts. Sufferfest has its own special place within that, potentially better and protected by its place within the app, rather than trying to be all things to all people.
Just too much change at one time. Put coins on the eyes of Sufferfest for the ferryman on the river Styx.
I thought about it pretty hard and just like there’s logic to the change made at wahoo, there’s logic in consumers decisions that might not seem to make sense.
Honestly, I think it may have been more well received by me anyway, if the name remained the same and it had a skin that resembled the original. If the release would’ve contained changes that mattered like a better calendar, improved streaming and cycling outside with something akin to a no vid, and connecting to my head unit like Strava that would’ve been awesome.
I can do without all the fluffy corporate style cram it full of stuff so it’s all things to all people. I’m more into form follows function. I’m a cyclist so the old version was almost perfect for me, (cycling is an outdoor activity which was the only major oversight of Sufferfest but it still was good for inclement weather and yoga and strength). The new SYSTM should be great for the masses into the diet and exercise roller coaster, (that’s where the big money is anyway).
Ah well… That’s it for me, sorry I was so negative, I suppose an unexpected big change to my fitness routine just wasn’t what I needed. If I’m gonna change I may as well just start fresh with a different product.
So if you read the first post, most things are sort of promised, and as the dc rainmanker article says, outdoor workouts by the end of the year, pushing to head units early next year, so you would have rather waited for the software release, until next year ? No android app ? no new vids ? just the same sufferfest app until then ?
From a software development point of view, this makes little sense, you don’t have users using your software, you have all the issues come in one big go, you have all these new features developed (we have been promised drag and drop and inproved analytics by the end of the year … but we are going to wait will push to head units is available) although I was initally slightly underewhelmed, can see that this makes sense, as long as the release cycle is kept up
It’s why nasa artemis program costs about 30billion dollars, and 10 years over due, make sure it’s perfect, then launch, and why spaces x is launching at a fraction of the cost, launch, workout how to make it better, launch again
Good luck with your change, but I can predict how it will go now, especially if you go to Apple (sorry I mean TR)
As it stands right now, I cannot use the app because Powertap P1 support is broken with the update.
I’ve cancelled the subscription and sent a request for a refund of my month I paid for. I was able to use it once before the update was forced and broke it. I paid for a product that does not work.
I hope this can be resolved. I enjoy the service. I suppose how the refund is handled will determine if I consider coming back.
But just to be clear, I’m 90% enthusiastic about the whole update. It’s a good thing. But I just need it to work with my equipment. It did before. I hope to be back.
I don’t pretend to think software development or roll out is easy and I understand why companies roll out half finished products with promises to finish it later, (I work for an OEM so trust me I get it), which may be great for reporting to the bosses and making executives happy on the golf course while giving great excuses for press releases and share holder reports, but as an end user it’s less than impressive. That’s just me though. Different strokes for different folks. Regarding software… I know some people live for tinkering with it, and maybe they actually like updates and restarts more than working out, but for me I just want to turn it on and use it. Sufferfest was simple and it worked. I wasn’t prepared to reestablish my membership and learn an all new software program.
However, although I’m disappointed in what just happened to Sufferfest and it screws up my training until I get something else figured out, it doesn’t change my mind about what I thought of Sufferfest, or how well it worked and how friendly and helpful the community and support team was. For that I’m very grateful and Sufferfest will be remembered in high regards.
Just out of interest, have you tried it on another device ? I only ask as I’ve been using the software on my laptop and it’s fine, but cannot for dear life of me get it to work on iphone, cannot get it to detect any devices (at all), I’ve not contacted support yet, because it works on my laptop and thats my main device
Both the android app and iOS app show half power when using my P1 pedals as it only connects to one of the two pedals. This did not happen on the old iOS app - it knew and doubled the power. (I think it was an issue long ago, but then fixed)
If I got an ANT+ dongle and used a PC, it would work. Similarly, if I got an ANT+ to bluetooth bridge, it would work with my devices.
But I am not interested in cobbling together more convoluted solutions. It worked before, I just want it to work like that. Should be as trivial as doubling the power measured from a single pedal. A couple lines of code. Heck, they could even make it a check box to double the power so I have to choose that option.
Is your computer up-to-date on Windows updates?
There are lots of sub-versions of Windows 10 (bi-annual releases, typically) and you need to be on a fairly current one.
Fun.
First of all, have you contacted the minions? They’re a very helpful bunch and the best way to get this fixed for you without flooding this thread.
That said, could you post your computer make and model (or specs if self-built/modified)?
Gotta be honest - I love the redesign. I’ll catch heat for this on this forum but I always found the whole “suffer” thing a bit much (though I get that some people thrive on that). New app, new videos, everything… big step up.
Here is my take: First, I completely understand the business decision. There are a limited number of people who are going to take on the challenges posed by the Sufferfest and even fewer who are going to spend 10 plus hours on a bicycle in one day to earn the title “Knight”. So, in Mr. McQuillin’s shoes, I would have also made a decision to make my business more accessible to people who might be put off by something called “Sufferfest”. But, what I think hasn’t been acknowledged is what has been lost. That has, in my opinion, been glossed over by shiny statements like “the Sufferfest is still there”. Those of us who came to the Sufferfest and who earned Knighthood, in one way or another felt that we were elite and we reveled in that feeling. The change to the SYSTM can feel like the stoic principles that drew us to the Sufferfest have been abandoned. But our community of Knights and other Sufferlandrians is still there and through our commitment and our accomplishments, we have proven that we are still willing to go whether few others will. I can only hope that the SYSTM will commit to keeping that community alive and distinct
