February 2023 Challenge

[Dafydd]

Similar plan as me - Short KOM and then OL Mt Wellington tomorrow

Angels last night

[CPT_A]

@emacdoug

How the heck am I supposed to add these in to my February daily Defender plan? Oi.

Must… earn… badges!!

IKR? Now that I’m back from the plague, I’m trying to complete (finally) the last of my badges, so since the Feb Challenge is all about climbing, I’ve decided I’m ONLY doing climbing vids for the month of February. Finished Pyrenees yesterday, have some gruesome Pro Rides to complete in the next week.

[CPT_A]

@TrapMeSuf

Pro Rides for me are like vegetables for my kids: We know it’s good for us, but we just can’t get used to it… Perhaps I’ll start liking them at some point.

I hear what you’re saying, but some of the ProRides are WAAAAAY worse than vegetables.

[CPT_A]

@Glen.Coutts

#TWAAW

This is a good one, Sir @Glen.Coutts. Flagged as canon.

[CPT_A]

@Todd_Bettler

Probably wasn’t the smartest idea to do Mt. Wellington, the day after half Monty but you’ve got to get the challenges in when you can.

So very Sufferlandrian…

[CPT_A]

@tbronder

I’ve got Angels coming up this weekend and will be warming up with …checks notes… Short KOM training session. Good for the badge, but can’t wait to see how bad the legs get thrashed.

Otherwise known as “Flogging Station #47”.

GvA approved…

[tbronder]

Short KOM + Angels recap: hurts so good! Really went for it with Phil, setting a 3 minute power best and keeping 10W+ above targets for the second interval. It definitely took the pep of out the legs for Angels, and the over-unders were torturous–the only way I made it through was by “slacking” the unders at 90rpm instead of the 100 goal. Once into the climbs I wasn’t in danger of failing but was thoroughly cooked by the end.

One interesting juxtaposition having the famously drug free Phil Gaimon in the first bit and closing it out with, um, Rider 15 Chris Horner. Wouldn’t mind him being remastered away someday…

[Natasha.R]

Loved this challenge! I like how it made me try rides I would not necessarily have done. Mt Wellington is now one of my favourites!

Nice how the monthly challenges include a ride from 4 different channels.

[ediblehedge]

I rode Angels this morning to complete the Feb challenge and was really surprised how few times I’ve ridden this, only 4 since the app days.

As soon as the 10 mins of 100 rpm over unders started, the memories came flooding back - this is a truly horrid work out

[rinaf]

Oh, so true!

I had the same realisation this morning: I’d only completed it twice before in 2+ years (and bailed in the 10 minutes section once). Partly I’ve not done it because I had built it up in my head as being a total beast. Which it is. But on the other hand, all the training I’ve done since the first time I did this a little under two years has certainly paid off and beastly as it is, I can handle it much, much better physically and, more importantly, mentally.
First time

Today

I’m glad the Feb challenge forced me to do it again, or it would always seem like an impossible ride in my head that I kept avoiding!

[JSampson]

@ediblehedge

As soon as the 10 mins of 100 rpm over unders started, the memories came flooding back - this is a truly horrid work out

@ediblehedge Essentially it is a 4 x 8 at or around threshold with some twists. Check out the FTP Progression series in the Threshold Building Blocks training plan. It definitely helped me with sessions like Angels.

[CPT_A]

@rinaf

I’d only completed it twice before in 2+ years (and bailed in the 10 minutes section once).

So first time I’d ever done Angels was for my KoS last November. Had already forgotten about the Angliru. That last little 8min kicker is one of the most vicious segments I can think of.

[David.McQuillen.KoS]

@TrapMeSuf

That song, about 24 minutes in, by LehtMoJoe (Make it Rain (How)) is epic by the way.

One of my all time favs. We’ve got several songs by him scattered throughout SUF.

[Critmark]

Just did Mt Wellington to finish up the challenge. I HATE climbs. My best distance for this ride to date so that was good. I HATE climbs. Glad that is over with. I HATE climbs. Interesting to see if there is a challenge in March with another event planned for the month. I HATE climbs.

In the event anyone missed my subtle hints about how I feel about climbs…I HATE CLIMBS.

[Glen.Coutts]

@Critmark

I HATE CLIMBS

I almost get the sense you’re not a big fan of climbing Sir. Funny thing is, I am TERRIBLE at it, am way too heavy and not all that strong and have a weakness for sustained efforts but I actually LOVE climbing.

Perhaps it’s a function of not having anywhere near me (3 hours drive minimum) to climb but at least a couple times a year, I plan a couple of days of back-to-back hill riding just to get 1000 metres of gain each day. I’ve also done 3 virtual Everestings.

[ozmadman]

@Critmark

In the event anyone missed my subtle hints about how I feel about climbs…I HATE CLIMBS.

You won’t like the "UCI centre 4 " in the tour This year then?? "lets just start the climb at 220 watts, the coach says!! these girls can’t weigh more than about 50 kilo’s it gets harder from there!

[Glen.Coutts]

@ozmadman

lets just start the climb at 220 watts

Right!? I00% snorted when I heard that on the first (and what I was hoping to make my last) time I ever did that fugly beast of a ride.

[ozmadman]

@Glen.Coutts

Right!? I00% snorted when I heard that

Yeah! that got me worried too! the only thing that kept me going was that their breathing was harder than mine. I did find the second section a tad easier though after that first long grind

[Glen.Coutts]

@ozmadman

I did find the second section a tad easier though after that first long grind

Me too (after I dialed the intensity down to endurance pace )

[tbronder]

@Critmark

In the event anyone missed my subtle hints about how I feel about climbs…I HATE CLIMBS.

Just to be clear, can you expand on your feelings for:

• rollers?
• ramps?
• walls?
• kickers?
• poppers?
• uppers?

okay, maybe not the last two…