Done it, didn’t like it, won’t like it, but will do it.
I actually like rollers, ramps are OK until they morph into climbs, walls I don’t like running in to (literally or figuratively), not sure exactly what you mean by kickers, and yes, I’ll pass on commenting on the last two.
is it the most popular as in, it has the most completions this month? because it’s also the most likely of the 4 to be in an existing plan, not related to the challenge, which would impact the stats.
is it the most popular as in, people enjoy it the most? because WTF NO WHO ENJOYS THAT
is it the most popular as in, it feels the most validating to complete? … likely. I nearly bought a trophy, printed out a certificate, found a little stuffed animal to award myself after I finished it. (I settled for a self-congratulatory comment in my training notes.)
every day I see an update from you I am more impressed/more worried for you! But you just made me think – you must be really f*cking with stats for Defender completions. Next year they’ll look at the YoY difference and be like ‘why did so many people love Defender in Feb’23 and just completely avoid it in Feb’24?!’
Before this month I had ridden Defender 8 times. I’ve now ridden it 26 times - will probably be 40 when I’m done. It’s likely now the Sufferfest video I’ve ridden the most (not counting Open 30 or any of the no-vids).
Maybe they’ll decide it’s so popular that they won’t include it in any of the monthly challenges. You can thank me later.
Have that one on tap tomorrow to finish off this month’s challenge and can’t say I’m exactly thrilled about it!! These Pro-Rides have been consistently brutal.
Did that one yesterday as well and thought much the same thing. Still had all of the surges above FTP, but there was none of the totally off-the-gas mini-breaks you get in most of the other pro-rides. Great workout, but very glad to be done!!
Work travel and a touch illness when recovering had left me with 8 days left in the month and none of either the Feb challenge nor the new Galicia workouts ticked off.
Finally closed this one off with the UAE tour ride this morning. Horrible stuff. You know it’s bad when you see a 20-second mid-tempo segment coming up and you think ‘ahhh, recovery ahead!’
I had a ongoing conversation with my brain: ‘the legs and the heart are doing their jobs, if the you won’t play ball, then go wait in the corner until the rest of us are done’. But I did properly crack and take a 60-second break off the bike after that ‘close the gap’ instruction at minute 45 (same exact as the first time I did the ride last January). It’s not much worse than any other surge in the ride except somehow it is.
Finished this off this morning with UAE Tour Stage 1, woof! What a beast.
I was pleasantly surprised to find commentary by José Been, who frankly I think is one of the best commentators out there today and a good journalist as well.
This month’s challenge was an excellent collection all the way around. Next time the SUF/Wahooligan Tour rolls around though, let’s work the monthly challenge videos into the Tour training plan, please.
@David.McQuillen.KoS - Please MORE José Been and Nicole Frain and other women of cycling. Thanks for what you have already included.
I thought she commentated the start and conclusion of ALL the Pro Rides, no?
Edit: just checked and yep. She does them all and does such a GREAT job of setting the stage and the mood for the rides. You’ve got 18 more of these to enjoy now @jesawdy
January and February Challenges only so far. I’m an OG SUF guy, back when I bought and downloaded all the videos. The monthly Challenges are a good way to get folks to change it up a bit!