I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with planning my quest and it was making me sad as it was distracting me from the joy of suffering.
To help myself, and to learn some stuff, I made a rough-around-the-edges web app that lets me compare different scenarios and the like. You can find it here if you’re interested: https://againstdemons84.github.io/knighthood-quests/
It doesn’t share any of your data with me or anyone else, with the exception of the workout scheduling which does make calls to Systm on your behalf; but there’s no web tracking or cookies. I use local storage on the browser to save the scenarios and profile data.
I’d be interested to know what sorts of stats folks have looked at when designing their quest and any other advice from the purveyors of fine spreadsheets in our midst.
Now, I must stop this couchlandrian procrastination and resubmit to the quest.
For fun, I asked Google Gemini the following to come with a plan for a Knighthood quest.
That is an epic challenge! The SYSTM Sufferfest Knighthood Quest requires you to complete 10 Sufferfest videos back-to-back with no more than a 10-minute break between each, which can take over 10 hours.
While I can’t give you the definitive list, as the best set is highly personal, the search results and community wisdom point to a strategy focused on endurance, variety, and mental survival.
Here is an idea set of workouts and a strategic breakdown based on community recommendations:
Suggested Knighthood Workout Strategy
The key to a successful playlist is variety to engage different muscle groups and strategic pacing to save your mental and physical reserves for the end. You will likely dial back the intensity (70-85% of your 4DP targets is common).
Order
Suggested Video Type
Examples (Valid Videos)
Why this placement?
1-2
“Feel Good” Opener & Endurance
The Rookie, Revolver, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time (ISLAGIATT)
Start with a video you love or a longer, steady effort to settle in and bank time. ISLAGIATT is 2 hours, which knocks out two slots right away.
3-4
Mixed Intensity/FTP Builder
Nine Hammers, Cloven (if valid and not too aggressive), The Shovel
Introduce some high-intensity/FTP work before you get too fatigued. Nine Hammers is often cited but should be done early when you have the legs for it.
5
The Mid-Point Test (Mental)
The Wretched, A Very Dark Place, The Omnium
The mental half-way point. A video that requires focus and determination but isn’t pure maximal suffering.
6-7
Cadence & Recovery Focus
Angels, Team Scream, Blender
Videos with high-cadence spinning or lighter efforts/micro-breaks. This is when your legs start to really hurt, so switch up the stimulus.
8
The Break/Mental Anchor
Thin Air (The end is motivating), The Model (Good variety), or a Pro-Ride
A video with a motivational segment or a different format to give your mind a break. This is often the point (or video #7) that breaks people.
9-10
Short & Sprinty / “Victory Lap”
Violator, Fight Club, The Bat
The shortest, most aggressive videos to finish. The short nature makes them mentally easier to handle because you know the end is near. Violator is a great finisher.
Note: Be sure to check the official SYSTM rules for the exact list of videos that are currently valid for the Knighthood Quest, as the list can change.
Key Preparation & Training Tips
The Knighthood is primarily an endurance and mental challenge. Your training should reflect that.
1. Training Plan
Use the Official Plan: SYSTM often has a dedicated “Knight of Sufferlandria Training Plan” in the app. This is the most recommended way to prepare, as it includes long sessions and specific workouts designed to build the required duration-specific fitness.
Practice Back-to-Backs: At least 2-4 weeks out, practice sessions of 3 to 5 videos back-to-back. This is crucial for testing your nutrition, gear, and mental strategy.
Endurance Focus: Accumulate training hours. If you haven’t done a 5-6 hour indoor ride before, you need to do a couple in the weeks leading up to the Quest.
2. Strategy for the Day
Pacing (The Dial): Most successful Knights ride at a reduced intensity, often 70-85% of their 4DP targets. Start conservatively; you can always turn it up, but you can’t undo burnout.
The 10-Minute Break: Use this time ruthlessly.
Priorities: Toilet, refill/prepare bottles, eat, quick stretch (especially off the bike), change shorts/chamois cream (recommended after every 2-3 videos).
Practice Transition: Practice the routine of ending, saving the workout, loading the next, and getting back on the bike well before your 10 minutes are up.
Nutrition: This is as important as the cycling. You need a structured plan for 60-90+ grams of carbs per hour. Practice this plan during your long prep rides to ensure your stomach can handle it.
Mix it up: Use gels, energy drinks, solid food (PB&J, fig bars, rice cakes) to avoid flavor fatigue.
3. Equipment & Setup
Cooling:Multiple fans (at least two) are non-negotiable. You will generate a huge amount of heat over 10 hours.
Saddle Soreness: This is a major limiting factor. Chamois cream is essential. Changing shorts/bibs every few hours helps significantly. Varying your hand position (a set of TT bars can help) can also relieve pressure.
Downloads: Download all 10 videos beforehand to prevent any streaming or connectivity issues.
Good luck with your Quest. It is a legendary accomplishment!
Would you like me to look up the official SYSTM Knight of Sufferlandria Training Plan or search for more video-specific Knighthood playlists to give you more ideas?
I then asked it come up with some videos for the quest:
That’s a fantastic request! Looking at successful community attempts, the strategy is consistently about front-loading the longer videos and strategically placing the maximum effort videos in the early-to-mid stages while using the mid-to-late rides for recovery and mental resets.
Here are a few actual Knighthood Quest playlists used by successful Sufferlandrians, compiled from community reports.
Disclaimer: Be sure to check the official SYSTM rules for the definitive list of currently eligible videos, as it changes over time. Some listed below may have been retired or made “Knight-Only” since these attempts.
Knighthood Quest Playlist Examples
1. The Long Haul Playlist (Focus: Banking Time Early)
This list uses ISLAGIATT (It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time) early to get two hours done with one video, minimizing the number of 10-minute transition breaks when you’re still mentally fresh.
Order
Video Title
Duration (approx.)
Primary Focus/Goal
1
The Rookie
47 mins
Warmup & Steady Start. A good, solid introductory video to set the pace.
2
ISLAGIATT (2-Hour Version)
1 hour 56 mins
The Time Banker. Gets nearly two hours done and knocks out two video slots.
3
Nine Hammers
56 mins
FTP & Max Effort Test. Hit a high-intensity/mental test early while you still have the legs.
4
A Very Dark Place
54 mins
Sustained Power. A solid block of endurance to follow the sprints.
5
The Wretched
49 mins
The Mid-Point Test. Short enough to be mentally manageable but with enough suffering to test resolve.
6
Angels
54 mins
Cadence/Spin Focus. A change of pace and muscle stimulus to prevent burnout.
7
The Model
56 mins
Mixed/Variety. Keeps the mind engaged with different efforts.
8
The Shovel
59 mins
Endurance/VO2 Max. A sustained push when fatigue is setting in.
9
Revolver
43 mins
Sprint Focus. Short, intense, and psychologically easier—it’s fast to finish!
10
Violator
43 mins
The Victory Lap. The shortest, most aggressive video to finish with a high-energy mental boost.
This playlist tries to avoid the biggest spikes (like Nine Hammers) until the midway point, leaning more on sustained efforts.
Order
Video Title
Duration (approx.)
Primary Focus/Goal
1
Power Station
48 mins
Climbing/Steady Power. Good early effort to settle into rhythm.
2
The Rookie
47 mins
Sustained Power. Back-to-back steady efforts to build confidence.
3
Hell Hath No Fury
1 hour 15 mins
Endurance Block. Longer video placed early to build a solid foundation of fatigue.
4
Revolver
43 mins
Max Effort Test. Introduce high intensity before the big bonk zone.
5
The Downward Spiral
53 mins
Mixed/Break. The official mid-point to reset the mind and stomach.
6
Nine Hammers
56 mins
The Mental Wall. Place a high-difficulty video here, requiring maximal mental toughness.
7
Blender
56 mins
Cadence/Spin Focus. A mandatory shift in effort to give the primary climbing muscles a break.
8
A Very Dark Place
54 mins
FTP/Sustained. Back to business—a psychological challenge to maintain power.
9
The Chores
59 mins
Climbing/Leg Prep. A final push of sustained climbing efforts.
10
Fight Club
1 hour 1 min
The Finisher. A longer one to end, ensuring total time is banked, with the reward right after the last interval.
Pro Tips for Knighthood Playlist Design
Use the Long Videos: If ISLAGIATT (1hr 56m) or Hell Hath No Fury (1hr 15m) are on the eligible list, use them in slots 2, 3, or 4. Getting more time done with fewer breaks is a huge mental win.
Anchor Your Morale: Place a video you genuinely love around slot 7 or 8. This is when the mental suffering is peaking, and having a favorite video can be the anchor that pulls you through the wall.
Finish Short/Strong: End with a shorter, punchy video like Revolver, Violator, or The Bat. The sprints and short intervals are mentally easier to handle because you know they end quickly, giving you a powerful sense of accomplishment for the final 45 minutes.
Which of these two strategies (Long Haul or Steady Burn) resonates more with your riding style?
By the way, to unlock the full functionality of all Apps, enable Gemini Apps Activity.
I followed a lot of personal preference to choose my videos, as the mental game/motivation is so tough. The tips from the forum which have clearly been scraped and are in gemini answer above helped massively, although I didn’t follow all the tips and put 9H last on mine.
I don’t think there’s any way I could have done Cobbler or ISLAGIATT. Too long.
I don’t understand this tip. Particularly the “fewer breaks” part.
Regardless of the length of the videos, you have to do 10 of them. Putting longer videos earlier and short videos later does help you get those longer videos out of the way to make the end of your Knighthood go quicker when you’re tired and your mental strength is sapped.
But you’re also in no way required to do these longer videos.
And, I don’t understand how doing longer videos early equates to “fewer breaks”. You still have a break between each video regardless of how long they are. Doing a long video doesn’t mean you now get to do only 9 videos. You still have to do 10 and still need a break of no more than 10 minutes in between them regardless of the length of the videos.
This is an example of one category of mistakes that LLMs make.
LLMs have no understanding of the material they are working with, and make these types of reasoning mistakes. Sometimes, of course, they just fabricate material.
They make educated guesses based on probability and temperature, and their errors fall into several categories. Whether you call that reasoning or not is debatable. Humans probably do the same thing with some symbolic reasoning (GOFAI) also used.
Suggested Knighthood Workout Strategy
Key Preparation & Training Tips
Knighthood Quest Playlist Examples
Pro Tips for Knighthood Playlist Design
Doing a long video doesn’t mean you now get to do only 9 videos. You still have to do 10 and still need a break of no more than 10 minutes in between them regardless of the length of the videos.