I embarked on my cycling journey just over a year ago, and after countless dedicated workouts, I’ve made the momentous decision to take on the formidable challenge of the Sufferlandria Knighthood Quest.
Everything is aligning perfectly for my January 31st Quest. One of my final tasks is to finalize my 10-workout selection from my pre-selected 14 workouts and determine the optimal sequence.
Here are my picks:
Do as you’re told
Angels
Attacker
Butter
Hell Hath no Fury
Nine Hammers
Power Station
Revolver
Rue the day
The Best Thing in the world
The Rookie
The Wretched
Thin Air
Violator
Wahoo recommends to do the challenge at 70% intensity or less. I’m curious to learn about other knights’ experience with intensity levels. It’s not a topic I’ve seen discussed too much around these parts.
Fantastic! GvA looks forward to your glorious suffering in defense of this great mythical nation as you attempt to join the legendary Sufferlandrian knighthood.
Intensity is a very personal thing. And it can depend on your fitness level, playlist choices, sleep, and fatigue level coming into the day of your attempt (as well as other variables). And the only requirement is that you suffer honorably. So, that - along with it being a personal challenge (not a competition against anyone else) - makes it difficult and unimportant what intensity level you choose.
That being said, I’ve heard of and experienced it being done at a variety of intensity levels. And generally (but not always), if a rider has done a recent fitness test (FF or HM), and starts off at 75% or higher, they generally (tho not always) end up reducing the intensity of their workouts at some point before the end. 70% is a good idea (but no guarantee) if the plan is to keep at the same level for all 10 videos.
Thank you! I was going to begin at 75% to make sure I’m suffering enough. I’ve been feeling really good on the trainer these past few weeks. I might adjust on the day as per your advice.
Nice!!! I love your choices. They all look so delightfully suffery.
Everyone’s quest is highly personal as is their list. My advice. Pick your faves and mix it up avoiding toooo long sustained efforts for the back end. Oh, and put your absolute favourite at #7. It’s considered the unofficial ½ way point. Many a quest has fallen here. Remember this is an endurance event. So start out too hot and you might pay the price.
As for intensity, some start high and reduce as they go, some start low and increase if they can. There is no requirement here. Only that you put in an effort that you’re proud of. I think mine started in the 70-75 range but by the time I hit Revolver, my #10 there were several intervals in the 60s.
Oh and welcome to the forums. Please do come back here @PierrePaff and let us know your final list and order as well as an approximate start time.
If we can, some of us try to “join” in the festivities for a bit. Also, on the day, keep us posted as you finish each vid so we can mock, jeer, heckle and otherwise encourage you along the way. Suffer pics are highly encouraged. Here’s one from the guy who started it all (the Sufferfest that is)
+1 on 70% being a good level based on fresh HM or FF numbers. The first few videos will feel not too hard, but by number seven or so, you’ll be happy you kept a little in the tank at the start.
Very “excited” for you, @PierrePaff! Your list looks “fun”.
As everyone else, I agree that your quest to SUFFer will be very much a personal thing. I chronicled mine here if you’re looking for ideas - especially things NOT to do:
Like I was determined to attempt my KoS at 80%. Somewhere in the middle I crashed…hard…and had to dial it way down to keep going. Recovered enough to finish decently strong but destroyed. I would bet if I went back and averaged all of the workouts, I probably did…75%.
That’s good to know…I’ve been wondering about intensity as well. I knew it is generally completed at less than 100%, but didn’t realized that much was common.
One more task completed - the check list:
Boombox
Food
Hydration
3-4 sets bibs/shirts/socks
2 pairs of shoes
150 towels
Lube the chain
Bike computer
Battery checks
Backup power
Bucketloads of badassness
*timer
*download workouts
*Chamois cream
*extra shelf space
70% max for at least the first few vids. The bonk will be strong later on if you go too hard too early. Have snacks nearby that are easy to eat, not dry, and not needing a lot of chewing. Gels, and hydration, always have 1 spare bottle. Big-ass fan, spare towel(s).
Time how long it takes you to go pee from the bike and back again, you’d be surprised if the toilet is the other end of the house).
All the best knighthoods end on violator (well, mine did, anyway), you can properly empty yourself on the last sprints. Imagine that the last one, you can see the drawbridge being raised and you need to ride for that ramp with all you have to make the gap!!