Don’t get me wrong — I like Mike’s videos, and when they first started appearing in Systm, I welcomed them as a breath of fresh air, something new for the platform. However, I never thought they would replace the classic Sufferfest workouts. I feel like Wahoo keeps shooting itself in the foot with these decisions to replace SUF classics with On Location videos. Who in their right mind would think it’s a good idea to replace the fun and engaging (and recently refreshed!) Recharger with a music-free video where we spend two-thirds of the time staring at Mike’s back? Right now, I can’t imagine doing that workout weekly in this version — it’s just not the same anymore.
Get a grip, Wahoo, before it’s too late. From what I can see, the opinions about phasing out Sufferfest content are overwhelmingly clear. I believe you still have this possibility of being a company that actually listens to its customers.
Its Wahoo’s app, they have all the data on usage. If they are watering down The Sufferfest and prioritising On Location videos I assume it must be because they have data to back that up.
Either that or it is more profitable to make an On Location Video that they own the copyright for, than get extorted by the UCI, ASO and Warner/Discovery for the rights to race footage.
I have a feeling that Sufferfest fans are a minority of SYSTM users. Nobody I have ridden with IRL has used or is using SYSTM, most are on Zwift and some are switching to MyWhoosh. 2 people I’ve recommended it to have been put off by the name Sufferfest and one of them does adventure racing for fun, which I would have thought would be a match for type 2 fun.
They probably also had data supporting the acquisition of RGT — which didn’t even survive a full year under Wahoo’s management — as well as the introduction of the RGT steering device (now a useless piece of plastic), which some naïve users bought and ended up using for an even shorter time.
If getting rid of SUF content is really meant as a cost-saving measure, I’m not sure it won’t backfire — Wahoo might end up losing more from departing users than it saves.
@Karp666 Read this thread - they didn’t want to replace the footage. They had issues with renewing licensing and didn’t want to completely remove the workouts from the library as they would have to redo all of the training plans.
Thanks for sharing this, that sheds an entirely different light on this issue. I feel like it could have been communicated more openly than through a forum thread though. I hope the issues will be sorted - because Systm is not the same (and not as attractive for me) with SUF content leaving the platform.
I do agree but would just add that three of the original Sufferfest videos feature Mike Cotty. They are distinct from the On Location videos in that they have an engaging soundtrack throughout and are a bit more interesting in terms of the video construction. Getting Away With It is my most ridden Sufferfest video by a big margin - 29 times and I’ve got in my calendar for next week. Whilst they couldn’t replace the Suf videos with race footage I do think On Locations being more like the 3 Suf videos with Mike would be better.