Dear @PepperTransAm, let me enlighten you on what you have just committed yourself to. I may have done the same a day or so ago… 
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Thanks, you WILL get there! I had cycled back and forth to work about a mile each way for about 20 years buts that’s all I did. I finally got sick of cycling in all weathers and stopped cycling altogether and got a car. Then at 66 years old I retired and got even more unfit so decided to get an indoor trainer with basic power meter. When I started (no structure just did what I wanted and when) I could hit about 120 watts for around 10 minutes!!! (under 2 watts a kilo) started just following some of the GCN training videos but still no real structure and improved quite a bit. Joined Systm about 6 months or so ago did Half Monty after the 12 week all purpose plan FTP 197 (3.2 watts per kg) the recently the 4DP test (FTP 213 watts (3.5 watts per kg) At an age where I should be declining, I am improving, not massively but slowly and surely and this year did my first ever few TT’s and beat people in my club 15-20 years younger than me!!. Retirement has given me the opportunity be be consistent and that is the key, no matter what training you do or how much, just be consistent and you WILL get there!! Must go, got a training session to do GOOD LUCK
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@ozmadman you are an inspiration!
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@doctordarko sounds like fun 
So years ago when I had moved to the mountains of Virginia I went on my first ride there with some locals. We were going up a steep gravel fire road and I gave up about half way. I hated that I surrendered! That’s when I started riding more and working at cycling. Within a couple years I did my first bike tour Virginia to Oregon. Even though I’m a big guy at 6’3" and not built to be a climber, the big climbs were always my favorite part BECAUSE they were tough and no matter how tough I never gave up again.
That was 12 years ago and the last few after moving away from the mountains I’ve let myself get soft again. But no more.
So when I say that knighthood challenge looks like suffering and fun I mean it!
Good luck @doctordarko in your quest too, you got this!
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Oh and @doctordarko to this part of your quote, then I am hereby committed!
I will take the above advice from @Dan and @Glen.Coutts and do it within a month after I complete the tour of Sufferlandia!
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My 2 cents would be to consider targeting within 2 weeks. And, not because I want to see you suffer sooner, it’s just that from experience, the tour offers a great increase in fitness where leaving your quest for a full month afterwards you won’t be taking full advantage of that.
What I mean here is that training plans will generally work to tax you for a set period then are followed by recovery for a period (rinse and repeat). As the plan nears its end (the week before an event say) there is a period of tapering that ensures you are at your peak fitness (where your fatigue has settled and your form has increased). That tapering is rarely more than a week.
Totally 100% your call here. No one will EVER pressure you to do something you’re not ready to do. Just wanted to give you some food for thought.
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I should clarify something about that “saying” we have in Sufferlandria. I made it up. But I’m a Sufferlandrian and I’ve said it so many times that afaic it’s a saying 
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@PepperTransAm way too keen you are! Good on ya mate!
I got the training plan sorted for the rest of the year, as a preparation for the Challenge Tour, part of Tour Down Under in January.
I have read about Tour of Sufferlandria as well, so that should be perfectly timed after Tour Down Under in February, then who knows what after that…
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Brave man!! look forward to seeing how you get on.
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Firstly, welcome to the SYSTM forum and community, as you can already see it’s full of helpful like minded people here to encourage and suffer in solidarity!
Well done on those numbers and the progress that you’ve made so far! I would say that if you haven’t followed a specific plan before, it might be worth giving the all rounder plan a go. Closer to your target events you’ll want to work specifically on sustained power, but until then a varied stimulus training plan with strength, yoga, and mental training will likely do you wonders!
If you’ve ever got any further questions or want some more input on exactly what plan would work best for you, you can always book a call with a coach for a more in depth talk
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This has been a paid advertisement from the sponsors at Wahoo Fitness. 
Just kidding!!
One of the many great things about the forums is that the coaches and SUF scientists will weigh in now and then.
I know folks who have used the “call a coach”service when their goals/time didn’t quite fit the mold of the stock plans and they were very very pleased with the results (this is NOT a paid advertisement and I am not (currently) a paid employee of Wahoo Fitness or any of its affiliates (if they even have affiliates)
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They give me free reign every couple of months to let me ramble on about training (and doing promo ofc) 
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Ramble on!!!
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Probably good advice and duly noted, thanks again @Glen.Coutts
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Thanks @Coach.Andy.T
Yeah, great responses and folks here and already I feel a part of the community, I truly appreciate that and you all.
I think this week I’ll finish the 14 day trial plan (and a few other things I threw in). Next week will be Full Frontal Prep Plan. Then I’ll be able to add a Cycling-General Fitness-All Purpose plan that will be better adjusted to me after my Full Frontal test.
Hopefully that will do well to lead me up to the Tour of Sufferlandria around February and then my quest for knighthood!
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Update: I took your advice @Glen.Coutts and did the prep week last week, and did my first Full Frontal yesterday.
NM: 1079 (+155)
AC: 435 (-10)
MAP: 308 (+2)
FTP: 256 (+2)
I’m with you as the Half Monty was very predictive of my MAP and FTP (improved both by 2 but very close).
The NM sprint estimation from the Half Monty I was able to beat by quite a bit (so of course especially at my weight it decided I am a Sprinter). The AC is the only one I went down in, but I was pretty well drained for that last 1 minute effort and just held on for dear life. Something to work on for sure.
I know a lot of people dread that test, and it was pretty gnarly, but I like pushing and testing myself so in a demented way I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to beat it in a few months! Today I’m starting a 12 week All Purpose plan. That should take me right up to the Tour of Sufferlandria.
Thanks again everyone for all the help/advice!
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Nice results too! Glad I could help you (to suffer better)
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