After the “warm-up” (?) i instantly got regrets. Why am i doing this, why am i on a bike at all?
Also, this seems to be one of the first training sessions after a mid-program Half-Monty ramp test. OMFG what why how…
The first recovery segment is a total lie. You think its gonna be ok, you see your HR go back to Z2, you will get a chance to get a bit of water and rel.. Noooo we go back to ONE MILLION WATTS immediately!
After the second section, i got psychologically ready and “ok” to quit mid-way as it was very, very dense.
The third section you basically tell yourself you’ve done enough, there’s absolutely no point completing this, surely.
The “First Person” POV from Gaimon kind of helped a lot actually, i really felt like i was on “that” bike. Somehow.
By the last section, even the music was helping.
Honestly, who thought this was a good idea?
Anyways, i completed it. There. it’s done. ok? fine. fine.
OMG. I hear you. I used to live where the only climbing was the freeway overpasses and bike tunnels, and you only needed 2 gears. We’d drive on the weekends to get to 20 mile long climbs. Then, we moved where there’s a 20+ mile climb from the house.
You know. . . . you should reword this. Otherwise “a very dark place” will turn into a 3 hour workout with resistance always set to “riding into the wind.” The fine print of my marriage contract says “must always be large enough to draft.”
Not done this since it was remastered but used to like defender, don’t get me wrong it was very hard, particularly the high cadence interval, but I like sustained efforts, and the SUF video was great.
Defender I “loved” but it was always very hard and best kept for days when I was fresh. Although the Suff has now been removed I actually like the new version too as it covers 4 climbs I’ve done in real life and between the near death experiences along the way I can reminisce…
Too late. I did this a couple of days ago… the second time it came up in my plan. I agree with all your comments except that each time I do it, Phil’s commentary between work intervals and watching him ride solo becomes a little less interesting. The music is still good, but I need race footage and snarky remarks to maintain my motivation.
if you’re following the same plan as me, then you can look forward to The Way Out next. A perfect follow up when you’ve still got dead legs from Phil’s handiwork.
New user, long-time sufferer, just adding my opinion to the pile. Defender used to be one of my favorite workouts, but after doing the Phil version once I have no interest in going back to this video. I long for a day when this workout is given the respect it deserves and a proper re-SUF:ering.
Defender was one of my favorite workouts. I think I enjoyed it better on my old dumb mag trainer. For whatever reason the long intervals were perfect in level mode on a dumb trainer and I was able to power thru feeling strong every time and often easily above the power targets. After switching to a smart trainer with erg mode it never felt quit as easy. But it still remained my favorite workout, even and especially after I rode every day for a month (44 times).
I like Phil’s channel and used to watch it regularly (when I was less busy). And I saw all these KOM attempts months before they were combined into this workout. The jokes and commentary in between efforts grows old quickly. The thing that will keep me coming back to this video is the music that is still there from the old SUF video and the solo efforts. And I agree, it may be “okay” or “fine” for now, but it grows stale and I hope it will eventually be re-remastered and given the SUF treatment again. It was such a brilliant piece of SUF, regardless of the toughness of the workout.
Nice move! Anything like that is too far of a drive for me to get on a weekend…
I could own a single speed and be fine where I live. It often feels like I’m shifting just for the fun of it!
As for the desuffing… well, no offence to Phil but I too would very much rather have a SUF video. I’ll be doing some of those ahead of trying this. Then I’ll be sure to report back
RMNP is Manitoba’s hidden riding/climbing gem. I’ve done it MANY times. The road is in GREAT shape. There is very little traffic, and what there is is very respectful of cyclists. You can do an out and back from the South Gate to the North Gate (the better option since starting at the North Gate means very little warmup and straight into the biggest climb).
Otherwise, as you know, much of this part of Sufferlandria is pancake flat with relentless headwinds in ALL directions (think, Netherlands, without all the beautiful scenery )
Garbage Hill 300 x in a row? Can it sound more Sufferlandrian than that? I think not.
I don’t know if I have been to RMNP in the last 25 years. I better get there with my bike. Looks amazing! I see there’s a gran fondo there each year. Hmmmmm.
@pkdaylu How long to ride to the rockies? Surely only a week, or two? That would be the longest ride… at least you could really look around on the way!
Edit: Google Maps says 3 days 6 hours from my place by bicycle so maybe a wee bike packing trip this summer
Edit 2: Dame @Isa, I used to go to RMNP twice a year once in May/June and then again in Sept/Oct. I stopped going in the spring when I was almost literally eaten alive 2 years in a row by swarming deer flies
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