Stage 4 Complete. F$(&ing Goats!
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We’re half way there and feeling good!!
You’ll have to login but you should be able to see your progress here: The Sufferfest
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Stage four complete! I’m glad that Half Is Easy was in the first half. I couldn’t imagine doing it after GOAT. 
Every day is a bit more challenging. I’m looking forward to Norway, but Friday and Saturday stages have me nervous.
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Stage four done. I was expecting to have a really tough time on Half Is Easy (I’m no sprinter), but got into the rhythm of the intervals, and the time flew by. The hard half was still hard, but overall better than I feared.
And normally, I’m good with the low cadence grinds of G.O.A.T., but this time, after everything leading up to it, those intervals seemed to go for ever.
Looking forward to Norway tomorrow. I haven’t done it yet, so it should be a fun, new experience.
Congratulations to everyone for getting past the half way point!
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Same for me - the 50rpm cadences were just not going to happen. Whenever I got as low as 51-52, I was close to the death spiral. Did most of it at between 55-60, still so tough. This was the first time doing GOAT properly with a smart trainer and cadence sensor so I’m not beating myself up too much!
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Im wondering if low cadence in the big ring may be easier due to the change in lever length? In ERG mode that is. May do a test post-Tour. Unless anyone knows this kinda stuff here?
Yes @jlewis63 it should be more unlikely to go to the death spiral.
Being in the big ring means the flywheel’s speed is higher,
which means that the electromagnets do not engage as much as on a lower speed,
which means that the momentum of the flywheel is higher,
which should keep you in the effort in case you stop pedaling for a second.
This applies to any bigger gear in general, not just on big chainring.
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You Super Start ! Thanks! I don’t remember much after Suff Sessions, but i think last time i did GOAT i was in the big ring and it wasn’t as bad as yesterday. Then i thought it may have been dialled down, as part of Tour prep plan. Cheers!
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Get old pretty fast?! Col Collective videos!? What a scandalous proposition! 
They never age and if they choose to, only at the rate they themselves approve is appropriate!
NB: of course I understand we all have our personal views
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Very well said Lee. Perspective is important. We all have it pretty bloody good in our lives now. That is still more of an exception.
Confession: I had to keep my cadence around 70 to survive the final few climbs of G.O.A.T. but stayed Nuclear to the finish.
Question: Adulting/job stuff seem to get in the way of my ToS opportunity during the day so I’m putting in the late night grind on my bike. This timing (around 6-8pm) is right smack dab in the middle of my normal feeding time. After I hop off the bike, eating is the last thing I want to do. Any suggestions out there for how to resolve this other than quit my job?
TIA for any ideas from the awesome Team Sufferlandria.
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Na. Quit!
@Glen.Coutts Thanks! exactly what I was looking for.
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Hey Neal?!
My hip flexors called. They said they hate you.
Cheers,
Lee
(Stage 4 last night.)
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Sorry, QUIT is all I got 
Or you could ride Getting Away With It and the minions will take care of that for you. Seriously though, unlike you, after a ride, once I’ve showered and my HR returns to normal, I could literally eat EVERYTHING. I do understand though that your appetite is suppressed. Not based on any kind of science, my only real suggestion is to eat something like a protein bar and maybe a glass or two of chocolate milk to get some extra fat and carbs in there. On the other hand, if you are getting enough calories in during the day, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
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Same situation, an actual dinner is out of the question for me during ToS.
My strategy is a work in progress. I eat rice cakes (recipes in the “Feed Zone Portables” cookbook) during the ride as they are easy for me to digest and have a high water content. I take a small bite during each recovery. Then, a small meal (like 8 chicken nuggets) ~45 minutes after the ride.
I chewed stem most of HIE, and did not remember there was some dirt racing during the sprints, and funny dog-on-a-hammock bits during the recovery until I watch Sirs Dave and Dylan ride HIE on the tube.
And forgot how cool was that “bike soccer” during the HIE warmup. The dude smoked the shot on the penalty kick.
HIE is probably a very good video. Hopefully, I will be able to both ride and watch some day.
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I am VERY VERY pleased to hear that others struggled with GOAT today. TBH, I never actually find it easy but it was a particular kind of difficult on the goat heels of HIE. Do goats have heels? Anyway. Glad to have finished that and still SOOOOO impressed with the SUF Scientists ability to know precisely how far to push you in the Focused Option without throwing you headfirst into the volcano. That said:
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Haha, same here. After a shower and maybe 30 mins of finishing workout, I’m ready to eat anything and everything!
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