# Un-official LEVEL MODE MARCH MADNESS Challenge **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [February 24, 2021, 7:08pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916 "2021-02-24T19:08:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![emacdoug](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/emacdoug/32/15557_2.png) [@emacdoug](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/emacdoug)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/62 "2021-03-10T17:29:59Z")
I did ISLTA this morning. Completely forgot about the whole level mode challenge. 🙈 But last year I did it 3 times - really 6 if you count the repeats I did during my century attempts - and I did it in level mode every time, so this is actually the first time I did it in erg mode at 100%. I’m dead now. I’m sure GvA will ensure I will atone for this. Probably with higher MAP and FTP numbers after I do HM on Saturday. 🐐 ---
**Author:** ![emacdoug](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/emacdoug/32/15557_2.png) [@emacdoug](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/emacdoug)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/63 "2021-03-10T17:31:28Z")
> [@Pierre](#): > > Nice day today. Empty calendar. Looks like a perfect day to try some _light_ suffering with The Omnium. Did the kilo rip your legs off? Did you need to use the opportunity to take a lie down? The first time I did Omnium was on my dumb trainer early on and I really needed that break more than I care to admit. ---
**Author:** ![Pierre](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/pierre/32/5307_2.png) [@Pierre](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Pierre)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/64 "2021-03-10T18:22:43Z")
I think you are off the hook and can enjoy a bit of your new erg-mode. 🙂 I‘m super glad my first encounter with The Omnium happened after I got acquainted with level mode. Otherwise it would have been a completely different experience. I loved every damn minute of it and The Omnium immediately found it’s way into my top list of SUF workouts. The kilo surprised me a bit. I didn’t break and surprised myself in the process. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Magnito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/magnito/32/7120_2.png) [@Magnito](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Magnito)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/65 "2021-03-10T20:35:15Z")
The Omnium and I have not yet been introduced, although I have seen it around. Is it so that level mode could actually let you off easier than it would have been with ERG @Pierre? ---
**Author:** ![Magnito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/magnito/32/7120_2.png) [@Magnito](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Magnito)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/66 "2021-03-10T20:39:12Z")
My cravings have been satisfied! 10 pts for guessing which workout? Needless to say I needed a smooth transition to my new numbers. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/thesufferfest/original/2X/a/aed16eda22b060512ee0a8dd07e35f6260cc93fa.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![emacdoug](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/emacdoug/32/15557_2.png) [@emacdoug](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/emacdoug)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/67 "2021-03-10T20:42:32Z")
I would say that level mode could work either way. On my dumb trainer I was always stuck with level mode. This was a blessing and a curse. When I was feeling bad - or at the end of a hard workout - it would allow me to build late into intervals and bail on them early. That can make workouts easier, but doesn’t help improvement. It also allowed me to work harder on some workouts when I felt great, such as riding the last two intervals in Defender and 10-20w higher than the targets. So, it kind of depends on your mentality, work ethic, etc. ---
**Author:** ![emacdoug](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/emacdoug/32/15557_2.png) [@emacdoug](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/emacdoug)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/68 "2021-03-10T20:42:57Z")
That looks buttery soft. ---
**Author:** ![Pierre](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/pierre/32/5307_2.png) [@Pierre](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Pierre)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/69 "2021-03-10T20:50:29Z")
Please do try it! It‘s great. Well, level mode could let you off easier, but for me it made it harder. I wanted to go all out. I think it fits perfectly into the video theme. For me, it‘s now one of SUFs hardest workouts. But it is what you make of it. I had a lot of fun and can’t imagine switching to erg for this. ---
**Author:** ![Magnito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/magnito/32/7120_2.png) [@Magnito](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Magnito)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/70 "2021-03-10T21:00:09Z")
I will make sure to take this into consideration whenever omnium may find it to cross my path 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Magnito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/magnito/32/7120_2.png) [@Magnito](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Magnito)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 9:13pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/71 "2021-03-10T21:13:26Z")
10 pts Sir! #ButterySmooth ---
**Author:** ![Heretic](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/heretic/32/2329_2.png) [@Heretic](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Heretic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/72 "2021-03-10T21:29:42Z")
Enjoy The Omnium, especially the last 45 seconds. You can enjoy this thread: > [@FOTO (aka Fear of "The Omnium")](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/foto-aka-fear-of-the-omnium/3379): > > Since there is communication going on about Full Frontal Fear in the trainig section I want to report of experiencing F.O.T.O. last night after realising “The Omnium” was on the menu for today. That Fear of The Omnium almost got me a sleepless night. But I managed it this morning and felt very proud. Especially since the Kilo did not kill me and I almost made the last sprint except for the last three seconds or so. For an historical perspective: > **[SYSTM Training Program & Workout App](https://www.wahoofitness.com/systm)** > > Maximize your cycling performance with Wahoo SYSTM. A cycling app backed by sports science that offers cycling interval training, strength training, Yoga, mental training and more. ---
**Author:** ![way9e0](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/way9e0/32/1121_2.png) [@way9e0](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/way9e0)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/73 "2021-03-10T21:50:26Z")
14 Vise Grips was fun in level mode yesterday. I was able to hit most of the targets pretty accurately, although I drifted above and below a bit more than I would have in ERG mode (obviously). In a way, knowing that I wasn’t looking down the barrel of an ERG-mode death-spiral helped me get through the longer intervals in this workout. I don’t think I’ll always use level mode, but I’m enjoying this visit to Levellandria! ---
**Author:** ![emacdoug](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/emacdoug/32/15557_2.png) [@emacdoug](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/emacdoug)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/74 "2021-03-10T22:23:42Z")
Thanks for the Omnium backstory! That made me laugh probably more than it should have. 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![JSampson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/jsampson/32/3148_2.png) [@JSampson](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/JSampson)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/75 "2021-03-11T01:41:52Z")
@Magnito Butter? Oh - I am too late. ---
**Author:** ![Wogrady](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/wogrady/32/1695_2.png) [@Wogrady](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Wogrady)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/76 "2021-03-12T02:35:17Z")
Commenting even though I am late because, well, it is “Butter”🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Magnito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/magnito/32/7120_2.png) [@Magnito](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Magnito)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 6:47am UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/77 "2021-03-12T06:47:16Z")
Its ok @JSampson and @Wogrady, I guess you saw what workout it was before seeing the answer. I’ll give you 5 pts each 🏅 ---
**Author:** ![emacdoug](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/emacdoug/32/15557_2.png) [@emacdoug](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/emacdoug)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/78 "2021-03-12T15:51:20Z")
Today I did Igniter on level mode. Then I thought I was doing Recharger in level mode. I was happily manually shifting gears and all seemed well… About 2/3 of the way through I thought my power numbers didn’t seem to match my gears and I was confused. So with just 2 minutes left I checked the settings… sure enough. I was still in erg mode! 🤦‍♂️ What I later realized happened was this: I put it in level mode, but my trainer wasn’t fully connecting. So I unplugged and plugged it back in. It then reconnected and shifted back to erg mode. But I didn’t notice. 🥺 The good news is, I was still manually shifting gears the entire time while completely oblivious, so I guess it still kinda counts.😂 I then did 15 minutes of no-vid cadence builds as penance. 😝 ---
**Author:** ![Pierre](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/pierre/32/5307_2.png) [@Pierre](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Pierre)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/79 "2021-03-12T15:53:32Z")
Haha, I guess you figured out how to get the best of both worlds. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Magnito](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/magnito/32/7120_2.png) [@Magnito](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/Magnito)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/80 "2021-03-13T12:32:44Z")
Had another level mode workout just now. And wow!! It was crazy good! Time for another guess then, a little Harder this time, but should not be impossible. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/thesufferfest/original/2X/5/5c48773ef9624a7de010ba36dce729007bc7cb5d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![frenata](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/frenata/32/3043_2.png) [@frenata](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/u/frenata)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2021, 12:40pm UTC](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916/81 "2021-03-13T12:40:46Z")
I’m excited about The Omnium, it’s on my plan in 2 weeks and I may slip it in this weekend too! 3/11 was Cash Register (in level mode of course!) which was a delight – the racing videos really shine for this challenge. 🙂 3/12 was just FF, which is not terribly exciting in the context of this challenge, but I absolutely nailed the pacing: ![Screen Shot 2021-03-13 at 7.38.19 AM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/thesufferfest/original/2X/5/568c8bbf1a9ca7649f88b18fe91d66dd45843b8e.png) 3/13 is an outdoor endurance ride without too much structure – the aim is to ride hard enough to stay warm but not any harder. [Previous page](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916.md?page=3) [Next page](https://wahoox.forum.wahoofitness.com/t/un-official-level-mode-march-madness-challenge/8916.md?page=5)