What's next for Systm?

Not really my jam though. Soooo much sustained effort. :face_vomiting:

I prefer micro intervals like pain shakes and such. Ideally with decreasing reps like Full Micro Rangers or some of the other micros with 12/10/8 or 8/6/4 reps.

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I did Thin Air last night for the first time in ages - great workout and clearly there is a lot of wonderful existing suf content - but it got me thinking; the race footage from Thin Air is from the 2016 Giro, and inevitably the library will rapidly feel more and more dated as time passes, and this is an issue.

For me, a big part of the appeal of the more recent workouts is seeing current riders and more up to date (and higher quality) race footage. This is what gets me engaged - perhaps it’s more niche than I’d think though… How many users actually follow pro racing?

So how will Wahoo stop the gradual slide into obscurity of the existing footage, with the content creators now elsewhere? how will we get new suf content? Some thoughts

1 - replicating the old voice and style of vids might feel odd for long-time users because with new creators it could feel disingenuous. So can Wahoo switch it up, keep the broad themes around sufferlandria, but accept change and take things forward with a tweaked approach and be bold. Francois seemed to be a one-man-band in creating the recent vids (though I could be wrong). 1 or even 2 FTEs for this surely isn’t a big investment for Wahoo

2 - remaster existing vids using fresh footage. They could even keep the same scripts/narrative, to keep them genuine, but swap in for relevant new race footage

3 - Maybe even (and, whispers it!) move a bit away from having an epic story, but instead just keep a simple narrative, some great recent footage, and some fresh music. I like the stories of the current library, don’t get me wrong, but for me anyway, I just like working hard watching some great racing action and some banging music. I don’t mind if the stories are weaker (apologies if that’s taboo). Could even have the narrative as being from coaches telling you about all the training benefits you’re reaping as you work

4 - not to do with suf, but I’d like a workout creator function where I can build my own. I know there are all the no-vids, but sometimes it’s fun to create something bespoke or niche to your needs. Zwift and others have this. Maybe some stock footage relevant to attacks, sprints, sustained efforts, z2, etc, which gives a video overlay automatically.

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Speaking of Defender, it was nice watching the Vuelta ride up Lagos de Covadonga, and through other parts of the Basque Country and recognize those roads from
Defender. Since I’ve ridden Defender a few times I actually heard the Defender music playing in my head during those parts of the race that I recognized or at least looked familiar.

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We’re here bashing the hand that feeds us. There’s way more to putting together a Sufferfest video than what you see on the surface. There’s licensing issues for just about everything you see in the video. Put a bubble on a rider, you need permission and maybe money to do so. Music, sure you can license a library, but that can get expensive, fast. Video, the same.
As to On Location videos, Sir Mike is a Wahoo employee. No licensing issues with using his video. No issues with Bubbles or picture in picture reviews of the locations. The only issue, recently, was when Wahoo brought in an external person on the Alpe ride. Release was delayed due to IOC restrictions.
What I see is there will be no more Sufferfest type videos. They are hard to produce and expensive as well. I expect to see more A Week With and On Location videos. I don’t expect to see more No Vids. Other platforms basically killed this.
Reminder: I do miss Sir David and Sir Francis. They were the core of The Sufferfest.

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I’m a fairly recent citizen of Sufferlandria, but I understand that it originated from the concept you describe in point 3. I don’t need a storyline either, although I must add that it works really well in The Shovel. My main motivator is music and epic footage.
Trying to replicate Sir David’s and Sir Francis’ efforts can only disappoint. I welcome a fresh approach from new creative minds.

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That’s not how I look at it. They aren’t doing us any favors. We are the paying customers. They need to keep producing engaging content and improve the platform if they want Systm to remain viable.

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It’s hard to take it seriously when the bikes have mechanical drivetrains, rim brakes, and external cables. (just kidding)

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@Saddlesaur Wahoo released eight workouts so far this year - one for each month.

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I guess the term “engaging content” is a bit subjective. One person maybe thrilled with a few OL and EF videos while another may not.

:man_shrugging:

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@emacdoug … said the guy who only worked out to Defender for an entire month. Your commitment to doing the work is in a whole different universe and it is admirable. I think about that sometimes as training used to be staring at the wall with maybe some music. I feel grateful for what we have now and am optimistic that Wahoo will continue to make improvements to the software.

I have been testing Humango over the last two weeks since they now have a Wahoo specific workout integration. Today the workout was The Creemee Ride with Ian Boswell. I realized I had only done that workout once as part of the AWW series. I am glad I did it again and I will definitely repeat it. Ian provides a lot of great coaching during the ride focusing on things like using group dynamics and working off strengths of other riders which I appreciated.

One of the other riders in the video is Mike Barton who hasn’t been at the pro level like Ian but dominates gravel and MTB at the amateur level. I believe he won Unbound in the amateur category and has won the Vermont 50 and the Vermont Overland - both very tough races often with pro level talent.

Here is an article from several years ago on Mike:

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:smile:

Yeah. That’s a really good point.

I’ve done almost all of the OL rides, and if I’m in the wrong mood they hit wrong and i swear i wont repeat them. In fact so do a LOT of workouts. Even SUF workouts.

But as you say, when I have a workout plan and each workout has a purpose then they hit a whole different note. And often that makes them so much more enjoyable. Very rarely do I wake up and say “I’m going to go do threshold over unders! Yay!” But when I know they’re coming and have a purpose to make me better and are in the proper day in my plan then I’m ready to kick arse.

Some of the workouts that I regularly skip past when looking for a workout have ended up being my favorites because I only do them when they have a specific purpose. And so they make me feel strong and purposeful.

So when I’ve ridden a number of No-vids or OL or ProRides they hit right when incorporated into a proper plan. And then I plan for them and either have music ready or something scenery to ride with and start with the proper mindset. That is huge.

I think I had more of a point but I’ve gotten myself a bit distracted.

But anyway. “Engaging content” is so subjective because workouts can be enjoyable from some and not for others. And so often it’s contextual.

Some of the running workouts I did for high school cross country and track I would NEVER choose to do on my own. But if I had a coach and they were prescribed to help me hit my goals, I would do them. And then I was bask in the glory of my own wreckage at the end. Sometimes I wish I had a coach and a team because they would help me push way beyond what I allow myself to do on my own. But based on where I’m at in my life that’s overkill. But I know if I did that I would improve in leaps and bounds. And that’s what it was like signing up for The Sufferfest. A coach helping me push thru and live the meaning of IWKMATTKYT.

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*B
(how soon we forget :wink: )

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lol!

That’s what I get typing messages from the ER.
:wink:

Kick… Beat… whoops!
:smile:

GvA may make me do another month of SUF videos as penance. :grimacing:

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I could make some suggestions. :grinning:

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Lol! He doesn’t miss a “beat” :wink:
Also, Sir @emacdoug, WTS were you doing in an ER?!?!?!

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Thought I inhaled a lot of dust from shaking our rugs out Tuesday night. Wed I it felt like had something in my lungs - although my morning 90 min ride went fine. But then had a fever over 101 Wed night (which went away in the morning). So went to the ER Thursday to get a chest xray and some steroids to open my airways.

My at-home Covid test just came up positive this morning, tho.

First time for everything. I guess that’s the price of trying to get out of the house again. I went to the USC-LSU football game on Sunday with my brother-in law.

If one night of fever and one day of lung fullness and chest pressure and some body aches and then a couple days of wet coughs are all the symptoms I get then I’ll consider myself blessed. Had all my Covid vaccinations including the most recent one last week.

But we have plans to take the kids on a vacation next week that’s been delayed for 4 years (thanks to Covid). So I’m isolating and hoping I don’t get them sick (especially my high risk asthmatic son) so at least they can all go and have a long-delayed, more-than-well-deserved good time.

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I think it may take a little while for the vaccine to get to its full potency. In addition, the vaccine’s major effectiveness is reducing the consequences of the disease, it does not necessarily (depending on viral load and other health factors) guarantee you will not get the disease. Theoretically, you could get it, not know it, and still spread it.

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I’ve had all the previous vaccines for it. So I’ve got that going for me.

I definitely still got Covid tho.

So hopefully I’m over it soon.

Wed I felt the worst. Mostly just a wet cough now. I just don’t want to infect my family is all I’m really worried about right now.

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Just make sure you isolate yourself from everybody else. You should check what the latest recommendations are. Perhaps your high risk son should wear a medical mask?

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A few times! A few times a day for a whole month. Lol

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