I need your wisdom again. I’ve been thinking a lot about those little flashes in SYSTM workouts… The exact moments where something shifts, the music kicks, the story tightens, or the suffering somehow feels ‘good’? (you know what I mean by good)
So I’d love to know: Which specific moments in SYSTM videos really light you up or push you to give more?
Maybe it’s a particular interval that always gets your legs turning.
Maybe a line from the story that hits at just the right time.
Maybe a music drop, a chase scene, the start of a climb, or that last desperate push before the screen finally goes dark.
Whatever it is — the exact moment that boosts your motivation — I’d really love to hear about it.
Thanks for sharing, and remember: if you can talk about it, you’re probably not working hard enough.
Maybe not the toughest of moments but I love the 5th climb in GOAT. Not sure if it is the music, or the epic climb that help me find my groove but I always find myself adding 5-10% to the overall workout intensity for this effort!
The bit that says ‘drill it’ in one of the final threshold efforts in blender, with footage of a drill. By that point I am really hurting but it really gets me focussed on pushing through the pain. Also the section earlier in the workout watching Marianne Vos boss a race, like she does. Just great footage combined with good music.
And many moments in the Omnium, the music and footage in that workout just gets me fired up but specifically the wind up to the flying 200 with Jason Kenny and the motivational talk before the one minute effort, it doesn’t hold back from telling you just how awful that minute will be, it wouldn’t be helpful to tell you otherwise.
14 VG, the bit about not seeing this message as you are probably chewing stem, watching Kirsten Faulkner (I think), do exactly that.
In the original AVDP, the interval chasing cobbles Cancelarra (excuse the spelling).
The original finish to Attacker was awesome too, the music coupled with Alaphillipe’s blistering attack to the line was great.
The footage of Lizzie Deign in the repeated attacks in fight club. Repeated use of the same footage works well here, and really fits the effort well.
To give a non Sufferfest example, in Lac de Cap du Long I really like the last effort, Mike Cotty does a good job of getting you fired up with talk a releasing your inner tiger.
There’s many more across the Sufferfest library but hopefully a few of good examples.
The ‘sitting down is stoooopid’ soundtrack during Recharger.
The Defender music is also great
And watching Alaphillippe at the end of Attacker (right?), pushing it over the line was absolutely amazing, with the soundtrack - though that footage is gone sadly!
bit of a silly one but - the end of open 30! Rolling down those final metres of beautiful mountain roads in late evening light , to a welcome overnighting place. Something I’ve experienced IRL several times - lovely feeling.
I’ll start with that iconic moment when Coryn Labecki (Rivera) collapses after winning Flanders and the text says something to the effect of look how happy she is that you beat her. I always loved that moment in the OG Who Dares and it made me look forward to doing it anytime it came up on a training plan or in a ToS.
I also laugh when, in No Place Like Home, about 8mins30 secs in this little sequence. Just seeing the guy’s face makes me smile.
That point in Recharger during the cadence pyramid as the music peaks at the top of the pyramid then it cuts to the vaudeville act where that person is spinning that thing with their feet, perfectly timed and has me totally primed for the quick spinning effort.
Every single SUF vid has or had something to motivate/amuse/engage etc etc.
From the opening music and sequences that set the stage for what’s ahead during the warmup to the start of the workout proper to those little nuggets and gems that somehow just remind us of why SUF vids are so freakin’ special in the first place.
As I reengage with indoor training this winter, I’ll try to remember to come back to this thread to give the specifics . The thing is, these things don’t exist in isolation. Timing is an art.
This is a very good point. It’s often hard to put your finger on a particular moment. It’s a combination of things and how well they all mesh together, the footage, the cutting of that footage to fit the storyline and workout, the storyline itself, the humour and timing of that humour, the music, and not just ‘is the music good’ but does it fit the storyline, effort etc, does a beat drop at exactly the right time. That makes the difference between a workout with something to watch and decent music, vs one where all those things seamlessly fit together and complement each other, giving that feel of a high quality video that really grabs your attention and motivates you making the time fly. It’s hard therefore to put a finger on exactly what was good, if I knew that I’d be the one making the videos, it is an art that takes a particular talent.
GOAT today. The SUF vid that introduced laser goats to Sufferlandria!
Sooo ridiculous but just the right amount of cheese and, you learn a little about cheese on this vid too.
To me, the SUF versions of Mike Cotty’s On Location vids (GOAT, GAWI, TGTTOS, TWO) are some of my absolute favourites in the library. Climb with Sir Standsalot (back when he was standing, a lot, which in this particular vid is even more funny cuz we’re told to do the entire thing sitting, great tunes perfectly timed, some SUF humour, lessons about geography, gastronomy, goat anatomy and physiology and a solid targeted workout built for purpose.
Here are some notes after doing it today.
Who will ever forget the absolutely immortal line about the “impossible tarmac of ribbon all the way up”. Classic SUF. Sir Mike’s version of a typo that just sticks with you.
The music between efforts and the music up to the first interval are just timed so well and stylistically work GREAT in this vid. The drum focused thump thumps during the intervals help to focus the effort and the tempo and style changes during recovery are spot on.
When we get to the final couple of efforts that first Sannitch climb, there’s no talking (which is totally appropriate cuz I’m focusing on the effort and the cadence and on “being the stillness”and counting pedal strokes to alter time) then that text prompt to the effect of “we need to have a little chat” is such a perfect timed distraction ahead of that final interval.
The final 4-8 minutes of the original Thin Air always got me. And especially the final minute. No matter how tired and burnt my legs are I always was able to finish strong. That’s one of the biggest changes that I miss now.
The penguin in FF and the churning butter in butter.
Absolutely Cory Labecki Rivera as mentioned.
Also, no matter how horrible it sounds , the interview with GVA once he gets to the light them on fire bit. It’s so over the top, Monty Python type comedy, it makes me laugh and gets me ready to do this medieval psychos bidding
And, nine hammers Coke Machine. Perfect in timing. The final ride down into the valley is also really a great ending.
Very well said, Sir James. So many awesome moments weren’t just because of a single song or video. It was a combination of all those things, and the build up of the storyline. They were so well put together.
I really miss the original Who Dares. Especially the second interval, and that ending with Coryn. One of only two screenshots I had before it was remastered without warning.
I think The Model might be my favorite. The set up with the lines regarding beauty. The cinematic feel with the aspect ratio changes before the interval sets. The intro to each interval set with so many amusing puns and clever notes on the screen that I didn’t catch them all my first time through.
I generally hate those interval sets, but I enjoy the video so much it gets me through it.
