2015 Tour of Sufferlandria

markp80

So, the parcours for the 2015 Tour of Sufferlandria has been announced!
http://www.thesufferfest.com/sufferlandrian-community/tour-sufferlandria-2015/
- hope to see a few of you entering!
The last weekend looks a bit tough.

Cheers,
MarkP

bobmcstuff

Could be worth a go

Don't suppose they're doing a bundle deal on the required videos or anything? I've only got the ones that come with Strava Premium.

handful

bobmcstuff wrote:

Could be worth a go

Don't suppose they're doing a bundle deal on the required videos or anything? I've only got the ones that come with Strava Premium.

They didn't last year, normal prices still apply. I think I might give it a miss this year, I think they have made a mistake making a couple of the stages unavailable unless you buy the videos (if I read that right?) I have quite a few of them anyway but am happy to do some just from the TR profile or at least have the option to.

bobmcstuff

handful wrote:

I think they have made a mistake making a couple of the stages unavailable unless you buy the videos (if I read that right?).

A couple of the stages appear to not be available on the streaming app (Nine Hammers and Elements of Style) so you'd have to buy those from the website. But there's no official check that you've actually watched the video or anything to do the stage so you could easily do it just from the profile on TR: "5.We do not track whether you do the stages or how hard you ride". Actually you could just not do any of it and tell them you did, but you'd only be fooling yourself...

I've been meaning to buy some of the other videos anyway so it could be a good excuse to do so.

bobmcstuff

I've just done a quick runthrough of the videos you would need:

Elements of Style
Long Scream
Blender
Fight Club
Nine Hammers
Angels
Local Hero
The Rookie
Revolver
Violator
Half is Easy
ISLAGIATT

If you wanted to buy all the videos to use in future, the list price for them is $149.88. If you don't have Strava Premium the best option is to buy the Endurance Pack and Cycling Speed Kit (then the rest separately) which brings the cost down to $131.93. If you have Strava Premium your best option is to buy the Cycling Speed Kit and buy the non-Strava ones separately which brings the cost down to $121.92.

However if you were only bothered about doing this challenge the cheapest option by far would be to buy access to the streaming app ($9.99/month which you could cancel after the challenge) and buy the two non-included videos separately for $22.98 - $32.97 in total.

Hope that is helpful - feel free to point out if I've made any mistakes

jgsi

The previous 2 tours have been a Trainer Road/Sufferfest integration.
You needed a Trainer Road account but you didnt actually need the videos, you could just ride the Trainer Road profile.
I think the same holds for 2015....
To complete the Knight of Sufferlandria you are supposed to own all the videos you use... however, that is mainly the province of 'awesome' triathletes and even more awesome' iron men...a little bit tedious

bobmcstuff

JGSI wrote:

The previous 2 tours have been a Trainer Road/Sufferfest integration.
You needed a Trainer Road account but you didnt actually need the videos, you could just ride the Trainer Road profile.
I think the same holds for 2015....

Sufferfest wrote:

Do I have to do this on TrainerRoad? No. But if you like being held accountable, then they have an awesome platform and community for the ToS, as well as an incredible prize pool.

You can do it on Trainer Road if you want and win extra prizes, but you can win the main prizes just by donating to the Davis Phinney foundation.

markp80

Yep, like JGSI says, you don't actually need to own any of the videos to take part, if you have TrainerRoad. There will be a dedicated TR webpage giving all the time windows for completion, and this will log rides when you do the workout. It doesn't know if you had the video or not, it simply logs if you do the associated workout.
Of course, it's much more "fun" if you have the videos! (And no option if you don't use TR)
Some Sufferfest users use a streaming app rather than downloading the videos. It was these people who need to buy a couple of vids as they aren't yet available to stream. But for TR users, the profiles will still be there.
I don't have them all yet but will add a couple more to my collection for this year's Tour. I much prefer to have the videos personally, but it's a big outlay to get them all in one go. The charity is a worthwhile cause too, I think.
All the options for the vids look pretty good in Bobmc's post!
Cheers,
MarkP

handful

MarkP80 wrote:

Yep, like JGSI says, you don't actually need to own any of the videos to take part, if you have TrainerRoad. There will be a dedicated TR webpage giving all the time windows for completion, and this will log rides when you do the workout. It doesn't know if you had the video or not, it simply logs if you do the associated workout.
Of course, it's much more "fun" if you have the videos! (And no option if you don't use TR)
Some Sufferfest users use a streaming app rather than downloading the videos. It was these people who need to buy a couple of vids as they aren't yet available to stream. But for TR users, the profiles will still be there.
I don't have them all yet but will add a couple more to my collection for this year's Tour. I much prefer to have the videos personally, but it's a big outlay to get them all in one go. The charity is a worthwhile cause too, I think.
All the options for the vids look pretty good in Bobmc's post!
Cheers,
MarkP

I misunderstood this in my earlier post. I thought they had somehow blocked you from doing the workouts on TR without the video. In that case I might have to bite the bullet again! It's a tough challenge, as much mental as physical though.

jgsi

Just scanned over the schedule, it does seeem particularly nasty this year. I shall as ever do my best to complete the stages but the last weekend could be difficult with a local reliability thrown in which is always (never a race) but always ridden at race pace for 50 miles.

alphacharlie

I'm just short of "nine hammers" with what I already own and the premium streaming, may give it a bash

cerv50

Only a week to go till the ToS starts.

Wimpy question here maybe but is it worth starting out with a lower FTP than the usual to get through all 9 days, its very early pre season and I wouldn't want to blow myself out too early before this years planned efforts?

johnnybike

I am going in for this for the first time. I have 2 of the videos and I might buy a coupole more but I will be running them through Trainer Road.
I think you have to stream the vids if you get them through Strava premium and I cannot rely on a continuous signal from my garage so doesnt seem worth the effort.

Re the question as to whether to do them at 100% FTP, which is a good question not a wimpy one. I will start off at 100% and see how it goes. I may reduce the FTP% down as I go.

The one thing I am not sure about is the time you have to do each workout - it says you have 50 hours but I am not sure how that works out in UK timezone. Assuming the Weds session (which is a date I know I will struggle to get time) what hours will I have to do the session in

PS Bob, good info on the prices but do you need to add 20% VAT to them in the UK?

sloppyschleckonds

cerv50 wrote:

Only a week to go till the ToS starts.

Wimpy question here maybe but is it worth starting out with a lower FTP than the usual to get through all 9 days, its very early pre season and I wouldn't want to blow myself out too early before this years planned efforts?

The only person who should care what FTP you complete this at is yourself and how it fits in to you current training and fitness.

phil485

Someone has created a spreadsheet which shows how the 50 hour window works.
When I get home I'll try and post it or a screen grab for the uk.
It's my first TOS and I'm looking forward to it.

Planning on 100% ftp for as long as possible.
Wife's 50th birthday on stage 4 and we have a deprecate party on stage 8. Not ideal!

cerv50

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

cerv50 wrote:

Only a week to go till the ToS starts.

Wimpy question here maybe but is it worth starting out with a lower FTP than the usual to get through all 9 days, its very early pre season and I wouldn't want to blow myself out too early before this years planned efforts?

The only person who should care what FTP you complete this at is yourself and how it fits in to you current training and fitness.

Think I may start at my 100% FTP and then knock it down if required. I did this last year when completing the 8 Days of California as it was the only way to get through 8 days straight. My usual training pattern is 1 day on 1 day off so this type of additional training certainly hits me hard.

cerv50

Phil485 wrote:

Someone has created a spreadsheet which shows how the 50 hour window works.
When I get home I'll try and post it or a screen grab for the uk.
It's my first TOS and I'm looking forward to it.

Planning on 100% ftp for as long as possible.
Wife's 50th birthday on stage 4 and we have a deprecate party on stage 8. Not ideal!

Be good if you can get the timings up on here so I can plan when is best to do them. If I remember rightly with the 50 hour window it does give you a chance to have a rest day too

johnnybike

Look forward to the timings Phil
PS, what is a deprecate party?

phil485

Sorry, couldn't work out how to link an excel workbook.
This is what it says for London / GMT.

Stage 1 Start Stage 1 end
01/23/2015 10:00 AM 01/25/2015 11:59 AM

Stage 2 Start Stage 2 end
01/24/2015 10:00 AM 01/26/2015 11:59 AM

Stage 3 Start Stage 3 end
01/25/2015 10:00 AM 01/27/2015 11:59 AM

Stage 4 Start Stage 4 end
01/26/2015 10:00 AM 01/28/2015 11:59 AM

Stage 5 Start Stage 5 end
01/27/2015 10:00 AM 01/29/2015 11:59 AM

Stage 6 Start Stage 6 end
01/28/2015 10:00 AM 01/30/2015 11:59 AM

Stage 7 Start Stage 7 end
01/29/2015 10:00 AM 01/31/2015 11:59 AM

Stage 8 Start Stage 8 end
01/30/2015 10:00 AM 02/01/2015 11:59 AM

Stage 9 Start Stage 9 end
01/31/2015 10:00 AM 02/02/2015 11:59 AM

phil485

deprecate is predictive text for seperate. Wifes best friends 50th party is on stage 8!!!
kill myself before the party then do Stage 9 on a hangover!

cerv50

Thanks for putting up the list Phil, really helpful and gives me a better idea of when to do them

Enough space there for a rest day when required...

phil485

rest??????


terrible behaviour

cerv50

Phil485 wrote:

rest??????


terrible behaviour

I know but usually only train every other day on the turbo and ride the bike one day on a weekend only. This will be a massive shock to my system especially in mid winter and I may just need some time out to eat and recover a little bit... (wimp )

phil485

call me stupid but I'm still hoping to get out with the club this sunday. I think the club ride will be ok but may pay for it later in the week.

cerv50

Phil485 wrote:

call me stupid but I'm still hoping to get out with the club this sunday. I think the club ride will be ok but may pay for it later in the week.

No riding for me this or next weekend as going to concentrate all my efforts for ToS. Last years 8DoC was tough and I have read ToS is worse :roll: ...

bobmcstuff

My internet has started being rubbish and dropping out all the time at home, worried I'm not going to be able to stream the videos well enough to do it

cerv50

bobmcstuff wrote:

My internet has started being rubbish and dropping out all the time at home, worried I'm not going to be able to stream the videos well enough to do it

I don't have any of the videos so will be doing it all via TR...

bobmcstuff

I don't have TR at all, I was just going to do it and upload to Strava.

jgsi

I think some people are taking this a little too seriously..

It aint me.

Just about to embark on EoS on the rollers, delay the upload and then do Long Scream later on.

cerv50

Bit of advice, don't do stage 1 back to back like I just have unless your super human lol

Had to knock off 10% FTP to complete the 30 minute time trial which was a shame but (excuses coming now) just getting over a cold and one of our cats passed away yesterday so my head not in the best of places tbh (rest in peace Misty )

The next time there are 2 or more to do in a day I think I will split them up and eat/rest between sessions

bobmcstuff

cerv50 wrote:

Bit of advice, don't do stage 1 back to back like I just have unless your super human lol

Haha, I'm going to do just that after work... Can't afford to take time out in between as have other plans later!! I'll get some energy drinks or something...

Doing it today rather than tomorrow as am planning a 100km ride in real life tomorrow (shock, horror). Probably a really stupid thing to do if I want to do the lot! But it looks like good weather and I haven't cycled outside properly for 2 weeks so I'm really keen to get out. Just a few 5k commutes which is enough to whet the appetite but not enough to sate it.