Sufferfest - how does it work?

[DooDah]

I have not as yet downloaded any of their videos, but I wondered how they work. The description of their website is pretty vague. I am just looking at some challenging turbo workouts to alleviate the boredom, and improve my motivation. I have a HR sensor, but no cadence or power meter.

 

[Rob3rt]

You watch the video and do as it says, it is not interactive.

 

[DooDah]

OK, but does it say keep to this cadence or wattage? If so, I can't read these things. HR I can.

 

[Norry1]

It does give suggested cadence but most of it is about perceived effort

 

[DooDah]

OK, thanks, I might give one a go. DO you recommend them, or are there other videos worth looking at?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

ridefit

epicrides

 

[Norry1]

Personally I really enjoy them and they make me work really hard

 

[Rob3rt]

You can estimate cadence by counting over 15 seconds.

Personally, I do not use sufferfest videos, I prefer to just train using turbo sessions I have put together to serve a certain purpose, or to use classic sessions that many people use and recommend.

 

[DooDah]

ridefit

epicrides

Don't these use cadence? Only looked quickly though.

 

[Rob3rt]

Count on 1 leg over 15 seconds and times the answer by 4. You cadence is unlikely to vary considerably without specific effort and you will soon gain an intuition for how fast you are spinning.

My cadence on the flat or turbo varies by 3-4 rpm each side when steady state, that is a +/- 3-4% variation on my 100 rpm base cadence i.e. 96-104 rpm. Hardly something to be worrying about.

 

[Chris.IOW]

As others have said the videos give you instructions and you suffer along to some great footage.

I've started using them along with Trainer road which makes them much more interactive as it gives you a power meter to cycle at, (Calculated on the power curve of your turbo trainer / Witchcraft). Trainer road needs a subscription, and an Ant+ USB stick and cadence/speed sensors, (but I have that for my Garmin anyway), but it does take the perceived suffer scale to another level.

I'm finding the two together are really helping keep me motivated on the trainer during the dark winter evenings, looking forward to seeing the benefit in the spring I hope.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

@Chris.IOW http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/any-trainer-road-users-within.109266/

 

[Rob500]

I've got a few Sufferfest Vids and personally I really like them. I don't have a cadence sensor or such either but as Norry1 said it's about perceived effort.

 

[endoman]

If you are doing a sufferfest properly then you won't be able to count to guess your cadence. If I really try then I'm struggling even to see the screen! I have used them quite a lot over the last 12 months, but now do specific turbo sessions as dictated by a training plan. For starting out and general fitness then I think they are excellent. I still do one on an easy week as a change.

 

[edindave]

Is there any way to align the Sufferfest effort guides eg. 7/10 to HR zone?