Sufferfest vs. Spinervals

[Dfrank7262]

Looking to get some training videos. I'm a new rider, and would really like to use this winter season to try to improve my speed and endurance (and lose some more weight). Can you experienced folks weigh in on which program you think is better? Pros and cons of both would be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the input!

[Irulan]

Sufferfest is fun and their music is awesome. I like their attitude.

Spinervals is boring as hell and their music sucks.

I have some Spinervals for a while; a few years. I demo'd a Sufferfest vid once and that was it, no more Spinvervals for me. We bought the whole set for DH and I. They aren't "easy" but as always you can set your own pace if you need to.

[Veronica]

I have never done Sufferfest videos, but I have 15 Spinervals DVDs. The videos are recovery workouts, technique, power, hill climbing, etc.. I have one that has you get off the bike and do core work and another one that you do weight work in between bicycling sets. Some people don't like Coach Troy; some don't like his music. I have my own music blaring, so that doesn't matter to me. I started buying videos around 2003, and I think he was the only game going then. I have used them to train for double centuries and triathlons.

Honestly, it probably doesn't matter which ones you choose, so long as you do whatever you get.

Veronica

[Becky]

What Irulan said. I can't do anything else since I discovered Sufferfest.

[Irulan]

Sufferfest uses licensed race footage from the big races. You get to ride along with Contador and others, and "join" the teams for some of the most famous routes. They are a little irreverent, and will talk smack to you when dishing yet another attack, or sprint.

[ny biker]

Honestly I am not interested in something called "sufferfest." I do not want to suffer.

I have Spinervals Team Clydesdale, one of the easier fitiness videos, on videocassette. I also had the Zoot challenge and maybe one other. The Zoot one was more difficult than I liked and I don't remember the other one. I liked the Team Clydesdale one. I just asked for the DVD version for Christmas since my VCR finally bit the dust last year.

I also have the Spinervals "virtual reality" DVD where Coach Troy rides in northern Baltimore County. I like it, so I also asked for the Tuscon DVD for Christmas.

I used to have some Carmichael Training Systems dvds that included race footage, and I found that boring.

The Spinervals DVDs have the option of turning off their music so you can play your own.

[Veronica]

Not all the spinervals dvds have the turn the music off option. The earlier ones don't - zoot, uphill grind are two of mine that don't.

Veronica

[maillotpois]

Honestly, it probably doesn't matter which ones you choose, so long as you do whatever you get.

Veronica

What she said x 1000!

[Irulan]

Honestly I am not interested in something called "sufferfest." I do not want to suffer.

Um, it's a joke. The Sufferfest team is quite irreverant.

[ny biker]

Um, it's a joke. The Sufferfest team is quite irreverant.

That's nice but nothing in the name "sufferfest" says "we're just joking" or "we're irreverant." But then perhaps they don't care if their name turns some people off.

I also have no interest in smack talk.

Clearly it comes down to personal preference. You think Spinervals sucks, I've been happy with them.

[thekarens]

Just about everyone in my club swears by Sufferfest, but I have to agree that the one you actually do is the better one

[nuliajuk]

I like these Real Rides dvd's because there is scenery and someone riding right in front of the camera. I can pretend I'm drafting her. Most of them are Ironman courses in various places in the world. The only one I didn't like was Tempe Arizona - I swear, death from boredom must be a real possibility in the Tempe Ironman.
http://realrides.ca/

[ridebikeme]

Like many people, I've been using DVD's since 1993... umm I guess that truly shows my age HA! At any rate, I own many Spinervals DVD's and honestly think that if you're looking to learn in additon to getting in shape they are the best and offer many, many choices. With that said, I also own Sufferfest and Real Rides. I love the scenery with Sufferfest, however if yu don't understand your numbers, well you still get in a good workout... but perhaps not with the purpose behind it. Real Rides, not as many choices here, but certainly fun to do. One other that no has mentioned are Carmichael....again ones you can certainly learn from in terms of training,, but I will admit the most boring ones I've ever watched... monotone voices with the coaches etc...

Perhaps the true answer is buy a couple from a couple of different companies and see what it is that YOU like or dislike. We're all different on likes/dislikes, and then you can actually make up your mind as to what you want. AS Veronica mentioned, if you're wanting to use your own music, then select DVD's from Spinervals that offer that choice.

I'm sure many here would offer a list of their favorite choices if you're interested...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[Crankin]

Nuliajuk, your post made me spit out my coffee! Yeah, there's a reason I no longer live in 85284.

[ny biker]

I like these Real Rides dvd's because there is scenery and someone riding right in front of the camera. I can pretend I'm drafting her. Most of them are Ironman courses in various places in the world. The only one I didn't like was Tempe Arizona - I swear, death from boredom must be a real possibility in the Tempe Ironman.
http://realrides.ca/

That's what I like about the Spinervals "virtual reality" dvd that I have. I actually find my mind wandering when I use it, in a good way, the way it does when I'm riding outside. Several of the other Spinervals outdoor videos seem too long to me -- multi-hour rides on Ironman courses. I want to get the Tuscon dvd because it's different, with two shorter rides on it.