Kaweah was brutal to me this year.
I looked back on last season when I rode it and my notes were that it was difficult but doable.
This season it absolutely kicked my but, but I’m easily able to put out higher watts than prescribed on the VO2 stuff so far which is something I didn’t feel last year. Funny how the body and fitness work.
Oh and I did Kaweah a few weeksago. It was hard but did it with no backpedals or breaks. Had to stand for 10/15 seconds in the final interval though
Just powered through Kaweah on Saturday. It was a solid, but very do-able workout for me. The 1.5 hours in the saddle was the most uncomfortable part of the workout! However, the preceding workout in SSBII, Ebbetts +1 nearly broke me. I don’t think I’ve suffered that much in a TR workout yet - I had to summon everything I had to get through it as prescribed. I guess YMMV with the suffering?
It’s hard but if you’re following the plans you should also be super fresh. The day I did Kaweah I had my highest TSB of the whole 12 weeks of SSB
I think that the Ramp Test overestimates my FTP by several percent (when I ride at even 96% of my test FTP, I’m clearly anaerobic based on my breathing and the way my muscles feel), so I also found Kaweah very hard. 50 minutes slightly over threshold is a very different animal than 50 slightly below. It’s the first workout that I turned down the intensity (I completed it at 100/99/96/96/96). I do have a cold - probably would have been barely doable at 100% if I were healthy.
The next day I did Clark at 99% (I was catching up for a missed workout about a week earlier) and found that a lot easier than Kaweah 97%ish.
thanks for all the feedback. harden up I suppose is the consensus. I am just writing it off as a bad day and moving on. I’ll shift my mindset a bit too because as some of you noted (along with comments in another post), SSBII is a significant step in difficulty when coming from SSB1. I need to fuel better and be ready to go.
Glad to have seen this thread… just finished Kaweah. Able to complete it - but it was tough. I did consider calling it good after 4 intervals!
The 3rd interval is the toughest because it’s the highest power (closest to FTP) but with 5 minutes recovery, as long as you’re fuelled it shouldn’t really be failed.
If it is, you probably had a bad day.
Mine ended up being a technical issue. I figured it out and have had no issues.
I did it fasted 6 days ago; I remember it being a bit tough but not over the top. Definitely the top end of what I’m willing to do before breakfast.
Do you eat during Kaweah workout?
If your FTP is correct, you should be able to complete this workout with your new FTP - use it as a verifier.
Just did Kaweah today and didn’t have any issues. Lots of carbs before and during 
Did it Friday. Was a good test out and verified the new FTP is about right. Went and raced a CRIT yesterday and had best race for ages. I guess it highlights if you have an aerobic engine or not. I dare say the people who can not complete it are the sprinters and not the stayers.
I did it yesterday. I have to admit that at the beginning of the last interval I was not sure if I can make it without a break, but in the end I managed. I think it is doable, but one needs to be well fueled and determined…
I did it. Asks some mental strength to continue but it is doable.
This times 100. As long as the previous day’s workout wasn’t a killer this workout is in the “tough but doable” category. Did it yesterday and I ate 300 calories during it, I think. One Honey Stinger waffle and a pouch of Stinger chews. Considering it was a 1460 kJ workout, eating certainly keeps things manageable.
Did this today after a 3% FTP bump from SSB1. Ate a big meal before hand. First 10 min interval felt hard but the 5 min recovery helped. I ran out of water after my 3rd and felt like I needed either caffinee or sugar. Took a 2 min break to run and get water, added 2 scoops / 180 cals of Scratch, downed that during the next interval, and finished the 5th without too much problem. Certainly the legs felt drained afterwards. I just kept telling myself that this is what operating at the “new FTP” feels like until I adapt to training at this new level.
I read this thread as I was approaching the end of SSB1, so had a bit of trepidation going in…
However, I was rested prior to the workout, proprely fueled, and managed it well - definitely tough but manageable.
Did this yesterday morning. Didn’t have the mental or physical strength to face it after a long day of chasing a toddler on Saturday night, but was just about fresh enough on Sunday morning, even if there was a bit of back-pedaling in interval 4 out of 5. One to plan ahead for.
For me, it was Bruce Springsteen dragging me through that last one haha