Workout Description

3 Rounds for Time 15 calorie Assault Bike 30 Overhead Lunges (75/55 lb)

Why This Workout Is Hard

This couplet blends aggressive monostructural work with high-rep overhead stability and leg stamina. The total is 45 Assault Bike calories and 90 overhead lunge steps at 75/55 lb from the floor—no advanced skills, but significant midline and shoulder endurance demands. Most athletes will need to break the lunges, making it a grindy, mid-duration effort with limited technical rest.

Benchmark Times for Rise Above

  • Elite: <8:00
  • Advanced: 10:00-12:00
  • Intermediate: 13:00-14:00
  • Beginner: >20:00

Training Focus

This workout develops the following fitness attributes:

  • Stamina (8/10): Ninety overhead lunge steps accumulate significant shoulder and leg fatigue. Athletes must hold posture and position while managing breaks, making muscular endurance the primary limiter for many.
  • Endurance (6/10): Steady monostructural work across three rounds taxes aerobic capacity, but the workout is too short to be pure cardio. The bike segments require sustained output with limited recovery between efforts.
  • Speed (6/10): Quick transitions and confident lunge cadence reward faster athletes. However, the overhead position discourages reckless sprinting; speed is moderated by stability and breathing control.
  • Flexibility (5/10): Solid shoulder mobility and thoracic extension are needed to keep the bar stacked overhead. Hip and ankle range support proper lunge depth and balance, especially under fatigue.
  • Strength (4/10): Loads are moderate and not near max, but the bar must be taken from the floor and stabilized overhead. Strength matters enough to support control through each lunge step.
  • Power (3/10): There’s minimal need for peak explosiveness. Power shows up in efficient barbell cycling from floor to overhead and swift yet controlled lunge initiation.

Scaling Options

Scale to: 12/10 cal per round • 30 Front-Rack or Back-Rack Lunges (75/55) • 30 Overhead Lunges at 65/45 lb (or a single DB/KB overhead)

Scaling Explanation

Adjusting calories, bar position, or load preserves the couplet’s metabolic demand and lunge volume while matching each athlete’s overhead mobility and stability.

Intended Stimulus

A steady burn with limited redlining. Push the bike at a sustainable but uncomfortable pace, then transition quickly and tackle lunges in one to two big sets per round. Shoulders and midline should feel engaged the entire time. Aim for consistent round times without significant drop-off, finishing with a strong final round push.

Coach Insight

Pace the first bike at 85-90% and settle. Smooth transitions matter more than a few extra RPM. Key tip: lock the rib cage down and stack the bar over midfoot—stable equals fast. Avoid early blow-ups: don’t rush the first 10 lunge steps. Breathe every step and keep elbows locked out.

Benchmark Notes

Times range from 20:00 (beginner) to 8:00 (elite). If you’re around 14:00, you’re right in the middle of the pack. Keep transitions tight and manage lunge sets smartly. Faster athletes sustain 60+ RPM equivalent on the bike and keep lunges in big, controlled sets.

Modality Profile

About one-third of the time is on the Assault Bike, driving the monostructural component. The majority is under the barbell performing overhead lunges, which dominate both time and fatigue through shoulder stabilization and lower-body work. No gymnastics movements are included.

Similar Workouts to Rise Above

If you enjoy Rise Above, you might also like these similar CrossFit WODs:

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  • Assault Rapid-Fire (88% similar) - 5 Rounds for Time 5 Renegade Rows (65/35 lb) 10 Dumbbell Lunges (65/35 lb) 5 Half-Kneeling Presses (...
  • Dutch vs. Speal (87% similar) - For Time 10 Thrusters (135/95 lb) 50 Double-Unders 8 Thrusters (135/95 lb) 40 Double-Unders 6 Thrust...
  • Jackie (87% similar) - For time: 1000 meter Row 50 Thrusters (45/35 lb) 30 Pull-Ups...

These WODs similar to Rise Above share comparable training demands, time domains, and movement patterns.

Training Profile

AttributeScoreExplanation
Endurance6/10Steady monostructural work across three rounds taxes aerobic capacity, but the workout is too short to be pure cardio. The bike segments require sustained output with limited recovery between efforts.
Stamina8/10Ninety overhead lunge steps accumulate significant shoulder and leg fatigue. Athletes must hold posture and position while managing breaks, making muscular endurance the primary limiter for many.
Strength4/10Loads are moderate and not near max, but the bar must be taken from the floor and stabilized overhead. Strength matters enough to support control through each lunge step.
Flexibility5/10Solid shoulder mobility and thoracic extension are needed to keep the bar stacked overhead. Hip and ankle range support proper lunge depth and balance, especially under fatigue.
Power3/10There’s minimal need for peak explosiveness. Power shows up in efficient barbell cycling from floor to overhead and swift yet controlled lunge initiation.
Speed6/10Quick transitions and confident lunge cadence reward faster athletes. However, the overhead position discourages reckless sprinting; speed is moderated by stability and breathing control.

3 Rounds for Time 15 calorie Assault Bike 30 Overhead Lunges (75/55 lb)

Difficulty:
Hard
Modality:
M
W
Stimulus:

A steady burn with limited redlining. Push the bike at a sustainable but uncomfortable pace, then transition quickly and tackle lunges in one to two big sets per round. Shoulders and midline should feel engaged the entire time. Aim for consistent round times without significant drop-off, finishing with a strong final round push.

Insight:

Pace the first bike at 85-90% and settle. Smooth transitions matter more than a few extra RPM. Key tip: lock the rib cage down and stack the bar over midfoot—stable equals fast. Avoid early blow-ups: don’t rush the first 10 lunge steps. Breathe every step and keep elbows locked out.

Scaling:

Scale to: 12/10 cal per round • 30 Front-Rack or Back-Rack Lunges (75/55) • 30 Overhead Lunges at 65/45 lb (or a single DB/KB overhead)

Time Distribution:
11:00Elite
14:30Target
20:00Time Cap
Your Scores:

Training Profile

Performance Levels

L1
L2
L3
L4
L5
L6
L7
L8
L9
L10

Times range from 20:00 (beginner) to 8:00 (elite). If you’re around 14:00, you’re right in the middle of the pack. Keep transitions tight and manage lunge sets smartly. Faster athletes sustain 60+ RPM equivalent on the bike and keep lunges in big, controlled sets.