OVERVIEW
Power, heart rate, or RPE (rate of perceived exertion or how you feel)? Which data point is best for gauging intensity during training or a race, and which is best for monitoring training progress? Coach Adam Pulford tackles these frequently asked questions in Episode 249 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast". Although ALL THREE metrics have their place, Coach Adam reveals the hierarchy for what matters most and what metrics are used for context.
TOPICS COVERED
- Power vs Heart Rate vs RPE Hierarchy
- How to keep HR from drifting up during intervals
- Why HR might drop during intervals
- Why prioritize Power first, then RPE, and HR last
- Training at the top vs bottom of power zones
- All about Rate of Perceived Effort (RPE)
- Why three data points are better than one
ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCAST
LINKS/RESOURCES
- Eston, R., & Connolly, D. (1996).
Use of Ratings of Perceived Exertion for Exercise Prescription in the Elderly.
Validates RPE as a tool even without heart rate monitoring.
Shows strong correlation between RPE and physiological markers like VO2 max and lactate threshold. - Faulkner, J., et al. (2008).
Rating of perceived exertion during isometric and dynamic exercise is influenced by the duration of exercise.
Indicates how fatigue alters perceived effort. - Garcin, M., Fleury, A., & Billat, V. (2002).
The correlation between RPE and physiological variables (heart rate, lactate) in cycling.
Found strong correlation between RPE and lactate threshold, especially in trained cyclists.
Source: International Journal of Sports Medicine. - Seiler, S., & Kjerland, G.Ø. (2006).
Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an "optimal" distribution?
RPE used as a monitoring tool for training load in elite cyclists and runners.
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. - González-Alonso J, et al. (1999). Influence of body temperature on the cardiovascular response to exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, 86(2), 599–605.
https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1999.86.2.599 - Berntson GG, et al. (1997). Heart rate variability: Origins, methods, and interpretive caveats. Psychophysiology, 34(6), 623–648.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.1997.tb02140.x
HOST
Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.
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