From Mr. TSS himself, here’s how to relate RPE to TSS.
If you think about it, it’s perfectly logical that RPE based training stress is more accurate than purely power based.
- So many people don’t have an accurate FTP estimate (all FTPs are estimates). RPE isn’t affected by that, though you do need to tune in your feel of effort levels.
- Your true FTP for today is affected by many things like illness, life stress, sleep, nutrition. Basically if you can’t perform to your actual ability today then you’re accumulating more stress for the same training done on a good day. RPE auto correct for this because the same objective work will subjectively be harder.
- Once you really are in tune with training by RPE, you can’t really overtrain. Many people using power meters overtrain. Again RPE is auto correcting.
I really recommend that to use Kolie Moore’s FTP test and train by RPE mainly, using power as a calibration device for RPE and for data analysis after the training session / ride / race. Power is also useful during a race to reign yourself in.
Power is not the true compass for training that most people mindlessly follow. Every good coach talks about needing lots of subjective feedback from the athlete to properly guide them. Listen to your body first, power meter is second.