After a slightly rocky start I’m mostly loving the AI features. But I’m a bit puzzled about the post workout rating question and its effect on the model(s).
I’ve seen it referred to as an RPE survey, but is that what it is? Today I did Kaizer +4, which is a 90 min VO2Max workout. I’m four days out from my next FTP detection. Clearly in some senses it was a harder workout than, say, Brasstown, a 90 minute endurance workout that I did on Saturday. But I found both very straightforward to complete even though the nature of the effort was obviously very different (no respite constant power vs short harder intervals with easy spins in between).
The question I ask myself is how often did I worry about being able to deliver an interval or the entire workout? To me answering “never” to that means the workout was easy.
If I were to rate both workouts “easy” am I using it as intended?
I’ve always been a little puzzled by this. It’s not exactly RPE as that’s more an expression of how hard something is in the moment whereas the survey question reflects more of the integrated effect of the workout. Anyway, I believe the official TR definitions of the responses are:
1. Non taxing requiring little effort or focus. Could repeat.
2. Challenging but could finish and do additional sets.
3. Challenging but you could have done an additional interval.
Here is the official TR RPE survey response guide:
How to Rate Your Effort
Easy
This ride felt easy and non-taxing, requiring little effort or focus. You could repeat the ride and pass it without issue.
Moderate
This ride was somewhat comfortable but required some focus to complete. You felt a little challenged but had confidence that you could finish. If the ride had an additional set of intervals, you could complete it.
Hard
This ride required effort and focus and was challenging to complete. It felt tough, and you looked forward to the ride ending. If there were an additional set of intervals, you could have done it with significant focus.
Very Hard
This ride was very difficult to complete, and it tested you. If there were one more set of intervals, you wouldn’t have been able to complete it.
Maximum Effort
This ride was extremely difficult. It pushed you well beyond your abilities and took a massive amount of energy and focus to complete. You’ll feel like you barely made it to the end of this ride, and that you had to pull out every mental trick in the book to finish. If you had to pause during a workout to catch your breath or adjust the power demand down, the workout was likely a max effort.
If a workout was a maximum effort because of external factors like illness, poor sleep, or fatigue, be sure to add that detail in the follow-up survey.
This is super helpful, thank you. To me it would make more sense if these were the questions. Failing that, it seems to me that this table should be what’s shown when you tap the information icon in the survey.
Based on this scale no one should ever rate a VO2Max workout as “easy” if chosen for them by the AI unless something has gone horribly wrong with the model or a miracle has occurred to lift their FTP by a very significant percentage over what the AI predicts, right?
Yes, according to my definition of “no issues at all completing it”. That’s how I think of easy. Straightforward. Could I carry on that effort indefinitely, no absolutely not. But was I in any way struggling or having to hang on for dear life? No.
I use 10 as failure. 9, if I really struggled and just completed barely, 8 I finished but really wouldn’t want to add another interval, 7 glad it is done but could of done another set. 6 hard but not taxing. Could go out and shovel the driveway. 5 hard and I did shovel the driveway.
