I coudn’t find a clear answer from search.
If I compare target Z2 power and HR, they don’t match for me. If I pedal at my target Z2 power, my heart rate is 5-10bpm higher than target HR.
Does this mean I should do my Z2 at target power or HR?
How did you set your Z2 heart rate? By feel? By testing? By what garmin tells you it is?
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What about feel?
How is your breathing?
Can you talk in full sentences?
Do you feel like you could ride at that pace for hours?
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By RPE.
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As long as your FTP is in the ballpark, I’d go by power most of the time unless you are really confident in your calculated HR zones.
If you have really accurate HR zones, then HR can be useful for Z2 work, but again, power works well as long as your FTP is accurate.
Use RPE and then use power as a sanity check. Use HR as a tertiary check for things like fatigue, freshness, etc but only if you understand it’s limitations.
There are almost no training sessions where power should override RPE.
Also, zones (for power or HR) are pretty broad population averages. Your ‘Z2’ might not be someone else’s ‘Z2’ and neither might line up with the traditional ‘Z2’ range of 55-75% (from TR).
I know if I tried to do my endurance rides at 75% of my FTP I would be so fatigued so fast that I wouldn’t be able to do my harder intervals. So I typically ride below like 65%.
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