Saturday, August 22, 2015

T-Score (TSS) , CTL , ATL and TSB explained by Today's Plan

What does T-Score mean?
E.g. 123 This value is a calculated score used to objectively measure rides completed with power data. The formula takes into account both the ride intensity and duration. If you are working to a plan, then a session will have a target T-Score – in which case you need to ride to both the specified duration and intensity to reach the desired goal. Generally speaking, a T-Score of 30 would be an easy hour recovery ride, 120 would be a solid 2 hour training ride, and 300 would be a massive Sunday epic.

 What is CTL? Chronic training load is a way of objectively measuring your general fitness. It is the long term, daily T-Score average of your rides. ie your daily T-Score average over a long period of time. To increase your CTL you are doing (on average) rides with a higher T-Score – this can be performed through either longer rides or more intense rides. CTL is a great way of tracking your overall fitness.  

What is ATL? Acute training load is a way of objectively gauging your current training load. It is the short term, daily T-Score average of your rides. ie your daily T-Score average over a short period of time. When compared with your CTL, you can see if you are currently riding above or below your long term average. By comparing your ATL and CTL you can track if you are building or recovering, and the comparison between the two values gives your TSB or freshness score.

 What is TSB? The training stress balance is really a freshness score. It is calculated simply by comparing your CTL to your ATL. A negative number will indicate you have been doing “harder” rides then your long term average. Harder could be either in duration or intensity. When your freshness score is negative you will likely feel tired and fatigued. In contrast a positive score indicates you are doing less load then your long term average. This is what you want for a taper or recovery period. In these periods you should start to feel refreshed and ready to knock out a personal best.

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