Recovery Drivers - TSS/IF, RPE, HR?

Just wondering ...

Similar weeks this and last on the Computrainer running several erg files, including one 2 x 20s @ FT. I'm not ramping up or training really hard, just fitness & maintenance riding.

I registered the same TSS/IF both weeks for the same 2 x 20s @FT rides (of course) but HR went from 82-87% up to mid-90%, with a perceived RPE increase (7ish at FT got harder, 8-9 I'd say). I was beat.

Does the need for recovery after a hard ride increase after such an aberrant day, with elevated HR/RPE? That is, is the need for recovery driven by TSS/IF or RPE/HR?

Big question.

Two sides. The RPE/HR side is a feedback comming from your body. The TSS/IF side is comming (in big part) from the power you can actually generate, thus the performance itself.

If your goal is to develop fitness, I would rely more on the power that you can generate, than on the feedback comming from your body. If you're like me, this feedback is fairly reliable. That is an elevated HR/RPE is often an indication that I have less ressources available to do the job I have to do. But still... If the performance is there...

Have you start playing with the Performance Manager Chart? This concept is all about performance. TSS are used to monitor both your work capacity and the fatigue you accumulate.