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TSS and "Bonus points"

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TSS and "Bonus points"

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04-11.-2005, 10:51 AM	#1
whoawhoa Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,019	TSS and "Bonus points" So I've recently read Andy Coggan's "Racing and training with a powermeter" several times through and am starting to understand some of the more complicated aspects of it. I don't have a power meter but I have a pretty simple question that relates somewhat to TSS. Basically, what is the impact of those "bonus" rides many of us do? For instance, at least 1 day a week, I do a 2ish hour mtb ride at a modeate pace, mostly for fun. I also may have an easy 1 hour ride once or twice a week. In the past I though these had almost no impact on fitness, but in reading about TSS it seems they would contribute good number of "bonus" tss points. Do these rides do any good? Sorry if this is a confusing question.

04-11.-2005, 11:14 AM

frenchyge

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Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: Kansas City, USA

Posts: 3,691

Re: TSS and "Bonus points"

On page 12, the IF values for a L2 training session are shown as .75-.85. TSS value = IF^2 x 100 points per hour, so that L2 session will result in 56-72 TSS points per hour.

For a L1 ride you're looking at < 56 TSS points per hour. A body can typically withstand ~150 TSS points per day without detrimental effects (for a while at least).

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoawhoa

In the past I thought these had almost no impact on fitness, but in reading about TSS it seems they would contribute good number of "bonus" tss points. Do these rides do any good?

They do result in some TSS points, which means that there's some strain on the body, but look at the physiological adaptations chart on page 20 -- nothing for L1, and very little shown for L2. Putting those two ideas together, I'd say that those easy rides probably burn some calories and require a little upkeep and replenishment on the body's part, but are not sufficiently stressful to generate noticeable fitness adaptations. They'd probably be good for helping weight control, without disrupting the body's ability to recover from a light-to-moderate training routine.

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