Count rides
Enter the number of rides represented by your average session inputs.Enter average ride duration
Use minutes of training. For highly varied rides, calculate each ride separately and sum the results.Enter overall session RPE
Use a consistent 0–10 perceived-exertion rating for each session and enter the weekly average.Review load per ride
The calculator multiplies duration by RPE for one representative ride.Review weekly load
Average ride load is multiplied by ride count to estimate the week total in arbitrary units.
Cycling Power Training Load Calculator
The Cycling Power Training Load Calculator estimates weekly internal training load with the session-RPE method: average ride duration is multiplied by perceived exertion and the number of rides. Although the calculator sits in a cycling-power tool set, it intentionally uses RPE rather than requiring a particular proprietary power-based load formula.
The result is reported in arbitrary units and is best used as a consistent personal time series. It can complement power files by capturing how demanding training felt, including strain that may not be obvious from average watts alone. Compare trends rather than treating one number as a universal threshold.
Calculator inputs
rides
min
0–10
Result
—
weekly cycling session-RPE load (AU)
Load per average ride—
Weekly ride time—
Average RPE—
Ride count—
Average ride load = ride duration in minutes × session RPEWeekly cycling load = average ride load × number of rides
Where:
- Ride duration — average training duration in minutes.
- Session RPE — overall perceived exertion on a 0–10 scale.
- Weekly cycling load — estimated internal load in arbitrary units (AU).
Assumptions: This average-based method is a shortcut. If ride duration or RPE varies substantially, sum duration × RPE for each ride instead. The output is not the same as Training Stress Score or another proprietary power-based metric.
What the result means
The result combines how long you rode with how hard the week felt, giving a personal internal-load number for trend tracking.
Use consistent rating and recording practices; changes in RPE can reflect fatigue, heat, illness, or other factors beyond power output.
Given:
- 6 rides
- 75 minutes average duration
- Average RPE 5.5/10
Calculation:
Average ride load = 75 × 5.5 = 412.5 AU. Weekly load = 412.5 × 6 = 2,475 AU.
Result:
2,475 AU for the week.
Interpretation:
This week accumulated an estimated 2,475 session-RPE units; the number is most informative against the rider’s prior weeks calculated the same way.
Why use RPE when I have a power meter?
Power describes external work, while RPE captures the rider’s internal perception of difficulty. Tracking both can provide different information about the same training.
Is this Training Stress Score?
No. This calculator uses duration × session RPE and reports arbitrary units. Power-based stress metrics use different inputs and formulas.
What if one ride is much longer than the others?
Calculate that ride separately instead of relying on the average. Summing each ride’s duration × RPE gives a more faithful weekly total.
Can I compare my AU directly with another cyclist?
Not reliably. Perceived exertion is individual, so the same workload can produce different RPE values between riders.
Should recovery rides be included?
Include them if your goal is total weekly internal load. Their lower RPE will naturally contribute less load per minute than hard sessions.