Common terms and acronyms used in Stride and cycling training
Understanding cycling and training terminology helps you get the most from Stride. Here are the key terms you’ll encounter:
Active Recovery Light exercise (50-60% FTP) that promotes recovery by increasing blood flow without adding training stress.
Aerobic Exercise intensity where your body primarily uses oxygen to produce energy. Generally sustainable for long periods.
Anaerobic High-intensity exercise where your body can’t supply enough oxygen, relying on stored energy. Only sustainable for short periods.
ATL See Fatigue (Acute Training Load) in Stride.
Base Phase Training period focused on building aerobic fitness through longer, easier rides. Typically 8-12 weeks.
BPM Beats Per Minute - measurement of heart rate.
Build Phase Training period where intensity increases to build race-specific fitness. Follows base phase.
Cadence Pedaling speed measured in RPM (revolutions per minute). Typical range: 80-100 RPM.
Chainring Front gear(s) attached to your cranks. Larger chainring = harder gear.
Chronic Training Load See “Load” - Stride’s term for long-term training stress (42-day average).
Crank The arm that connects your pedal to the bike’s bottom bracket.
CTL Common abbreviation for Chronic Training Load. In Stride, we call this “Load.”
Domestique Team rider who works for others. In training: learning to work hard for the team.
Drops Lower part of drop handlebars. Aerodynamic position for descents or headwinds.
Duration Length of a workout or interval, measured in time or distance.
Endurance Zone Zone 2 training, typically 65-75% of FTP. The foundation of aerobic fitness.
ERG Mode Smart trainer mode that automatically adjusts resistance to maintain target power regardless of speed/gear.
Efficiency Factor (EF) Power divided by heart rate. Higher values indicate better aerobic fitness.
Fatigue (Acute Training Load) Stride’s measure of recent training stress - your 7-day average Training Score.
Form In Stride: the difference between Load and Fatigue. Indicates readiness to perform.
FTP (Functional Threshold Power) The maximum average power you can sustain for approximately one hour. Key metric for setting training zones.
FTP Test Structured workout to determine your FTP. Common protocols: 20-minute test, ramp test.
Gear Ratio Relationship between chainring and cassette sizes. Determines how hard/easy pedaling is.
GPS Global Positioning System - used by devices to track location, speed, and distance.
Heart Rate Zones Training intensities based on percentage of maximum or threshold heart rate.
HR Max Maximum heart rate - the highest your heart can beat. Decreases with age.
HRV (Heart Rate Variability) Variation between heartbeats. Higher HRV often indicates better recovery.
Intensity How hard you’re working, measured by power, heart rate, or perceived effort.
Intensity Factor (IF) Normalized Power divided by FTP. Shows how hard a ride was relative to your threshold.
Intervals Structured periods of hard effort followed by recovery. Core of many workouts.
KJ (Kilojoules) Unit of work/energy. Roughly equal to calories burned during cycling.
KOM/QOM King/Queen of the Mountain - fastest time on a climb segment.
Lactate Threshold Intensity where lactate accumulates faster than your body can clear it. Close to FTP.
Load Stride’s term for Chronic Training Load - your fitness level based on 42-day average Training Score.
Matchbook Burning a “match” means using anaerobic energy for hard efforts. Limited supply per ride.
Max Power Highest power you can produce, typically for 1-5 seconds. Sprint power.
Normalized Power (NP) Weighted average power that accounts for variability. Better represents physiological cost than average power.
Neuromuscular Power Very short, maximal efforts (under 10 seconds). Sprint training.
Overreaching Planned short-term overload to stimulate adaptation. Requires adequate recovery.
Overtraining Chronic fatigue from too much training without adequate recovery. Avoid this!
Peak Phase Final training phase before key events. Reduced volume, maintained intensity.
Peloton Main group of riders in a race. Also: popular indoor cycling platform.
Periodization Systematic planning of training through different phases (base, build, peak).
Power Meter Device measuring actual power output in watts. Gold standard for training.
Power-to-Weight Ratio Watts per kilogram of body weight. Key metric for climbing performance.
Recovery Time between hard efforts or workouts when adaptation occurs. Critical for improvement.
Resistance Mode Smart trainer mode where resistance increases with speed (simulates real riding).
RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) Subjective measure of effort intensity, typically 1-10 scale.
RPM Revolutions Per Minute - see Cadence.
Sweet Spot Training at 88-93% of FTP. Balances training stress with sustainability.
Steady State Consistent effort at sustainable intensity. No surges or variations.
Taper Reducing training volume before important events to shed fatigue while maintaining fitness.
Tempo Moderate-hard intensity, typically 76-87% of FTP. “Comfortably hard.”
Threshold See FTP. The dividing line between sustainable and unsustainable efforts.
Training Score (TS) Stride’s measure of single workout stress. Based on intensity and duration.
Training Stress Balance See “Form” - the difference between fitness (Load) and Fatigue.
TSS Training Stress Score - common metric. In Stride, we call this “Training Score.”
VO2 Max Maximum oxygen uptake. Trained at 106-120% of FTP for 3-8 minute intervals.
Variability Index (VI) Normalized Power divided by Average Power. Shows how steady your effort was.
Watts Unit of power measurement. Direct measure of work being done.
Watts/kg See Power-to-Weight Ratio.
W’ (W-prime) Amount of work you can do above FTP before exhaustion. Your “anaerobic battery.”
Workout Structured training session with specific intervals and targets.
Zone Range of intensity for training. Typically 7 zones from recovery to neuromuscular power.
Zone 2 Endurance zone. Foundation of aerobic fitness. Should be majority of training.
Missing a term? Email support@stride.is and we’ll add it!
Common terms and acronyms used in Stride and cycling training
Understanding cycling and training terminology helps you get the most from Stride. Here are the key terms you’ll encounter:
Active Recovery Light exercise (50-60% FTP) that promotes recovery by increasing blood flow without adding training stress.
Aerobic Exercise intensity where your body primarily uses oxygen to produce energy. Generally sustainable for long periods.
Anaerobic High-intensity exercise where your body can’t supply enough oxygen, relying on stored energy. Only sustainable for short periods.
ATL See Fatigue (Acute Training Load) in Stride.
Base Phase Training period focused on building aerobic fitness through longer, easier rides. Typically 8-12 weeks.
BPM Beats Per Minute - measurement of heart rate.
Build Phase Training period where intensity increases to build race-specific fitness. Follows base phase.
Cadence Pedaling speed measured in RPM (revolutions per minute). Typical range: 80-100 RPM.
Chainring Front gear(s) attached to your cranks. Larger chainring = harder gear.
Chronic Training Load See “Load” - Stride’s term for long-term training stress (42-day average).
Crank The arm that connects your pedal to the bike’s bottom bracket.
CTL Common abbreviation for Chronic Training Load. In Stride, we call this “Load.”
Domestique Team rider who works for others. In training: learning to work hard for the team.
Drops Lower part of drop handlebars. Aerodynamic position for descents or headwinds.
Duration Length of a workout or interval, measured in time or distance.
Endurance Zone Zone 2 training, typically 65-75% of FTP. The foundation of aerobic fitness.
ERG Mode Smart trainer mode that automatically adjusts resistance to maintain target power regardless of speed/gear.
Efficiency Factor (EF) Power divided by heart rate. Higher values indicate better aerobic fitness.
Fatigue (Acute Training Load) Stride’s measure of recent training stress - your 7-day average Training Score.
Form In Stride: the difference between Load and Fatigue. Indicates readiness to perform.
FTP (Functional Threshold Power) The maximum average power you can sustain for approximately one hour. Key metric for setting training zones.
FTP Test Structured workout to determine your FTP. Common protocols: 20-minute test, ramp test.
Gear Ratio Relationship between chainring and cassette sizes. Determines how hard/easy pedaling is.
GPS Global Positioning System - used by devices to track location, speed, and distance.
Heart Rate Zones Training intensities based on percentage of maximum or threshold heart rate.
HR Max Maximum heart rate - the highest your heart can beat. Decreases with age.
HRV (Heart Rate Variability) Variation between heartbeats. Higher HRV often indicates better recovery.
Intensity How hard you’re working, measured by power, heart rate, or perceived effort.
Intensity Factor (IF) Normalized Power divided by FTP. Shows how hard a ride was relative to your threshold.
Intervals Structured periods of hard effort followed by recovery. Core of many workouts.
KJ (Kilojoules) Unit of work/energy. Roughly equal to calories burned during cycling.
KOM/QOM King/Queen of the Mountain - fastest time on a climb segment.
Lactate Threshold Intensity where lactate accumulates faster than your body can clear it. Close to FTP.
Load Stride’s term for Chronic Training Load - your fitness level based on 42-day average Training Score.
Matchbook Burning a “match” means using anaerobic energy for hard efforts. Limited supply per ride.
Max Power Highest power you can produce, typically for 1-5 seconds. Sprint power.
Normalized Power (NP) Weighted average power that accounts for variability. Better represents physiological cost than average power.
Neuromuscular Power Very short, maximal efforts (under 10 seconds). Sprint training.
Overreaching Planned short-term overload to stimulate adaptation. Requires adequate recovery.
Overtraining Chronic fatigue from too much training without adequate recovery. Avoid this!
Peak Phase Final training phase before key events. Reduced volume, maintained intensity.
Peloton Main group of riders in a race. Also: popular indoor cycling platform.
Periodization Systematic planning of training through different phases (base, build, peak).
Power Meter Device measuring actual power output in watts. Gold standard for training.
Power-to-Weight Ratio Watts per kilogram of body weight. Key metric for climbing performance.
Recovery Time between hard efforts or workouts when adaptation occurs. Critical for improvement.
Resistance Mode Smart trainer mode where resistance increases with speed (simulates real riding).
RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) Subjective measure of effort intensity, typically 1-10 scale.
RPM Revolutions Per Minute - see Cadence.
Sweet Spot Training at 88-93% of FTP. Balances training stress with sustainability.
Steady State Consistent effort at sustainable intensity. No surges or variations.
Taper Reducing training volume before important events to shed fatigue while maintaining fitness.
Tempo Moderate-hard intensity, typically 76-87% of FTP. “Comfortably hard.”
Threshold See FTP. The dividing line between sustainable and unsustainable efforts.
Training Score (TS) Stride’s measure of single workout stress. Based on intensity and duration.
Training Stress Balance See “Form” - the difference between fitness (Load) and Fatigue.
TSS Training Stress Score - common metric. In Stride, we call this “Training Score.”
VO2 Max Maximum oxygen uptake. Trained at 106-120% of FTP for 3-8 minute intervals.
Variability Index (VI) Normalized Power divided by Average Power. Shows how steady your effort was.
Watts Unit of power measurement. Direct measure of work being done.
Watts/kg See Power-to-Weight Ratio.
W’ (W-prime) Amount of work you can do above FTP before exhaustion. Your “anaerobic battery.”
Workout Structured training session with specific intervals and targets.
Zone Range of intensity for training. Typically 7 zones from recovery to neuromuscular power.
Zone 2 Endurance zone. Foundation of aerobic fitness. Should be majority of training.
Missing a term? Email support@stride.is and we’ll add it!