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Training Plans for Cyclists — Workout Terminology

Written by Rochelle Garcia

We use a variety of CTS terms and lingo in our training plans, especially to describe the workouts and interval types used as you work through a plan. You can find details about each of these interval types on the CTS website, or look below for a quick overview of each.

Climbing Repeats (CR) · Increased climbing power at lactate threshold

Climbing Repeats (CR) · Increased climbing power at lactate threshold

Climbing Repeats (CR) · Increased climbing power at lactate threshold

Climbing Repeats (CR) · Increased climbing power at lactate threshold

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

85-95

8 of 10

95-97%

95-100%

Descending Intervals (DI) · Maximal efforts of decreasing length

Descending Intervals (DI) · Maximal efforts of decreasing length

Descending Intervals (DI) · Maximal efforts of decreasing length

Descending Intervals (DI) · Maximal efforts of decreasing length

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

110+

10 of 10

100%-Max

110%+

Endurance Miles (EM) · Basic aerobic development

Endurance Miles (EM) · Basic aerobic development

Endurance Miles (EM) · Basic aerobic development

Endurance Miles (EM) · Basic aerobic development

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

85-95

5 of 10

50-91%

45-73%

High-Speed Sprints (HSS) · Out-of-the-saddle sprint intervals starting at a high speed

High-Speed Sprints (HSS) · Out-of-the-saddle sprint intervals starting at a high speed

High-Speed Sprints (HSS) · Out-of-the-saddle sprint intervals starting at a high speed

High-Speed Sprints (HSS) · Out-of-the-saddle sprint intervals starting at a high speed

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

110+

10 of 10

100%-Max

110%+

Over Under Intervals (OU) · Increased sustained power, above and below a threshold

Over Under Intervals (OU) · Increased sustained power, above and below a threshold

Over Under Intervals (OU) · Increased sustained power, above and below a threshold

Over Under Intervals (OU) · Increased sustained power, above and below a threshold

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

85-95

9 of 10

92-94% / 95-97%

86-90% / 95-100%

Power Intervals (PI) · Increased power at VO2 max

Power Intervals (PI) · Increased power at VO2 max

Power Intervals (PI) · Increased power at VO2 max

Power Intervals (PI) · Increased power at VO2 max

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

95+

10 of 10

100%-Max

110%+

Speed Intervals (SI) · Familiarize your body with intensity and accelerations

Speed Intervals (SI) · Familiarize your body with intensity and accelerations

Speed Intervals (SI) · Familiarize your body with intensity and accelerations

Speed Intervals (SI) · Familiarize your body with intensity and accelerations

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

110+

10 of 10

100%-Max

110%+

Steady State Intervals (SS) · Increased sustained power at lactate threshold

Steady State Intervals (SS) · Increased sustained power at lactate threshold

Steady State Intervals (SS) · Increased sustained power at lactate threshold

Steady State Intervals (SS) · Increased sustained power at lactate threshold

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

85-95

7 of 10

92-94%

86-90%

Stomps (S) · Muscular strength training via very short sprints in your hardest gear

Stomps (S) · Muscular strength training via very short sprints in your hardest gear

Stomps (S) · Muscular strength training via very short sprints in your hardest gear

Stomps (S) · Muscular strength training via very short sprints in your hardest gear

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

95+

10 of 10

100%-Max

110%+

Tempo Intervals (T) · Improved aerobic endurance

Tempo Intervals (T) · Improved aerobic endurance

Tempo Intervals (T) · Improved aerobic endurance

Tempo Intervals (T) · Improved aerobic endurance

RPM

Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate

Power

70-75

6 of 10

88-91%

81-85%

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