These are the numbers you enter manually in VeloPeak. Together they give your AI coach the context to calibrate training zones, model your race capacity, and flag recovery issues before they become injuries.
Weight {#weight}
Body mass in kg. Used to compute W/kg (power-to-weight ratio) and estimated VO2 Max. Log after waking, before eating, for consistency. Tracking trends over months is more useful than any single reading.
Impact: W/kg, VO2 Max estimate, athlete classification
Body Fat {#body-fat}
Percentage of body mass that is fat tissue. Measured via DEXA scan, bioimpedance scale (BIA), or skin calipers. BIA scales give consistent readings when measured at the same time and hydration state each day.
| Body Fat | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic | 6-13% | 14-20% |
| Fit | 14-17% | 21-24% |
| Average | 18-24% | 25-31% |
Impact: Body composition tracking, context for W/kg changes
HRV {#hrv}
Heart Rate Variability - the millisecond-level variation between successive heartbeats. More variation means a healthier autonomic nervous system and better recovery. Measure on waking, lying down, before coffee. Apps: HRV4Training, Elite HRV, Garmin morning report.
Trends matter more than absolute values. A reading 10-15% below your personal baseline indicates moderate fatigue. Greater than 15% below baseline indicates high fatigue.
Impact: Coach readiness assessment
Max Heart Rate {#max-hr}
The highest heart rate you have ever reached during maximal effort. Defines all HR-based training zones. Auto-updated from your activity data when a new maximum is observed.
Estimation formula (Tanaka): 208 - (0.7 x age). Direct measurement is always more accurate.
Impact: All 5 HR training zones
Resting Heart Rate {#resting-hr}
HR measured at complete rest, ideally lying down on waking before getting up. A chronically elevated resting HR (more than 5-10 bpm above your norm) is an early signal of overtraining, illness, or poor sleep.
| Resting HR | Level |
|---|---|
| Less than 40 bpm | Elite |
| 40-50 bpm | Highly trained |
| 50-60 bpm | Fit |
| 60-80 bpm | Average |
| More than 80 bpm | Below average / fatigued |
Impact: Recovery monitoring, coach readiness signals
Critical Power {#critical-power}
The highest power output you can sustain aerobically without accumulating fatigue - the asymptote of your power-duration curve. Derived mathematically from your MMP data (5-minute and 20-minute best powers). VeloPeak calculates this automatically after every activity that improves your power curve.
P(t) = CP + W'/t
CP is typically 2-5% higher than FTP.
Impact: W' calculation, CP+W' anaerobic model, race tactics
W' (W-prime) {#w-prime}
Your anaerobic energy reserve above Critical Power, measured in kilojoules (kJ). Like a rechargeable battery: depletes when you ride above CP (sprints, attacks, climbs), recharges when you ride below CP.
Example: CP = 280 W, W' = 20 kJ. You can ride at 380 W (100 W above CP) for exactly 200 seconds before exhausting W'.
| W' | Rider type |
|---|---|
| Less than 15 kJ | Pure climber / diesel |
| 15-22 kJ | All-rounder |
| 22-30 kJ | Punchy / criterium specialist |
| Greater than 30 kJ | Sprinter / track |
VeloPeak auto-calculates W' from your MMP data alongside Critical Power.
Impact: Sprint capacity, race tactics, ability to follow attacks and recover
Threshold Heart Rate {#threshold-hr}
Heart rate at FTP / lactate threshold intensity. Used to calibrate heart rate zones when power data is unavailable. Best measured during a 20-minute all-out effort or a structured threshold test.
Impact: HR-based training zones for threshold sessions
Running Threshold Pace {#running-threshold}
Your maximum sustainable running pace for approximately 60 minutes - the running equivalent of FTP. Usually measured via a 30-minute time trial (use 95% of average pace) or a 5 km race. Input as mm:ss per km.
Impact: Running training zones, TSS for run workouts
Swimming Threshold Pace {#swim-threshold}
Critical Swim Speed (CSS) - your maximum sustainable swimming pace for approximately 60 minutes. Typically measured using the CSS test (400 m TT + 200 m TT). Input as seconds per 100 m.
Impact: Swim training zones, TSS for swim workouts
Lactate Threshold Power {#lactate}
Power output at your Lactate Threshold 2 (LT2) / Maximal Lactate Steady State (MLSS), measured via a staged blood lactate test. Most precise measure of your aerobic ceiling.
| LT2 / FTP ratio | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| LT2 greater than FTP | FTP may be set too low |
| LT2 approximately equal to FTP | Well-calibrated |
| LT2 less than FTP | FTP may be set too high |
Impact: Precise power zone calibration, comparison with FTP estimates
VO2 Max {#vo2max}
Maximum oxygen uptake - the gold standard of aerobic capacity, measured in ml/kg/min.
Two sources:
- Measured (lab or field test): entered manually, valid for 60 days. After 60 days VeloPeak falls back to the estimate.
- Estimated (Coggan formula): VO2 Max = (W/kg x 10.8) + 7 - always available, updates automatically when FTP or weight changes.
| VO2 Max | Level |
|---|---|
| Less than 35 | Beginner |
| 35-45 | Recreational |
| 45-55 | Trained |
| 55-65 | Well-trained |
| 65-75 | Elite |
| Greater than 75 | World-class |
Impact: Athlete classification, performance ceiling, coaching context