train-ing stres bal-ance
Noun, Verb
The ratio of stress to recovery in an athlete's training program.
Example usage: My coach recommended that I adjust my training-stress-balance for optimal performance.
Most used in: Cycling circles in Europe and North America.
Most used by: Serious and competitive cyclists.
Popularity: 8/10
Comedy Value: 2/10
Also see: Overreaching, Overloading, Tapering, Base-building,
What is Training-Stress-Balance in Cycling?
Training-stress-balance (TSB) is a measure used to determine the optimal training level for athletes in cycling. It is based on the idea that a cyclist should maintain a balance between the amount of training stress they take on and the amount of rest they get.
Training stress is the total amount of physical stress a cyclist puts on their body from training. This includes the intensity and duration of the session, as well as the type of exercise. Rest is the amount of time taken off from training to allow the body to recover and adapt to the training.
The TSB is calculated by subtracting the amount of rest from the amount of training stress. If the TSB is positive, then the cyclist is in a state of overreaching, meaning they need more rest. If the TSB is negative, then the cyclist is in a state of underreaching, meaning they need more training stress. The optimal TSB is in the range of -5 to 5.
A cyclist's TSB can be monitored over time to measure their progress and determine when they should adjust their training plan. Research has shown that cyclists who maintain a TSB of -5 to 5 have less fatigue, improved performance, and faster recovery than those who are in a state of overreaching or underreaching.
The Origin of the Term 'Training-Stress-Balance' in Cycling
The term 'Training-Stress-Balance' in cycling was first coined by the Australian sports scientist, Dr. Stephen Seiler, during the early 2000s. The concept of Training-Stress-Balance was developed to address the need for athletes to monitor their training load and recovery. It is based on the principle that increases in training load should be balanced with adequate rest and recovery periods.
The term was first used and popularized by Dr. Seiler in a 2007 paper titled “Is there evidence of optimal adaptation to endurance training?” The paper was published in the journal Sports Medicine and argued for the concept of “periodization”, which is the process of organizing training into distinct phases, each with different goals and levels of intensity. Dr. Seiler argued that periodization was necessary to maximize the effectiveness of a cyclist's training program. He also outlined the concept of Training-Stress-Balance, which seeks to ensure that athletes are not overtraining or undertraining.
The concept of Training-Stress-Balance has been widely accepted by cycling coaches and athletes and has become a staple of modern endurance training. It has been used to great effect by many of the world’s top cyclists, including Tour de France and Olympic champions. The concept of Training-Stress-Balance has allowed cyclists to maximize their performance while minimizing the risk of injury and burnout.
