One more question in addtion to the ones I posted in a separate thread:
Can you please clarify whether the TSS fudge factor takes into account both uphill and downhill vert or only uphill vert?
I asked this in the forum a few weeks ago in response to a reply Shashi had made to someone’s question because he seemed to be saying that *total* (gain + loss) vert was used for the fudge factor. Shashi said that yes, he adds both together, so e.g. 1000m up + 1000m down = 2000m total for a fudge factor (hike with less than 10% body weight) of 60-65, rather than 30ish if you only use gain.
The article on here though seems to very clearly state that you only take into account the gain. (https://uphillathlete.com/trainingpeaks-metrics-ctl-tss/)
Here’s his exact reply to me:
Shashi on November 10, 2021 at 9:06 am
#59106
Jane – 10 TSS only when you have 300 m (1000 ft.) of elevation gain and drop.
For some reason (taking gondola/lift down) you are not walking down then use 5 TSS for just the 300 m (1000 ft.) elevation gain.
A trail close to my place has an elevation gain of around 900 m and I have an option to take the gondola back down. Here is how I count the fudge factors –
No backpack, hike up, gondola down – TSS of 15
No backpack, hike up and down – TSS of 30
Backpack with 10% of body weight, hike up, gondola down – TSS of 30
Backpack with 10% of body weight, hike up and down – TSS of 60
Hope this is helpful.