Why RPE Matters Just As Much As Power: Kolie Moore from Empirical Cycling on Training Smarter

I sit down with one of my long-time coach crushes: Kolie Moore, founder of Empirical Cycling and host of the Empirical Cycling Podcast. Our conversation ranged all over the place, from our favorite cycling and thinking books to what how our “master gland” protects us, but we really focus on why rate of perceived exertion (RPE) matters more than athletes think—even when they already use objective metrics like power and heart rate. Kolie talks about the FTP test he never expected be called “The Kolie Moore FTP Test," explaining why feeling into your threshold works better than traditional 20-minute tests for most athletes.

We talk about why training plans should be “written in sand rather than stone,” (one of my favorite quotes from the show) how your brain integrates signals of stress that power meters can't measure, and why so many athletes train too hard too achieve the results they seek. Kolie shares insights from his work coaching everyone from World Tour cyclists to weekend warriors, revealing that newer athletes often nail RPE-based efforts on the first try because they haven't learned to overthink it yet. Kolie challenges the idea that following a training plan to the letter leads to success, showing instead that sustainable progress comes from learning to listen to your body while using data as a guide rather than gospel.