I don’t know why I use heart rate with TrainerRoad. If it provides meaningful information for AI FTP Detection or in creating Training Plans, I will use it. On the other hand, I can’t begin to count the times I forget to put on the chest strap and must take off my jersey to put it on, or I forget to link the wristband by simply turning it on. And I cannot recall when heart rate data altered my training. AI FTP Detection and the carefully curated Training Plans prevent many of the overreaching and other issues. And watching for declines in average cadence and significant changes in RPE is more helpful than heart rate. So, should I continue to use heart rate or not?
Hey there @John_Potter
It’s totally up to you!
When training with TrainerRoad we use power as the main driver in our workouts. RPE is really useful as well, as you mentioned, which we reference in the post-workout surveys.
We do also use heart rate data when we have it, but if you aren’t providing it to us, you won’t be missing out on anything as far as AI FTP Detection goes.
I normally recommend that our athletes use HR data because I personally find it useful, especially when viewing it alongside power data and RPE, but if you don’t feel the need for it, by all means, carry on without it.
I’m guilty of recently riding without HR as my third (?) Wahoo TICKR is on its way out and messing with it before/during a ride to only get halfway accurate data wasn’t interesting to me. Sometimes less data is better anyway. 
When I get back into the routine of structured training as the weather changes I’ll probably find a different HR monitor to use though, because I do find the data somewhat useful.
HR is a good measure of the internal strain on your body which is interesting to see alongside power data. Many consider this data less useful because it’s somewhat more subjective in terms of internal/external contributions other than simply the amount of energy you’re putting out to your pedals, but that’s exactly what makes it interesting to me. 
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Just remember it’s info that is useful for your doctor. Just like body temperature and weight.