Team BKool CycleChat

[AAAC 76C]

Bkool is the only smart turbo whoose resistance/erg power cannot be controlled over ant+ fec in Trainer road and Zwift. TR have been expecting a major software update , presumably firmware, from Bkool which sounds like a complete rewrite and which is hoped will allow their software to realistically control resistance.We shall see.

I like your line of questioning there Sir but I don't think we could accuse BSim software as being guilty for this.

 

[BILL S]

Bill, I was just trying to act as a carrot for you until about 800m from the end when I turned my turbo off to show what happens as I guessed that by the speed Andy went up all was not as it should be.

I have been thinking about your loss of power as the only mechanical thing I could thing of is that the conductive ring on your flywheel is de-bonding. This usually causes a grating noise but if it in the throws of de-bonding that may not be happening yet and the ring is rotating that bit closer to the magnets creating additional drag.
The effect may be more when you are moving slower with high watts as the magnets have too engage more with the conductive ring and so they will pull on the ring more.
Just a mad theory!

Yeah, I know you were but actually it had the opposite affect. I am now conditioned to think that if you are not leaving me for dead on a hill then there must be something wrong and I am going too fast because of blue numbers and I start to feel guilty about going too fast so I start to slow down. I'd prefer if we didn't have any league rides where there can be blue numbers as it's very off putting always wondering if you're going too fast. As it happens, I'm well down in time for this stage and may actually have to attempt a re-run if the weather cools down a bit.
As for loss of power, I don't think that is the case. It was just during Geoff's weight handicap where that seemed to happen. Any other loss of power has been down to me.

 

[Randyberlin]

Just signed up to DD 2017. May be madness, but I'm willing to give it a go! Gonna have to get some training in over the next 12 months now

Did you put " Bkool Cycle Chat chain gang" or any combination of those words as a team name?

 

[JLaw]

Is it safe to use my Kickr now? Where is jlaw for a review of the latest s

Does this mean Thursday league results are a little skewed, as some had upgraded firmware before the session?

Getting excuse in early, poor couple of days with hay fever/thunder Asthma!

Real world rides followed by family returning from their trip to Mesquite, NV. I haven't been on the kickr in a couple weeks. So no direct knowledge of any kickr related changes for bkool.

The only datapoint I can give is the bkool software did not update when I fired up the laptop and started the sim -- which is consistent with what others have said here -- firmware update for the bkool trainers only. It's unlikely anything changed for the kickr.

 

[CXRAndy]

Real world rides followed by family returning from their trip to Mesquite, NV. I haven't been on the kickr in a couple weeks. So no direct knowledge of any kickr related changes for bkool.

The only datapoint I can give is the bkool software did not update when I fired up the laptop and started the sim -- which is consistent with what others have said here -- firmware update for the bkool trainers only. It's unlikely anything changed for the kickr.

I was thinking/hoping, it would make the Bkool trainer behave similarly to the Kickr, leveling out the difference

 

[bobinski]

Any Londoners likely to sign up for the DD? I ask because i don't drive and if any are driving up can i cadge a lift Will obviously contribute grudgingly to cost of petrol and less grudgingly to a slap up motorway meal

 

[Whorty]

Did you put " Bkool Cycle Chat chain gang" or any combination of those words as a team name?

Ooh, no, didn't think of that! If we want to agree a team name then i'll contact them and ask the organisers to update my details. "BKool Cycle Chat" sounds good to me.

 

[Whorty]

Any Londoners likely to sign up for the DD? I ask because i don't drive and if any are driving up can i cadge a lift Will obviously contribute grudgingly to cost of petrol and less grudgingly to a slap up motorway meal

Sorry Bob but I'm down South West else I'd offer.

 

[bobinski]

I have just ridden a 30 km mountain route in Zwift. I deliberately kept HR down on the inclines. I find that my power is higher in Zwift than Bkool. For example I can generate 3-400 plus watts for 6 mins on a 14% slope whereas I cannot in Bkool. Peak HR of 165 and average of 147. 8mph rather than 8kmh! . It is always possible that bkools ant+ fec implementation flatters the turbo in Zwift but I doubt it. The whole point of it is to give all turbos the same base starting point.
No slingshots.
I can draft in Zwift
Rapid loss of speed when you ease or drop the power on an incline. Less dramatic on the flat.
No need to pedal on downhills. An 8-10 % gradient of 1/2 km or more will see you hit 65kmh and 12 plus will see as much as 80kmh. Some do go for it, crazy watts, and hit 100kmh. As the gradient eases the speed decreases but somehow it seems more realistic.
Can one of you fast guys give Zwift a go and let us know what you think?
Oh, and I am not even in the top 35% of riders in zwift which is about right!

 

[<Tommy>]

Any Londoners likely to sign up for the DD? I ask because i don't drive and if any are driving up can i cadge a lift Will obviously contribute grudgingly to cost of petrol and less grudgingly to a slap up motorway meal

I figured I'd keep it civilised and get a train bob. Assuming there's a train that goes to Wales of course

Failing that we could ask Soarer to pick us up in his helicopter? .

 

[RickB]

Have tried doing the firmware update 4 times and failed every time! Anyone else having diffs?

Dis stage 4 there this morning rather than heading out with the club. Completely different effort required to Bkool! Was almost odd busting myself that much for so long right from the start so no real improvement in my Bkool result - maybe worse if anything!!

 

[bobinski]

Have tried doing the firmware update 4 times and failed every time! Anyone else having diffs?

Dis stage 4 there this morning rather than heading out with the club. Completely different effort required to Bkool! Was almost odd busting myself that much for so long right from the start so no real improvement in my Bkool result - maybe worse if anything!!

You beat my time easy enough

 

[bridgy]

I have just ridden a 30 km mountain route in Zwift. I deliberately kept HR down on the inclines. I find that my power is higher in Zwift than Bkool. For example I can generate 3-400 plus watts for 6 mins on a 14% slope whereas I cannot in Bkool. Peak HR of 165 and average of 147. 8mph rather than 8kmh! . It is always possible that bkools ant+ fec implementation flatters the turbo in Zwift but I doubt it. The whole point of it is to give all turbos the same base starting point.
No slingshots.
I can draft in Zwift
Rapid loss of speed when you ease or drop the power on an incline. Less dramatic on the flat.
No need to pedal on downhills. An 8-10 % gradient of 1/2 km or more will see you hit 65kmh and 12 plus will see as much as 80kmh. Some do go for it, crazy watts, and hit 100kmh. As the gradient eases the speed decreases but somehow it seems more realistic.
Can one of you fast guys give Zwift a go and let us know what you think?
Oh, and I am not even in the top 35% of riders in zwift which is about right!

I have never tried Zwift Bob, but what you describe sounds very similar to my post firmware update bkool experiences.

Seems to be faster on the flat than before, instant speed reduction on inclines (no cruising uphill with blue numbers!), and also seems to pick up more speed more quickly while freewheeling with blue numbers downhill.

So whether there's a benefit or disadvantage for riders with /without the update will probably depend on the terrain. Obviously best if as many as possible on the same version though or we'll all be constantly blaming the firmware for our performance (or lack of!)

 

[bridgy]

Have tried doing the firmware update 4 times and failed every time! Anyone else having diffs?

Dis stage 4 there this morning rather than heading out with the club. Completely different effort required to Bkool! Was almost odd busting myself that much for so long right from the start so no real improvement in my Bkool result - maybe worse if anything!!

Update worked first time for me!

I agree that Bkool is a different type of workout to real road riding - I certainly can't keep such a high HR for as long when riding in the real world.

 

[bridgy]

Have tried doing the firmware update 4 times and failed every time! Anyone else having diffs?

Dis stage 4 there this morning rather than heading out with the club. Completely different effort required to Bkool! Was almost odd busting myself that much for so long right from the start so no real improvement in my Bkool result - maybe worse if anything!!

That's a nasty course to make your bkool return on!

Of course, you only have yourself to blame.....