Team BKool CycleChat

[gbrown]

It looks like Zwift is taking the Bkool FE-C trainer as a Power Source, but of course the bkool trainer does not have a power meter, so it must be reporting estimated power over the ANT+ FE-C protocol.

The only source the Bkool trainer has for estimating power is the wheel/roller speed and the presumed (un-calibrated) resistance, which would give it a simple estimate of power. As we know, this can be all over the place, and depends on the firmware version, and how accurate the resistance is controlled, which is bound to vary across the range of resistance and from trainer to trainer. Sudden changes of applied power and/or resistance will also result in inaccuracies as it is difficult to allow for the delays in the magnetic resistance reaching the desired level.

Without a proper power meter, any estimate is going to be very rough indeed, and vary wildly depending on trainer/speed/power/temperature/resistance and the rate of change of any of the above.

Bearing all that in mind, the Bkool usually makes a decent estimate, it's just the ridiculous over/under readings that can spoil things.

Geoff

 

[gbrown]

I can't bring myself to put my carbon wheels with the powertap on my turbo...

I have the same carbon wheels with the powertap G3 hub and I ran them on the bkool pro for a while, before swapping over to the KICKR, where of course there is no back wheel involved. I can't see that it will wear the wheel much, just the tyre and perhaps a little wear on the cassette.

I'd certainly give it a go, just to see how it compares to using the estimated power from the bkool.

I think it actually helped a little, as the light carbon wheel was easier to accelerate, giving a little advantage over a heavier wheel.

I thought you were going to switch to a KICKR? For Zwift that might be a good choice, but the problem with accurate power readings is that they can put you at a disadvantage to someone with inaccurate readings that report higher power levels!

Geoff

 

[<Tommy>]

i am getting a bit fed up with bkool at the minute - i dont think we are all set up the same and its feeling less enjoyable as i dont really know what effort is really being put in ! i was promoted from reds straight up to blues and effort doesnt seem to any harder- if not easier - the wattage is all over the place and i am getting higher watts on the flat than up hill . i have tried zwift and its so much smoother and i think if i can get my head round it and work out how to semi compete with others then i am off till bkool get sorted

I think if it wasn't for the organised rides and this forum there would be a mass exodus to zwift already berty. I think we're all hoping BKOOL makes the needed improvements but personally I'm not overly optimistic.

 

[LBHIFI]

Gents,

Looking at my bkool summer cup results it looks like I really have some work to do. By that I mean that I have to re-do some of the stages to get a better result as I am way down the field in a couple of them.
I am therefore looking for someone else to start the chaingang Saturday re-run tomorrow, while I try to claw back some valuable minutes in the summer cup.


Remember that this chaingang is two weeks per stage and there is also a short sprint to go with each main ride.

I could start the session, but I'll probably bail after start. I already did a 80 km club ride today.

 

[bridgy]

I just redid the 1st Chain Gang stage, and what a world of difference it was compared to yesterday. I was pushing real big watts and at the end I was almost a minute ahead of Paul averaging 465 watt. I knew that Bill and I usually do very similar times, so I decided to wait at the line and cross it same time as Bill. Hope that's ok since I don't fancy doing that stage again.
My BePro's registered about 265 watt at that point, so that's a 200 watt difference .

I'm going to have to try doing stage 1 again too, so I get a more realistic time for the league as my ride on Thursday is clearly dodgy! Seems to be a weird anomaly with that course giving massive extra watts and speed - but the problem doesn't always happen?! I did the same course twice in the last league and had normal results.

 

[bobinski]

Zwift is not without its issues. For some time many users experienced lag irrespectivel of turbo but this all seems to have been resolved. Zwift seem pretty responsive and it seems to be in the interests of turbo manufacturers to code/update for Zwift when necessary because it is so popular. Interestingly, Bkool was the last to implement ant+fec despite the fact it was the first company to demonstrate it 2 years ago.... Overall, the perception is Zwift is responsive to user requests whilst we might all agree Bkool is not. The absence of an active user forum is indicative of a disinclination to engage.

At the moment Zwift reasonably mimics my real world experience. My time up box hill is very close to my best live ride I have. Done. I know how long I can hold 23-25 mph out on the road and that I can sprint up to about 32 mph on a good day. Again, Zwift is close enough to these figures/times but Bkool flatters me. Like TT said, for many of us the attraction of Bkool is this forum and us nutters coming together racing and ribbing afterwards. But the anomalies in the software and effect on outcomes is becoming a real challenge.

Come on Bkool, bleeding sort it!

 

[BILL S]

I could start the session, but I'll probably bail after start. I already did a 80 km club ride today.

Thanks Lars. Not sure if anyone is going to do the Chaingang ride today though so might not be anyone else there. How about we just say that anyone who wants to do the session can start it, hopefully posting here first, so anyone else can join their session.

 

[BILL S]

I'm going to have to try doing stage 1 again too, so I get a more realistic time for the league as my ride on Thursday is clearly dodgy! Seems to be a weird anomaly with that course giving massive extra watts and speed - but the problem doesn't always happen?! I did the same course twice in the last league and had normal results.

You're only about a minute and a half ahead of me and Lars so not a big deal. Your ride time can't be cancelled but we could add some time another way if you insist, but not necessary. I think that the anomaly is when you do the ride solo it increases the watts and speed for some reason. It's happened to three of us now and we were all solo at the time.

 

[BILL S]

Yes, but apparently it has something to do with the course. Since we could all be affected I think I did the best thing by waiting for Bill.
Kind of leave things status quo and keeps the competition alive for the remaining stages.

Thanks for that Lars. The other option would have been for me to do it solo and get a time similar to you and Paul.

Anyway, congratulations on your Elite3 Status.

So now: You, me, Paul, Berty and Ryan all Elite3's.

Bob is Elite4 though

 

[CXRAndy]

I am fake “elite 2”

 

[bobinski]

Thanks for that Lars. The other option would have been for me to do it solo and get a time similar to you and Paul.

Anyway, congratulations on your Elite3 Status.

So now: You, me, Paul, Berty and Ryan all Elite3's.

Bob is Elite4 though

That's right guys

Do keep up

 

[BILL S]

I am fake “elite 2”

Sorry missed you there Andy. I thought you'd been demoted back to realism.

Safe to say that all our elite's are fake atm.

 

[berty bassett]

Believe me - i am no elite 3 - i am a dirty rotten cheat !! forgot to change my weight back up after a handicap and theres nothing i can do about it ! it is the blue jersey of shame and i deserve to be booed everytime i log in to bkool ---- am i being alittle harsh on myself ? still think bkool has got something major wrong at the moment with its figures - it was nearer to being right 6months ago so i cant see why they dont look back at what they done and just de-tweak by half - that should do it . simple this maths melarky

 

[LBHIFI]

Thanks for that Lars. The other option would have been for me to do it solo and get a time similar to you and Paul.

Anyway, congratulations on your Elite3 Status.

So now: You, me, Paul, Berty and Ryan all Elite3's.

Bob is Elite4 though

Ryan did it with an FTP session though -

 

[theboxers]

I am fake “elite 2”

I made it to elite 5