Team BKool CycleChat

[berty bassett]

Can we name it soarerv8...please

you can't call a cat soarerv8 !! not when he is scared of a teeny tiny mouse !

 

[Soarerv8]

you can't call a cat soarerv8 !! not when he is scared of a teeny tiny mouse !

At least a rat and quite possibly a crocodile.

 

[Soarerv8]

Can we name it soarerv8...please

I think that would be in keeping with the Cycle chat tradition.

 

[gbrown]

My finger keeps hovering over the "buy" button for a Wahoo kickr. Anyone apart from Andy use on? I think not but best to check.

I have a KICKR, I sold my Bkool Pro a few months after getting it and replaced it with a KICKR.

It is MUCH nicer, more robust, direct drive so no tyre slippage or wear and it is the same height as a normal bike, so no stretching to get on and off. Also, the resistance is much greater, so it can simulate higher gradients, up to around 20% for me (c.75kg) compared to around 12% on the bkool, and a power meter built in.

I understand the recently released update is a slight improvement again.

However, it must be pointed out, it has always been a more accurate simulation than the bkool and this, along with the greater resistance means you are at a distinct disadvantage in a comparison with a bkool pro rider. If you use Zwift a lot, I don't suppose this will matter as much, but in the leagues here you will struggle to keep up with people you used to be able to compete with. I certainly found this back in winter 2014/15.

I'm sure this has varied with each attempt by bkool to adjust the firmware\software, but I would say the more realistic KICKR will always put you at a disadvantage. However, my most obvious improvements in fitness came when using the KICKR, so it did seem to help training more than the bkool.

Geoff

 

[CXRAndy]

I agree with your comments Geoff, I'd forgotten you had one. I remember the first few outings back on the pro felt much easier in comparison to spin up and get a high cadence.

Talking of high cadence, that is what I have been trying to do on Trainerroad. It's beginning to feel natural to spin now. I had to do one legged sessions today. Right leg okay-ish, left leg felt my knee and ankle had rose joints I was all over the place to start with.

 

[BILL S]

Can we name it soarerv8...please

If we get another one (and we might be) I'm going to give the mrs a choice between Tommy and Soarer

 

[AAAC 76C]

If we get another one (and we might be) I'm going to give the mrs a choice between Tommy and Soarer

Not :
AAAC 76C 80kg Prominator
Far better pet name and really original.

I once had a very large Akita who's real name (on his pedigree papers) was Tobias ("The goodness of God")..
He was a head strong beggar and if he saw something he fancied chasing he was off.
No way was I going to run around shouting "Tobias, Tobias, come....".
He had many names over many walks and most of them can't be repeated.
A real gentle giant though as long as you did stare him in the eye with a threat in your mind, otherwise you could be on the receiving end of 10 stone of bear hunting dog.

 

[bobinski]

I have a KICKR, I sold my Bkool Pro a few months after getting it and replaced it with a KICKR.

It is MUCH nicer, more robust, direct drive so no tyre slippage or wear and it is the same height as a normal bike, so no stretching to get on and off. Also, the resistance is much greater, so it can simulate higher gradients, up to around 20% for me (c.75kg) compared to around 12% on the bkool, and a power meter built in.

I understand the recently released update is a slight improvement again.

However, it must be pointed out, it has always been a more accurate simulation than the bkool and this, along with the greater resistance means you are at a distinct disadvantage in a comparison with a bkool pro rider. If you use Zwift a lot, I don't suppose this will matter as much, but in the leagues here you will struggle to keep up with people you used to be able to compete with. I certainly found this back in winter 2014/15.

I'm sure this has varied with each attempt by bkool to adjust the firmware\software, but I would say the more realistic KICKR will always put you at a disadvantage. However, my most obvious improvements in fitness came when using the KICKR, so it did seem to help training more than the bkool.

Geoff

Geoff,
That's really helpful.
I have 2 reservations about the kickr. The first is cost! The second is not so much the disadvantage in the leagues here but the fact the improvements I have made have been as much about spinning as power rather than grinding away. Ok, most of us grind away on the climbs. But at my age and having wrestled a bit with ITB and knee issues I don't want to get a kickr if it means I am likely to exacerbate them. Or add to them. It's a difficult decision.
Andy,
I think I have done those drills on TR in the past. They are very disconcerting!

 

[JLaw]

Geoff,
That's really helpful.
I have 2 reservations about the kickr. The first is cost! The second is not so much the disadvantage in the leagues here but the fact the improvements I have made have been as much about spinning as power rather than grinding away. Ok, most of us grind away on the climbs. But at my age and having wrestled a bit with ITB and knee issues I don't want to get a kickr if it means I am likely to exacerbate them. Or add to them. It's a difficult decision.
Andy,
I think I have done those drills on TR in the past. They are very disconcerting!

I'm very happy with my kickr. While I grind, it's more a function of moving from mtb gearing to road bike gearing and never recovering my spin. I grind in the real world just like on bkool. Probably the only time it's likely to be a factor is if you max out the resistance on the bkool unit, but don't on the kickr. There was one goat ride last year which had an insane amount of double digit grades that would likely tickle that issue. You could always put a different cassette on the kickr to compensate...

 

[CXRAndy]

Geoff,
That's really helpful.
I have 2 reservations about the kickr. The first is cost! The second is not so much the disadvantage in the leagues here but the fact the improvements I have made have been as much about spinning as power rather than grinding away. Ok, most of us grind away on the climbs. But at my age and having wrestled a bit with ITB and knee issues I don't want to get a kickr if it means I am likely to exacerbate them. Or add to them. It's a difficult decision.
Andy,
I think I have done those drills on TR in the past. They are very disconcerting!

Bob, I use 50/34 chain ring and 11-32 cassette. I don't grind with those ratios, even on steeper sections. You're lighter than me so resistance wont load as much for climbs. I have a Wiggle platinum discount which saves over £100 on the RRP on both Kickrs 1 and 2 . Bob, is there anyone near who has a Kickr to try? You can try mine, pop up on train and I'll pick you up from Grantham. I think it would be cheaper than posting, it weighs alot

DC rainmaker review on Kickr 2 https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/08/wahoo-fitness-kickr2-2016-new-trainer.html

 

[theboxers]

DC rainmaker review on Kickr 2 https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/08/wahoo-fitness-kickr2-2016-new-trainer.html

That guy can prove to be very expensive

 

[BILL S]

Not :
AAAC 76C 80kg Prominator
Far better pet name and really original.

I once had a very large Akita who's real name (on his pedigree papers) was Tobias ("The goodness of God")..
He was a head strong beggar and if he saw something he fancied chasing he was off.
No way was I going to run around shouting "Tobias, Tobias, come....".
He had many names over many walks and most of them can't be repeated.
A real gentle giant though as long as you did stare him in the eye with a threat in your mind, otherwise you could be on the receiving end of 10 stone of bear hunting dog.

Thanks AAAC. I'm going to run that by HID and if she agrees we'll get the cats name changed to "AAAC 76 80kg Prominator". I'm hoping this could give him the confidence he'll need because there's a very large and aggressive female cat that hangs around our garden quite a lot, so our wee fella (who's only 4 months old and 1.6kg ATM) is going to need all the help he can get if he's ever going to hump that thing (nicknamed by some of the neighbours as psycho-cat for it's aggressive attacks on anyone who tries to pet it).

 

[BILL S]

Tonight's Chaingang race is City of Bristol. 28.3km. Looks like some hills there but no idea how punishing they'll be.
7pm warm-up. Start about 7:10. No password.

 

[CXRAndy]

You never know, a rename to team-wahoo-cyclechat might be in the offing

 

[bazzer99]

Tonight's Chaingang race is City of Bristol. 28.3km. Looks like some hills there but no idea how punishing they'll be.
7pm warm-up. Start about 7:10. No password.

Having done this one the other night, it's more rolling bumps than hills but still zaps your energy as it's difficult to get into a rhythm. I need to give it another go as used the wife's weight when I did it before. No doubt you guys will annihilate my time anyhow!!