Team BKool CycleChat

[Alfonzo]

We have a few tech people on this forum - i'm after some guidance.

I like to use a HR monitor when doing training rides, work within specific zones etc... but i'm struggling with my garmin HR strap, keep losing the connection. Does anyone else bother with a HR monitor and if so do you have any tips ??? Is it better for me to put my Garmin on the bike and use the HR reading through Garmin rather than BKOOL.

Hi Monte just like the others have replied I've used my Garmin HR monitor and had no problems,
I do use a USB extension lead which sits the ANT+ dongle right by the BKool so its quite close to the HR monitor as well, I also use the Garmin cadence and speed and all works well, I do change the batteries about once a month to make sure they don't lose power.
Also as jbrown put in the reply I also wet the HR strap before use.
Sorry gbrown , sorry Geoff

 

[Monte]

Thanks team...

 

[LBHIFI]

LB I think I was able to stay with him using a lot less power than that. These days ever since you suggested it was possible to freewheel on the down slopes I have been doing that and my times have improved drastically. Anywhere where there's a slight negative gradient you can spin it up and have a rest while pulling away from the competition. Not easy but it seems effective.

I tried the same challenge a 2. time, trying to get a bit of rest on the downhill sections. I still had to average 380 watts, and gave up after 8 minutes. Took it as a warmup for the BornFondo stage instead.
I think I will try to challenge you the next time, and maybe learn a few tricks :-)

 

[Randyberlin]

I tried the same challenge a 2. time, trying to get a bit of rest on the downhill sections. I still had to average 380 watts, and gave up after 8 minutes. Took it as a warmup for the BornFondo stage instead.
I think I will try to challenge you the next time, and maybe learn a few tricks :-)

How did you do on your real world Summer cup race? I think I'm not the only one who likes to hear about the other members non Bkool rides. I googled Ride London after reading about it here and it looks wild.

 

[LBHIFI]

It went fine, and I'm slowly climbing the ranks. I think I'm now in 4th place, just 3 points from top spot.
I tried to stay in the front of the pack so that I could go along with any break attempts, but everything was cancelled pretty fast. Very difficult to get away with clubs have 6-8 guys a team. It all ended in a sprint where I took 5th place.

 

[Whorty]

Managed my third ride today (been working away this week so no chance to cycle ) I did one of the Summer Cup rides in 37 minutes ... the fastest time was about 15 minutes!!!!! How the h3ll can someone ride that fast I was totally jelly legs by the end. LOL

 

[Randyberlin]

I have just done the Summer cup 5e ride and after I started a "blue" rider Gzell, joined in 5 miles behind me. Then at mile 11 my chain came off so I had to stop and got the "do you want to quit" message but kept going because I had a good ride going and it didn't take that long to jump back on. Anyway at the end I was trying to get my average speed back up over 21mph but didn't quite make it.
So, and this is the reason for this post, after I got out of the shower I checked to see how I compared to an elite and it shows I beat them...with an average of 29mph. I'm not trying to cheat really but if I can beat 7 watts per kg that must mean I'm ready to turn pro. right ?
Ill email Bkool again but with my other "cheating" time they haven't changed it yet.

 

[BILL S]

View attachment 99613 I have just done the Summer cup 5e ride and after I started a "blue" rider Gzell, joined in 5 miles behind me. Then at mile 11 my chain came off so I had to stop and got the "do you want to quit" message but kept going because I had a good ride going and it didn't take that long to jump back on. Anyway at the end I was trying to get my average speed back up over 21mph but didn't quite make it.
So, and this is the reason for this post, after I got out of the shower I checked to see how I compared to an elite and it shows I beat them...with an average of 29mph. I'm not trying to cheat really but if I can beat 7 watts per kg that must mean I'm ready to turn pro. right ?
Ill email Bkool again but with my other "cheating" time they haven't changed it yet.

Well done Randy. You'll soon be passing the speedy comillano at this rate. After all, if there's wormholing going on, we want one of our guys in there.

 

[LBHIFI]

I think I will try to challenge you the next time, and maybe learn a few tricks :-)

Just did that and still had to average 380 watts :-(
I think I will keep on challenge you and try to stick with you longer and longer, so don't worry if you keep getting the challenge notifications...worry if you don't

 

[bobinski]

I am back from the Alps and raring to get back on the turbo. I have been following all your trials and tribulations whilst away and it really does seem that everyone is outputting more and more power. I have a lot of catching up to do.
I wondered if bkool use and our competitive mountain goat racing together would help in the Alps. I am certain it did. I was pretty wiped before I went due to work and family pressures and ill health and for the first 6 days had a stinking head cold and blocked nose I couldn't shift. To add insult to injury I had taken my bike with me and somehow buckled the rear wheel on the first ride. Nothing dramatic but quite a kink that on a caliper brake bike would have prevented the wheel turning but on my disc braked Defy the wheel just spun with a pronounced wobble. However the local bike shop wouldn't touch it so I decided to run my 28m tubeless Ones at 60/65 psi rather than the usual 80/85 and take a chance on the wheel not getting any worse. 4 cols/ peaks climbed including petit St Bernard, Les Arc 1800 and Comte de Roseland twice. I wouldn't risk the rear wheel on a 60 mile round trip to Iseran and back- at least that's my excuse
Anyway, despite temps in the mid 30's, tiredness, ill health, wobbly wheel and low tyre pressures and being 8lbs heavier than my last trip 3 years ago I beat all my previous times so I would say racing you all has paid dividends. Thanks! I think I might have been even faster on some of the rides if I had not blown up towards the end of them. I couldn't get the feeding right not least coz I left all my carefully purchased energy gels and food at home the Isotar equivalents in the local supermarket didn't really work for me or perhaps 15-18 km up however fuelled is about my limit. I don't know.
The riding was just wonderful, the ups challenging but rewarding, the downs exhilarating. Absolutely no hassle from cars, motorbike or motor homes. In fact nothing but respect. What a shock to come back...
Anyone want to join me there next year?
See you on Bkool

 

[BILL S]

I am back from the Alps and raring to get back on the turbo. I have been following all your trials and tribulations whilst away and it really does seem that everyone is outputting more and more power. I have a lot of catching up to do.
I wondered if bkool use and our competitive mountain goat racing together would help in the Alps. I am certain it did. I was pretty wiped before I went due to work and family pressures and ill health and for the first 6 days had a stinking head cold and blocked nose I couldn't shift. To add insult to injury I had taken my bike with me and somehow buckled the rear wheel on the first ride. Nothing dramatic but quite a kink that on a caliper brake bike would have prevented the wheel turning but on my disc braked Defy the wheel just spun with a pronounced wobble. However the local bike shop wouldn't touch it so I decided to run my 28m tubeless Ones at 60/65 psi rather than the usual 80/85 and take a chance on the wheel not getting any worse. 4 cols/ peaks climbed including petit St Bernard, Les Arc 1800 and Comte de Roseland twice. I wouldn't risk the rear wheel on a 60 mile round trip to Iseran and back- at least that's my excuse
Anyway, despite temps in the mid 30's, tiredness, ill health, wobbly wheel and low tyre pressures and being 8lbs heavier than my last trip 3 years ago I beat all my previous times so I would say racing you all has paid dividends. Thanks! I think I might have been even faster on some of the rides if I had not blown up towards the end of them. I couldn't get the feeding right not least coz I left all my carefully purchased energy gels and food at home the Isotar equivalents in the local supermarket didn't really work for me or perhaps 15-18 km up however fuelled is about my limit. I don't know.
The riding was just wonderful, the ups challenging but rewarding, the downs exhilarating. Absolutely no hassle from cars, motorbike or motor homes. In fact nothing but respect. What a shock to come back...
Anyone want to join me there next year?
See you on Bkool

All sounds fantastic Bob, apart from the buckled wheel. Great to know that you're confident the turbo racing has helped. I'm also certain of that too. I'd definitely consider joining you next year if the Mrs will let me and if I don't injure myself beforehand as I quite often do. Actually my Cyclist Palsy problem would probably get the better of me during a few days in the Alps unfortunately.
Ah well, now that I'm back from my weeks holiday I suppose I'd better go and do the next Bkool Summer Cup ride.

 

[RickB]

I am back from the Alps and raring to get back on the turbo. I have been following all your trials and tribulations whilst away and it really does seem that everyone is outputting more and more power. I have a lot of catching up to do.
I wondered if bkool use and our competitive mountain goat racing together would help in the Alps. I am certain it did. I was pretty wiped before I went due to work and family pressures and ill health and for the first 6 days had a stinking head cold and blocked nose I couldn't shift. To add insult to injury I had taken my bike with me and somehow buckled the rear wheel on the first ride. Nothing dramatic but quite a kink that on a caliper brake bike would have prevented the wheel turning but on my disc braked Defy the wheel just spun with a pronounced wobble. However the local bike shop wouldn't touch it so I decided to run my 28m tubeless Ones at 60/65 psi rather than the usual 80/85 and take a chance on the wheel not getting any worse. 4 cols/ peaks climbed including petit St Bernard, Les Arc 1800 and Comte de Roseland twice. I wouldn't risk the rear wheel on a 60 mile round trip to Iseran and back- at least that's my excuse
Anyway, despite temps in the mid 30's, tiredness, ill health, wobbly wheel and low tyre pressures and being 8lbs heavier than my last trip 3 years ago I beat all my previous times so I would say racing you all has paid dividends. Thanks! I think I might have been even faster on some of the rides if I had not blown up towards the end of them. I couldn't get the feeding right not least coz I left all my carefully purchased energy gels and food at home the Isotar equivalents in the local supermarket didn't really work for me or perhaps 15-18 km up however fuelled is about my limit. I don't know.
The riding was just wonderful, the ups challenging but rewarding, the downs exhilarating. Absolutely no hassle from cars, motorbike or motor homes. In fact nothing but respect. What a shock to come back...
Anyone want to join me there next year?
See you on Bkool

Enjoyed reading that Bob. Thanks for that. Sounds like an epic trip. Would love to do that some day but very unlikely I'll ever get the chance.

 

[Hazie]

Just did that and still had to average 380 watts :-(

How the hell do you guys manage to achieve watts of that magnitude. Way above my pay grade at the minute.
Great read that Bob btw.

 

[Hazie]

Question!!!
Why does the times on the home page, recent activity not show the correct time the actual activity took.
For example, on my Bornfondo ride dated 10/08/15, it shows it took me 14:45 but if you go into the actual activity and then move the cursor over the 2 blue heads on the right hand side, it shows I did it in 11:31.

Ive noticed that a couple of rides I've done have different times on the heading compared to actual time taken.... doesn't make sense.
Can anyone shed some light if anyone understands what I'm actually talking about.
Thanks

 

[Hazie]

Question!!!
Why does the times on the home page, recent activity not show the correct time the actual activity took.
For example, on my Bornfondo ride dated 10/08/15, it shows it took me 14:45 but if you go into the actual activity and then move the cursor over the 2 blue heads on the right hand side, it shows I did it in 11:31.

Ive noticed that a couple of rides I've done have different times on the heading compared to actual time taken.... doesn't make sense.
Can anyone shed some light if anyone understands what I'm actually talking about.
Thanks

It even shows the wrong time on My Activity/History. strange!!!!