Team BKool CycleChat

[bobinski]

That was a little strange. Had a go at the latest chain gang ride, Puerto. Lots of ghosts and lots of riders joined in too. Epic. Decent warm up, no knee problems. But my god do Bill and Rick get away quickly! How?!? Anyway, caught Bill, even pulled ahead but now I couldn't breathe slowed, Bill caught me and pulled away and had a minute on me before I could generate some decent power and by now Rick was chasing Bill down. Managed to catch Rick and settle in behind him and recover again. As we neared top of the climb I took advantage of my resting to pull away from Rick and try and begin chasing Bill down. Cresting the top I began a series of sprints to try and keep my speed above 70kmh sometimes 78kmh and I seemed to be getting closer. 45 seconds, 24 seconds, 6 seconds! As I neared the line I buried myself and seemed to just overtake Bill a second or so before the line! Hurrah!!! I thought. I could hardly breath and took ages to cool down but with an air of bravado and triumph I logged onto the bkool website to find I had finished over a minute behind him and Ryan I couldn't understand but it seems it's all accurate, I continue to struggle to get near Bill's times. I suspect server disconnects and reconnects were showing Bill and other riders closer than they actually were. Unfortunately, Bill and Ryan had already finished!
Honestly you two, how do you get away so fast? Sitting starts and just pedal like furious changing gears as you do?

 

[bobinski]

You should ask LBHIFI he belongs to some kind of trainer of the month club. He must have a very nice wife or she is at the point where she just knows he has trainers and has no idea of the number.

N+1 turbo trainers?

 

[JLaw]

Vacation house...lucky you!....depends how long you plan on spending there I suppose...bkool or tacx vortex I would say but direct drive is different to the above something to consider....I did have a kickr and have bkool 1....the kickr died on me

Definitely lucky me. We're usually up here a couple times a month for the weekend. I've lugged the kickr up a few times, but its a pain. So time to look at a more permanent solution. ☺

 

[JLaw]

Hi @JLaw can you accept a time of 34.28 for the Moose City Creek Canyon ride please. This is the time I set on the Goat version of this ride.

I gated it through a couple hours ago.. Though I must have goofed something as your goat time is about a minute fasterr than the adjusted moose time. Hmmmm

 

[BILL S]

That was a little strange. Had a go at the latest chain gang ride, Puerto. Lots of ghosts and lots of riders joined in too. Epic. Decent warm up, no knee problems. But my god do Bill and Rick get away quickly! How?!? Anyway, caught Bill, even pulled ahead but now I couldn't breathe slowed, Bill caught me and pulled away and had a minute on me before I could generate some decent power and by now Rick was chasing Bill down. Managed to catch Rick and settle in behind him and recover again. As we neared top of the climb I took advantage of my resting to pull away from Rick and try and begin chasing Bill down. Cresting the top I began a series of sprints to try and keep my speed above 70kmh sometimes 78kmh and I seemed to be getting closer. 45 seconds, 24 seconds, 6 seconds! As I neared the line I buried myself and seemed to just overtake Bill a second or so before the line! Hurrah!!! I thought. I could hardly breath and took ages to cool down but with an air of bravado and triumph I logged onto the bkool website to find I had finished over a minute behind him and Ryan I couldn't understand but it seems it's all accurate, I continue to struggle to get near Bill's times. I suspect server disconnects and reconnects were showing Bill and other riders closer than they actually were. Unfortunately, Bill and Ryan had already finished!
Honestly you two, how do you get away so fast? Sitting starts and just pedal like furious changing gears as you do?

That sounds pretty exciting Bob. I'm tempted to challenge you just to watch all the action again but try following you this time.
It does sound like you beat my ghost on my Saturday run but I was over a minute faster on Thursday. I was more fired up I think.
As for the fast starts, its all about one thing really and I'm sure Rick does exactly what I do. Have it in top gear then just nail it away off the line. Expect to see 4/5/600 watts for up to a minute before it settles down to your usual steady figure. Even foor uphill starts I'd recommend starting in top. Standing as opposed to sitting starts too.
If this wasn't what you were doing before you're going to notice one heck of a difference.

edit: This advice is only for Bob. Everyone else completely ignore it

 

[Whorty]

I gated it through a couple hours ago.. Though I must have goofed something as your goat time is about a minute fasterr than the adjusted moose time. Hmmmm

It's close enough At least I don't have to ride it again

Strangely even though I've now ridden 4 Moose rides in the full league I'm only showing as 2 rides. I guess BKool takes time to catch up ha ha

 

[Rob H]

Rob, I don't mind helping out a bit if there's no other takers.

cheers bill!!

you are admin

 

[bobinski]

That sounds pretty exciting Bob. I'm tempted to challenge you just to watch all the action again but try following you this time.
It does sound like you beat my ghost on my Saturday run but I was over a minute faster on Thursday. I was more fired up I think.
As for the fast starts, its all about one thing really and I'm sure Rick does exactly what I do. Have it in top gear then just nail it away off the line. Expect to see 4/5/600 watts for up to a minute before it settles down to your usual steady figure. Even foor uphill starts I'd recommend starting in top. Standing as opposed to sitting starts too.
If this wasn't what you were doing before you're going to notice one heck of a difference.

edit: This advice is only for Bob. Everyone else completely ignore it

That all makes perfect sense Bill. Hadn't noticed you had done an earlier run. Darn, if I have the energy I may try and challenge your even faster Ghost! Not sure I can go any faster though. The sprint from the start sounds great and I will try it but I certainly don't have the lungs to recover. Almost comical the way you and Rick overtook me a km or so into the ride.

On an unrelated note I would like to see gradients at the side of the road y before we hit them. I really don't want to be looking at the bottom right hand of the screen which kinda kills the suspension of disbelief. There are a few signs every now and again but the usual French markers with distance, gradient and where I am going would be great.

 

[BILL S]

cheers bill!!

you are admin

Thanks Rob. Don't know if you saw LBHIFI's post a page back but he wanted to take on the job. Would you mind making him admin too. Lots of members in your group so having three admins won't do any harm.

 

[JLaw]

It's close enough At least I don't have to ride it again

Strangely even though I've now ridden 4 Moose rides in the full league I'm only showing as 2 rides. I guess BKool takes time to catch up ha ha

It does take a little time. Clearly they don't update in real time.

Not sure what you're doing, but you've gotten noticeably faster in the last couple weeks.

 

[Rob H]

Thanks Rob. Don't know if you saw LBHIFI's post a page back but he wanted to take on the job. Would you mind making him admin too. Lots of members in your group so having three admins won't do any harm.

Missed that... @LBHIFI you will be in 5 minutes too!!

Many thanks

 

[Rob H]

Anyone using their bkool trainer with Trainerroad software, something the bkool sim lacks is specific workout modes (great for flat out cycling)... but it's my understanding that it doesn't work very well n Trainerroad software.

Ive been testing it

There is a known problem with the interface between the bkool and TR when in Erg mode, as in the trainer changes resistance to hit the interval. With the kickr they had to program it so the instruction was 2 seconds before the interval starts due to the lag.

Bkool shows the same problem as well as any other new FE-C trainer as they have to tweak each one

What i do is set TR to resistance mode and 25% and then just run the interval using gears and my power meter (or the bkool PM). i actually prefer it this way too.


I must admit with TR now fully integrated and Zwift running full virtual races, bkool software dept need to start planning their next development.....

 

[bobinski]

Ive been testing it

There is a known problem with the interface between the bkool and TR when in Erg mode, as in the trainer changes resistance to hit the interval. With the kickr they had to program it so the instruction was 2 seconds before the interval starts due to the lag.

Bkool shows the same problem as well as any other new FE-C trainer as they have to tweak each one

What i do is set TR to resistance mode and 25% and then just run the interval using gears and my power meter (or the bkool PM). i actually prefer it this way too.


I must admit with TR now fully integrated and Zwift running full virtual races, bkool software dept need to start planning their next development.....

I hope Bkool respond to the challenges being made by TR etc. They had to publicly adopt ant+fec due to competition but they waited until the last minute, having demonstrated compatibility some 18 months before. That doesn't bode well. But then I have to remind myself that Zwift etc don't begin to offer the variety of routes and rides that bkool does. Problem for me is bkool is hampered by a confusing interface and design decisions that make it impossible, for example to delete scheduled rides. And then there is the lack of training options perhaps on more carefully prepared/prettier courses ala Zwift. Also, I have never had Zwift freeze, or lose a server connection, or the graphics go bonkers. These are regular occurrences with Bkool irrespective of what PC I am using, Ethernet or wireless. It may be that Zwift has more robust software and servers or it is simply catering to fewer riders per day on, for now at least, only a few courses. But you only have to wander around Dc rainmakers site and other fora to see that bkool is acquiring a reputation for flakey software as well as hardware issues. So yes, a software upgrade, better integration between BSIM and the website, use of phone ala Zwift, to send messages, screen grabs etc and perhaps a more honest assessment of hardware requirements to run the videos too. Rambling....

 

[Rob H]

I hope Bkool respond to the challenges being made by TR etc.

Its TR who have to do the tweaking not BKool, there is a page about it on the TR forum

But then I have to remind myself that Zwift etc don't begin to offer the variety of routes and rides that bkool does

yet .....

The new Zwift app is a very clever move, rather that faff about with designing the software to read bluetooth, it uses the phones bluetooth as a bridge over wireless.

Theyve also clearly won over the gaming community with the challenges etc. Not to mention pro riders..

I didn't think much of it at the start but its certainly starting to be a lot more attractive.

 

[burndust]

Its TR who have to do the tweaking not BKool, there is a page about it on the TR forum

yet .....

The new Zwift app is a very clever move, rather that faff about with designing the software to read bluetooth, it uses the phones bluetooth as a bridge over wireless.

I didn't think much of it at the start but its certainly starting to be a lot more attractive.

I like zwift tbh...more courses and it would be spot on...just avoid the bitching that seems to be happening on the chat side though lol