You're in. Dont know how I didn't make the link between Ciaran Burke and Ginormousgiant. 
Ah, I see you are another N.ireland man! Establishing quite a group from NI in here now!
Team BKool CycleChat
- Thread starter Peteaud
- Start date
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You're in. Dont know how I didn't make the link between Ciaran Burke and Ginormousgiant. Ah, I see you are another N.ireland man! Establishing quite a group from NI in here now!
ginormousgiant
Active Member
Thanks for that.
Ah, I see you are another N.ireland man! Establishing quite a group from NI in here now!
One more thing - could you advise on how I join tonight's session as I'm new to bkool system.
Thanks again
Absolutely.
Launch the Bkool Sim software and it'll come up automatically on the 'Live' sessions tab. At 7pm I'll be starting the session warm-up, so look out for Cicero - Balbacienta just after 7pm- when you enter the session just make sure you see myself (RickB) listed as a competitor at the top of the screen. If you cant spot the session use the advanced search function at the bottom of the screen - click on the wee side arrow which reveals the search box. Type 'Rick' and it'll find our session.
Warm- up will last the full ten minutes and just make sure you have stopped pedaling well before the countdown ends, as you need to be completely stationary at he start! Then just blast away to your hearts/legs content. Good to have you on board!
ThanksSmithy I assume! You're in!
ginormousgiant
Active Member
You're a star !!
Many Thanks
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
It not a level playing field, or even close.
For example, the way they support the KICKR is crazy, as they don't factor in any gravity assist on downhill. If you slow pedal going down hill, it comes to a halt, whereas with the Bkool Pro it would fly down the incline. It also gives much more resistance on very steep gradients. These both make a race somewhat difficult, as you are at a massive disadvantage on any downhill and another disadvantage on a steep uphill!
In reality, if the Bkool group rides are your main interest, then you should buy a Bkool Pro (or classic)!
Any other model will either disadvantage you, or give you an advantage and make you feel like a cheat!
Since they released the ANT+ FEC thingy you can use trainer road, zwift, etc. as well, if they are of secondary interest.
My KICKR is really nice, and I like the direct drive since it keeps the bike at the correct height and avoids tyre slippage, etc. but if I was still able to join the group rides I would have sold it and gone back to a bkool pro ...
Cheers,
Geoff
Hi Geoff,
Thanks for taking the time to reply, I was starting to get paranoid that it's only me that has noticed...lol
BKOOL need to pull there finger out and find a solution to calibrate trainers prior to entering a ride.
Hope you recovering well & looking after yourself.
Best regards
Monte
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
Yes, above 11% I get unrealistic speeds. Now that I'm admin in the UK 100, I'm not even shure I should approve my own rides
On the other hand, I'm being punished on flats. BKool calibrated my Pro yesterday, and things got a lot better. Still about 30-40 watt short on totally flat sections, but already at 1% it starts to get better.
It's like Bkool randomly awards various super powers: I got the Supersteep-climb-ability, which makes me fly by real mountain goats like Ryan, on extreme gradients, some has "the-slingshot" wich enable riders to carry speed over a small sized mountain (well, a good sized hill at least).
The Supersteep-climb-ability may be partly due to resistance and weight, as light weights (I presume Ryan is one) will not demand as much resistance from the trainer for the same gradient as a heavier rider. So as gradient increases, at a certain gradient, it will max out and cease getting harder for the heavier rider but continue to increase resistance for the lighter rider. Effectively you are still riding up a, say, 12% incline while they have to ride up a, say, 16% incline.
I would say that super steep climbs are not realistic simulations at all, and obviously the same is true for downhills, due to difficulty simulating gravity and wind resistance at high speeds. This is almost certainly one reason that the FTP test is done on a moderate 2% incline.
If you want to compare willies, I mean ability, then Watts/Kg (or pure Watts if that's what your into) from an official 20 minute FTP test is the best way to go, and only if you are both on the same trainer.
Otherwise, it's just for fun and its actually great that some do well on some terrain, and others on different terrain.
My 2p worth ...
Geoff
burndust
Parts unknown...baby
Spot on Geoff....my NEW kickr arrives tomorrow I had thought about a vortex but direct drive is so much better
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
There was a discussion on here a few days ago about puking during trainer rides...
Not wishing to wee on anyones fireworks, but for reason obvious to those who know me, I'm not convinced that it is wise to encourage such intense efforts, particularly from those of us who are perhaps past the first flush of youth!
Listening to a podcast a few days ago, they interviewed a 50 year old doctor who had no risk factors but had a heart attack. Luckily he recognised the symptoms and got treatment quickly. They were discussing why this might have happened to someone who was a tri-athlete and suggested that exercising "to his full potential" may no longer be safe. This is a phrase that has been directed by consultant doctors towards me too, so it struck a chord.
The analysis was that the stretching and straining from high heart rates (and presumably raised blood pressure when really exerting) could cause cholesterol deposits to rupture and clot. Unlikely to affect someone in their twenties but in your fifties it's perhaps more of a risk. It seems likely that similar strain is what caused me to have a second haemorrhage a year after my first unexplained stroke. I can't help wishing I was still in my twenties!
As I say, not wishing to spoil anyone's fun here, but if I manage to get back to training I will be very nervous of going beyond a gentle pace. I really got a perverse enjoyment out of slogging up long climbs with my heart hammering away for hours, but in reality it may not be wise. This is one reason why I am thinking of an electric assist bike for getting out on the roads, so the steep climbs can be done without strain, and still provide access to the long rides in the countryside when the weather is nice.
I'd love to think of a way we could get the motivation and social aspects of the "races" without pushing to quite the extent required to compete. I did wonder if it would be possible to have a heart rate limit. If the system reduced performance as your heart rate exceeded, say, Z4 (threshold) then we could ride more without hitting the VO2Max threshold near 100% max heart rate.
Perhaps a league where the result is "adjusted" to penalise a high average and/or maximum heart rate?
Probably not even worth 2p ...
Geoff
Not wishing to wee on anyones fireworks, but for reason obvious to those who know me, I'm not convinced that it is wise to encourage such intense efforts, particularly from those of us who are perhaps past the first flush of youth!
Listening to a podcast a few days ago, they interviewed a 50 year old doctor who had no risk factors but had a heart attack. Luckily he recognised the symptoms and got treatment quickly. They were discussing why this might have happened to someone who was a tri-athlete and suggested that exercising "to his full potential" may no longer be safe. This is a phrase that has been directed by consultant doctors towards me too, so it struck a chord.
The analysis was that the stretching and straining from high heart rates (and presumably raised blood pressure when really exerting) could cause cholesterol deposits to rupture and clot. Unlikely to affect someone in their twenties but in your fifties it's perhaps more of a risk. It seems likely that similar strain is what caused me to have a second haemorrhage a year after my first unexplained stroke. I can't help wishing I was still in my twenties!
As I say, not wishing to spoil anyone's fun here, but if I manage to get back to training I will be very nervous of going beyond a gentle pace. I really got a perverse enjoyment out of slogging up long climbs with my heart hammering away for hours, but in reality it may not be wise. This is one reason why I am thinking of an electric assist bike for getting out on the roads, so the steep climbs can be done without strain, and still provide access to the long rides in the countryside when the weather is nice.
I'd love to think of a way we could get the motivation and social aspects of the "races" without pushing to quite the extent required to compete. I did wonder if it would be possible to have a heart rate limit. If the system reduced performance as your heart rate exceeded, say, Z4 (threshold) then we could ride more without hitting the VO2Max threshold near 100% max heart rate.
Perhaps a league where the result is "adjusted" to penalise a high average and/or maximum heart rate?
Probably not even worth 2p ...
Geoff
T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
If this keeps up we'll have to actually meet and ride #greenandwhitepeloton
Ah, I see you are another N.ireland man! Establishing quite a group from NI in here now!
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
Getting fat and missing my bkooling ...
Last winter I got down from a 36" waist to 33", and I am now back into 35" and finding them getting tight. I need to do some more effective exercise than fast walking, if I want to avoid dieting.
Still, feeling better than in the summer, and my vision seems to be settling down. Got the usual winter bugs to deal with, which last year the bkool seemed to keep at bay.
Great to see how many of the Wells and Somerset massive are getting into Bkool. I would buy shares in bkool if I knew how ... especially if they fixed more of the bugs and limitations that we all know so well.
Cheers,
Geoff
Getting fat and missing my bkooling ...
Last winter I got down from a 36" waist to 33", and I am now back into 35" and finding them getting tight. I need to do some more effective exercise than fast walking, if I want to avoid dieting.
Still, feeling better than in the summer, and my vision seems to be settling down. Got the usual winter bugs to deal with, which last year the bkool seemed to keep at bay.
Great to see how many of the Wells and Somerset massive are getting into Bkool. I would buy shares in bkool if I knew how ... especially if they fixed more of the bugs and limitations that we all know so well.
Cheers,
Geoff
Well it was you that introduced Paul & then Paul introduced me and I haven't stopped raving about it since, lol. 35" waist, you got nothing to worry about i'm a 36 on a good day (very). Pleased for you that your health is getting better, miss your contributions on here & bkool.
