Team BKool CycleChat

[kipster]

I would just add that you must stop peddling before the count down ends.

Good point, serves two functions, first is allow you to start the ride, and second you get 10 seconds of rest

 

[Brendan Parker]

Thanks all

 

[AAAC 76C]

I would just add that you must stop peddling before the count down ends.

And stopping is not your wheels stopping its the speed on then screen going to 0 as this does not happen similtaneously and it can catch you out.

 

[bobinski]

And stopping is not your wheels stopping its the speed on then screen going to 0 as this does not happen similtaneously and it can catch you out.

This...I now stop peddling a good minute before the ride starts having put the bike in what I hope is the best gear for the 400m dash from the start.

Time permitting I find I need a good 20-30 min warm up and if I can fit one in by choosing another ride and finish it 10 mins before the chain gang ride. It may be different for you.

 

[LBHIFI]

I thought you might be interested in a little comparison I did to try and iron out issues between BKool Pro & Vortex:

I've took the last section of the Climb from Goat Stage 1 and analysed it in Strava for me and Bill S. The details of that part of the segment are:

Grade: 7.1
Distance 5.3

I then used BikeCalculator.com with this information and the average power from Strava and our Weight from BKool:

Bill S: Weight 76.8, Watts: 308
Rob_H: Weight 67, Watts: 342

Our times from Strava were:

Bill S: 18.48
Rob_H: 11.37

Bike Calclator predicted:

Bill S: 20.56
Rob_H: 17.05

I think this confirms there is a big inconsistancy with the Vortex. I think the next step is to compare somebody riding the non Pro version of the BKool that raced Goat Stage 1 and see how accurate that is. I'll also try to add a few other results in to see how they look. If anyone has any suggestions for errors I may have made then let me know. thanks

Just watched a guy set a phantom time in "Sa Calobra". Looked like a robot, keeping a constant speed at around 22 kph, regardless of the gradient. Looked like he pretty much kept the same speed and cadence throughout the whole ride, as if the shifting gradients didn't affect him at all. At one time he was going 23 kph at 11% 300 watt , which is ok if you weigh 25 kg (half a sack of cement).
Turns out he was using a Tacx Vortex Smart, so I just saw the problem with my own eyes.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Just watched a guy set a phantom time in "Sa Calobra". Looked like a robot, keeping a constant speed at around 22 kph, regardless of the gradient. Looked like he pretty much kept the same speed and cadence throughout the whole ride, as if the shifting gradients didn't affect him at all. At one time he was going 23 kph at 11% 300 watt , which is ok if you weigh 25 kg (half a sack of cement).
Turns out he was using a Tacx Vortex Smart, so I just saw the problem with my own eyes.

Perhaps that's why it's called a 'Vortex' as they are akin to the spriral vapour streams coming off of a fighter jets wings.

 

[Sniperumm]

Finished a short ride on Bkool an hourish ago and it still hasn't shown up in my history. It said it was saved within the software. I can see it under My Attempts but theres no data nor page.

http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary/1722944

Can it sometimes take awhile to show?

 

[RickB]

Finished a short ride on Bkool an hourish ago and it still hasn't shown up in my history. It said it was saved within the software. I can see it under My Attempts but theres no data nor page.

http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary/1722944

Can it sometimes take awhile to show?

Yeah, takes a while for it all to filter through. I've had rides just vanish after saving them, only to appear the next day.

 

[Rob_H]

Interesting read. Here's my Strava effort. Im on the Classic 2..i think...
https://www.strava.com/activities/463812986

Thanks Al, Here are your details:
Weight: 81
Watts: 370
Strava Time: 16.58
Bike Calculator: 18.19

So your effort looks correctly calculated. Strangely a bit more accurate than Bill S's, I'm adding all of this data to a spreadsheet so maybe we can spot some trends over time. I think for the next stage I'll try and ride with Ryan's ghost the whole way and see how different the results are. It seems like it should be something @Bkool could fix if they were interested? But I can't see me keeping paying a subscription when it's so far away from real life, especially not when Zwift seem to have all of this stuff working well.

If anyone else wants me to add their Goat 1 attempt, then throw up a link to your strava activity.

 

[RickB]

If anyone else wants me to add their Goat 1 attempt, then throw up a link to your strava activity.

Here's mine Rob if its useful: https://www.strava.com/activities/463018986

I weigh 84kg for reference.

 

[Rob_H]

Here's mine Rob if its useful: https://www.strava.com/activities/463018986

I weigh 84kg for reference.

Thanks Rick. I'm guessing you ride a Pro? You have a similar variance to Bill S:
Weight: 84
Watts: 319
Strava: 19.08
Bike Calculator: 21.32

 

[theboxers]

Sorry guys no chaingang for me tonight Just, hopefully, kicking the last of my man flu I've had for 4 days so far . I will have to join Saturdays re-run

 

[RickB]

Thanks Rick. I'm guessing you ride a Pro? You have a similar variance to Bill S:
Weight: 84
Watts: 319
Strava: 19.08
Bike Calculator: 21.32

Yep, sorry should have said

Sorry guys no chaingang for me tonight Just, hopefully, kicking the last of my man flu I've had for 4 days so far . I will have to join Saturdays re-run

No worries Boxers. Get well soon! Man flu's a dreadful thing of much horror.

See you Saturday (sort of)

 

[Breedon]

Just watched a guy set a phantom time in "Sa Calobra". Looked like a robot, keeping a constant speed at around 22 kph, regardless of the gradient. Looked like he pretty much kept the same speed and cadence throughout the whole ride, as if the shifting gradients didn't affect him at all. At one time he was going 23 kph at 11% 300 watt , which is ok if you weigh 25 kg (half a sack of cement).
Turns out he was using a Tacx Vortex Smart, so I just saw the problem with my own eyes.

Did a T100 climb last week and a guy joined at the start.kept him at bay by about 15 seconds only to lose that advantage on climbs 8%+ regained my advantage on climbs less than 8% only to be destroyed on the last mile at 12%+ then i knew it was a vortex it was like he had an engine.

Soul destroying

 

[Breedon]

https://www.strava.com/activities/462986767
i use a classic dont know if it's the 1 or 2