Team BKool CycleChat

[BILL S]

Can I ask a probably stupid question but what's a wormhole?

The bkool wormhole was first discovered by Professor Randy Berlin back in the summer of 2015.
Professor Berlin was on his turbo trainer during a very important league ride and losing out to a couple of inferior riders called Pep Tatch and fmpando. Now these two upstarts had passed the good professor by the use of some underhand and dastardly tricks, so the prof had to quickly think up a fair and legitimate way to put them back in their places. It came to him in a flash, having carried out many experiments involving the space time continuum he knew that in the virtual world a wormhole is every bit as real as in space time. Quite simply he knew he had to just get inside the software with one of his clever data writers and bend the virtual world so his rider would be entering one point of the ride and in an instant exit through a different point further up the ride due to the bending of virtual space time. He quickly put this into action and crossed the finish line ahead of those who would try to rob him of the win.
His many followers were ecstatic and the phenomenon, which is now quite common in bkool, is simply known as "a wormhole".

 

[IrishAl]

I Downloaded it to bkool And i might try it tommorow . How do i get it in 3D i suppose that i must down load bkool editor ..

I think bkool build the 3d version of it but it takes a few days just like a real life strava ride.

 

[Whorty]

Frustration today ... ! Got my bike from Halfords, so took it back for a 6 week check ... tighten things etc. Whilst there I got the guy to fit me a training tyre. In the store he was taking ages to fit, told me the tyre was slimmer than original, and inner tube was a bit wider than new tyre, and he was struggling to get it all fitted. I walked away to look at the new shiny things in the store, and after 10 mins the bike was ready.

Got it home, set up on the trainer and planned a short easy ride. From the off there was a strange 'thunk' from the wheel, at the same point at each revolution. I guess this was a lump in the inner tube. After about 10 mins 'pop' goes the tube. Incompetent Halfords bike 'expert' has buggered the tube! Got to take it back to the store tomorrow to get fixed - will be looking for a new tube off Halfords fr the one they buggered!!!

 

[Soarerv8]

Frustration today ... ! Got my bike from Halfords, so took it back for a 6 week check ... tighten things etc. Whilst there I got the guy to fit me a training tyre. In the store he was taking ages to fit, told me the tyre was slimmer than original, and inner tube was a bit wider than new tyre, and he was struggling to get it all fitted. I walked away to look at the new shiny things in the store, and after 10 mins the bike was ready.

Got it home, set up on the trainer and planned a short easy ride. From the off there was a strange 'thunk' from the wheel, at the same point at each revolution. I guess this was a lump in the inner tube. After about 10 mins 'pop' goes the tube. Incompetent Halfords bike 'expert' has buggered the tube! Got to take it back to the store tomorrow to get fixed - will be looking for a new tube off Halfords fr the one they buggered!!!

Well don't you go trying to go faster on your swanky new training tyre!

 

[AAAC 76C]

Got it home, set up on the trainer and planned a short easy ride. From the off there was a strange 'thunk' from the wheel, at the same point at each revolution.

Whorty, chances are:
1. The inner tube was twisted
2. The inner tube was trapped (pinched) under the tyre bead or by the tyre levers, if he used one to fit the tyre.

You said he had trouble fitting the inner tube as it was 'wider' than the new tyre.
The inner tube you fit should comply with the tyre dimensions all be it an inner tube will be compatible with a range of tyre sizes i.e. 700cx23x28 where 700 is the rim diameter and the tyre is between 23 and 28mm inclusive in diameter.
You should not use an inner tube on a tyre that is not inside of the inner tube size or pressure specifications.
I believe that the halfords Turbo Tyre (which is a quick tyre i.e. low rolling resistance and can be pumped 140 PSI, I had one until recently) is 23mm so if your inner tube was not as small as this they should have replaced it, probably at cost.

My advice is change your tyres yourself as it needs TLC.
The other issue that could be a factor is your rim tape but that is another story.
If you want any help or advice there will be loads of us on cycle that have got years of experience, individualy, on cycle maintenance. I for one was fixing bikes for the neighbourhood kids when I was 11 (1971) so I have notched up some experience since then.

PS: Tour Down Under starts in a week, can't wait for the start of the Pro season but how will 7 PM Chaingang starts fit in with my highlights viewing!!!

 

[RickB]

Ricks handicapped speed was fine for me today and helped prevent me from seeing the red mist and going all out, although I did of course get that at the start as I always do. Rick, Gails bike is slowing you a lot as you're definitely not at your usual speed.

Stupid me ordered the wrong bottom bracket twice for the old bike so wont have it back in action till later next week - hopefully before the next chaingang.

Hi I'm new to Bkool, I've been a good girl this year and Santa kindly bought me one for Xmas My name is Gina and I'm 34, love cycling and looking to do a bit of indoor training this winter. I currently cycle about 200 miles a week and belong to Essex Roads Cycling Club, I'm more of an endurance rider than a sprint rider and my climbs leave a lot to be desired!! Can I join your league and does anyone have any good tips for a newby, just finding my way around the softwear .....
Many thanks
Gina

Hi Gina.

There's a few leagues on the go: Just sign up to the groups and you're automatically entered into the leagues.

Chaingang: flattish courses with the odd small hill/mountain. Can be completed any time of the week but with as many as possible meeting Thursday at 7pm for a group ride/race. Re-run Saturdays at 5pm. Very entertaining (and exhausting !!)
http://www.bkool.com/group/show/72022

Mountain Goats: the only way is up! Big mountains all the way http://www.bkool.com/group/show/75682

Mountain Mooses; Like goats only slower! http://www.bkool.com/group/show/112763

 

[Randyberlin]

The bkool wormhole was first discovered by Professor Randy Berlin back in the summer of 2015.
Professor Berlin was on his turbo trainer during a very important league ride and losing out to a couple of inferior riders called Pep Tatch and fmpando. Now these two upstarts had passed the good professor by the use of some underhand and dastardly tricks, so the prof had to quickly think up a fair and legitimate way to put them back in their places. It came to him in a flash, having carried out many experiments involving the space time continuum he knew that in the virtual world a wormhole is every bit as real as in space time. Quite simply he knew he had to just get inside the software with one of his clever data writers and bend the virtual world so his rider would be entering one point of the ride and in an instant exit through a different point further up the ride due to the bending of virtual space time. He quickly put this into action and crossed the finish line ahead of those who would try to rob him of the win.
His many followers were ecstatic and the phenomenon, which is now quite common in bkool, is simply known as "a wormhole".

Bill that is hilarious. And I have been working tirelessly but unsuccessfully to recreate it.

 

[Randyberlin]

Hi I'm new to Bkool, I've been a good girl this year and Santa kindly bought me one for Xmas My name is Gina and I'm 34, love cycling and looking to do a bit of indoor training this winter. I currently cycle about 200 miles a week and belong to Essex Roads Cycling Club, I'm more of an endurance rider than a sprint rider and my climbs leave a lot to be desired!! Can I join your league and does anyone have any good tips for a newby, just finding my way around the softwear .....
Many thanks
Gina

If you were the Gina who joined my league ride (Kipsters Kalamity) last Wednesday I don't think you need many tips. You were pretty fast.

 

[BILL S]

I have been following the discussion about the accuracy of some rides on BKool. Having read the post from AAAC I realised that it seemed to match my experience at the back of the field when exhaustion kicks in and the unit adds insult to injury by asking if you have stopped peddling. Before that message the unit reduces the brake and the next section is much easier. It struck me that if I did a ride in bursts by allowing the wattage to just dip low enough but without invoking the message it might be possible to ride up a steep gradient with a lot more ease.

The only way to check was to try it so I took a relatively short mountain goat ride ‘Passo de Gavia’ from ‘Mountain Goats Winter League 1’ and rode it again tonight in bursts allowing the wattage to drop under 100 on the slopes and then sprinting.

The results were as follows:

Original time: 28:34 at about 220 Watts.
Tonight time: 20:53 at 200 Watts.

In terms of the original league standings this difference would have moved me from 22nd place to about 10th (this was an experiment only, I won't ride like this in the league). It looks like an error in the software.

Thanks for this Ben. I'm going to have to try it for myself as soon as I get the chance. Never tried on/off power when going uphill.

 

[LBHIFI]

The bkool wormhole was first discovered by Professor Randy Berlin back in the summer of 2015.
Professor Berlin was on his turbo trainer during a very important league ride and losing out to a couple of inferior riders called Pep Tatch and fmpando. Now these two upstarts had passed the good professor by the use of some underhand and dastardly tricks, so the prof had to quickly think up a fair and legitimate way to put them back in their places. It came to him in a flash, having carried out many experiments involving the space time continuum he knew that in the virtual world a wormhole is every bit as real as in space time. Quite simply he knew he had to just get inside the software with one of his clever data writers and bend the virtual world so his rider would be entering one point of the ride and in an instant exit through a different point further up the ride due to the bending of virtual space time. He quickly put this into action and crossed the finish line ahead of those who would try to rob him of the win.
His many followers were ecstatic and the phenomenon, which is now quite common in bkool, is simply known as "a wormhole".

Not quite the explanation I see in Wikipedia, but this one is much better.

 

[LBHIFI]

I think bkool build the 3d version of it but it takes a few days just like a real life strava ride.

Correct. They have servers chewing on imported rides, and nowadays it gets done in a matter of days. They use satellite data to try and match the surroundings, but even so the result could be hard to recognize.

 

[LBHIFI]

Frustration today ... ! Got my bike from Halfords, so took it back for a 6 week check ... tighten things etc. Whilst there I got the guy to fit me a training tyre. In the store he was taking ages to fit, told me the tyre was slimmer than original, and inner tube was a bit wider than new tyre, and he was struggling to get it all fitted. I walked away to look at the new shiny things in the store, and after 10 mins the bike was ready.

Got it home, set up on the trainer and planned a short easy ride. From the off there was a strange 'thunk' from the wheel, at the same point at each revolution. I guess this was a lump in the inner tube. After about 10 mins 'pop' goes the tube. Incompetent Halfords bike 'expert' has buggered the tube! Got to take it back to the store tomorrow to get fixed - will be looking for a new tube off Halfords fr the one they buggered!!!

Whorty, Like AAAC say, I really recommend doing all the tire/tube thing yourself. You will need it if you take a spin in the real world. Always bring an extra tube and something like these (2 tubes in bad weather conditions):
http://www.cykelpartner.dk/schwalbe-daekjern-plast-saet-med-3-stk_01388.html

I did so much tire change in the garage, trying to find the best suited tire for Bkool, that i got blisters on my fingers, so I got one of these:
http://www.cykelpartner.dk/bbb-easytire-daekvaerktoej_B7-0511.html

Got to like that last tool so much that I'm bringing it along in real life commute rides. I could fit it in an empty bottle in the #2 bottle cage.

Of course you'll need a pump too. I recommen a floor standing pump for home use, and one of these for the road:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gIbQvESoZk


Some tubes have really fragile valves, and the hose in the "road pump" makes it easier on the valves. I never broke a valve since I got that pump.

You could also look into the world of CO2, which is what I bring along for races.

 

[bobinski]

Bill that is hilarious. And I have been working tirelessly but unsuccessfully to recreate it.

You need more waffles Randy! Same principles as used in Back to the Future And no eating! No matter how

 

[bobinski]

Hi I'm new to Bkool, I've been a good girl this year and Santa kindly bought me one for Xmas My name is Gina and I'm 34, love cycling and looking to do a bit of indoor training this winter. I currently cycle about 200 miles a week and belong to Essex Roads Cycling Club, I'm more of an endurance rider than a sprint rider and my climbs leave a lot to be desired!! Can I join your league and does anyone have any good tips for a newby, just finding my way around the softwear .....
Many thanks
Gina

Gina,
The software can ba a little challenging to use. Geoff has written an excellent FAQ which is very helpful and you can find it here;
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bkool-faq.191965/post-4091966.
200 miles a week? I think you will be fine. There are not many big bumps in Essex so the mountain goats/moose rides may come as a surprise but are also where some of us have seen the greatest improvement in performance.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Always bring an extra tube and something like these

Interesting gadget. I assume the cupped leg rests on the opposite rim and the hook goes under the side that you are fitting and the tool then acts as the lever to lift the tyre bead over the rim on those last few centimeters.
I personnaly have always adopted the blisters approach in order to reduce the risk of any pinching but this can be tough going on new tyres and old fingers.

Mind you in my racing days I nver had this problem because I was using tubs.