Team BKool CycleChat

[LBHIFI]

I tried a bit of two up time trialing with LBHifi but I think I broke him on the small climb, more me worried that he would fly by but had the opposite affect, and by the time I crested the small climb I had clawed quite a bit back on Jacob so I pressed on.

I spent too much trying to catch you, but I had to give it a try. I was hoping would be able to tuck in behind you and get my breath back.

 

[LBHIFI]

In the real world I should be able to tuck my skinny frame in behind you and draft doing 300 watts but no way in the BKool virtual world as everything is too unpredictable.

Ahh, yes, that Bkool draft. Up until now I have been under the impression that Bkool draft in races is there, but it just worked in a peculiar way: both sharing the load, neither feels that it's getting easier but both going at a higher speed.

I'm beginning to think that maybe it's not there. Maybe the increased speed is caused by the on/off thing, while we sprint/ease to get in a draft position.

 

[Add]

Adam, if you setup the race I'm happy to compute the handicaps and help sort out the starting times. I've still got the spreadsheet from the last few.

Then I'll try and record the closing stages, should be fun to watch.

Geoff

That would be great Geoff, are you about over the weekend? We could have a chat Saturday or Sunday evening if that suits you? It would be handy if we could establish who is going to be the first to go, people could have approximate start times so they don't have to sit waiting on the grid.

When you guys did the last handicap race, how did it pan out? How different was the final finishing order to what you usually got at the time?

If I remember rightly, the winner was one of the steadier guys last time. He was able to make bigger gains than the really quick ones. He also had about a dozen names bearing down on him for the whole race, which is quite motivating. Geoff and I would probably try and compensate for this a little.

The ideal is of course that we all cross the line within a minute of each other. But having said that, with everyone being responsible for their own start time, the scope for error is quite vast. I know in the one I bloody organised, I pressed the wrong button, joined at the last rider position and by the time I had logged out and back in, I was a couple of minutes behind my correct time.....that was AFTER telling everyone else NOT to do that.

But hey, it's just for fun and fitness, and if only momentary, it's nice to view a screenshot of yourself ahead of Jacob and AAAC.

 

[Add]

Could Andy, Goldwolfie, bert1971, PaulF GallB, Kev and Whorty let me know who will be able to take part in the handicap next Thursday evening please?

 

[Add]

Absolutely Add. Tear away and I'll postpone the new chaingang til the week after.

Cool, and if it's any consolation I've been tapering for this handicap race since last October.

 

[Brendan Parker]

Could Andy, Goldwolfie, bert1971, PaulF GallB, Kev and Whorty let me know who will be able to take part in the handicap next Thursday evening please?

I'll be there mate

 

[RickB]

Could Andy, Goldwolfie, bert1971, PaulF GallB, Kev and Whorty let me know who will be able to take part in the handicap next Thursday evening please?

Gail's working so both Mr and Mrs B are out of this one unfortunately.

 

[rob01792]

adam I'm in rob t if ur using the first ride from the latest chaingang my time was too quick due to stop start then when me bill and aaac worked it out I change to more spinning
the 2nd or 3rd ride should be about right time wise

 

[gbrown]

The ideal is of course that we all cross the line within a minute of each other.

We did a few handicaps last winter and what worked well was to give the fast boys a chance to overhaul the others in the last few minutes of the race!

Working on the principal that it proved easier to improve a long time than a short one we applied a handicap around 90%, slightly more for the back markers, slightly less towards the front (back!) of the field. This gave the likes of Bill and Lars a chance of closing in on AAC and Jacob, or at least clinging on as they go past in the dying stages!

Still likely that one of the early starters will much improve their time and lead the field home, but everyone is well motivated and there should be lots of close finishes...

 

[Goldwolfie]

Could Andy, Goldwolfie, bert1971, PaulF GallB, Kev and Whorty let me know who will be able to take part in the handicap next Thursday evening please?

Count me in

Cheers

 

[Monte]

Excuse me, the KICKR is not like the Vortex, it is actually harder on the steep climbs as the resistance goes so much farther than the bkool.

I can confirm that the Tacx Neo replicates the hills a lot harder than the bkool - I certainly do question Bkool's specification claims...

Last night's chain gang ride (Bridgy Epic) used deepleap climb, well I have ridden that hill in the real world and the Tacx Neo was very accurate on the resistance, but the Tacx was useless on anything -resistance, it felt like the chain had come off and your just spinning the cranks with the slightest of declines. However on the Zwift platform is worked perfectly for both uphills & downhills, whilst you get some assistance going downhill its still gives you a realistic feel, so it's definitely the BKOOL software and not the trainers.

I spat my dummy out yesterday with my BKOOL as the replacement trainer is not right and I'm finding it soul destroying training to numbers that you know are not correct, so I have arranged for it to be returned. I am looking into other smart trainers so any recommendations would be welcome...

Geoff :- I won't have a trainer for next week's handicap ride, but rest assured I will be watching - the last time was a great race.

 

[bridgy]

That would be great Geoff, are you about over the weekend? We could have a chat Saturday or Sunday evening if that suits you? It would be handy if we could establish who is going to be the first to go, people could have approximate start times so they don't have to sit waiting on the grid.



If I remember rightly, the winner was one of the steadier guys last time. He was able to make bigger gains than the really quick ones. He also had about a dozen names bearing down on him for the whole race, which is quite motivating. Geoff and I would probably try and compensate for this a little.

The ideal is of course that we all cross the line within a minute of each other. But having said that, with everyone being responsible for their own start time, the scope for error is quite vast. I know in the one I bloody organised, I pressed the wrong button, joined at the last rider position and by the time I had logged out and back in, I was a couple of minutes behind my correct time.....that was AFTER telling everyone else NOT to do that.

But hey, it's just for fun and fitness, and if only momentary, it's nice to view a screenshot of yourself ahead of Jacob and AAAC.

Sounds great fun. I have complete trust in you and Geoff setting it all up perfectly and giving clear instructions to everyone - what could possibly go wrong....?

@Add & @gbrown, are you open to bribes when calculating the start times?

 

[bobinski]

I am in Add, my time from yesterday is showing in the league or I can send it to you.

 

[Insomina]

Could Andy, Goldwolfie, bert1971, PaulF GallB, Kev and Whorty let me know who will be able to take part in the handicap next Thursday evening please?

Have I not qualified?

 

[bridgy]

I can confirm that the Tacx Neo replicates the hills a lot harder than the bkool - I certainly do question Bkool's specification claims...

Last night's chain gang ride (Bridgy Epic) used deepleap climb, well I have ridden that hill in the real world and the Tacx Neo was very accurate on the resistance, but the Tacx was useless on anything -resistance, it felt like the chain had come off and your just spinning the cranks with the slightest of declines. However on the Zwift platform is worked perfectly for both uphills & downhills, whilst you get some assistance going downhill its still gives you a realistic feel, so it's definitely the BKOOL software and not the trainers.

I spat my dummy out yesterday with my BKOOL as the replacement trainer is not right and I'm finding it soul destroying training to numbers that you know are not correct, so I have arranged for it to be returned. I am looking into other smart trainers so any recommendations would be welcome...

Geoff :- I won't have a trainer for next week's handicap ride, but rest assured I will be watching - the last time was a great race.

@Monte and @Baldo Mero - will you email Bkool to tell them that their update has not worked for virtual downhill speed on your non Bkool trainers? I know it's not the only issue with Bkool software, but it is one they have clearly claimed in their blog that the latest update has fixed so I think it's worth telling them, as you're paying for the software and not getting what they are claiming to deliver (I know Geoff has already told them it's not working for his Kickr too):

From the Bkool blog on 25 Jan:
– We have also programmed the simulator so that when it is paired to a non Bkool Smart trainer, it smooths the slope changes to feel like inertia.
– We have also included virtual speed for these smart trainers, which used to leave users without a Bkool trainer at a disadvantage when going downhill.