Team BKool CycleChat

[bridgy]

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.

Drafting was definitely working for me when I was with Rick and Bill for part of yesterday's race. I'm not saying it was easy to get right - far from it - but there was a noticeable affect when I occasionally randomly got in the right position for a bit. I think the speed doesn't drop off as quick as it should when you back off, which is why this on/off thing works, but also why you fly past someone you've just chased down to get into their draft - and the drafting affect exaggerates this even more, making it really hard to get your approach speed right without going past, even if you completely stop pedaling.

I guess things like this show how hard it must be to get a software algorithm to to accurately replicate real world physics!

 

[Add]

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?

Can't speak for Geoff, but I am perfectly happy to set you off with AAAC if it's a bit of company you are after.

It is a lot more likely to run smoothly with Geoff's involvement, than if I was setting it up on my own. Especially since the wifi in the The Red Lion is so sketchy.

 

[Bonno]

Sorry Randy but my bkool is off being fixed so using the old man's set up and emailed the company and they said at least another 10 days so until then the red s works it is

Hey, I'm only allowing you to use my set up until you start beating me, then i'll start putting the old training bike back on for Thursdays

 

[Add]

Have I not qualified?

Lol, times will be posted for EVERYONE who has historically completed the chain gang stage we choose. And if anyone hasn't got a time for that particular run, let us know and we'll generate a start time based on your general performance.
More details will hopefully be published by Monday.
I only asked about those guys as it will be one of them who is first off the mark, and all other start times will be based on their start time.
Geoff or I will start the session, so it definitely starts on time(hopefully). But as I say detailed instructions will follow.

 

[Insomina]

Lol, times will be posted for EVERYONE who has historically completed the chain gang stage we choose. And if anyone hasn't got a time for that particular run, let us know and we'll generate a start time based on your general performance.
More details will hopefully be published by Monday.
I only asked about those guys as it will be one of them who is first off the mark, and all other start times will be based on their start time.
Geoff or I will start the session, so it definitely starts on time(hopefully). But as I say detailed instructions will follow.

Cool. Actually really forward to this. Might even get a new kit for it.

 

[Cjbon]

Cool. Actually really forward to this. Might even get a new kit for it.

As long as its nothing like Add's

 

[bobinski]

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.

I think everyone should try the Zwift trial. I know perception can be misleading but i find i do get a benefit from drafting in Zwift. For a start drafting is just easier. You come behind match speed and that's it. But then we are not necessarily racing just taking turns at the front. In bkool perhaps as LBHIFI suggests its more likley to be in a race scenario and so the speeding and easing is the real impact and actual drafting less so? I certainly rarely see my watts drop in bkool when trying to draft but i can in Zwift.It would be interesting to see what other Zwift users think in comparison to bkool.

 

[bridgy]

I think everyone should try the Zwift trial. I know perception can be misleading but i find i do get a benefit from drafting in Zwift. For a start drafting is just easier. You come behind match speed and that's it. But then we are not necessarily racing just taking turns at the front. In bkool perhaps as LBHIFI suggests its more likley to be in a race scenario and so the speeding and easing is the real impact and actual drafting less so? I certainly rarely see my watts drop in bkool when trying to draft but i can in Zwift.It would be interesting to see what other Zwift users think in comparison to bkool.

In Zwift, do riders get that speed benefit which comes from powering on/off that you can get in Bkool do you know? Because I'm wondering if the drafting difficulties in Bkool and the on/off speed advantage are caused by the same thing on Bkool?

 

[Brendan Parker]

Lol, times will be posted for EVERYONE who has historically completed the chain gang stage we choose. And if anyone hasn't got a time for that particular run, let us know and we'll generate a start time based on your general performance.
More details will hopefully be published by Monday.
I only asked about those guys as it will be one of them who is first off the mark, and all other start times will be based on their start time.
Geoff or I will start the session, so it definitely starts on time(hopefully). But as I say detailed instructions will follow.

I can assure you I should be first off!

 

[bridgy]

I think everyone should try the Zwift trial. I know perception can be misleading but i find i do get a benefit from drafting in Zwift. For a start drafting is just easier. You come behind match speed and that's it. But then we are not necessarily racing just taking turns at the front. In bkool perhaps as LBHIFI suggests its more likley to be in a race scenario and so the speeding and easing is the real impact and actual drafting less so? I certainly rarely see my watts drop in bkool when trying to draft but i can in Zwift.It would be interesting to see what other Zwift users think in comparison to bkool.

I did last week's chaingang ride twice and the second time I was a minute and a half quicker but my average watts virtually the same (3 watts different) - the only difference was that I managed a small amount of ghost drafting in the second attempt, so I think that must have saved a few watts

 

[RickB]

I think everyone should try the Zwift trial. I know perception can be misleading but i find i do get a benefit from drafting in Zwift. For a start drafting is just easier. You come behind match speed and that's it. But then we are not necessarily racing just taking turns at the front. In bkool perhaps as LBHIFI suggests its more likley to be in a race scenario and so the speeding and easing is the real impact and actual drafting less so? I certainly rarely see my watts drop in bkool when trying to draft but i can in Zwift.It would be interesting to see what other Zwift users think in comparison to bkool.

Keep meaning to try Zwift and never get round to it.

Drafting: It definitely is much easier when you get behind someone correctly - the problem is getting there in the first place - it takes both people to be riding very steady and using very slight/gradual adjustments in effort to maintain it. As we all know we rarely behave like that on Bkool!!

 

[bobinski]

In Zwift, do riders get that speed benefit which comes from powering on/off that you can get in Bkool do you know? Because I'm wondering if the drafting difficulties in Bkool and the on/off speed advantage are caused by the same thing on Bkool?

No. At least i don't. But i should be clear and say that in bkool i race and so ride completely differently to Zwift where i just ride for distance.The ant+fec implementation seems to be be really sound so far as i can perceive. There is an aknowledged erg realted problem that has issues with the training software in Zwift, which is a shame, but as a mechanism for doing some miles Zwift is fine, the gradients changes etc seem accurate and drafting is easier to do and easier to stay in.

 

[Baldo Mero]

@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

Yes, I'll tell them that there is no difference if I find an email to address this.

 

[bridgy]

Yes, I'll tell them that there is no difference if I find an email to address this.

Here you go http://www.bkool.com/feedback/showContactForm

 

[RickB]

Yes, I'll tell them that there is no difference if I find an email to address this.

info@bkool.com works well too.