Team BKool CycleChat

[RickB]

You're right. It's not realistic to keep motivation with the time it takes to complete stages.

Bill, Rick
What about a handicap system that would enable heavier persons, or persons with a low FTP to complete stages within a reasonable time. If it is possible to edit the division number, persons who choose to use the handicap system would have their own division number.
The simplest system I can think of would be to just enter half ones weight.

Lars

You're right about motivation! I know I completed the Ventoux stage but it really wasnt enjoyable - my knees and back didnt exactly respond well to it too, so I dont think I could do that on a semi-regular basis. I'll keep plugging away though I dont think I should push as hard as I did last time.

What about getting another Cyclechat league up and running with more varied courses, to suit those who arent out and out climbers (or have bodies who arent responding so well to the punishment! )

 

[theboxers]

Lars

You're right about motivation! I know I completed the Ventoux stage but it really wasnt enjoyable - my knees and back didnt exactly respond well to it too, so I dont think I could do that on a semi-regular basis. I'll keep plugging away though I dont think I should push as hard as I did last time.

What about getting another Cyclechat league up and running with more varied courses, to suit those who arent out and out climbers (or have bodies who arent responding so well to the punishment! )

I saw your time for the Ventoux stage just before starting my d'Huez attempt . No way would I be able to do it with my official or adjusted weight and finish in a reasonable time.

I just need to get back to riding reugularly again. It will not improve my times but I will start going down in weight again.

 

[gbrown]

What about getting another Cyclechat league up and running with more varied courses, to suit those who arent out and out climbers (or have bodies who arent responding so well to the punishment! )

The hardest part of setting up the leagues is coming up with suitable stages that work well in the chain gang format.

Perhaps if you guys can suggest stages that you have tried I could pull together an October league. I can't ride any more, so it's not possible for me to try them out.

We could repeat some of the ones that worked well last winter?

It worked best with a nice mix of terrain, up, down and level, some short and some medium length, between 40 minutes and and hour or so, nothing much more than about 9% to suit the different trainer's resistance and give the heavier guys a chance.

We chucked in a Velodrome once a month, some of the new formats may prove fun?

Also did a handicap race once a month, but they are harder to organise as every rider needs a fair handicap calculating.

Any reason not to go with Thursday 7pm (UK) and Saturday 5pm (UK) again?

Geoff

 

[kipster]

You'll be needing two complete setups I'd reckon. No way of sharing any aspect of it. will there not be ant+ confusion between the two set ups? The ant+ dongle doesn't use anything to link it to a specific trainer does it. Would have thought the two systems would get confused between each other.

I would imaging the Ant+ will pair on the serial number so that should be safe enough, but will need two PC's / screens etc with the software loaded and two subscriptions. Then one of them to schedule a ride and the other join.

They put lots of Bkools in a room for the Red Ride race : http://www.fitness-gaming.com/image...e_charity_race/002_red_bike_charity_bkool.jpg

 

[BILL S]

You're right. It's not realistic to keep motivation with the time it takes to complete stages.

Bill, Rick
What about a handicap system that would enable heavier persons, or persons with a low FTP to complete stages within a reasonable time. If it is possible to edit the division number, persons who choose to use the handicap system would have their own division number.
The simplest system I can think of would be to just enter half ones weight.

Lars, I totally agree with you on this. There will be those who don't want a handicap, but I think we need it as an option because of the time it'll take someone who's at Amateur level. I'm not sure how best to do it because the divisions apparently aren't set up to work last time Geoff took a look at them. The only workable solution I can think of is a system of reducing the weight of anyone who want's, down to something that would give them a time similar to the quicker riders. Otherwise, as you say, it could ruin the motivation for the likes of Ventoux which must be just brutal for the guys taking more than 2 hours or so.
We could try a new league where everyone puts their weight to the same so it's all just about power. That could be fun but there would have to be a lot of weight fiddling between rides.

 

[RickB]

I would imaging the Ant+ will pair on the serial number so that should be safe enough, but will need two PC's / screens etc with the software loaded and two subscriptions. Then one of them to schedule a ride and the other join.

They put lots of Bkools in a room for the Red Ride race : http://www.fitness-gaming.com/image...e_charity_race/002_red_bike_charity_bkool.jpg

I bow to your greater knowledge Kip. Would be great fun to have a number of guys all racing side by side. My wife uses Bkool occasionally but just under my account. Dont think I'll ever be buying her one of her own though!

 

[Rob H]

27 emails from Bkool today... your ride has been approved... the same ride.. im getting 2-3 a day and they are all the same.

 

[Randyberlin]

New to Bkool. Bought two trainers, one for my wife. They are set up in the same room. Does anyone know how to set it up so we can ride together? Thanks!

What about two cheap.android tablets with hdmi outputs and usb inputs both going to two different hdmi inputs on the same TV.

 

[RickB]

Just a reminder for tomorrows event:
20km Velodrome session - Tuesday 5pm UK time

organised by Bkool - 1 months subscription awarded randomly to someone out of all the finishers.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1498661037113248/

 

[kipster]

I bow to your greater knowledge Kip. Would be great fun to have a number of guys all racing side by side. My wife uses Bkool occasionally but just under my account. Dont think I'll ever be buying her one of her own though!

I could be talking bull so don't bow

 

[Whorty]

Lars, I totally agree with you on this. There will be those who don't want a handicap, but I think we need it as an option because of the time it'll take someone who's at Amateur level. I'm not sure how best to do it because the divisions apparently aren't set up to work last time Geoff took a look at them. The only workable solution I can think of is a system of reducing the weight of anyone who want's, down to something that would give them a time similar to the quicker riders. Otherwise, as you say, it could ruin the motivation for the likes of Ventoux which must be just brutal for the guys taking more than 2 hours or so.
We could try a new league where everyone puts their weight to the same so it's all just about power. That could be fun but there would have to be a lot of weight fiddling between rides.

I can confirm it was brutal cycling Ventoux for 2 hours 20 mins - but I was determined to finish and get a time on the board. Probably won't be doing it again though!

 

[JLaw]

Funny, I was thinking about something similar -- the mountain moose league for those carrying a bit more weight up the mountain? I'd probably stick with the goats myself simply because I like the pain of a long climb.

Whorty, you might look at something like these (if you don't mind a 3D ride, I don't have a gopro yet). These are all local rides for me. The first two are lunchtime climbs I used to do regularly and can be knocked out quickly. The 3rd is a longer ride, but it's got a nice downhill and relatively flat ending to close the traditional loop.

www.bkool.com/profile/detail/774339
www.bkool.com/profile/detail/775237
www.bkool.com/profile/detail/753509

 

[Rob H]

Lars, I totally agree with you on this. There will be those who don't want a handicap, but I think we need it as an option because of the time it'll take someone who's at Amateur level. I'm not sure how best to do it because the divisions apparently aren't set up to work last time Geoff took a look at them. The only workable solution I can think of is a system of reducing the weight of anyone who want's, down to something that would give them a time similar to the quicker riders. Otherwise, as you say, it could ruin the motivation for the likes of Ventoux which must be just brutal for the guys taking more than 2 hours or so.
We could try a new league where everyone puts their weight to the same so it's all just about power. That could be fun but there would have to be a lot of weight fiddling between rides.

Currently waiting for a recalibration i do agree about a varied league im certainly more of a sprinter than a climber

I may have to miss the ventoux as time tight this week

 

[BILL S]

Just a reminder for tomorrows event:
20km Velodrome session - Tuesday 5pm UK time

organised by Bkool - 1 months subscription awarded randomly to someone out of all the finishers.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1498661037113248/

Anyone entering this, don't forget that the only genuine race will be started by "Bkool_Videos" so try to avoid joining the other dummy sessions that people seem to set up for some reason. Best way to find it is using the filters and type in part of the name like "video" and that should bring up the correct session. This is the case with all the official Tuesday and Thursday rides with bkool.

I think I'll try and join this one to see how rubbish my new tacx turbo tyre runs at high speed. I really should probably get a new Continental Ultra Sport instead.

 

[RickB]

Another messed up start on the velodrome tonight -- they started the countdown with over a minute left on the clock. By the time I got going most seemed to be away.

Everyone kept jumping about/disappearing except for Bill and a handful of others, so hadnt really a clue who was in front or behind. Turns out there were more in front of me that I reckoned!

Well done Bill though - couldnt hold ya at all.