Team BKool CycleChat
- Thread starter Peteaud
- Start date
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Insomina
Paul in Real Life
- Location
- Northampton
I will start it at 7pm with a 10 min warm up. Dive in if you are about.
Sounds good I'll be there.
This is exactly what I saw when comparing my bkool pro with the power readings from my powertap rear wheel. The difference in the power readings varied depending on the power you were putting out, but the bkool was always generous, and at high power figures was very generous (10-20% at least).
When I switched to the KICKR, my power figures fell and it was impossible to hit the same levels on FTP tests, until many weeks later when training had improved my performance.
Even with the KICKR being more accurate, direct comparisons of the power I could average on a 20 minute FTP test (303W was the last one) with what I could maintain on a steep climb on the road (more like 260W for 10 minutes) showed quite a difference.
Some of the difference can be explained by the challenges of the real riding environment, traffic, debris on the road, maintaining your balance, etc. over riding on a bike bolted to a trainer, but a big chunk remains likely to be exaggeration in the bkool simulation, and 30 watts is in the ball park!
They don't have a power meter in the bkool trainer, so it is all guess work. I'm sure they err on the side of flattery, it sells more units!
I would guess that customers are quick to complain if it seems to under state power, and strangely quiet if it over states!
Geoff
The latest update has made the bkool less flattering on the watts, in fact I know I can push more watts on my road bike using a powertap rear hub than what the bkool shows since the latest update. so I would of agree before but now it's gone the other way and I would estimate by 20-30%...
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
Sounds like you could do with your resistance slope adjusting, have Bkool done a dial in and calibrate?
Geoff
Baldo Mero
Senior Member
Glad to know that I'm not alone, I wrote bkool about it too and no answer. I agree it is something that would need to be addressed by Bkool and only by them: tacx just follows a connectivity standard and it should be quite straightforward for Bkool to treat all trainers equally in terms of levelling the playing field- and thus attracting subscribers from a wider user base. Their opening to support an open standard was clearly a movement towards simulator subscription as a major business model, so they are just shooting to their feet if the experience with trainers from another a brand is unfair. It is understandable that they want to give some privileged user experiences to Bkool users in order to boost trainer sales, such as equipment and exclusive games - but the playing arena needs to be fair if they really want to attract users. It is mind-blowing that they have such a great simulator and they do not seem to care much about the incredibly awkward (=mediocre) interface and the non-existent user support. They are basically inviting Zwiff to take over the multiplayer simulator market with a much more limited program.
westmatix
Member
- Location
- Suffolk / Essex
I'll be on tonight. Hoping for no connection problems
Breedon
Legendary Member
- Location
- Long Eaton, Nottingham
Just got another you've been beaten email, this time I've been beaten by -7 seconds
I hate those kind.
Besides they can't be that good if it's only 7 seconds
As Monte says, it is probably closer to reality with the latest firmware/software. The +30 watt seemed consistent regardless of watt and gradient. I just don't get why it's so much harder to maintain 300 watt on a flat section as opposed to going up hill.
I guess I have just been spoiled by the old Bkool Pro, and just need to quit whining.
When i first got my replacement trainer I couldn't push 200 watts, got hold of bkool eventually and they did a dial in - as far as I could see they checked the calibration, removed my bsim program and then re-installed. It does feel harder but if I honest it more realistic to reality.
As you have already pointed out - each trainer will be different, even worse with other manufacturers of smart trainers.
Im not going to read too much not the stats, however I really enjoy the Thursday night chain gang and if we get loads of different trainers all giving different information I'm guessing it will eventually spoil the competitive feeling that we currently have
Paulf1566
Senior Member
- Location
- Menston, Ilkley
I tried a Zwift race tonight. Not a patch on the Bkool experience. In fact, I could not even find the start, it is a rolling start arrangement but could not find the leader. I did my homework too but to no avail - probably me! Also, the hills had no impact on the pedalling difficulty. This seems to have been following a recent software update because it was fine when I used it a couple of weeks ago.
Seems like you guys had a good ride tonight .... I got 3 e-mails saying I was beaten by @Cjbon , @kev.slaney and @Insomina . All tight looking at the times, but Kev looks to be the winner tonight! Well done boys
May force me to ride that horrible hill again 
yes, should do as i did a league race.
