Team BKool CycleChat

[Neilsmith]

I did another chain gang ride today with some ghosts added to get an idea of league rides for the future. I know I have an injury but it was plain to see I would be still struggling if I was fit, it is so intense and the heat indoors is a nightmare. I don't think I'm up to that intensity.
There is one thing for sure though downhill on the Tacx Bushido is very slow I could hold my own to an extent on the flat but downhill I just lost seconds and tens of seconds on longer downhills, but the main problem was no chance to recover on the downhill, so I was cooked by the end, I won't be riding like that.

Up hill I can't comment much because I just can't push with the right leg to test properly. I did have a slight hiccup when I knocked my wahoo ant+ adaptor out of the iPad after about 8km and had to get off the bike plug it back in and set of again chasing back nearly did for me

So I think to make it enjoyable I won't be riding flat out or it will become a chore. It made me realise how amazing you guys at the front are

 

[gbrown]

It sort of makes sense. However if I do not push on the downhills my overall time goes up, although the speed indicates I am going as fast as Bkool will let me. Taking it easy, on the downhill, for me, can add 10's of minutes to some of the estimated and actual session times. I think avarage power has a lot to do with the times Bkool generate. I noticed it before the firmware upgrade as well.

Lets just say it's a freaky system that is set up to confuse everyone

If you are referring to the estimated time to complete the remaining distance, this cannot be based on speed, as speed depends so heavily on terrain, and it is not possible to predict your speed across the remaining terrain based on your current speed on the current terrain.

The only way they can predict your time to completion is to look at your recent average power output and apply that against the terrain remaining to be simulated to get an average speed and hence time to completion.

When effectively free wheeling down a steep descent (which is the only sensible thing to do on a bkool trainer) your power output will decline sharply and confuse their algorithm.

If you keep pedalling hard you will get a better estimate of time to complete, but will not actually achieve a faster time, you are better to save your power and use it when it will be more effective (and not be wasted trying to overcome wind drag at very high speeds). As soon as you get off the descent it will generate a better estimate

I guess they could improve their estimated remaining time algorithm by taking into account the free wheeling simulation and discounting the fall off in power.

It is a fiendishly difficult things to estimate, and will depend on many unpredictable things, such as drafting, free wheeling and momentum, etc., so it is not surprising that it can be a bit hit and miss!

Geoff

 

[gbrown]

There is one thing for sure though downhill on the Tacx Bushido is very slow I could hold my own to an extent on the flat but downhill I just lost seconds and tens of seconds on longer downhills, but the main problem was no chance to recover on the downhill, so I was cooked by the end, I won't be riding like that.

I suggest that everyone struggling with non-bkool trainers on the down-hills complain to Bkool support and refuse to be fobbed off, they need to understand how many people for whom this is a serious problem, as I am sure it is not too hard to fix if they put their minds to it.

As for the heat, you have to have a pretty serious fan to keep cool, even in the middle of winter. Riding on a stationery trainer putting out hundreds of watts generates a lot of body heat, and the air flow is needed to stand any chance of avoiding overheating. I was astounded at how much I sweated on a long mountain goat climb, even with a huge fan and open windows in the middle of winter. When you see you are burning around 1,000 calories an hour it gives you an idea of how much waste heat needs to be dispersed!

The trainers should perhaps come with a fan included ...

Geoff

 

[Neilsmith]

There will definitely be a fan in place in the future, my wife said I looked awful, but I'm not sure if that as just a general comment

 

[bobinski]

Neil, I use this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quality-Pre...9?ie=UTF8&qid=1448727797&sr=8-9&keywords=Fans
Though other similar fans are available from Argos and screw fix at least. Amazon market place of then have them for £30ish. It's very powerful and I start off on low and then turn up full blast midway through a long or hard ride.

 

[Neilsmith]

Neil, I use this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quality-Pre...9?ie=UTF8&qid=1448727797&sr=8-9&keywords=Fans
Though other similar fans are available from Argos and screw fix at least. Amazon market place of then have them for £30ish. It's very powerful and I start off on low and then turn up full blast midway through a long or hard ride.

Thanks for that Bob much appreciated

 

[bobinski]

I should be there at 5pm. I will be the one drafting Rick

 

[Randyberlin]

Chaingang rerun at 5pm

5pm warm up start with race beginning 5:10.

Course is named: Challenge Paguera-Mallorca
If you don't see it search for rick in the advanced search function at bottom of page.

I'm not going to make it. My legs are still tight from Thursday and I need to do 2 goat rides before they close. Those re riding today are tougher than me.

 

[RickB]

I should be there at 5pm. I will be the one drafting Rick

Git!

I'm not going to make it. My legs are still tight from Thursday and I need to do 2 goat rides before they close. Those re riding today are tougher than me.

Wasnt sure whether to do it again myself or not as been sufferering with some minor pains here and there (non-cycling related) but not feeling too bad now so will give it a go - just to give Bob some shelter of course.

 

[Monte]

I suggest that everyone struggling with non-bkool trainers on the down-hills complain to Bkool support and refuse to be fobbed off, they need to understand how many people for whom this is a serious problem, as I am sure it is not too hard to fix if they put their minds to it.

As for the heat, you have to have a pretty serious fan to keep cool, even in the middle of winter. Riding on a stationery trainer putting out hundreds of watts generates a lot of body heat, and the air flow is needed to stand any chance of avoiding overheating. I was astounded at how much I sweated on a long mountain goat climb, even with a huge fan and open windows in the middle of winter. When you see you are burning around 1,000 calories an hour it gives you an idea of how much waste heat needs to be dispersed!

The trainers should perhaps come with a fan included ...

Geoff

How would you suggest the generosity of the watts going uphill & the flats - I've used a tacx Neo and speed was way out & a friend uses a tacx vector and his speed v power is way out when comparing data from the same rides ???

As mentioned before, the only way I see this going forward is chain gang rides are separated by trainer type, even the same trainers will behave differently.

In my opinion of course.

 

[IrishAl]

Whats the pconcensuswhen gping downhill - just let it freewheel or keep spinning pushing out big watts? Up to now ive always kept pushing hard but never seem to catch up much on competitors so im thinking it migjt be better to try and conserve the energy and hope that the speed freewheeling doesnt drop off too much.

 

[RickB]

Wasnt sure whether to do it again myself or not as been sufferering with some minor pains here and there (non-cycling related) but not feeling too bad now so will give it a go - just to give Bob some shelter of course.

Nope, wasnt happening - bailed again - need more recovery time!!

 

[Monte]

Very confusing watching with all the ghosts, I vote for no ghosts on the Saturday re-run.

 

[Gert Lush]

It's fun watching Bill and Bobinski battle it out at the front.

 

[Gert Lush]

On a different note. I'm seeing people on here pushing 200-300w averages! Is that possible for me to do. I'm 5'10 and 54.5KG. My highest average so far is 140w over 23k. Are these numbers possible for me to achieve with training or is do heavier people push higher watts?

I've googled a bit but I can't seem to get my head around it for some reason..