Team BKool CycleChat

[Paul-T]

Thanks Bill S, At least my first place lasted for all of about 5 minutes on stage 1

 

[RickB]

Repeat after me ... WIRELESS IS RUBBISH, WIRELESS IS RUBBISH, WIRELESS IS RUBBISH!

Seriously, streaming via WiFi is highly likely to struggle, as wireless is prone to interference from microwaves, DECT phones, fairy lights, REIN (Repetitive Electrical Impulse Noise), SHINE (Single Isolated Impulse Noise), other devices using the same WiFi (since the bandwidth is shared between all devices using it), walls, furniture, your body, etc. etc.

It also shares the same frequencies (2.4 Ghz) as Bluetooth and ANT+, so they can all interfere with each other, unless you switch to the 5 Ghz band (N or AC).

Many people don't realise that the bandwidth figures quoted for wireless and mobile networking are shared between all the devices using the access point! The same is true for powerline (via the mains wiring).

WiFi may be OK for browsing the web and even when streaming video, as it can buffer up a lot and smooth out interruptions but for an interactive video simulation (and gaming) long buffers are impractical (if you want real-time responses) and latency is important.

If you can, use a computer and stick an Ethernet wire into it (via powerline if you really can't get a wire all the way to the router).

If you must use a tablet and hence wifi, try setting up a dedicated wireless access point (preferably 5Ghz) in the room, with line of sight to the tablet, and with a wired (or powerline if you must) connection back to the router, then only allow the one device to use it (and any powerline), that should reduce interference and eliminate contention.

Cheers,

Geoff

Geoff's knowledge is way beyond mine but my experience would back this up. Since putting my pc on powerline network adaptors its extremely rare that I ever get any disruption on bkool now. Cant remember the last time I had a blip when riding.

 

[BILL S]

Thanks Bill S, At least my first place lasted for all of about 5 minutes on stage 1

Sorry about that Nutty. Soon I'm sure you will hold the lead for much longer .

 

[Paul-T]

Sorry about that Nutty. Soon I'm sure you will hold the lead for much longer .

Lol trust me it will be along time coming!

 

[Baldo Mero]

I think he said he is 56kg ... about the weight of my left leg

http://9gag.com/gag/aE1g1VM/it-s-not-the-size-that-matters

 

[Insomina]

No moose has yet gone up Marie Blanque.

Any reason?

 

[theboxers]

Rick - If I haven't finished inside 2 hours, can you send someone back to look for me

You may already have someone there. Me.

 

[kev.slaney]

No moose has yet gone up Marie Blanque.

Any reason?

Thought about it tonight, then saw the profile of it. Leaving the best one till last . Did the same one as you tonight, just behind you and @Whorty . Found it tough going!! Also did my Little Cottonwood Canyon short ride @JLaw . Can you validate it please

 

[theboxers]

Geoff's knowledge is way beyond mine but my experience would back this up. Since putting my pc on powerline network adaptors its extremely rare that I ever get any disruption on bkool now. Cant remember the last time I had a blip when riding.

I am the same since I went to powerline networking, I was using the 5ghz wifi band and would suffer dropouts.

Geoff is correct that there are levels of reliability of link as you move from wired to powerline to wifi. You just have to make your choice and sometimes live with the limitations.

RichT

 

[Insomina]

Thought about it tonight, then saw the profile of it. Leaving the best one till last . Did the same one as you tonight, just behind you and @Whorty . Found it tough going!! Also did my Little Cottonwood Canyon short ride @JLaw . Can you validate it please

I struggled too and that was with following ghosts. Maybe we should try and set up a ride for Marie Blanque like Cottonwood - I will try and stay with you this time.

 

[Whorty]

T
I think tomorrow Chain Gang might be right on the cuss of my ability having read the comments from those who have completed it - but a challenge is what it's all about,

I can't make tomorrow so did the Chain Gang tonight ... phew, it's a beast. There is a nasty 'hump' just before half way that sapped my legs. Then the last hill just seemed to go on forever. It's about 5km at 9-11% It's like riding 25km, then adding half the Alp D'Huez at the end!!!
Just take it easy and don't rush the flat bit, as it's not as flat as it first appears

Good luck chaps

 

[Whorty]

No moose has yet gone up Marie Blanque.

Any reason?

I'm a married man!!! The wife would be seriously upset if I sweated my way up Marie Blanque

 

[Whorty]

You may already have someone there. Me.

Took me 1hour 17 mins tonight (when my ride is validated I will be well and truely last!). All I can say is 'PAINFUL'

 

[AAAC 76C]

Hi, not a reply just a newbie wanting to join Mountain Goats so I can keep up with Bill S in the Male Veteran 2 2015 Ascent Classification.
I hale from Ashford in Kent but now live in sunny Yeovil in Somerset having left the Forces in 2000 and then joined the Military Rotary Wing Elephants Grave Yard, Westlands Helicopters.
I have been Bkooling since late 2013 after finally getting my heart sorted having suffered almost ten years with un/miss-diagnosed angina.
It is my only form of cycling other than the odd commute down the road too work and to be honest I have no great intentions of braving the public highway on my bicycle on a more permenant basis but thanks to BKool I am now back to the fitness I had when I left the Forces and perhaps even better as the angina was probably already setting in.

My BKool name is AAAC 76C Pro-minator.
AAAC is Arborfield Army Apprentice College where my love of cycling developed.
76C was my intake back in that hot summer all of us that are over 50 will remember well as the summer to judge all summers by.
The Pro-minator has just been added to highlight my goal to challenge those with Pro turbo trainers which from the outset appear to have advantaged users over the older Classic trainer.
All my attempts to load the latest firmware have failed and after a tele assist from BKool it appears my PCB has a fault and needs replacing for the total cost of 120 euros which may result in me cutting my losses and buying a Pro trainer myself.
However seeing as my classic is still working, all be it a bit worn, I will probably just suffer the more immediate effect of gradient changes.
The above became most apparent on a recent league ride when two opponents caught me for 2 minutes on a short 45% (yes 45%) when I was almost immediately bought to a grinding 4kph whilst they carried on at more slowly diminishing speed due to the way the Pro trainer (and perhaps the new firmware on a classic) smooths gradient transitions. This effect was so apparent that they had crested the 45% before they were slowed down to my grinding pace (well that's got that off of my chest)..

 

[RickB]

Took me 1hour 17 mins tonight (when my ride is validated I will be well and truely last!). All I can say is 'PAINFUL'

Now validated.

Apologies in adance for lots of rides needing validating. Didn't put the right number in for one of the validation options so a lot rides are failing to go straight through.