Team BKool CycleChat

[LBHIFI]

I can't find out how to calibrate my trainer. I've just swapped bikes on the trainer and there's a rather alarming difference between the my power outputs with my road bike to the mountain bike (with slick tyres).
Most noticeably on the mountain bike when the gradient goes downhill my power output also plummets alarmingly. Trying to maintain over 100watts downhill is near impossible.

There is no calibration function. Tire and tire pressure are really important. Too low tire pressure can dramatically reduce power output.

 

[gbrown]

Quick question, Bkool Premium, do I need this to upload and ride my own video routes, or can I do this with the free subscription?

You may be able to upload your own routes with the free subscription, but you need a premium subscription to ride in video or 3D, so without one you would be limited to riding them in 2D or the map view.

For anyone trying out Bkool, I would definitely pay for at least a month's Premium subscription so you can check it out fully (it's only £8). Then you can always just not renew at the end of the month and drop back to the free one if you find you are just using solo 2D rides for training, or you prefer some other system.

Geoff

 

[gbrown]

Where can I find Bkools Manual ?

There's a few things I need to discover how to do...

I can't find out how to calibrate my trainer. I've just swapped bikes on the trainer and there's a rather alarming difference between the my power outputs with my road bike to the mountain bike (with slick tyres).
Most noticeably on the mountain bike when the gradient goes downhill my power output also plummets alarmingly. Trying to maintain over 100watts downhill is near impossible.

I've set up a few sessions and selected a few ghosts and bots, but when I start cycling along to the videos I can't see anyone. Are they all just so far in front I can't see them or do I need to turn them on in some way or switch to the 3D view?

I would like to try a cyclechat ride (race) but I can't find them. Do I need to schedule them somehow or do I need to log on a certain date and time? Does it matter if I'm slow, i'm presuming nobody has to sit and wait for me to finish?

Have you read the FAQ sticky post, it may help with some of these issues?

Bkool FAQ

As LBHIFI posted, there is no user calibration function. If it seems way out you can put a call into Bkool Support and they can check and possibly improve the calibration remotely.

I put some things in the FAQ about seeing bots (and ghosts), you have to have a premium subscription, have cleared solo mode and you can only see the bots as virtual riders in 3D. In 2D they appear as flags and in video's you can enable them to appear as coloured blobs superimposed over the video.

Cheers,

Geoff

 

[LBHIFI]

I haven't done my homework regarding english traditions new years eve, but our schedule looks something like this:

- Have new years diner.
- Watch this short movie:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boisQwkK7rs

- Listen to the queen's speach.
- Fireworks

So not really room for a thursday bkool race there. Would anyone be interested in doing the last Chain Gang stage tomorrow, or earlier thursday?

 

[one_legged_rider]

Thank you GBrown.

From the FAQ section...
2) You have to make sure that you have not ticked the "solo" ride setting to see other players, ghosts, etc

I didn't even know there was a solo tick box!

 

[bobinski]

I haven't done my homework regarding english traditions new years eve, but our schedule looks something like this:

- Have new years diner.
- Watch this short movie:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boisQwkK7rs

- Listen to the queen's speach.
- Fireworks

So not really room for a thursday bkool race there. Would anyone be interested in doing the last Chain Gang stage tomorrow, or earlier thursday?

Either option should be ok for me though i prefer tomorrow.

 

[AAAC 76C]

That is very impressive . You must have been regarded as somewhat of a wonderkid.
We have a wonderkid like that in the race series in which I participate. He won the male U17 olympic time trial this summer with an avg. speed of 28.63 mph, but of course this was using top tt equipment.
I think your speed would have been close, if you've had this same equipment at your disposal.

I have never done speeds like that before, but I'm slowly getting there. This year I broke the 41 kph limit (25.48 mph) - still need about 1 kph to qualify to the world championships, which is my goal for next season.

Just to qualify 17, that was the season when I turned 18 so in reality some of those rides were done when I had turned 18 so there was a little bit of poetic license used.

 

[AAAC 76C]

I haven't done my homework regarding english traditions new years eve, but our schedule looks something like this:

- Have new years diner.
- Watch this short movie:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boisQwkK7rs

- Listen to the queen's speach.
- Fireworks

So not really room for a thursday bkool race there. Would anyone be interested in doing the last Chain Gang stage tomorrow, or earlier thursday?

Tomorrow would be fine for me too!

 

[Breedon]

I haven't done my homework regarding english traditions new years eve, but our schedule looks something like this:

- Have new years diner.
- Watch this short movie:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boisQwkK7rs

- Listen to the queen's speach.
- Fireworks

So not really room for a thursday bkool race there. Would anyone be interested in doing the last Chain Gang stage tomorrow, or earlier thursday?

Tomorrow is good as well im at work tomorrow though so any time after 5 is good for me

 

[JLaw]

Any preferences in what kind of rides I pick for the mountain goats for January?
Choices are:
1/ Less than an hour steep climb all the way.
2/ Less than an hour but some downhill.
3/ Well over an hour steep climb all the way.
4/ Well over an hour but with some downhill & flat.

If you pick 3/ there will be some seriously badass climbs.

Climb, climb, climb.

I'm planning a 2nd Moose league. I'm going to ride everything in the simulator before going live. Toughest ought to be a variant of Little Cottonwood that's used for the Tour of Utah race, so figure the Moose will have #1 or #2.

 

[kipster]

Tomorrow is good as well im at work tomorrow though so any time after 5 is good for me

I've got to knock out a 51 miler to meet my mileage target (2nd one as the original was reached in November), the weather looks awful tomorrow but I don't think I can make Thursday.

 

[Ryan lawman]

I haven't done my homework regarding english traditions new years eve, but our schedule looks something like this:

- Have new years diner.
- Watch this short movie:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boisQwkK7rs

- Listen to the queen's speach.
- Fireworks

So not really room for a thursday bkool race there. Would anyone be interested in doing the last Chain Gang stage tomorrow, or earlier thursday?

I could not belive it Last time i was home for the New Year my Family had never Heard- of dinner for one .. In Germany its Tradition to watch on New years eve . .

 

[kipster]

I've got to knock out a 51 miler to meet my mileage target (2nd one as the original was reached in November), the weather looks awful tomorrow but I don't think I can make Thursday.

Today's weather put pay to any ride, far too windy, so that leaves tomorrow as the only day left to hit the target. Nothing like leaving it late.

 

[waxwobbler]

Hi, seems like the is the place to ask Bkool questions !

Does Bkool have a Trainer Road Power Match type function so I can read power from my Powertap ?
Are there regular group rides / races. Would be fin to join a mass race on Saturday morning when its horrible outside ?
Is there a workout creator ?

Thanks

 

[LBHIFI]

So not really room for a thursday bkool race there. Would anyone be interested in doing the last Chain Gang stage tomorrow, or earlier thursday?

Doesn't look like there's a general consensus about rescheduling the thursday race. I think I'll be doing it 16:30 (15:30 UK time) today. If the software allows it, I'll be doing a 10 minutes warm-up if anyone wants to join. Look for "Tramo 50km Bujalance-Cordoba"