Team BKool CycleChat

[one_legged_rider]

I was sat on the bike wondering if I should try the race last night. My trainer obviously knew what I was thinking because the power adapter decided to pick that moment to fail. By the time i'd worked out why I couldn't pair the trainer to the laptop the race was well underway.
I popped in and out as a spectator and looking at everyones spec's I think I had a very lucky escape.

 

[berty bassett]

i thought it was very well done with a good mix of routes - something for everybody . i don't think i will ever get used to being dropped quite so easy on the downhills but if theres a hill or two i sometimes claw a bit back -so yet again thanks for sorting it

 

[Tracey CBM]

Hi. I'm a big fan of Bkool and Strava. I've requested to join "Cyclechat Bkool" on Strava.

 

[berty bassett]

didn't know that you were all on strava - just requested to join - though my real name aint berty - its lee - cheers

 

[Soarerv8]

I managed the final Chain gang today following bailing out earlier this week with chest pains (I think I may have pulled a chest muscle due to tensing shoulders!!!). Anyway, I was really pleased with my time - 1hr, 33mins and 17secs Have my shower then check where I am in the league, only to see that @Soarerv8 did it 8 seconds faster than me LOL Maybe I should check other people's times before I do the rides in future saying that though, I don't think I had an extra 8 seconds in me, I was shot at the end

Normally I spend any course with hills in them cursing the name Whorty as you rush away from me, it is both unusual and unexpected to have beaten you by a whole 8 seconds.

Oddly I was doing this one just for the distance to get my total miles for 2015 over 2000 (which this did for me by a whole 2 miles) so didn't try as hard as normal. Suspect there is a lesson in there for me somewhere.

 

[RickB]

Could you put something together that resembles the Classics or is it a bit early in the year and perhaps something based on the Tour Down Under would be more relevant.

Would love to do something like that but I'll pass on it this time till I we can get some sessions together which matches a classic. Definitely want to try this though.

Rick, how about suitable courses that people on here have ridden for real / imported from Strava. I've got a few at about 30km flat to rolling.

Up for this. Send me links to what you want included Kip.

The hour on the Velodrome?
Or a big mountain stage ...... all downhill!

Thanks Rick/Bill etc. for setting the leagues up, look forward to riding with with you all in 2016

Bonno - cant use velodrome sessions in leagues unfortunately - Bkool ran an hour challenge on a couple of occasions. I participated once and it was tough but a great challenge.! What about a completely flat stage at 0% - does one exist? Next best thing to velodrome except you wont get to draft as much!

 

[kipster]

Would love to do something like that but I'll pass on it this time till I we can get some sessions together which matches a classic. Definitely want to try this though.


Up for this. Send me links to what you want included Kip.

Bonno - cant use velodrome sessions in leagues unfortunately - Bkool ran an hour challenge on a couple of occasions. I participated once and it was tough but a great challenge.! What about a completely flat stage at 0% - oes one exist? Next best thing to velodrome except you wont get to draft as much!

I'm off work tomorrow so will look for some options.

 

[RickB]

I'm off work tomorrow so will look for some options.

Good man - then I'll get the league launched tomorrow evening all being well.

 

[Breedon]

Would love to do something like that but I'll pass on it this time till I we can get some sessions together which matches a classic. Definitely want to try this though.


Up for this. Send me links to what you want included Kip.

Bonno - cant use velodrome sessions in leagues unfortunately - Bkool ran an hour challenge on a couple of occasions. I participated once and it was tough but a great challenge.! What about a completely flat stage at 0% - does one exist? Next best thing to velodrome except you wont get to draft as much!

What about the Horseshoe pass thats in the T100 climbs which is actually pan flat at 0% for 11 miles? did it the other week.

 

[kipster]

Good man - then I'll get the league launched tomorrow evening all being well.

Had a quick look and found these 5

32.2km Steve Purcell http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/951507?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
21.1km cyclick62 http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/774464?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
32.8km kipster http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/777842?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
48.7km RickB http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/685828?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
38km LBHifi http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/725586?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1

I'll try and find some shorter ones tomorrow so that you have a good selection to make the final choices from.

 

[kipster]

a few others for consideration:

19.3km LBHifi (Mallorca) Hill start then descent and flat - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/723075?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
23.3km The Stig 50+ Flat start, hill then rolling - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/629797?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
25.7km Kipster rolling all the way - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/888686?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
24.8km Randy, rolling - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/675277?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
22.2km Ryan, Flat start and finish with a rolling middle - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/782714?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
25.8km Tracey CBM - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/965267?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
16km - StevePurcell S.C.C. - 400m - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/915918?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1

Anyone else got rides they have done and would like to be included for Rick to choose from?

 

[bridgy]

Here's some of my shorter "real" local rides uploaded from Strava:

29km flattish/rolling - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/934234?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1
48km mostly flat with a really steep climb towards the end - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/917951?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1

And this one uploaded by Monte, but a local we both do a lot:
49km rolling - http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/643902?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1

Appreciate the two 40k+ routes may be a bit on the long side for an average chaingang ride

 

[Baldo Mero]

Couple options from my closest short nightstand rides:

http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary/1554485
This is a 25km easy ride with a nice, not too hard climb and descend back home

http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary/1708776
And this other is also 25 km, pretty flat after an intense but short hill at the beginning. It is a segment of longer rides.

 

[Randyberlin]

http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/342856?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1

One of Kipsters.

 

[Rob_H]

@BILL S S, @AAAC 76C
Hi Guys,
I read your comments on BillS's wall, but for some reason I couldn't reply. I wonder what we could do to see what variations there are between the different types of trainers. I'd be more than happy to be a Guinea Pig to get some good comparisions between the Bkool and Vortex. Here's some information from the few times I've been on BKool and Zwift:

I notice on BKool that as the gradient gets steeper +8% my power seems to go down, I guessed this was to do with BKool trying to make my effort realistic. I haven't analysed the numbers but it seems to be this way. I'll try and look more closely at the numbers.

The first stage of Mountain Goats was difficult at the start, I felt like I should be going fast on the small descents. I'm killing myself pedalling but don't get much over 50kph, this seems consistant with what others have said. I don't seem to see this problem in Zwift.

I did an ftp test in Zwift, which as far as I know they normalise the gradient so the Vortex should have not problems with this. My result was calculated at 320watts, which is very similar to what I did on the first stage.

I've not done an FTP test in BKool, but happy to give it a go to see what comes out, or if you guys have any other suggestions. It would be great to create a proper level playing field, even for the simple reason there are so few guys with Vortexs I'd be in a very small league if we split by trainer.

Any thoughts?
Thanks