Team BKool CycleChat

[Baldo Mero]

The ranking is not determined by who reach the finish line first, but who finishes the stage in the shortest time. So if you joined the race late, then this could be the reason. You simply did the stage faster than him.
This could also be the reason for the jumping, as Bkool can't seem to make up their mind about using absolute time (actual race start time) or relative time (you race start time) as basis of your race position. This also means that it it was probably yourself who jumped (not fact, just a theory).

But the thing is... I didn't join late, I even stayed near the front for a few kms until the first descents. I have had a look at the power curves and some of the ones I mean are a mess:
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1770094
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1769736
Compare to mine:
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1770044

 

[rob01792]

baldo don't worry about it just enjoy cos all this pulsing talk is going to spoil it for u. the problem been identified just hope bkool sort it soon last night I was a bit paranoid to spin up for the downhills
remember just enjoy

 

[rob01792]

cheers rick for the encouragement last night I needed it

 

[BILL S]

But the thing is... I didn't join late, I even stayed near the front for a few kms until the first descents. I have had a look at the power curves and some of the ones I mean are a mess:
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1770094
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1769736
Compare to mine:
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1770044

I remember you were ahead of me until the slope turned -ve then you just went backwards. You have an advantage on the up and a disadvantage on the down. Probably you need a slope of 1 or 2 degrees for it to be a fair and equal race.

 

[BILL S]

But the thing is... I didn't join late, I even stayed near the front for a few kms until the first descents. I have had a look at the power curves and some of the ones I mean are a mess:
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1770094
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1769736
Compare to mine:
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1770044

It is near impossible to make a smooth power curve on this type of ride if you have a bkool pro. Mine is just as much a mess and it's because as soon as you hit a downhill it spins out and you can't get the power down so you freewheel for a bit until you can get the power down again. On a goat ride its totally different and the pro's can also have a smooth power curve. Also the drafting is causing the power curves to fluctuate somewhat.
Sounds like we are all consciously trying to avoid the pulsing but it could be hard to avoid completely the way bkool have things set up with the pro units, especially if its a flattish ride with some short ups & downs.

 

[bobinski]

This post on trainer road suggests that some at least of the issues with bkool are nearing resolution. Hopefully the pulsing and other problems are covered or soon will be. In the meantime however frustrating we should all try not to stress about it too much.
Hi Renzo, Everyone, I wanted to give you an update on the situation. Things are looking pretty optimistic at this point! We recently had a call with Bkool in which they remotely updated our Bkool's firmware. This new firmware version has worked well, and the power control has matched the power targets during all of our testing! We supplied Bkool with a TrainerRoad testing account, so hopefully, things are going well with testing on Bkool's end, too. We still have a little more testing to do, but here's hoping that a new firmware will be released soon! I can't speak for Bkool in terms of when they'll be releasing this firmware, but I would assume they'll get it out as soon as they've deemed it ready. We'll post more updates here as they co

 

[Noah Street]

On yesterday's ride I found it impossible to pack with the riders that were around me. There were a couple of riders, I recall a Noah and a Jon, possibly Insomina (sorry if I don't remember right) that were hanging around but they seemed to jump forward and back constantly so there was no way to get close to them and draft. One of them, Noah, was jumping several minutes ahead and back in time. He arrived before me but his final time is listed behind. Why is this? Were they using the "pulsing" style that you have been talking about? Again, if the classification is ordered by W/Kg there are some anomalies difficult to explain by team draftings or strategies. Obviously in my case the vortex handicap is involved and I lost time in the descents as always (I made 3,3 W/Kg and should be around the top ten in the W/Kg classification, but ended 16th), but that is more difficult to explain comparing between Bkool pros, isn't it?. It seems impossible to get to the bottom of these variations... Anyway, thanks rickB for hosting the race, it was fun!

glad you also noticed it (see my email @ 22:18 last night). I've only done a few chaingangs but that's the first time I've seen that

 

[Baldo Mero]

It is near impossible to make a smooth power curve on this type of ride if you have a bkool pro. Mine is just as much a mess and it's because as soon as you hit a downhill it spins out and you can't get the power down so you freewheel for a bit until you can get the power down again. On a goat ride its totally different and the pro's can also have a smooth power curve. Also the drafting is causing the power curves to fluctuate somewhat.
Sounds like we are all consciously trying to avoid the pulsing but it could be hard to avoid completely the way bkool have things set up with the pro units, especially if its a flattish ride with some short ups & downs.

Understood, you are right. The anomaly is my smooth curve which is due to being breaking my back equally in downs and flats. The Noah case is then a mystery, I agree with the Tardis hypothesis. Maybe he just figured a new Bkool superpower, the time-space "aNoahmaly"

 

[LBHIFI]

But the thing is... I didn't join late, I even stayed near the front for a few kms until the first descents. I have had a look at the power curves and some of the ones I mean are a mess:
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1770094
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1769736
Compare to mine:
http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary?sessionSummaryId=1770044

That does sound strange then.
I know for a fact that BSim uses the PC time to calculate how fast you did a stage (end time - start time). Relying on PC times could be problematic, especially if they are out of sync with real time. So my best theory would be that maybe the system uses a fixed base time but a relative time extracted from a rider that is near you. If that rider changes to another rider with a PC time which is, lets say 1 minute off, then things could get unpredictable.

 

[AAAC 76C]

That does sound strange then.
I know for a fact that BSim uses the PC time to calculate how fast you did a stage (end time - start time). Relying on PC times could be problematic, especially if they are out of sync with real time. So my best theory would be that maybe the system uses a fixed base time but a relative time extracted from a rider that is near you. If that rider changes to another rider with a PC time which is, lets say 1 minute off, then things could get unpredictable.

There was a time when I thought some poeple were fixing thier times by changing thier PC time during a race.
I stumbled across this accidentaly as I was trying to set my PC to CET because I was mainly racing in European, out of UK, events. I was in the middle of doing this when I was warming up and got caught out by the start. Half way through on a long decent I realised I had not exited the 'change time zone' window and did it mid stage.
I did well in the live event but had an hour added onto my time and came last in the standings!

 

[AAAC 76C]

What exactly did you say to them? I could really use some extra watts in my feet

Something along the lines of the now famous Jens Voigt "shut up legs" but a bit less printable.

 

[AAAC 76C]

It really pisses me off that my expensive Genius wan't work without the controller

<British humour>
Really pisses me off that poeple can afford to buy a second trainer with one of them being really expensive.
Cheers me up though when I hear it don't work because of the crap bit of hardware which turns out to be the on switch!
<British humour>

 

[one_legged_rider]

I only started back riding a few weeks ago and i;m really struggling with the rides over 30mins. Any tips?
I'm finding the heat of the turbo really doesn't help the legs.

I've noticed that a lot of top riders also have high cadences. Sadly i've also noticed that in my case a high cadence are a good way to kill my legs quickly.

 

[AAAC 76C]

if the classification is ordered by W/Kg there are some anomalies difficult to explain by team draftings or strategies.

Baldo, don't get to drawn into the watts thing.
Look at the speed stats instead as that is what is measured.
The watts is just a theoretical calculation based on speed, gradient, weight and any wind set.
Average watts are also driven high by calculated watt spikes which occur during gradient transitions as you take your speed, which is measured, into a steeper gradient, which is measured.

Out of interest what happens when you ride in Bkool and go from a slope below 7% onto one that is steeper, say 15%. Do you get a higher indicated wattage than your effort.
You may not if the watts calculation comes from the trainer and not the PC hardware

 

[AAAC 76C]

I only started back riding a few weeks ago and i;m really struggling with the rides over 30mins. Any tips?
I'm finding the heat of the turbo really doesn't help the leg

I've noticed that a lot of top riders also have high cadences. Sadly i've also noticed that in my case a high cadence are a good way to kill my legs quickly.

Jim lad!

Riding too hard and too often = 'over training'.
As you compete/train you actually loose form just as you get tired toward the end of a race.
If you do not rest enough between sessions you may actually get worse.
Try doing some really low HR/power sessions in zone 1 and 2 and build up the duration.
It can be really boring so stick on some good music or even watch TV while you do it.
As you feel your endurance coming back do some harder efforts.

If you want to work on your cadence do some track intervals or long descents where it is hard to get on top of the gear. If you really want to build up your cadence buy some rollers but if you have never done that before get some with a fork stand.