Team BKool CycleChat

[Baldo Mero]

Well don't be coming up with a vast improvement before Thursday please, you and I are off at the same time, and I was hoping to draft you for the majority of the way.

Very skeptic about the drafting benefits for the tacx as well, so you are welcome to try

 

[gbrown]

Bkool have got back to me on the KICKR lack of Virtual speed and suggested that it is because I am not a Premium subscriber and Virtual speed is a Premium feature. I had wondered this, but couldn't see why it would be so, and it also affected Monte and Baldo when using Tacx. As far as I know you guys are Premium subscribers as you are taking part in the multiplayer rides. Have you had discussions with Bkool about the lack of Virtual Speed?

I will of course get a months Premium and give it a try. Funnily enough I didn't get an annual subscription partly because the Virtual speed wasn't working way back last winter!

I'll let you all know how I get on.

Geoff

 

[Add]

I was worried that the usual suspects would hit the front too early in the race, but the more I think about it the harder I think it is going to be to shake off someone who is normally just a little slower than you. So as people close up into little groups it might be hard to pull away from them. Dropping one person is a lot easier then dropping a group of several, as they'll have the option of drafting each other and sharing the work to close back up again.

It is certainly possible that anyone among the faster guys can gain enough to give top 3 a run for it, but equally one of the earlier starters could gain considerable amounts of time from drafting and the additional motivation, so we may get a surprise winner.

The variation in order from stage to stage seems quite pronounced, and working out fair starting times is proving difficult, as many runs are affected by external influences or fitness/motivation.

In reality, we really need the fastest times from many attempts at the actual stage being run to get an accurate handicap for everyone. I suggest that if the handicaps prove popular that stages are repeated to get more accurate handicaps, but perhaps, for variety, a number of popular stages are rotated so each is done regularly but not too often that it becomes dull.

For example, stages like Alpe d'Huez are repeated endlessly, so they make good candidates.

Geoff

I agree. I think a designated run repeated many times is the answer. Let's face it, not many of us are in it for the scenery.

The original idea for this came from a 5km run handicap series they have here in Elan Valley. They do the same course every time, and tweak the start times for everyone based on their PB's.

 

[Bonno]

I agree hope u get a new trainer soon Monte and we see u on the bkool road.

And I hope you get yours back soon

Jonbon,
Under the share tab on Bkool you're tied for 3rd on Snow canyon out of 757 other attempts.

But 1st of the Vet3 oldies

 

[bridgy]

I agree. I think a designated run repeated many times is the answer. Let's face it, not many of us are in it for the scenery.

The original idea for this came from a 5km run handicap series they have here in Elan Valley. They do the same course every time, and tweak the start times for everyone based on their PB's.

Yeah, I should also have said it is a really good idea to designate one particular course for a regular handicap race and fine-tune the handicaps

 

[Baldo Mero]

Bkool have got back to me on the KICKR lack of Virtual speed and suggested that it is because I am not a Premium subscriber and Virtual speed is a Premium feature. I had wondered this, but couldn't see why it would be so, and it also affected Monte and Baldo when using Tacx. As far as I know you guys are Premium subscribers as you are taking part in the multiplayer rides. Have you had discussions with Bkool about the lack of Virtual Speed?
Geoff

Yes, I am still premium. I have not given up yet but I am not a happy camper. Have not had any discussion on the matter yet, but you can mention to them that the premium excuse is bullshit in my case

 

[Goldwolfie]

Cheers Geoff . I think

I'd prefer 2.5 but you have put a Target on GW's back now GW

Note to self keep my mouth shut about My handicap start times

I'll go with the 6.5 atm

That'll larn you - you've just given me a 4 minute head start which seems about right.

You've laid the gauntlet down now , what's your sprinting like as it could be a close call.

I just hope I don't get lost on the course with a shortage of tracks to follow

On another note, I hope I can make it on Thursday as I think I may have a problem developing with my Classic 2.

Got all dressed up for a spin on the turbo last night and it wouldn't power on - no green led on the head unit. Tried to measure the voltage output from the transformer, but my meter battery was flat - always the case when you need it. Did all the usual, tried a different socket and made sure the connections were sound, but no joy.

Went and retried it before I went to bed and it powered on OK, but didn't actually give it a go. I'll have a bash tonight, but just a bit worried in case I have an intermittant problem.

I hope I'm not stuck on the start line with my tool case open come Thursday night.

Anyone else had a similar problem - it's about 4 months old, so still under warranty.

 

[theboxers]

I was worried that the usual suspects would hit the front too early in the race, but the more I think about it the harder I think it is going to be to shake off someone who is normally just a little slower than you. So as people close up into little groups it might be hard to pull away from them. Dropping one person is a lot easier then dropping a group of several, as they'll have the option of drafting each other and sharing the work to close back up again.

Snip

For example, stages like Alpe d'Huez are repeated endlessly, so they make good candidates.

Geoff

Alpe d'Huez

Although my registered best is 2:05. I have contemplated doing it again since my fw update but I'm scared of the climb

 

[Add]

To me that was one of those legendary bkool moments (almost up there with Randy and his wormhole ), when I discovered that having all showered and gotten settled down to relax for the evening, you had to go out and do it all over again . I think there was a message on this forum with numerous expletives just before you went out to do your re-run. You did it though Adam and you re-beat me by a good 20 seconds or so and there was no way I was going back to do it again, not that I'd probably have managed anyway having already knackered myself as much as I was willing to.

I'm older and wiser now....well certainly older.

 

[bridgy]

Yes, I am still premium. I have not given up yet but I am not a happy camper. Have not had any discussion on the matter yet, but you can mention to them that the premium excuse is bullshit in my case

@Baldo Mero - you might want to look at https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bkool-race-results-and-watts.194677/post-4134881 where @Bkool have just replied saying what they've already said to Geoff:

"Hi folks,

This new feature (virtual speed for compatible smart trainers) is only for premium users, reason why it isn't working for Geoff, as he is a free Bkool user. If you have a premium account and a compatible smart trainer, this should be working for you just fine.

We hope this helps."

- and point out to them what you've said above!

 

[rob01792]

@gbrown wouldn't we all need to be on the start line ahead of the start so when we finished the times will all be similar so we can then see our positions cos if some join 20 minutes later after the start the time would be 20 minutes less placing then in 1st as bkool uses time to calculate positions not who crossed the line 1st

 

[theboxers]

Geoff

I looked back at some of my league rides This one looks good to me. It has up and down plus flat. I managed to do a 100% effort for about and hour

http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary/1778785

Anything over an hour for the slower riders like me will probably be a bit too much in a race situation

There was another ride where I did a lot better than expected but I can't identify it yet.

 

[Add]

@gbrown wouldn't we all need to be on the start line ahead of the start so when we finished the times will all be similar so we can then see our positions cos if some join 20 minutes later after the start the time would be 20 minutes less placing then in 1st as bkool uses time to calculate positions not who crossed the line 1st

Fear not! It is a tried and tested formula.
It will be a first across the line race, with Geoff as the independent adjudicator. Your time will only be relevant to you, and can then be used to generate your next handicap.
And take it from us, it is boring sat on the start line for 20 minutes.

 

[Bkool]

Yes, I am still premium. I have not given up yet but I am not a happy camper. Have not had any discussion on the matter yet, but you can mention to them that the premium excuse is bullshit in my case

@Baldo Mero, could you please let us know the Tacx model you are using with the Bkool simulator? Also, we would appreciate if you could let us know your user email account at Bkool, you can send that on a private message if don't want to post it here. We will try to find out why the virtual speed is no working for you

 

[gbrown]

As Adam says, it's boring sitting on the start line for up to 20 minutes or more, and worse you can't pedal so you get cold.

It's better to warm up properly in another session and then join at the appropriate time. The recorded time will be your elapsed time from start to finish, so it will reflect your actual performance, but for the purposes of a more entertaining race the on road racing will be much closer and I'm pretty sure the finishing positions are displayed in the confirmation screen, plus I will attempt to record the whole thing!

After the race, I will add the specified handicaps to the recorded elapsed times to get a "handicapped" finishing order, and kudos will be given to the correct people!

Then everyone who does well will get their handicap savagely cut for the re-run...

Geoff