Team BKool CycleChat

[kipster]

I'm with you there @TurboTommy - I struggle to eat or drink as i am gasping throughout the torture.

But I did clearly remember going past AAAC 30 seconds into last night's effort - I thought what's going on, but it didn't last long ,and normal service resumed as I tailed in last, but you can't take those memories away.

What a sad life I lead.

It's a great feeling, I held AAAC off for about the same amount of time and then settled into my own midfield battles, some won, some lost. As per normal, I maintained about a minute to the guy in front and the guy behind. When we got to the hill, I managed to close in on Rod, having blue numbers on the very steep stuff (12%+ I got blue numbers approx 14 kmh, on 8% stuff I was white numbers and approx 11 / 12 kmh ).

 

[bobinski]

Talking of Bkool comparisons with real life, I've just done one of my regular local 20ish mile rides on Bkool and so I have a direct comparison. Bkool is quicker! I don't think that's surprising really, as there are numerous factors that can slow you down a bit in the real world which accumulate up - dodgy road surface, wind, slowing for bends and junctions, traffic etc etc - so I think a lot of the difference can be explained by this. Bkool is like doing it on a constantly perfect road surface with no slowing down for corners etc and in absolutely perfect weather conditions! I find my speed on specific sections of the ride is pretty comparable to real life, but the overall average speed works out at about 3mph quicker on Bkool because of all these factors. Having said that, my best in the real world was done last October before all this Bkooling so I'm hoping I'm a bit fitter now and I'm looking forward to having a go at bettering that time when the weather warms up this year!

Real world best effort:
View attachment 126445

Bkool best effort:
View attachment 126446

You,ll be faster now Bridgy

 

[LBHIFI]

I did too and decided to disqualify myself. I'm not suggesting you do the same.
Hopefully I can avoid taking advantage of the blue numbers on Saturday. My time was far too quick, but at least I got to scare AAAC . Didn't have the heart to pass him at the top .

I hate those +11% Bkool sections. Normally I would stand up during such sections, but with Bkool I get tyre slippage, so I can't do that. So I end up riding exact opposite what I would do in real life. E.g. in real life I stand up during the first 3 Alpe d'huez hairpins, and then sit down from there. On Bkool I have to sit down at first and then stand up on the lesser gradients.

 

[Goldwolfie]

A bit of advice required from you Pro Turbo users if I may.

I currently have a Bkool Classic 2, bought last October, but no longer available - so support may be an issue going forward.

I have an 'opportunity' to buy a Pro model, but not sure what vinatge it is.

Just wondering if there are any issues with an older model Pro, regarding Firmaware updates etc.

But perhaps more important is it easier to rotate that little silver wheelie thing on a Pro - which might be the main reason for my potential upgrade.

 

[LBHIFI]

Talking of Bkool comparisons with real life, I've just done one of my regular local 20ish mile rides on Bkool and so I have a direct comparison. Bkool is quicker! I don't think that's surprising really, as there are numerous factors that can slow you down a bit in the real world which accumulate up - dodgy road surface, wind, slowing for bends and junctions, traffic etc etc - so I think a lot of the difference can be explained by this. Bkool is like doing it on a constantly perfect road surface with no slowing down for corners etc and in absolutely perfect weather conditions! I find my speed on specific sections of the ride is pretty comparable to real life, but the overall average speed works out at about 3mph quicker on Bkool because of all these factors. Having said that, my best in the real world was done last October before all this Bkooling so I'm hoping I'm a bit fitter now and I'm looking forward to having a go at bettering that time when the weather warms up this year!

Real world best effort:
View attachment 126445

Bkool best effort:
View attachment 126446

That is a pretty fast real-life ride. I think you need good weather conditions to beat that. On a ride like that (round) I find that the perfect conditions are no wind and 20-25 °C.

 

[gbrown]

I have an 'opportunity' to buy a Pro model, but not sure what vinatge it is.

Just wondering if there are any issues with an older model Pro, regarding Firmaware updates etc.

@Goldwolfie

Ask the seller what firmware it is currently running. Some of the earlier Pro's would not upgrade and they are stuck on really old firmware. This also means no ANT+ F-EC so no using it with Zwift and/or trainer road.

I'd make sure you get a pro already updated to 3.06 firmware (or later).

Geoff

 

[Goldwolfie]

@Goldwolfie

Ask the seller what firmware it is currently running. Some of the earlier Pro's would not upgrade and they are stuck on really old firmware. This also means no ANT+ F-EC so no using it with Zwift and/or trainer road.

I'd make sure you get a pro already updated to 3.06 firmware (or later).

Geoff

Thanks Geoff - I'll probably save my pennies if I can't get an answer on the firmware version.

 

[bridgy]

That is a pretty fast real-life ride. I think you need good weather conditions to beat that. On a ride like that (round) I find that the perfect conditions are no wind and 20-25 °C.

I've done that route many times now and I know when the weather's going to be good for a quick time - and you're absolutely spot on!

 

[CXRAndy]

Bridgy, that is a pretty quick 20 mile run. That would explain why you’re at the front on Bkool races.

 

[designjacob]

Just did the Merry Harriers climb after my sweet spot session this morning jesus that hurt new 5 minute effort power level pb.

 

[bridgy]

Just did the Merry Harriers climb after my sweet spot session this morning jesus that hurt new 5 minute effort power level pb.

Great time

 

[CXRAndy]

Just did the Merry Harriers climb after my sweet spot session this morning jesus that hurt new 5 minute effort power level pb.

Are you- surrey climber? impressive power figures

 

[designjacob]

Are you- surrey climber? impressive power figures

Yer thats me was a hard one to pace a bit too long for a vo2 effort for me so last 2 minutes where brutal

 

[CXRAndy]

Yer thats me was a hard one to pace a bit too long for a vo2 effort for me so last 2 minutes where brutal

Your power didn't tail off badly though.

I shall have another go at this hill, I am sure I can do better

 

[BILL S]

That will explain why you two never seemed to catch me even though I was backing off a bit in the last third of the flatter section - I was getting a bit jealous of your drafting! I think your race tactics are a bit more refined than mine!

I could as usual tell that AAAC was hanging back and waiting for me, fully aware that the real race was when the big hill started. I was thinking that as long as you stayed out front you were at a disadvantage but was under no illusion about who would be weakest when it all started to go vertical. I was hoping that being out in front would tire you out.
I think we all get to know the riders we are usually alongside and I think you can usually predict what they're up to and their likely strategy. A word of warning about Lars though. He is very unpredictable and hard to figure out what he's going to do next. You don't know when he's going to make his break as it could be anywhere. I'm only ever likely to try that at the end, if I have any energy left.