Team BKool CycleChat

[berty bassett]

has anyone experimented with the weight in bkool ? either adding 20kg or taking 20kg off to see if they could feel the difference and if i was to try it for one ride , would it make the league rides go all wonky? only asking out of interest. being one of the lighter riders how would bkool react if i added weight -and has a heavier rider tried a ride with a lower weight - would they make it easier for me or harder - or would it depend on course or would it even out - loads of questions ????

 

[theboxers]

has anyone experimented with the weight in bkool ? either adding 20kg or taking 20kg off to see if they could feel the difference and if i was to try it for one ride , would it make the league rides go all wonky? only asking out of interest. being one of the lighter riders how would bkool react if i added weight -and has a heavier rider tried a ride with a lower weight - would they make it easier for me or harder - or would it depend on course or would it even out - loads of questions ????

I tried it on an Alpe d'Huez session on an older firmware version. I went from an estimated finish time of 4 1/2 hours, I bailed after 45 minutes iirc, to an actual finish time of 2 hr 5 min. I dropped myself down to 100kg, the max allowed on the website is 129kg and that's what I had prior to this one off attempt. The firmware was changed shortly after and I get a wheel speed reading now rather than an estimate.

Edit to add. The newest firmware gives way too much back over the older versions. Look at my most recent d'Huez session. 50 odd minutes

 

[Soarerv8]

has anyone experimented with the weight in bkool ? either adding 20kg or taking 20kg off to see if they could feel the difference and if i was to try it for one ride , would it make the league rides go all wonky? only asking out of interest. being one of the lighter riders how would bkool react if i added weight -and has a heavier rider tried a ride with a lower weight - would they make it easier for me or harder - or would it depend on course or would it even out - loads of questions ????

Yep accidentally left it after youngest son had been on at 30kg. Made the uphills much easier but also made a huge difference in the downhill speeds I attained.

 

[<Tommy>]

It turns out the only thing harder than a Sunday night hill climbing session is abstaining from booze long enough to complete a Sunday night hill climbing session!

On the plus side I'm having good fun burning an assortment of meat on the bbq and Mrs turbos cocktails are as tasty as ever!

@theboxers I had to google stem extenders. But looking at them I'd assume even with my limited knowledge of these things they'd defo make your bike feel more twitchy. But maybe you also just need more road time so to speak to get used to it.

 

[berty bassett]

thanks for the answers - so i guess all in all its trying to make a level playing field !

 

[Vertego]

thanks for the answers - so i guess all in all its trying to make a level playing field !

Level playing field? Where?

There always seem to be hills. Everywhere.

 

[Soarerv8]

Well loaded the bikes up on the sea Sucker bike carrier thingy today to go out for a family amble. Genuinely terrifying journey every creak or noise from the roof led to frantic looks in the mirror where I expected to find all 3 bikes disappearing into the distance. Youngest son was put on bike suicide watch staring upwards to make sure there remained 3 bikes on the roof.

In the end I have to admit probably the easiest way I have ever transported 3 bikes quickest to fit and load by a huge margin.

Did put toe straps around the pedals to stop them moving as I could see that be a pedal vs bodywork disaster.

 

[AAAC 76C]

thanks for the answers - so i guess all in all its trying to make a level playing field !

Due to the nature of the impact of the BKool Firmware etc on when you attain you max climbing resistance, how fast you go downhill and the not totally realistic impact of drafting I would be quite happy for everyone in the league to set their weight at the same setting.
There are obvious possible issues with this as weight and power are often linked i.e. Mark Cavendish cannot beat the likes of Griepel for power (or Kittel) but he was once just as fast. Likewise Wiggins was probably more powerful than Contador but he could sustain a similar constant climbing speed (noting that he could not go with many accelerations) so in general the lighter riders would be giving away watts to kg but there is generally, within our league, (and no offence intended) a relationship between weight and fitness. I for one have increased my BKool weight to 78kg from the 74kg I am generally but that was not to disadvantage myself but more to try and compensate for my objective view on the downhill speeds I get with my older Pro Firmware.

 

[bridgy]

Due to the nature of the impact of the BKool Firmware etc on when you attain you max climbing resistance, how fast you go downhill and the not totally realistic impact of drafting I would be quite happy for everyone in the league to set their weight at the same setting.
There are obvious possible issues with this as weight and power are often linked i.e. Mark Cavendish cannot beat the likes of Griepel for power (or Kittel) but he was once just as fast. Likewise Wiggins was probably more powerful than Contador but he could sustain a similar constant climbing speed (noting that he could not go with many accelerations) so in general the lighter riders would be giving away watts to kg but there is generally, within our league, (and no offence intended) a relationship between weight and fitness. I for one have increased my BKool weight to 78kg from the 74kg I am generally but that was not to disadvantage myself but more to try and compensate for my objective view on the downhill speeds I get with my older Pro Firmware.

That would at least be a really good experiment to try on one of the races

 

[AAAC 76C]

Well loaded the bikes up on the sea Sucker bike carrier thingy today to go out for a family amble. Genuinely terrifying journey every creak or noise from the roof led to frantic looks in the mirror where I expected to find all 3 bikes disappearing into the distance. Youngest son was put on bike suicide watch staring upwards to make sure there remained 3 bikes on the roof.

In the end I have to admit probably the easiest way I have ever transported 3 bikes quickest to fit and load by a huge margin.

Did put toe straps around the pedals to stop them moving as I could see that be a pedal vs bodywork disaster.

I assume you have the 3 bike mount.

I am quite surprised to see how far the right hand bike seems to be leaning outwards.
There a quite a few phots on line with folk sitting on their bike mounted on a tail gate so the system is obviously really secure.
Not sure how the manufacturer goes about disclaimers on damage caused to the vehicle, bikes and third party property but I would be tempted to try and triangulate the bikes to the front carrier using straps just to remove the amount the bike moves relative to front fork stays, which based on the way bikes are made should be next to nothing. But I just can't help myself making any internal or external loads as risk free as possible.

 

[berty bassett]

That would at least be a really good experiment to try on one of the races

be interesting to see - i'd be up for that

 

[berty bassett]

Well loaded the bikes up on the sea Sucker bike carrier thingy today to go out for a family amble. Genuinely terrifying journey every creak or noise from the roof led to frantic looks in the mirror where I expected to find all 3 bikes disappearing into the distance. Youngest son was put on bike suicide watch staring upwards to make sure there remained 3 bikes on the roof.

In the end I have to admit probably the easiest way I have ever transported 3 bikes quickest to fit and load by a huge margin.

Did put toe straps around the pedals to stop them moving as I could see that be a pedal vs bodywork disaster.

i bet the steering wheel was being gripped a little tighter than usual !!

 

[Soarerv8]

I assume you have the 3 bike mount.

I am quite surprised to see how far the right hand bike seems to be leaning outwards.
There a quite a few phots on line with folk sitting on their bike mounted on a tail gate so the system is obviously really secure.
Not sure how the manufacturer goes about disclaimers on damage caused to the vehicle, bikes and third party property but I would be tempted to try and triangulate the bikes to the front carrier using straps just to remove the amount the bike moves relative to front fork stays, which based on the way bikes are made should be next to nothing. But I just can't help myself making any internal or external loads as risk free as possible.

Think it is a slightly optical illusion doesn't lean as much as it looks but due to curve of the roof the rack does end up bending to match it so they do lean outwards slightly.

Thinking about it could bring the back wheels of the bikes all together and lash them together but it does all feel incredibly sturdy.

Did idly wonder how the rear sunroof is attached and if it could pop out in transit, guess most of the pressure is downwards though.

 

[Soarerv8]

i bet the steering wheel was being gripped a little tighter than usual !!

Absolutely everything was clenched very tight, surprised I could get off the seat when we arrived.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Think it is a slightly optical illusion doesn't lean as much as it looks but due to curve of the roof the rack does end up bending to match it so they do lean outwards slightly.

Thinking about it could bring the back wheels of the bikes all together and lash them together but it does all feel incredibly sturdy.

Did idly wonder how the rear sunroof is attached and if it could pop out in transit, guess most of the pressure is downwards though.

Buy another sea sucker and put on the inside and tie it to the handbrake. That way if the sun roof flies of your car will stop!