Team BKool CycleChat

[BILL S]

Damn that was tough. I knew AAAC would just keep pumping high watts throughout the race, but I was waiting for Bill and Paul drop down to a more humane level. It just never happened and after 15 minutes in the red zone with an avg. of 375 watt I just had to get the pulse down a bit. Bill & Paul, you seem to have taken a step up the fitness ladder , so I'll have to do +100% sessions to keep up.

The Watts registered by my BePros were considerably lower, something like 50 watts lower, but I forgot to end the ride on my Garmin so I didn't save it to Strava.

I found that very tough too. AAAC and Paul were animals today.
I doubt I'm fitter than you Lars, as you came from nowhere and won the last league, while riding 4 days in a row! It could easily be tyre related. You know what these fast flat rides are like where tyre efficiency is everything. I think an uphill race would show a very different result.

 

[CXRAndy]

Pleased with my ride considering I have only done tempo 30mins rides whilst on holiday and arrived home at 4pm today.

Good ride Rob, I just had enough to catch you, but nothing above that to breakaway. Eventually my lack of fitness told and I dropped back. 300watt average is good considering, it was my lungs that were burning tonight.
Bridgy, so strong he thought he would do it twice and show us minions how to ride fast

 

[AAAC 76C]

Although I was feeling quite good tonight, I'm not sure how accurate that ride from me was - I had a section when I got up speed on the flat to 33-34mph and just kept spinning at that speed for ages - my watts were showing ridiculously high, like 500-700! Was it this course where you had very high watts Bill, and it put your fitness up a few levels?

Bridgy, you may have part answered my conundrum on how the guy, AID, who is leading the Summer League.
He is going so fast all be it he does seem to do big big sustained watts like you showed today.
You did 2 x 20 minute 10's back to back which is quite impressive.
I have noticed myself that when we fly of from the start I can maintain speeds that I would not expect to.
However today's session was basically flat with just a couple of blips.
In the main it was on a slow road, I assume those were cobbles we were on for most of the course and I found my speed was down a few kph from what I would normally expect and whilst on the 'cobbles' I never really got up to 50 kph/30 mph. However later in the session we got onto tarmac and it looks like you put in a sustained period doing in excess of 50 kph and at time averaging about 600 watts.
There was another point before the big blip where you were sustaining in excess of 650 watts and again smashing 50 kph.
From what you said earlier although you were digging in it sounds like you were surprised with your progress.

The other thing I noticed is that when we were altogether Bill was the only one who dead stopped on that short sharp climb.

 

[AAAC 76C]

I found that very tough too. AAAC and Paul were animals today.
I doubt I'm fitter than you Lars, as you came from nowhere and won the last league, while riding 4 days in a row! It could easily be tyre related. You know what these fast flat rides are like where tyre efficiency is everything. I think an uphill race would show a very different result.

I was trying out a new tyre today.
Off went my Vittora Rubino Pro Slick 23c pumped to 140 PSI and on went a Vittora Rubino Pro Speed Graphine + which is supposed to have a 16% reduced rolling resistance pumped to 135 PSI.
I can't say I felt any difference but the later tyre whistles as is rolls on the turbo and noise is energy loss so all in all I felt I gained nothing form my £30 investment over my £6 pound Rubino Slick.
To add insult to injury my super light latex inner tube didn't last one inflation, I must have trapped the tinniest bit of inner tube in the clincher bead,although I checked and also didn't use a lever once.
I got to 100 PSI and that was it, pop!

Anyone want a good folding tyre for real road use?

 

[LBHIFI]

The other thing I noticed is that when we were altogether Bill was the only one who dead stopped on that short sharp climb.

I noticed that too. However, I had two dead stops later. One where there was a sudden 13% short section, and another at only 0.5%. The first is understandable, but the last???

 

[AAAC 76C]

No wonder I am feeling uncomfortable in those Summer Cup sessions:

 

[AAAC 76C]

I noticed that too. However, I had two dead stops later. One where there was a sudden 13% short section, and another at only 0.5%. The first is understandable, but the last???

Is that the 13% up that flashed by followed by a 13% down and a couple of 9's or something in a few seconds.
If so that actually made me go quicker.
The 13% up had no effect because it was so quick but the down, as short as it was, seemed to give me a sling.
I can see that at 13.1 km you slowed to 7 kph and I continued at about 47 kph where as at 13.1 km Bridgy hit over 60 kph.

 

[bridgy]

Well my fitness level has gone up to Elite 3 after tonight's slightly dodgy ride!

If I were a pro, doping control would be knocking on my door about now(I did pinch a couple of jelly babies off the kids before the ride - not sure if they're on the banned substances list?!)

 

[AAAC 76C]

Well my fitness level has gone up to Elite 3 after tonight's slightly dodgy ride!

If I were a pro, doping control would be knocking on my door about now(I did pinch a couple of jelly babies off the kids before the ride - not sure if they're on the banned substances list?!)

I was trying to up mine today seeing as it was a good slog but I was 4.03 Watts shy of the 404.23 required and you were a massive 459 Watts!

 

[CXRAndy]

Bollocks, my ride is skewed because I hadn't to alter last nights weight from 2 weeks ago. Will need to do it again Saturday. Plus I have 9lb of holiday weight to shake off!

 

[CXRAndy]

Time for proper power meters me thinks!

 

[bobinski]

Time for proper power meters me thinks!

Andy, I am looking at this though also contemplating selling the bkool and replacing with a kickr.
http://www.cadenceperformance.com/news/test-article/

 

[theboxers]

@Goldwolfie congratulations on the rating promotion . Retirement is having its benefits .

 

[<Tommy>]

Andy, I am looking at this though also contemplating selling the bkool and replacing with a kickr.
http://www.cadenceperformance.com/news/test-article/

I've been thinking about getting a power meter recently. For me personally I like the idea of the pedal based ones so I can switch it between bikes more easily. I'd be very interested in other opinions.

It doesn't bother me that BKOOL isn't accurate so much as it doesn't seem to be consistent from ride to ride in its inaccuracy.

 

[Goldwolfie]

@Goldwolfie congratulations on the rating promotion . Retirement is having its benefits .

Cheers @theboxers I've got to average over 300 watts to get the next promotion - or lose some weight of course. It's not easy for us heavier chaps but we have to keep going.

@rob01792 is really flying now - we won't recognise him in his snazzy red outfit - we'll have to offer him a better deal to stay with Team White. Well done Rob that was some effort last night.

I'm off to take the dog for a walk, she thinks this retirement lark is great, but not sure Mrs GW agrees.