Team BKool CycleChat

[CXRAndy]

Hi Geoff it doesn't really matter to the result, but I think I used 75kg for weight on Chapel fell I did last night. I was over a minute down since my last attempt in July. I think I was set a much lower weight back then.

 

[theboxers]

Nice quick response from bkool this time:

Hi Bill
Thanks for your message.
We are aware of this bug. Our developers have already fixed it and a new firmware version will soon be released for this purpose.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
See you at Bkool,

Damn there goes what little advantage I had over the PRO users

 

[gbrown]

Hi Geoff it doesn't really matter to the result, but I think I used 75kg for weight on Chapel fell I did last night. I was over a minute down since my last attempt in July. I think I was set a much lower weight back then.

@CXRAndy 314.6 Watts Normalized, impressive power.

After 16 months off, keeping my heart rate below 150 I'm struggling to average 130 Watts, any more and the heart rate exceeds my self imposed limit! I'm climbing at less than half the speed I was, but at least I'm cycling, and starting to enjoy it again.

I can see the Watts coming up slowly as I start to get a bit fitter. I'm testing what I can do below 150 bpm on a little climb I do regularly, just before the Merry Harriers. My PB is just over 2 minutes. When I started back it was around 6 minutes, last time was just over 5 minutes.

I'm working towards climbing (slowly) the Merry Harriers. I need to be able to sustain around 160-180 Watts and keep my heart rate below 150 before I can attempt it, so I've got some way to go. Once I can get up it, no matter how slowly, then I have access to some nice long runs beyond.

I've no idea if 150 bpm is a sensible limit, since no-one can tell me what is safe and what is not. Much less and I would be unable to cycle at anything other than a crawl. I may raise it to 160 next spring, if I'm feeling brave. My max in the last few years was around 183, so that's still a little headroom for safety. I think warming up is the most important thing for keeping the blood pressure down when exercising.

I decided not to go for the electric road bike in the end. If I can get out on my proper bike I'd prefer to use that, as it allows me to ride with friends.

Geoff

 

[Goldwolfie]

@Goldwolfie iirc you were thinking about doing lejog. I'm not sure how good these will be but there are some lejog leagues going

http://www.bkool.com/classification/showIndividualLeagueClassification/1585

Maybe you'd like some practice as you now have some spare time.

@theboxers - thanks for the link, I'll certainly give that a whirl through the winter. Since I retired last week I have been out and about riding locally, and just doing the league rides on the turbo.

Mrs GW has prioritised my list of jobs, so not too sure about all this free time, but at least I don't have to
cram everything into the weekend, which would be a problem now that footie season has started.

I'd been keen to hear how you get on with that Rio course as that's next on my list for later this week.

 

[<Tommy>]

Not going to make the ride tonight so I'll use my freedom pass for Thursday's chaingang ride instead.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Nice quick response from bkool this time:

Hi Bill
Thanks for your message.
We are aware of this bug. Our developers have already fixed it and a new firmware version will soon be released for this purpose.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
See you at Bkool,

And what will the fix unfix.
I almost feel that they are bolting on fixes rahter than fixing the problem if you get my gist and you end up with so many bolt ons it becomes an unstable mess.
But I could be wrong.
Bridgy, have you complained about going too fast vs Bill's stopping?

 

[bridgy]

And what will the fix unfix.
I almost feel that they are bolting on fixes rahter than fixing the problem if you get my gist and you end up with so many bolt ons it becomes an unstable mess.
But I could be wrong.
Bridgy, have you complained about going too fast vs Bill's stopping?

No AAAC, I don't complain when the glitches work in my favour!

Seriously though, I should really - I kind of put it down to one of those one-off glitches which I can kind of live with (even when it's not in my favour - honest!) as opposed to a fundamental problem like the speed crashes.

 

[BILL S]

And what will the fix unfix.
I almost feel that they are bolting on fixes rahter than fixing the problem if you get my gist and you end up with so many bolt ons it becomes an unstable mess.
But I could be wrong.
Bridgy, have you complained about going too fast vs Bill's stopping?

Yes, I can't help thinking the same. If so it ends up as a program with a load of problems with faulty bolt-ons and then bolt-ons to fix the faulty bolt-ons then its never going to be right.
As you said before, they need to go back to basics with a sound program and tweak it to give the realistic experience.

 

[BILL S]

No AAAC, I don't complain when the glitches work in my favour!

Seriously though, I should really - I kind of put it down to one of those one-off glitches which I can kind of live with (even when it's not in my favour - honest!) as opposed to a fundamental problem like the speed crashes.

But we do know that that is just a one off. And it only happens when soloing the ride.

At least I know where I can go for a cruise and get a nice green outfit to replace my yellow one.

 

[CXRAndy]

Thanks Geoff I nearly jacked it in part way, I had just finished the short leg in the other league and was chuffed to bits with 340watts for that attempt. But it was a different sprint and suited me much better. Chapel Fell is such a long steep drag on the Kickr, I felt drained part way. I stopped of pedalling for about 5 seconds then decided to finish it.

Re electric bikes. I went round Rutland water at the weekend, there was a young couple in Rental fat bikes with battery power, the way those bikes picked up pace was very impressive. I passed them and had a little joke about easy riding. This must of spurred them in to chase me. It took all my effort to get away and only for a short while. I gather they were casual cyclists so ran out of steam quite quickly. But the first few hills they were far more of a match against for me. I didn't hear either of them breathing heavy at first unlike me!

I woudnt dismiss electric bike for ride outs with mates if it keeps your heart rate under control.

 

[BILL S]

Geoff,
should that not be a 5 next to the 1 against my name, not a 7!

i have been nursing a twinged back-frigging old age-so not on the bike much and will likely Zwift tonight. Especially at 71 kilo's

And if that should be a 5 for you it should be a 3 for me as I am now Amateur10. That was all I could reach during my last ftp.

 

[BILL S]

I woudnt dismiss electric bike for ride outs with mates if it keeps your heart rate under control.

How about this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bultaco-B...b949e3&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=10&sd=282099771625

2000W maximum and no speed cut off!

 

[JLaw]

For you (ANT) FEC'ers that can Zwift tell me please:
How many Zwift routes are there?
And how quickly do the gradients change on these routes?

So I've been riding on Zwift for the last month or so (after spending most of the last 12 months in bkool).

As has already been pointed out -- just 3 routes in zwift. You do not get to choose your route (the "world" hack and changing your clock hack don't seem to work anymore). Essentially when you start the application, you're dropped into the scheduled world of the day with whomever is currently riding. The "Watopia" world is, IMHO, the most interesting as it has the most varied terrain, including a good climb. Zwift's 3D worlds have a lot more eye-candy. No action-cam video in zwift.

Gradient changes in zwift are *very* smooth. Dramatically better than bkool.

Structured workouts actually work and you can build your own fairly easily in zwift.

Leagues, races and group rides are much better in the bkool world than zwift -- there's simply more infrastructure in bkool to make setting up and managing a league. bkool has better infrastructure for tracking your rides and such (insert plug here for GoldenCheetah for tracking, it's awesome).

I don't see a community like we have here dedicated to zwift.

There's a ton more variety in bkool than zwift and you can add your own rides to bkool.

I'm probably going to hang out in zwift up through the end of my local riding season -- I'm utilizing zwift's structured training capabilities as I work towards my season's goals. I'll probably head back to bkool for most riding once the local season is done and I just want to ride/climb to maintain my fitness through the late fall/winter.

 

[bobinski]

And if that should be a 5 for you it should be a 3 for me as I am now Amateur10. That was all I could reach during my last ftp.

But Bill, my good effort and your not so good one were just down to the vagaries of Bkool!

Anyway, knackered after my Zwift ride. Another indicator Bkool flatters me. And it rained;

 

[JLaw]

Good idea - I'm tempted to do the same.
...
I notice Zwift have a 14 day free trial - maybe all of us who don't currently have a Zwift membership should sign up for this and trial a race or two there and see what we think...?

Note that the trial limits you to 50km or somesuch.