Team BKool CycleChat

[kipster]

For FTP tests I tend to go off at 85% effort and build up to loony, I did try it the other way round, but it's nicer to see the watts go up than come down mind you I suck at FTP tests anyway.

 

[r04DiE]

Thanks, @kipster - that was sort of what I was thinking.

 

[BILL S]

Thank you guys, I'll give it a go later on after work. Should have my floor fan this evening, so that's good.

So basically I will just start off at as high a pace as I think I can sustain for 20 mins and I will gradually increase or decrease it according to how I feel. I know if I hit it like a loony then I will just blow up as I'm useless at gauging effort over time (which is another reason I want to ride with others!) So what I'll do is gradually try to increase my loonyness as I go.

I keep popping back to the excellent FAQ as I find my way around things and it has been an excellent resource Must also check out the leagues so thanks for the tip - I'm currently awaiting being added to the Chaingang.

Look forward to trying to keep up with you all

You're now in the chaingang @r04DiE so tomorrow at 5 . If you do that you won't need to do an FTP as the ride is more than 30 mins.
Have you tried using the filter for searching for a ride under the Live tab in Bsim? Sometimes they can be hard to find unless you use the filter. When joining a chaingang league ride do not enter under the Leagues tab. One person will start it under the Leagues tab and the rest will join under "Live". Try to join near the start of the 10 minute warm up so you get a chance to warmup and relax before the race starts. Most of us do a top gear start and shoot off rather quick. But probably best you don't try to stay with the leaders on your first go. Unless they're obviously too slow for you which is a possibility of course

 

[BILL S]

BTW. AAAC or someone else will be starting the re-run tomorrow.

 

[r04DiE]

You're now in the chaingang @r04DiE so tomorrow at 5 . If you do that you won't need to do an FTP as the ride is more than 30 mins.

Ooh, thank you, Bill - I feel like I've just joined my first cycling club I will say that things at home are difficult in terms of getting time on the bike in the early evening but I will do my very best to be there. Later in the evening is better so I will almost certainly be around for the 7pm ones.

Have you tried using the filter for searching for a ride under the Live tab in Bsim? Sometimes they can be hard to find unless you use the filter.

Yes, I gave that a go last night but couldn't find the chaingang, then again, that might've been because I hadn't been accepted, or because it hadn't been created maybe?

When joining a chaingang league ride do not enter under the Leagues tab. One person will start it under the Leagues tab and the rest will join under "Live". Try to join near the start of the 10 minute warm up so you get a chance to warmup and relax before the race starts. Most of us do a top gear start and shoot off rather quick. But probably best you don't try to stay with the leaders on your first go.

Sounds like a great idea, like the idea of the top gear start

Unless they're obviously too slow for you which is a possibility of course

That's doubtful - I don't think I'm going to be setting any records just yet. Never raced in my life so I'll probably be watching the rest of you disappear into the distance. Then again, I might be amazing, and all this self-depreciative talk will make me come across as some kind of lying hustler. Hang on, am I over-thinking all of this?

 

[CXRAndy]

They way I find the rides for chaingang in the live tab on bsim. I log into bsim a minute before schedule start time. In the bottom left, there is a refresh icon. I use that a couple of times to load up the latest rides. Then use the arrow keys to scroll through all the rides until I come across it.
Once you have logged in you can keep warming up, but you must not pedaling to start the race. If your wheel is turning at the start you need to wait until it stops or apply brakes to stop it. Hope it makes sense.

 

[bobinski]

Ooh, thank you, Bill - I feel like I've just joined my first cycling club I will say that things at home are difficult in terms of getting time on the bike in the early evening but I will do my very best to be there. Later in the evening is better so I will almost certainly be around for the 7pm ones.
Yes, I gave that a go last night but couldn't find the chaingang, then again, that might've been because I hadn't been accepted, or because it hadn't been created maybe? Sounds like a great idea, like the idea of the top gear start That's doubtful - I don't think I'm going to be setting any records just yet. Never raced in my life so I'll probably be watching the rest of you disappear into the distance. Then again, I might be amazing, and all this self-depreciative talk will make me come across as some kind of lying hustler. Hang on, am I over-thinking all of this?

Ahhh, another potential hustler! Welcome to the gang

 

[r04DiE]

Ahhh, another potential hustler! Welcome to the gang

I knew I wasn't overthinking things!!

 

[AAAC 76C]

BTW. AAAC or someone else will be starting the re-run tomorrow.

Just realised I won't make 17:00 on Saturday.
Wife finishes work at 16:30 so I will be picking her up and taking her for dinner.

Sorry guy's

 

[LBHIFI]

Just realised I won't make 17:00 on Saturday.
Wife finishes work at 16:30 so I will be picking her up and taking her for dinner.

Sorry guy's

I don't mind starting the rerun, but will probably bail after start.

 

[Whorty]

Thank you guys, I'll give it a go later on after work. Should have my floor fan this evening, so that's good.

So basically I will just start off at as high a pace as I think I can sustain for 20 mins and I will gradually increase or decrease it according to how I feel. I know if I hit it like a loony then I will just blow up as I'm useless at gauging effort over time (which is another reason I want to ride with others!) So what I'll do is gradually try to increase my loonyness as I go.

I keep popping back to the excellent FAQ as I find my way around things and it has been an excellent resource Must also check out the leagues so thanks for the tip - I'm currently awaiting being added to the Chaingang.

Look forward to trying to keep up with you all

Shouldn't be too difficult keeping up with some of us and have 'fun' on the rides

 

[Whorty]

Ooh, thank you, Bill - I feel like I've just joined my first cycling club I will say that things at home are difficult in terms of getting time on the bike in the early evening but I will do my very best to be there. Later in the evening is better so I will almost certainly be around for the 7pm ones.
Yes, I gave that a go last night but couldn't find the chaingang, then again, that might've been because I hadn't been accepted, or because it hadn't been created maybe? Sounds like a great idea, like the idea of the top gear start That's doubtful - I don't think I'm going to be setting any records just yet. Never raced in my life so I'll probably be watching the rest of you disappear into the distance. Then again, I might be amazing, and all this self-depreciative talk will make me come across as some kind of lying hustler. Hang on, am I over-thinking all of this?

You'll find after a couple of rides that you will recognise who is roughly your speed and you'll end up aiming to keep up and/or beat them. My peer group includes @rob01792 , @Goldwolfie , @theboxers and @JLaw so when I'm looking at a new ride, if these guys have already had a go I know roughly how long it should take me. For e.g. I did a Summer Cup ride tonight and used @rob01792 as a marker and hence knew the rides was going to take me just over an hour (he beat me by 1 minute ) If you find yourself in the company of @BILL S , @bobinski or @AAAC 76C then you'll be in the fastest company!

 

[bobinski]

You'll find after a couple of rides that you will recognise who is roughly your speed and you'll end up aiming to keep up and/or beat them. My peer group includes @rob01792 , @Goldwolfie , @theboxers and @JLaw so when I'm looking at a new ride, if these guys have already had a go I know roughly how long it should take me. For e.g. I did a Summer Cup ride tonight and used @rob01792 as a marker and hence knew the rides was going to take me just over an hour (he beat me by 1 minute ) If you find yourself in the company of @BILL S , @bobinski or @AAAC 76C then you'll be in the fastest company!

Whorty, that's all good advice, but you left out Bridgy and LB as amongst the fastest, part of a group I aspire to and sometimes get to ride with for longer than 10 minutes.
I hope to ride tomorrow but have a long Zwift ride planned in the morning and will see how I feel after that.

 

[r04DiE]

Shouldn't be too difficult keeping up with some of us and have 'fun' on the rides

Thank you very much

You'll find after a couple of rides that you will recognise who is roughly your speed and you'll end up aiming to keep up and/or beat them. My peer group includes @rob01792 , @Goldwolfie , @theboxers and @JLaw so when I'm looking at a new ride, if these guys have already had a go I know roughly how long it should take me. For e.g. I did a Summer Cup ride tonight and used @rob01792 as a marker and hence knew the rides was going to take me just over an hour (he beat me by 1 minute ) If you find yourself in the company of @BILL S , @bobinski or @AAAC 76C then you'll be in the fastest company!

What excellent advice and many thanks for the tips!

 

[Whorty]

Whorty, that's all good advice, but you left out Bridgy and LB as amongst the fastest, part of a group I aspire to and sometimes get to ride with for longer than 10 minutes.
I hope to ride tomorrow but have a long Zwift ride planned in the morning and will see how I feel after that.

Fair point .... i didn't want to name too many speedsters .... I didn't want to scare him off