Team BKool CycleChat

[theboxers]

Thank you, do I have all week to do it?

Stage finishes on the 17th by the looks of it

 

[CXRAndy]

Congrats. AAAC. 2nd Bkool summer cup.

Pat on the back for everyone who completed the league and satisfied with their result

Edit I can claim a feeble 2nd, with next 2nd rider on a kickr

I'll take a podium position anyway I can manipulate the figures

 

[CXRAndy]

In my quest to gather data to compare different model trainers, I have created a little flat session "trainer speed comparison" I set a password of "cyclechat" (all lower case), Bkool didnt ask me for it though?

Have a go, let me know which model Bkool you're using and post the ride on here to view
Go as high a level you're comfortable with

I set my weight to 80kg(176.04 lb) ramped up in 50W increments whilst trying to maintain around 90prm. It not so easy to maintain wattage, but you can get a good guide to what speed relates to wattage.

Here is my attempt http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary/2865843
Wahoo Kickr
150W~19mph
200W~21.5mph
250W~23.7mph
300W~25.3mph
350W~27.5mph
400W~28.6mph

sharp sawtooth tops recorded from the kickr

Must admit its get quite tough

 

[Perky77]

54th for me in the summer cup, really pleased. I should have redone stage 1 to try and get the extra 4 minutes off to get into top 50.
Looking forward to the winter leagues on here now

 

[TobiC]

I did a short workout session last night using the bkool software and what I found was that I could ride in top gear and spin at approximately 90 to 100 RPM in anything up to approximately 5% for quite a while at stated output 400 to 500 watts. If I selected erg mode, as expected, I could maintain the same power output in the same gear however if I change down a gear for instance going into almost the easiest gear spinning at the same cadence allowing the unit to adjust its resistance to compensate, it would feel harder to pedal and I could see my heart rate going up a few beats a minute so am I doing something wrong or is the unit set up incorrectly because it doesn't sound right that I can overcome the units resistance simply by selecting a high gear and spinning the rear wheel excessively. I'm 87kg and put out about 4.3 W/Kg according to a Watt bike earlier in the year. I really wanted to take part in ZTR races in Zwift but if it's not accurate I might as well stick with the Zpower lads n lasses and save a quid or two towards a PM

 

[rob01792]

54th for me in the summer cup, really pleased. I should have redone stage 1 to try and get the extra 4 minutes off to get into top 50.
Looking forward to the winter leagues on here now

still open if you have time give it a shot

 

[bridgy]

I did a short workout session last night using the bkool software and what I found was that I could ride in top gear and spin at approximately 90 to 100 RPM in anything up to approximately 5% for quite a while at stated output 400 to 500 watts. If I selected erg mode, as expected, I could maintain the same power output in the same gear however if I change down a gear for instance going into almost the easiest gear spinning at the same cadence allowing the unit to adjust its resistance to compensate, it would feel harder to pedal and I could see my heart rate going up a few beats a minute so am I doing something wrong or is the unit set up incorrectly because it doesn't sound right that I can overcome the units resistance simply by selecting a high gear and spinning the rear wheel excessively. I'm 87kg and put out about 4.3 W/Kg according to a Watt bike earlier in the year. I really wanted to take part in ZTR races in Zwift but if it's not accurate I might as well stick with the Zpower lads n lasses and save a quid or two towards a PM

I've not used ERG mode so I can't really comment on that - but based on what else you said, if you were able to comfortably maintain 90-100RPM in top gear on a 5% slope I would suggest something's wrong

 

[CXRAndy]

I did a short workout session last night using the bkool software and what I found was that I could ride in top gear and spin at approximately 90 to 100 RPM in anything up to approximately 5% for quite a while at stated output 400 to 500 watts. If I selected erg mode, as expected, I could maintain the same power output in the same gear however if I change down a gear for instance going into almost the easiest gear spinning at the same cadence allowing the unit to adjust its resistance to compensate, it would feel harder to pedal and I could see my heart rate going up a few beats a minute so am I doing something wrong or is the unit set up incorrectly because it doesn't sound right that I can overcome the units resistance simply by selecting a high gear and spinning the rear wheel excessively. I'm 87kg and put out about 4.3 W/Kg according to a Watt bike earlier in the year. I really wanted to take part in ZTR races in Zwift but if it's not accurate I might as well stick with the Zpower lads n lasses and save a quid or two towards a PM

You mention watt bike, is this the trainer you are using with Bkool? There is no way you could hit those figures whilst cycling up a 5% for very long. Have you set your weight correctly? Obvious first then look at connection problems last faulty trainer.

 

[BILL S]

As we're sticking mostly to flat rides, how about a veldrome session - I don't think we've had one in the league since I've been doing it?

Paul (or anyone). A Velodrome session would be great, but I don't know if that's possible in a league. Anyone know this? @gbrown Perhaps you will know this, or a way it can be done by doing the velodrome session then manually adding the times to a dummy ride within the league.
How many laps would be good?

 

[bridgy]

Paul (or anyone). A Velodrome session would be great, but I don't know if that's possible in a league. Anyone know this? @gbrown Perhaps you will know this, or a way it can be done by doing the velodrome session then manually adding the times to a dummy ride within the league.
How many laps would be good?

I thought you'd done a velodrome session in a previous league before my time but I see you had to bodge it by doing a dummy ride and manually adjusting the time. Shame if it can't be done

 

[bobinski]

I did a short workout session last night using the bkool software and what I found was that I could ride in top gear and spin at approximately 90 to 100 RPM in anything up to approximately 5% for quite a while at stated output 400 to 500 watts. If I selected erg mode, as expected, I could maintain the same power output in the same gear however if I change down a gear for instance going into almost the easiest gear spinning at the same cadence allowing the unit to adjust its resistance to compensate, it would feel harder to pedal and I could see my heart rate going up a few beats a minute so am I doing something wrong or is the unit set up incorrectly because it doesn't sound right that I can overcome the units resistance simply by selecting a high gear and spinning the rear wheel excessively. I'm 87kg and put out about 4.3 W/Kg according to a Watt bike earlier in the year. I really wanted to take part in ZTR races in Zwift but if it's not accurate I might as well stick with the Zpower lads n lasses and save a quid or two towards a PM

Hi,
Thanks for posting your experience. My experience in Zwift and Bkool using the ant+ fec is that Zwift more accurately reflects my real world ability. Bkool over rate me by at least 50 w and I attain speeds in Bkool I simply cannot in Zwift. Although it's a while since I did a trainer road ftp test, admittedly on a non smart trainer, I can say the result sthen and over a year of gradual improvement almost mirror my ftp in Zwift. I have don'e a watt bike ftp and that put me at 280w. Zwift has me at 274w I also find use of erg with my Bkool in Zwift pretty accurate. I have no idea how accurate my pro is in Zwift compared to other trainers but I don't experience any of the foibles in Zwift that we experience in bkools software and which are so well documented here.

 

[bobinski]

In my quest to gather data to compare different model trainers, I have created a little flat session "trainer speed comparison" I set a password of "cyclechat" (all lower case), Bkool didnt ask me for it though?

Have a go, let me know which model Bkool you're using and post the ride on here to view
Go as high a level you're comfortable with

I set my weight to 80kg(176.04 lb) ramped up in 50W increments whilst trying to maintain around 90prm. It not so easy to maintain wattage, but you can get a good guide to what speed relates to wattage.

Here is my attempt http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary/2865843
Wahoo Kickr
150W~19mph
200W~21.5mph
250W~23.7mph
300W~25.3mph
350W~27.5mph
400W~28.6mph

sharp sawtooth tops recorded from the kickr

Must admit its get quite tough

Andy,
are you asking us to set same weigh, 80 kilo's?
Its a bit hot today but i might give this a go and in zwift. I will use ant+fec.

 

[CXRAndy]

Andy,
are you asking us to set same weigh, 80 kilo's?
Its a bit hot today but i might give this a go and in zwift. I will use ant+fec.

Yes pleas Bob. To keep other variables constant. That is a good point my turbo is manually connected.
I am just interested in how Bkool interprets real power data compared to their calculated power.
I pretty much know that there is a speed difference, just intrigued to quantify it from as many trainer models as possible.

Are you still getting the new Tacx? I read the promotion news, looks to be a decent trainer.

I did about 3 or so miles to collect data, not too long, but was hot. I thought it wouldn't be so hard and didn't use fan, how wrong

 

[RickB]

Paul (or anyone). A Velodrome session would be great, but I don't know if that's possible in a league. Anyone know this? @gbrown Perhaps you will know this, or a way it can be done by doing the velodrome session then manually adding the times to a dummy ride within the league.
How many laps would be good?

AFAIK I think we still cant add velodrome to Leagues - the dummy ride approach is the only (roundabout) way to attempt it.

Hoping to do a session tomorrow evening so up for anything! [Excuse mode] Legs will be tired though as I've a training session yesterday and this evening too. [\Excuse mode]

 

[BILL S]

AFAIK I think we still cant add velodrome to Leagues - the dummy ride approach is the only (roundabout) way to attempt it.

Hoping to do a session tomorrow evening so up for anything! [Excuse mode] Legs will be tired though as I've a training session yesterday and this evening too. [\Excuse mode]

Great that you're back Rick. I'm thinking our first stage (tomorrow) will be the velodrome so will use the dummy ride approach.

How many laps? 100?