Team BKool CycleChat

[kipster]

Yeah! Darn! Sorry about that. I was getting near the end of setting it up when in my senility I forgot it was the chaingang and thought it was the mountaingoats like the old days so it had to be d'Huez. Hope that's not going to have too many cursing me in the last week of October.

The other rides should get us all nicely warmed up for the assault on d'Huez. Especially those of us who haven't been on Bkool for the summer.

 

[CXRAndy]

It's begining to feel like explaining it to my Mum. Is it me?
We're at this point currently. To be honest I just want it to be accurate with Zwift. I just got 4th place total on a strava segment going through the town. Yet I went hard but 4th? Weight is correct.Re the watt bike this was for an actual FTP test. At home I'm using a bkool pro, just to confirm. Heart rate was coming down whilst at "4 w/kg"maybe I'm just amazing and should be signed up already, I'm willing to accept that possibility... Anway, this:

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BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 14, 13:18 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. Reducing gears you get lower speeds, and to mantain Wattage you will need a bigger resistance then.

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

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Toby caplen

Sep 14, 13:01 CEST

Thanks for the rapid replies. I'm still uncertain it's quite that simple. Cadence is maintained at a constant as is the on-screen wattage. It's the perceived effort that increases proportionally to gear change. Cadence and on-screen power are the same.

On 14 September 2016 11:49:02 BST, BKOOL <info@bkool.com> wrote:
>[image: equipo]
>[image: bkool]
>[image: equipo]



BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 14, 12:49 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. Ok, that's clear now: in ERG mode, if you lower your speed (by reducing gears or cadence), resistance will rise as you need to keep your wattage constant. That's the normal behaviour in that mode.

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

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Toby caplen

Sep 14, 12:30 CEST

Hi the test I performed where I set erg at about 350 watts was performed initially in high gear where heart rate was around 160. Whilst still in erg mode I changed gear to lowest and witnessed my heart rate increase and the load increase as the resistance altered to count for the change in wheel speed. Slope was irrelevant given that I was in erg mode for this test but, as it was, the course was gentle insulation varying between -/+3% gradient

On 14 September 2016 11:20:31 BST, BKOOL <info@bkool.com> wrote:
>[image: equipo]
>[image: bkool]
>[image: equipo]



BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 14, 12:20 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. And are you sure that there was not any slope increase?

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

BKOOL Connect | Sport

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Toby caplen

Sep 14, 11:47 CEST

During the test I kept cadence the same and reduced gears slowly. Wheel speed of course slowed but on-screen speed remained the same. The resistance change was notable.

On 14 September 2016 10:34:13 BST, BKOOL <info@bkool.com> wrote:
>[image: equipo]
>[image: bkool]
>[image: equipo]



BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 14, 11:34 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. Resistance and power are a calculation made taking into account your weight, the slope and your speed. The higher the speed, the bigger wattage and resistance you will get. Please let us know if you are just rising up your cadence but not your speed, when you notice a higher resistance.

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

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Check our FAQs at:
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Toby caplen

Sep 14, 10:25 CEST

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% gradient generating maybe 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 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.

On 13 September 2016 13:23:02 BST, BKOOL <info@bkool.com> wrote:
>[image: equipo]
>[image: bkool]
>[image: equipo]



BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 13, 14:23 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. According to your Strava screenshots, you can easily perform over 400W. Please try playing a pair of indoor sessions with your Bkool trainer in the coming days, and check out if normalized and Avg power readings are similar. Please email us back otherwise.

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

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Check our FAQs at:
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Toby caplen

Sep 13, 13:31 CEST

According to a previous wattbike session earlier in the year, reaching 800 for a minute or two and holding 500 for longer isn't unreasonable. Is it possible that at higher than average power and weight the resistance of the bkool is being overcome? I understand the Bkool peaks at 1200 but I'm guessing this isn't for a rider of 87kg. So I'd reach the Max resistance far sooner than the average rider. Could this be my issue?
I've attached screen shots of the online race from a week ago.

On 13 September 2016 11:42:23 BST, BKOOL <info@bkool.com> wrote:
>[image: equipo]
>[image: bkool]
>[image: equipo]

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BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 13, 12:42 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. In this case Strava and Bkool are providing similar wattages, the question is: were you actually pedalling at 500W Avg with 800W peaks in that session?

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

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Check our FAQs at:
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Toby caplen

Sep 13, 11:39 CEST

>
> equipo
> bkool
>
>
> I've attached a screen shot of the short velodrome ride I did last
> night for the test. I'm not really sure what I'm comparing the data
> with or how but the attached are the power data that I could find.

Attachment(s)
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BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 13, 10:49 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. We have seen that most of the sessions are coming from Strava site, and that the Normalized power is really high (3 or 4 times higher) on them. Please enter your Strava profile and check out if it is the same there, email us back then.

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

BKOOL Connect | Sport

www.bkool.com
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Check our FAQs at:
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Toby caplen

Sep 13, 10:32 CEST

Hi I submitted a report from the system I normally use as requested. Do I need to attach it to an email in some way or tag it so you know it's from me?

Toby Caplen.
The email login is "richardglet@hotmail.com" if that helps

On 13 September 2016 09:12:12 BST, BKOOL <info@bkool.com> wrote:
>[image: equipo]
>[image: bkool]
>[image: equipo]



BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 13, 10:12 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. We will need the report as explained, to be able to analyse your Bkool trainer, we are sorry.

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

BKOOL Connect | Sport

www.bkool.com
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Twitter.com/BkoolSport

Check our FAQs at:
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Toby caplen

Sep 12, 23:40 CEST

I have finally had a chance to run a few tests. I tried a friend kickr but I hadn't warmed up much and had just finished work late. It seemed harder than the bkool. This test is I zwift.
I did a short zwift ride I'd done previously on the bkool but it didn't show up on strava so I can't analyse it however the velodrome 4or5 lap spint shows up. Are you able to tell if the unit is correctly calibrated remotely?

Many thanks.

Toby

On 1 September 2016 12:35:39 BST, BKOOL <info@bkool.com> wrote:
>[image: equipo]
>[image: bkool]
>[image: equipo]



BKOOL (BKOOL)

Sep 1, 13:35 CEST

Hi Toby,

Thanks for your message. Try to repeat some of the sessions where you found problems with, or a similar one instead. If the problem persists, click on the simulator's Settings button, at the top of the screen. Down in the menu you will find "About Bkool Indoor", click on the blue arrow and then in "Send report to Bkool", this way we will have more information about the problem.

Important: please write us back once it is sent.

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

BKOOL Connect | Sport

www.bkool.com
Facebook.com/Bkool.es
Twitter.com/BkoolSport

Check our FAQs at:
http://www.bkool.com/help



Toby caplen

Sep 1, 13:07 CEST

Hi I'm having an odd issue where I seem to spin out in top gear generation supposedly very high watts. Could you check the unit I have it correct? Thank you very much.

Toby

[JPGK76-WLLJ]

Your power figures are very impressive! Obviously you have had a fair chat with Bkool. Bkool pro calculates power unlike the kickr which has a strain gauge. You could be over powering the Bkool pro trainer. Some of the guys on here have noticed that when they reach big power and cadence, Bkool goes into some sort of wormhole affect with speed and Power increasing more. Try the kickr again if you can, to compare your rides.

I have used the Bkool pro and have a kickr. My own observations are the kickr is harder in terms of getting speed, offers more resistance to higher percentage gradients than the Bkool pro. The pro seems to over estimate power by about 50-70watts compared to power meter trainers. The advantage is with Bkool the majority are using them and therefore it is a level playing field albeit sometimes slightly odd performance results.

 

[bridgy]

Looks great Bill - gonna be some hard old rides in that league.....

 

[BILL S]

The other rides should get us all nicely warmed up for the assault on d'Huez. Especially those of us who haven't been on Bkool for the summer.

Yes the other rides were all kindly suggested by The Boxers, Bridgy, Rob and Randy and are at least fairly normalish chaingang rides.

 

[BILL S]

Looks great Bill - gonna be some hard old rides in that league.....

Yes, I fear there may not be many groups drafting together in this little lot. Maybe tomorrow is our best chance of that.

 

[Goldwolfie]

Are you going near Woodhall spa? Nice inland resort with cafe/cake shops on main street.

Yep it"s on my route, so might have a well earned break there - I remember it from about 35 years ago, as my parents lived at Roughton for a while. From WS I plan on taking the back roads out to Skeggy.

 

[Goldwolfie]

Sorry Martyn, you should start at 44 Kg for The Shelf.

Geoff

@gbrown - I trundled up the Shelf this afternoon as I wasn't around Tuesday night, so when you get the chance, could you do the honours please.

 

[Perky77]

still open if you have time give it a shot

Would love to but am away with work on a conference - next year I'll aim top 50

 

[berty bassett]

Sorry can't make tomorrow night as I'm off to not so sunny Skegness in the morning - my first 100 miler, so I'll still be feeling the pain but a bit earlier in the day. Hopefully I'll be in the pub at 7pm. Hope it all works out ok - will I be able to have a go during early next week against your ghosts, as I won't make the potential re run on Saturday as I'm trundling back home that day.

Enjoy and watch out for the splinters.

good luck on your jolly - be warned - you will be screaming out for a hill by the time you have finished . the fens can really get to you if the wind is being unkind - let us know what way you went please

 

[CXRAndy]

good luck on your jolly - be warned - you will be screaming out for a hill by the time you have finished . the fens can really get to you if the wind is being unkind - let us know what way you went please

Its only flatish south of Woodhall Spa. and east of Sleaford. Nice gentle hills and a brisk wind if unlucky

 

[BILL S]

Tonight the Chaingang league starts with 120 laps of the velodrome at 7pm.
There will be the usual 10 minutes warm-up, and to stop random people joining we will have a password : chaingang

So join from the Live tab as usual. If necessary search using the filter. Any issues such as password problems post here. If there is then I'll probably re-start it without a password.

120 laps sounds awfully long. Don't think I've done anything like that before
Hopefully 40 minutes or so.

 

[theboxers]

Well, unless they decide to re-jig the results for some reason , I have finished in the top 100 (93rd) of the Summer Cup . I am also not in the last position of the people to have finished all ten of the stages .

Well done @AAAC 76C for 2nd . Although I suspect some odd goings on with pep tatche .

 

[theboxers]

Tonight the Chaingang league starts with 120 laps of the velodrome at 7pm.
There will be the usual 10 minutes warm-up, and to stop random people joining we will have a password : chaingang

So join from the Live tab as usual. If necessary search using the filter. Any issues such as password problems post here. If there is then I'll probably re-start it without a password.

120 laps sounds awfully long. Don't think I've done anything like that before
Hopefully 40 minutes or so.

I think the most I've in the drome is 60 laps. That was a 5 laps on 5 laps off session. A session of 120 (30km) fairly consistant laps is going to be hard and potentially

 

[RickB]

I think the most I've in the drome is 60 laps. That was a 5 laps on 5 laps off session. A session of 120 (30km) fairly consistant laps is going to be hard and potentially

Goes in quick enough - I've done the Bkool hour challenge back when Wiggo broke the record the time went in pretty quickly. Its a good workout - just trying to hold at threshold level and not burning out early is the challenge!
Plenty of drafting to be done!!

 

[Paul-T]

Going to to try my best and start the Thursday night thing so hopefully I will be somewhere at the back tonight