Team BKool CycleChat

[AAAC 76C]

I got about the usual level of drafting -which is quite minimal at the speed I was going. At lower speed it can feel a bit like a slingshot in the velodrome, but when I am already at about my max I find the affect of the draft quite limited

A packed velodrome is a constant sling shot type of draft hence the high speed to Watts.
If your following someone through a mass of slower riders it can be quite easy to loose their wheel

 

[BILL S]

[QUOTE="BILL S, post: 4482096,


I do recall a nice sprint 2/3rds of the way through where you just kept me at bay but all that did was knacker me even more. And then there was AAC who never looked troubled.

I remember that one well. It was one of the few times I took you on in a flat out sprint to see what would happen and we were very equal. I already know that you are tough to beat in a sprint, with sprinting being a part of your riding style. Most of the ride was teamwork though, which seems to work well to improve our overall speed.

 

[bridgy]

A packed velodrome is a constant sling shot type of draft hence the high speed to Watts.
If your following someone through a mass of slower riders it can be quite easy to loose their wheel

Yes I know what you mean! I think the problem is, when I am already cycling at 90 rpm+ in top gear, a slight decrease in resistance to allow even faster cadence is hard to exploit because I don't really have the capacity for even faster cadence!

 

[r04DiE]

Hello all, I just wanted to tell you that my back is better so I'll be virtualising with all of you again soon

 

[bobinski]

I remember that one well. It was one of the few times I took you on in a flat out sprint to see what would happen and we were very equal. I already know that you are tough to beat in a sprint, with sprinting being a part of your riding style. Most of the ride was teamwork though, which seems to work well to improve our overall speed.

Bill, i have to admit that i was pretty much on the limit for much of that ride. Thinking ahead, i thought my only hope of outpacing you both was to create some space. Foolish of course given you are both stronger and have more stamina than me but sometimes the difference is psychological rather than physical. If nothing else i needed to know how close you both were to your limits-nowhere close it would seem! Still, i do like a good balls out sprint

 

[Goldwolfie]

Jim, I could never laugh at 240 watts average for 20 odd minutes, that's far better than I was when I started with bkool, and much better than I can manage now after 15 months off and having to keep my heart rate below around 150 bpm.

If I ever get back to within spitting distance of you guys and can still keep my heart rate safe, I might be able to join the back of the chain gang one day! I'm just not sure I'll get much stronger if I can't train any harder.

It's interesting comparing power figures (from a powertap hub) on outdoor rides to those from bkool, they are much lower as there are inevitably loads of soft pedaling and free-wheeling bits on the slight dips and descents, so it's really only the climbs where there is a real comparison.

On a 4-5 minute climb I've built it back up from around 110 (real) Watts to just over 150 (real) watts. As soon as I try and put out any more power my heart rate shoots past my self imposed limit and I have to back off to a crawl.

I watched the handicap on Tuesday and checked out the heart rates you guys were putting out for the power figures showing, and almost everyone was well into the 160's and 170's, which I can't risk anymore. @Goldwolfie was the only one within my limit at 149 bpm and a very impressive 253 Watts.

Average heart rate 136, average (bkool) power 231 Watts!

It is now my ambition to emulate Goldwolfie!

View attachment 144990

Geoff

@gbrown - I behave totally differently when I'm on the turbo as I push myself due to the competitive nature of the beast. However I very rarely go over my self imposed 155 bpm, but did notice I touched 161 bpm for the last few laps of the recent velodrome league epic.

Out in the fresh air I tootle along for hours on end at between 110 and 120 bpm, and rarely go over 140 bpm and that is only when on a difficult climb.

So it's indoors to get a sweat on and a bit of friendly competition, and outdoors for a leisurely group ride mixed with a few cafe stops.

Sounds like you are making good progress in your recovery so 'Enjoy the Ride'.

 

[Goldwolfie]

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

@berty bassett - Apologies for the delay but this was the way I went, avoiding the major roads and using off road sections where possible. Fledborough to Lincoln avoids the busy A57 crossing of the River Trent, and there is a great paved cycle way that runs alongside the River Witham from Lincoln to near Woodhall Spa. From there is the the back roads across the Fens - long straight quiet roads, and as you say, with no protection from the winds. As you can see after the first 30 miles it was pretty flat, mind there were a couple of hump backed bridges over the dykes in the last 30 miles.

 

[CXRAndy]

I quite like that ride up the side of the river Witham, up to Lincoln. I have done it from Boston quite a few times, stop off at woodhall spa for snacks. Apart from 4 or so miles(it comes away from the river edge) the riverside ride is really nice. The surface could be better north of Bardney.

It's odd looking at the profile because the roads up to Lincoln from Sleaford, although not steep do provide a challenge, endless steady gradients for mile after mile.

Good ride Goldwolfie. Have you loaded it up into bkool? I tend to load up club rides.

 

[Bored Man]

Flipping eck... some of us have been busy this aft.. Whorty just relegated my time in the 30k veledrome by 16 seconds... I'm still ringing my vest out after that session.. well done my man...

 

[Randyberlin]

Couldn't make it this afternoon was away collecting new dog. Following Bkool Cycle chat tradition he is named after a fellow cycle chat member...........@bobinski

Meet Bob for short the rather superior looking black gundog trained lab in the background, not the derpy yellow one in the front.

I have a co worker with two dogs she calls The Boxers.

 

[Whorty]

Flipping eck... some of us have been busy this aft.. Whorty just relegated my time in the 30k veledrome by 16 seconds... I'm still ringing my vest out after that session.. well done my man...

Cheers Jim I had a tactic that I planned and it worked out quite well. I started off and stuck with @Goldwolfie as I knew he had done a really good time. I figured if I could draft with him for 10-15 laps that would give me a good start. I actually managed to stay with his ghost for 40 laps. By then I was a minute ahead of you and @Randyberlin . I then did a couple of recovery laps until a ghost came past that I figured was @rob01792 - I was 24 seconds behind him when the ghost turned up and I had taken about 10 laps of recovery so I took a gamble. I drafted with his ghost for about 20 laps until my legs could take no more.

I could see that you and @Randyberlin were working together so I waited until 2 ghosts came together and worked out it was you two. I was 47 seconds ahead (2 laps). This was about lap 80. I stayed with you both for about 20 laps then took another breather. I knew each lap lead was about 23 seconds so I trundled round, gaining some energy back, until your two ghost came to me again. This was about lap 105 so all I had to do now was hang on to your coat tails for 15 laps. Not easy as you both seemed to be ramping up the pace but I just managed it

I knocked 2 mins 50 secs off my original time with an average of 6 watts less ... the benefit of drafting

I then tried to find the Col de Madeline ride to do a quick one to register a league ride and couldn't find it ahhhhh @gbrown Geoff, do you kow how I can find the ride now? It didn't show up in my league listings and I can't challenge anyone as no one has actually completed the full ride.

My new time is 43 minutes dead so well chuffed even if it doesn't make it into the league

 

[Soarerv8]

View attachment 145434

@berty bassett - Apologies for the delay but this was the way I went, avoiding the major roads and using off road sections where possible. Fledborough to Lincoln avoids the busy A57 crossing of the River Trent, and there is a great paved cycle way that runs alongside the River Witham from Lincoln to near Woodhall Spa. From there is the the back roads across the Fens - long straight quiet roads, and as you say, with no protection from the winds. As you can see after the first 30 miles it was pretty flat, mind there were a couple of hump backed bridges over the dykes in the last 30 miles.

The Water railway on both sides of Lincoln is a great cycle route. My childhood was spent out in the fens (no my feet aren't webbed) and it really put me off cycling as there is no downhill and the wind is head wind whichever way you cycle. Am now in the lumpy bit further inland and it is much more bike friendly.

Looks like a great ride though I love a bit of cycle touring, well done.

 

[CXRAndy]

Soarer. You could of gone up and down Cross O Cliff hill(spelling) to waddington
Don't forget the hills around Navenby and Leadenham. I know there not mega long but certainly a workout if you go for it

 

[theboxers]

I then tried to find the Col de Madeline ride to do a quick one to register a league ride and couldn't find it ahhhhh @gbrown Geoff, do you kow how I can find the ride now? It didn't show up in my league listings and I can't challenge anyone as no one has actually completed the full ride.

My new time is 43 minutes dead so well chuffed even if it doesn't make it into the league

There should be a col de madeline in your scheduled list now I've just added it to mine.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Yep