Team BKool CycleChat

[bobinski]

I am trying to follow in Ryan's cadence and spread the bkool cyclechat reputation on Zwift in my own little way:

I am quite pleased with that and a box hill PB too, especially after last nights ride.
Mind you there was someone doing a 180km zwift ride

 

[CXRAndy]

With an anex for cyclechat members to come and stay, maid service, pool and sauna? Sounds good Andy

Use the excuse the cheques in the post

Done that before

Don't forget the 40" screen tv each, air conditioning Im liking the idea bob.

Well, you must know my wife! All these requirements are on the list, seen as this is our final dream house, hopefully.

 

[BILL S]

Edit; I really wish we could find a way to agree slower starts! I cannot keep up!

That's a good point Bob. I think it would fall under the category of planned strategy that we don't normally do. We make many assumptions about the riding strategies of those we tend to ride close to but we really don't know how its going to pan out exactly. I tend to try for a flying start so that I don't get caught out by the quicker guys who'll be drafting away from me if I don't get with them quick. Actually my preference is that as many as possible join the front drafting group and they stay together as long as possible before the final race to the line. That is the my best chance of a quick time and is certainly more enjoyable IMO.
So, we could discuss strategy on here a bit more, for example agreeing to wait for and ride in certain groups until a certain point and so on. Of course it's all entirely optional, but I'd definitely make an agreement with you Bob, to go off a bit slower or wait for you so we can do some drafting, and you'd have to agree not to lose me by sprinting off into the distance.

 

[CXRAndy]

Hi Bill Would you have another leg for the Oct chaingang league scheduled?

 

[theboxers]

That's a good point Bob. I think it would fall under the category of planned strategy that we don't normally do.
Snip........

This applies to the sloths as well. David, RB and myself had a reasonable line going yesterday. David was the strongest and we managed to stay together quite well until RB"s mechanical. After that it was all for themselves.

The big difference though is the variation of ability in the slower group. We may end up slowing a rider capable of a much quicker time, to maintain the chain, if they want to be generous. But we sloths can gain a lot from getting on to a line, in my case many minutes.

The autobus must continue

 

[Breedon]

This applies to the sloths as well. David, RB and myself had a reasonable line going yesterday. David was the strongest and we managed to stay together quite well until RB"s mechanical. After that it was all for themselves.

The big difference though is the variation of ability in the slower group. We may end up slowing a rider capable of a much quicker time, to maintain the chain, if they want to be generous. But we sloths can gain a lot from getting on to a line, in my case many minutes.



The autobus must continue

Well im all up for helping out the auto bus as i did on one stage dont mind being on the front for quite a few miles if it helps out my fellow chaingangers.

 

[bobinski]

That's a good point Bob. I think it would fall under the category of planned strategy that we don't normally do. We make many assumptions about the riding strategies of those we tend to ride close to but we really don't know how its going to pan out exactly. I tend to try for a flying start so that I don't get caught out by the quicker guys who'll be drafting away from me if I don't get with them quick. Actually my preference is that as many as possible join the front drafting group and they stay together as long as possible before the final race to the line. That is the my best chance of a quick time and is certainly more enjoyable IMO.
So, we could discuss strategy on here a bit more, for example agreeing to wait for and ride in certain groups until a certain point and so on. Of course it's all entirely optional, but I'd definitely make an agreement with you Bob, to go off a bit slower or wait for you so we can do some drafting, and you'd have to agree not to lose me by sprinting off into the distance.

As If I would try to do that

I can see that individual agreements can work. But perhaps another way is an agreed watts or watts per kilo up to a certain point in a ride, say 1/3rd in so we all stick together, and then after that the race becomes open and we all split into drafting groups depending on ability and current form? This works quite well in the handicap races. Also, a warm up, and I don't mean the 10 min warm up, becomes less critical because the first 1/3 can be treated as the warm up and so we can have longer races? I have to say, hard as they are, an hour or longer race suits me.

 

[theboxers]

Well im all up for helping out the auto bus as i did on one stage dont mind being on the front for quite a few miles if it helps out my fellow chaingangers.

I think the best time for l'autobus would be a Saturday. The people who did the chaingang thursday would have an idea of the time they could do and those that missed it would have an idea of who to tag on with. The kicker for me is the flatness of the stage. Any longish sections >2.5% and I'd struggle, no tbh I would be blown out the back. But you only get faster etc.

 

[theboxers]

an hour or longer race suits me.

 

[bobinski]

 

[berty bassett]

just done the velodrome stage and a bit of the col but dont kknow if i am too late for it to count or what to do with the results - but i do know i was pipped to the post by tommy - thought i had him then a blur came past while i was patting myself on the back ! so the pat turned into a slap !

 

[Whorty]

The second Goat ride is up and running. Only 12.3 km this one .... half the pain of the first Goat ride. Hopefully will be having a go in the week, work allowing I'm also a chaingang ride down, but the Goats must come first

 

[bridgy]

As If I would try to do that

I can see that individual agreements can work. But perhaps another way is an agreed watts or watts per kilo up to a certain point in a ride, say 1/3rd in so we all stick together, and then after that the race becomes open and we all split into drafting groups depending on ability and current form? This works quite well in the handicap races. Also, a warm up, and I don't mean the 10 min warm up, becomes less critical because the first 1/3 can be treated as the warm up and so we can have longer races? I have to say, hard as they are, an hour or longer race suits me.

I think if people want to make agreements to draft together that's fine but I wouldn't want to see an enforced speed or watts at the start of a race.

My view is a race is a race - first to the finishing line, however you want to do it! The thing is, people have different strengths and weaknesses. I tend to sprint off at the start just to ensure I have a chance of staying with the others at the front (I always used to get dropped at the start, but have improved!)

Enforcing an artificially slow start is unfair to riders who are capable of going really hard at the start and holding on - if that's someone's strength it seems unfair to restrict it.

Nothing to stop anyone makings agreements though, or arranging specific drafting rides outside of the live stage for example - plus we'll hopefully have the TTTs again at some point - but I wouldn't want to see the races restricted personally

 

[Breedon]

The second Goat ride is up and running. Only 12.3 km this one .... half the pain of the first Goat ride. Hopefully will be having a go in the week, work allowing I'm also a chaingang ride down, but the Goats must come first

Im like you a stage down on the chaingang but the goats come first so maybe the chaingang tomorrow then goats Tuesday, not commuteing by bike this week so will be on the trainer all week pain and suffering here we come

 

[gbrown]

I still can't create a new league for the Handicap Chase, I just get "This page is temporarily unavailable" when I click create. Since the page only has two fields, the name and description, I can't see that I'm doing anything wrong, but @BILL S seemed to be OK setting up the Goat's League, so I wonder why I'm unable to do the same!

Geoff