Team BKool CycleChat

[bridgy]

I agree with all the criticism of Bkool of course. Some aspects of the new software are just ridiculous (small font, only 8 league/favourite rides etc), but other things I think we'll just get used to. The whole setup has never been particularly user-friendly - we've just got quite good at working out how to get around it and I suspect we'll do the same over time for the new version.

This is silly of course - the system should be so much more intuitive. It's sometimes feels like we get these leagues to work DESPITE, not because of the website/software!

If there was an alternative that enabled us to do similar leagues without all Bkool's flaws I'd be happy to change to it, but at the moment despite all the frustrations I really enjoy the fun and motivation of racing with you guys, who I've got to know quite well over the past year. At the end of the day it's this that keeps me getting back on the trainer and my fitness has really improved as a result - which was the point of it in the first place. The leagues encourage me to push myself to my absolute max in races, and also to jump on the bike when I don't really have the time or inclination, just because I "need" to complete a league stage!

Bkool have been taking quite a battering on social media already if you look at some recent comments on their Facebook page. Maybe we should compile a list of problems and try emailing again (I'm happy to do this - they probably dread my emails by now!), or maybe you could send a link to this thread to the guy you've found helpful Rick, and suggest he reads the last few posts?

 

[theboxers]

I've been digging through the Workouts in Sessons. There appear to be a lot more there than at first glance.

In most catagories the looks like 9 workouts are available. In some there are actually a lot more. Up to 15 in some cases I have found. There are also a lots of variations within each catagory.

The only issue I have found is there is no one place that lists all the workouts and how best to use them. I am starting to use these and have attempted to find more info about them but can find nothing. Does anyone know of a resource for these?

 

[BILL S]

Congratulations to Bridgy for his convincing win in the September-October Chaingang.
You could have just taken it easy up d'Huez Paul and still won the league.

New league starts tomorrow and apparently it's not going to be so easy for Bridgy this time .

 

[BILL S]

The "Be Afraid" Mountain Goat league was won by none other than AAAC who obviously wasn't afraid to stick all of his rides in on the last week having sat around on his 4rse for the previous 2 weeks, and still win easily.

Way to make the rest of us feel really bad AAAC!!!

The new league for the Goats starts tomorrow. (A little more moose friendly this time).

 

[bridgy]

Congratulations to Bridgy for his convincing win in the September-October Chaingang.
You could have just taken it easy up d'Huez Paul and still won the league.

New league starts tomorrow and apparently it's not going to be so easy for Bridgy this time .

Oooh, thanks Bill

I'm now very curious about what you have in store for us for November that won't make it "easy" for me (easy - yeah, right!!) - AAAC not being on holiday for most of it would be a start I suppose!

Thanks for organising Bill, and thanks for all the close racing

 

[bridgy]

The "Be Afraid" Mountain Goat league was won by none other than AAAC who obviously wasn't afraid to stick all of his rides in on the last week having sat around on his 4rse for the previous 2 weeks, and still win easily.

Way to make the rest of us feel really bad AAAC!!!

The new league for the Goats starts tomorrow. (A little more moose friendly this time).

Well done indeed AAAC - and thanks for concentrating your post-holiday efforts on only this league and not completing the chaingang

 

[BILL S]

Oooh, thanks Bill

I'm now very curious about what you have in store for us for November that won't make it "easy" for me (easy - yeah, right!!) - AAAC not being on holiday for most of it would be a start I suppose!

Thanks for organising Bill, and thanks for all the close racing

My pleasure Paul. Quite a few are getting fitter, including yourself I think. The new leagues are a bit shorter and therefore anyone winning is likely to win by less time. Less stamina needed for one of us underdogs to put in flyer and get the better of you. Sorry that's all I've got right now, but actually, as you say,with AAAC back there's no way it'll be so easy for you this time.

 

[theboxers]

The "Be Afraid" Mountain Goat league was won by none other than AAAC who obviously wasn't afraid to stick all of his rides in on the last week having sat around on his 4rse for the previous 2 weeks, and still win easily.

Way to make the rest of us feel really bad AAAC!!!

Congrats AAAC

The new league for the Goats starts tomorrow. (A little more moose friendly this time).

Some of these I have a fighting chance of doing in less than an Hour

 

[theboxers]

Geoff as much as I enjoyed the weight Handicap league I am now struggling to get all the rides I want to do in. With the Chaingang, Goats, Handicap and other sessions, something has got to give and it is unfortunately the Handicap League .

I am going to step away for the next couple of months to try out the Workouts to give me a more structured plan . I will be back at some point hopefully at a lower weight and higher power .

I will be back. I just not sure when .

 

[Monte]

Thanks @BILL S - look forward to completing this month's chain gang league. Unfortunately, I can make the Tuesday evening handicap rides, however I will also try some be afraid rides.

 

[bobinski]

Well done AAAC and Bridgy

No part of me is jealous of or resents your success...honest

As much as i hated the longer Goats rides and that sneaky Alp D'huez i am pretty sure they have done me some good. And everyone else that completed them too, however long. Well done all

 

[gbrown]

something has got to give and it is unfortunately the Handicap League .

I will be back. I just not sure when .

Shame, you'll miss the Team Time Trials when we get them up and running!

 

[gbrown]

Unfortunately, I can make the Tuesday evening handicap rides

Unfortunately, you can make them? Typo?

 

[gbrown]

I've put together Novembers Handicap League, more qualifying for the Team Time Trials until we get the numbers nearer 16-20.

I've added the 2016 Banff GranFondo S3 stage from last months Chain Gang, as it seemed a suitable course and length; we start with that tomorrow.

I have taken the times from the Chain Gang to get initial Handicaps, and had to approximate for anyone who missed that stage. If anyone else wants to join in or point me at a time for the stage please let me know.

So here are the initial Handicaps, subject to adjustment between now and tomorrow!

 

[kipster]

I've been digging through the Workouts in Sessons. There appear to be a lot more there than at first glance.

In most catagories the looks like 9 workouts are available. In some there are actually a lot more. Up to 15 in some cases I have found. There are also a lots of variations within each catagory.

The only issue I have found is there is no one place that lists all the workouts and how best to use them. I am starting to use these and have attempted to find more info about them but can find nothing. Does anyone know of a resource for these?

I too was intruiged by the workouts, but cant find any informaiton about how to use them in a structured training plan. I'm going to look at these to see if I can figure out if the workouts translate to the rides available. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/k...sh-Cycling-and-TrainingPeaks-training-plans-0

These are free so nothing lost.

Regarding BSIM, yes there are a few niggles, but for me they aren't an issue. I dont look at the live rides, I just use search. No one messages me so small text here is an irrelevance. The ride, where we spend most of the time, is essentially the same, and I can put up with pressing the up arrow to get averages, although it remembering the setting would be good. Yes it would be good to see a bigger list of competitors, but I tend to find myself a minute or so in front of, and behind someone. The look and feel is ok, yes there are improvements to be made.

Zwift may work better and have more investment in the user interface, but I still prefer bkool. I find zwift slow to navigate, my laptop is under a year old, but I wasn't willing to spend big money to get an applicaiton to run smoothly with geat graphics. The laptop I have works well with bkool and ok with zwift. I don't find zwift has a commuity spirit but I haven't gone looking for it, therefore it could be out there and I just haven't found it.

My bkool subscription ends in February, so they have some time to find improvements. I am looking for structured training over races and I'm not sure bkool or zwift will meet my needs, maybe I'll use one or both to see if the training works!