Team BKool CycleChat

[bridgy]

I saw this a couple of weeks ago. Not bad and I enjoyed it, but it just missed something for me, not sure what though.

Yeah I know what you mean. Despite being about road and mountain biking in Welsh mountains - 2 of my favourite things - it still left me a bit underwhelmed!

When it comes to watching cycling on the TV generally I'm a bit like my kids when they watch football on TV though - get a bit bored after 10 minutes and want to go outside and do it myself instead!

 

[bobinski]

THE DARK SIDE... only joking - I used Zwift for a couple of months and in fairness Zwift has a lot better interface than bkool, I took part in some of the events (there's loads of them to choose from) which I also thought was good - however the bit that finally broke me was the amount of bullshit you have to put up on their facebook page, a lot of people using dumb trainers with power meters, a lot of people obviously feeling like they can't be honest about their weight or equipment as the numbers were all over the place, I've had people go past me pushing 10watts/kg and holding it for ages... really maybe they should be on the pro-circuit, lol...

Whilst BKOOL is frustrating, the thing that makes it for me is this community. I honestly finish a ride knowing that my position reflects my fitness at that time and I've been beat by someone stronger not by equipment or bullshit.

BKOOL should recognise this group and be very grateful and reward the people that give up a lot of their time to set up & manage the leagues.

I think the Facebook page has calmed down a bit now. I see the occasional flyer at 10w for extended periods but they get flagged and are gone. And in the races they have a system for comparing high watt rides to real life rides so can identify and hopefully put off the cheats. Not much you can do about weight cheaters. But then we only have to look at bkool's summer cup and the strange rides there. At least in Zwift you can flag a ride or rider. Bkool are not remotely interested even where the rides of some are so extraordinary as to beggar belief.
Bkool are darned lucky that there is this community, and no doubt others, keeping what should be the best training sim going despite all the foibles, the hassle and downright frustration. Last night i nearly bailed with 3d not being available and the video image hanging within seconds of starting. Its only you lot and the overwhelming need to beat you all (especially bridgy) to the finish that kept me going. And monte, i grudgingly accept that when beaten it reflects my fitness

 

[gbrown]

Well they've completely screwed up the password functionality....

It seems if you try to join a password protected live session, it says it is ad "unlocked_session", gives you no obvious way to enter any password, and then objects that the password is wrong!

Am I missing something (i.e. a way to enter a password)?

And yes, it seems there is no longer any way to see the elapsed time once you have selected the session, until you actually join it, and then it will be your elapsed time, not the sessions.

I think for now best bet appears to be for me to start as close to 8pm as possible, with no password, and then people join a little early and sit on the line until 8pm+Start Time, that way everyone will be on an even footing! I'll dig out the moving times from the result, and the ride on the road should reflect the handicaps accurately, which is what it is all about.

 

[bridgy]

Well they've completely screwed up the password functionality....

It seems if you try to join a password protected live session, it says it is ad "unlocked_session", gives you no obvious way to enter any password, and then objects that the password is wrong!

Am I missing something (i.e. a way to enter a password)?

View attachment 150465

I got this when clicking on the first handicap ride you set up in the new sim. I went back out and in again and eventually it let me input a password. Obviously less than ideal when trying to join the ride at a set time though

 

[gbrown]

Can anyone who has the energy report to bkool that there is no way to enter a password when joining a live session, as it is a bit of a whoopsy and needs fixing ASAP!

Perhaps multiple reports will get it fixed faster?

EDIT: See my later post just below, you have to try and join without a password and get the error message, then leave and select the session again before you can enter a password.

 

[CXRAndy]

Geoff, if someone hasn't already mentioned, in settings there is a password box you can fill in. Does that work>?

 

[gbrown]

Right, having played around a bit, you can enter and leave the session as many times as you like and it will still show as $UNLOCKED_SESSION

Enter once, try to join, get the wrong password message, leave and reselect session and then it shows as PRIVATE_SESSION and you can then enter the password!

I'll update the little video to reflect the new interface.

 

[gbrown]

Geoff, if someone hasn't already mentioned, in settings there is a password box you can fill in. Does that work>?

I don't think so.

The password in the settings I can see is to start the initial session and set the password for anyone joining it. When you pick a live ride, the settings doesn't show a password, you have to enter it on the joining page, and it only shows there after you have failed to join because of the password, then left and re-selected the session!

 

[Add]

WHY ARE BKOOL SO CR@P?!?!?!?!?

They have a winning format, being administered by people who don't appear to give a sh*t!! It is frustrating beyond belief. I sent them a critical email, and got this response.

##- Please type your reply above this line -##







BKOOL (BKOOL)

Oct 31, 14:53 CET

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your message. This is a coupon to get one month Premium subscription for 0.99 . WYK7UZBIR2PKEFZ Please copy this code and enter "Coupons". Paste the code and click on "validate", the offer will appear in your basket. Complete the purchase to seize the offer.

Our apologies for the inconveniences.

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



BKOOL (BKOOL)

Oct 31, 14:08 CET

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your message. We have forwarded your suggestions to our software developers.

See you at Bkool,

Bkool Team.

BKOOL Connect | Sport

www.bkool.com

 

[Add]

And don't all rush to use my 99p coupon code either, I changed a letter in it!

They are basically saying, yes we are cr@p, but £6.99 should be adequate compensation for all our shortcomings.

 

[bridgy]

And don't all rush to use my 99p coupon code either, I changed a letter in it!

They are basically saying, yes we are cr@p, but £6.99 should be adequate compensation for all our shortcomings.

OOOH look at teacher's pet getting a coupon code!! None of my many, many bkool emails have got me a coupon code. I'm obviously too nice

 

[Breedon]

After my rant last week about Bkool I'm going to stick with it, love the leagues and the hundreds of courses.

 

[gbrown]

I've updated the Handicap Chase instructions to reflect the new interface... Chain Gang Handicap Race

The new recording is here

Once you have prepared the session by trying to join once without a password, it takes about 10 seconds to choose the session from the filtered view, enter the password, click "join" and then click "No" so that you start the session at the start line, so you could wait until the underway time is 10 seconds short of your Start Time, and then click on the session? I would practice a few times during the warm up and before your Start Time is reached.

So, I think we should try with a password, and will use the usual "chase" (without the quotes) to see how we get on!

 

[bobinski]

Thanks Geoff...above and beyond springs to mind

 

[bridgy]

I've emailed Bkool, urging them to come to this forum and get some constructive feedback from those of us who do really want it to work properly. I'm not holding my breath, although they did briefly post on here some time ago so you never know.