Team BKool CycleChat

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
are you able to stand up on the kickr without any drawbacks ? if i stand up the back wheel slips even when i have a bkool block and a brick under front wheel - i do like the sound of directdrive - is there any other pluses or negatives ?

No drawbacks, at all. The kickr is extremely stable, doesn't wobble unlike the Bkool Pro, which can feel like its about to topple unless you keep upper body still whilst off the seat. Obviously no wheel-spin-direct drive. Downside, its is disadvantaged against the pro for speed, so not a level field for competing. It has an accurate power meter, bkool over reads by 40-50 watts for me. Oh and cost, its a lot more than a bkool pro
 

berty bassett

Legendary Member
Location
I'boro
No drawbacks, at all. The kickr is extremely stable, doesn't wobble unlike the Bkool Pro, which can feel like its about to topple unless you keep upper body still whilst off the seat. Obviously no wheel-spin-direct drive. Downside, its is disadvantaged against the pro for speed, so not a level field for competing. It has an accurate power meter, bkool over reads by 40-50 watts for me. Oh and cost, its a lot more than a bkool pro
guess i will invest in another brick ! :sad:
have i said i am borrred
 

bridgy

Legendary Member
Location
Cheddar
No drawbacks, at all. The kickr is extremely stable, doesn't wobble unlike the Bkool Pro, which can feel like its about to topple unless you keep upper body still whilst off the seat. Obviously no wheel-spin-direct drive. Downside, its is disadvantaged against the pro for speed, so not a level field for competing. It has an accurate power meter, bkool over reads by 40-50 watts for me. Oh and cost, its a lot more than a bkool pro
Just thinking about this - the fact that tyre choice/age/condition and tyre pressure seems to make such a difference to speed (& therefore watts) on the Bkool Pro, it's not surprising that any direct drive trainer's going to feel different. No way to avoid this really - I guess they'd have to just set the algorithm in a particular way, and how this then feels compared to the Bkool Pro will depend on what bike, tyre etc. you use on it. For example, my wife rides a 26er MTB hard tail with slick (but still quite fat!) tyres on the Pro. I bet the Kickr would feel fast compared to this, but slow compared to a perfectly set up quality road bike with an effective and well inflated tyre.

I know you're not saying anything contrary to this Andy - just an observation that occurred to me.
 

bridgy

Legendary Member
Location
Cheddar
But I still get an error when I try to accept it into the league classification!

So no rides at all showing in the league stage classification...
I have emailed them - don't know if anyone else has?

Awaiting vague denial/follow up question from them......
 

Bored Man

Upstanding Member
Location
Arrochar
But I still get an error when I try to accept it into the league classification!

So no rides at all showing in the league stage classification...

I'm hoping to catch up with the latest handicap and chaingang stages today - should I wait or crack on in the belief that the runs will eventually be accepted Geoff?

Ta muchly
 

bobinski

Legendary Member
Location
Tulse Hill
Just thinking about this - the fact that tyre choice/age/condition and tyre pressure seems to make such a difference to speed (& therefore watts) on the Bkool Pro, it's not surprising that any direct drive trainer's going to feel different. No way to avoid this really - I guess they'd have to just set the algorithm in a particular way, and how this then feels compared to the Bkool Pro will depend on what bike, tyre etc. you use on it. For example, my wife rides a 26er MTB hard tail with slick (but still quite fat!) tyres on the Pro. I bet the Kickr would feel fast compared to this, but slow compared to a perfectly set up quality road bike with an effective and well inflated tyre.

I know you're not saying anything contrary to this Andy - just an observation that occurred to me.

Just another observation...
Other wheel on turbos are less dependent on the riders weight to bring the tyre into contact with the trainer and therefore perhaps less affected by the variables you mention. The turbo is brought into contact with the tyre by use of a lever or similar. Weight is maybe less important because pressure has been achieved.

With the pro weight over the turbo is crucial as is as composed a riding stance or set up. I also think anyone using a pro with more of a time trial bike configuration, weight/saddle more to the rear of the bike has an advantage. I am sure we have all noticed how important it is to get the weight towards the back of the bike just right to get maximum watts. I don't find it that easy! I had to redo my setup before the last ride because I kept sliding towards the front of my saddle even in my preferred shorts :rolleyes:
I suspect that all these variables are less important on other wheel on turbo,s and seemingly non existent on direct drive.
I am not dissing bkool just wondering is all.
 

Goldwolfie

Veteran
Location
Chesterfield
I've not been on the turbo for awhile - Bkool premium membership ran out over a week ago - can't believe it's 12 months since I got my turbo.

Reading all the tales of woe on here - Bkool bugs, rodent infested garages and the pain felt by you lot, I thought I'd get out and about in the real world before the weather really turns rough, so haven't renewed as yet.

So done some decent group rides with the Old Foggies CC with plenty of Peak District hills to tackle but it's now decision time, and I must say the latest bug fix release sounds like it is up to their usual pre-release quality checking, which doesn't inspire me to jump back in.

However, I'm a pretty loyal chappie and I have missed the competition with you lot, so I will be parting with some of retirement nest egg to suffer the pain and frustration for another 12 months.

I will be avoiding the Goat rides for a little while though - the hills in the Peak are steep enough for me and they are a lot shorter, so the pain doesn't last for over an hour.
 
Just another observation...
Other wheel on turbos are less dependent on the riders weight to bring the tyre into contact with the trainer and therefore perhaps less affected by the variables you mention. The turbo is brought into contact with the tyre by use of a lever or similar. Weight is maybe less important because pressure has been achieved.

With the pro weight over the turbo is crucial as is as composed a riding stance or set up. I also think anyone using a pro with more of a time trial bike configuration, weight/saddle more to the rear of the bike has an advantage. I am sure we have all noticed how important it is to get the weight towards the back of the bike just right to get maximum watts. I don't find it that easy! I had to redo my setup before the last ride because I kept sliding towards the front of my saddle even in my preferred shorts :rolleyes:
I suspect that all these variables are less important on other wheel on turbo,s and seemingly non existent on direct drive.
I am not dissing bkool just wondering is all.


My TacX for example uses a lever like you describe, but it has an adjustment. This means depending on tire pressure and how tightly it's adjusted, that could make a difference as well? I'm still new so haven't played with it much yet.
 

Breedon

Legendary Member
Having read about using a road tire i thought i would give it a go, and what a difference there is virtually no wheel slippage even when out of the saddle i think that's why im getting better in the Goat league as im able to put down the watts.
It's been on for about 2 weeks now and seems a lot more quieter as well, so give it a go every one
 
Top Bottom