Team BKool CycleChat

[BILL S]

I need to, your getting hard to beat on the rolling sessions, give you too much rope and you'll hang me so I am having to get shifty.

I'm missing the challenge from Bill and LB as well but TT is moving upwards.
I am actually considering running 100 psi to 'drop back' into the race with TT, Bill and LB. I hope that doesn't sound bad because to be honest I don't give a hoot about winning, I just want to race. Being on the back-foot actually makes you dig deeper and appreciate more the hard work we all do.

Those were good races AAAC and definitely good for my ego . However, now I feel that I'm really having to work for it but still getting great racing even if it is a bit further down the field. If you fancy joining us, I think your tyre pressure idea may be the way to go, but I doubt a 100 would be low enough with your speed the way it is. Maybe 80 ?
If nothing else it'd be a good experiment. Maybe we could start running a tyre pressure handicap league if the experiment works out well.

 

[bridgy]

I don't give a hoot about winning

Says the man with an 8 stage victory plan!

 

[bobinski]

Andy,
I can get a refurb kickr from Wahoo for £650 today. I can probably sell the pro for £250.
What say you? Not that I am asking permission as such but I value your opinion!

 

[CXRAndy]

Go for it. Good value, if it comes with warranty.

You know all the usual pitfalls with kickr and Bkool already.

Did you get to try one locally? Is this a kickr 2 model, I assume not being a return?

 

[bobinski]

Go for it. Good value, if it comes with warranty.

You know all the usual pitfalls with kickr and Bkool already.

Did you get to try one locally? Is this a kickr 2 model, I assume not being a return?

Yes, I did very briefly, a kickr2. A different pitch noise to my pro, possibly quieter. I liked fact it felt vey planted and solid. This is a first gen model a refurb which doesn't worry me. I am beginning to think that in the new order it could set me back even further...But the main thing is I struggle with the cost and how it will impact on my purchase of artisan flat whites

 

[theboxers]

Snip......
Anyway does anyone have any clue how to set up your own workout sessions? I have looked around the website and it is as helpful as ever at hiding these things.

I have not found a way to set-up a workout the way bkool show it. To setup your own workouts is a mare. I used an edited velo session with power targets equal to my power zones (involves a lot of writing and calculating).

Be realistic with your aims. I've tried a few of the inbuilt workouts. Some are, possibly, silly easy. Others not so much. The last I did, VO2 Max 9 iirc, destroyed me. A 1hr20 workout that I only just completed 30 minutes.

First I'd advise looking at and at least trying some that are on bkool. It will give you an idea of what you want to be doing. Be warned some look very...er.....boring!!! You may be better off doing a normal flat video session and editing similar targets on to it .

 

[theboxers]

Hi Soarer, I wanted a structured program based on my ability, which would lead me by the nose so to speak. Lazy I know. TrainerRoad, gets you to do a FTP test, then sets up all the rides based around this number, you work through them as recommended, 3 times a week or more if you pick a higher intensity workload.

I looked at Zwift, which has a workout plan(pay after free period) but it was mentioned that it was too easy for the first part. I checked out Bkool workout, this looks like you have to schedule all your own workouts( requires you to determine your plan), free since you're already a member. They all do the same, but TrainerRoad leads you.

This is my last ride I did on TR, it was quite demanding in the last interval, even though its all below FTP
https://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/4519984

How much does this cost? I've tried the bkool plans and never completed one.

Also can you export to garmin connect?

 

[theboxers]

Next ride starts by necking 3 pints then the route in reverse?

You can get points, on your driving licence, for drunk in charge of a bicycle, iirc. Or maybe it's drunk in public . Still 3 pints and I'd have no chance of making the end of the road, no matter how short.

 

[CXRAndy]

How much does this cost? I've tried the bkool plans and never completed one.

Also can you export to garmin connect?

Trainer Road is $99/year or $12/month
Connects with Strava and Garmin Connect I believe

 

[RickB]

I did one of the Bkool workout sessions last night. Of course being the village idiot I got it wrong, saw a line that I thought I needed to stay above during the warmup stage. Pedalled like the clappers and thought to myself this is really painful, turns out I spent the 10 minute warmup trying to match an FTP of 250. When it then kicked into the plan I realised there was a section much lower down that I was supposed to have been working to stay in. I probably picked a workout that was too easy but turned it into a spinning course trying to keep my cadance over 100 and just dropping down gears to stay in the power zone it wanted.
Anyway does anyone have any clue how to set up your own workout sessions? I have looked around the website and it is as helpful as ever at hiding these things.

I queried this with Craig Harrison the USA rep - he said I must be missing something but I've search the app and website inside out and there definitely is no way of creating a workout.

Lars, have you changed your setup in any way? As your speed does seem to be down - almost the complete opposite of what was happening with your rides a few weeks ago when you thought you were going unrealistically fast? Do you think you may have a problem with your trainer? Or am I missing something about how you now have it set up (I'm a bit confused by what you're saying about the watts, other than you're comparing real watts from your BePros to the Bkool calculation of watts)

Same happening me - hills seem far too punishing these days - watts dive down despite greater effort!

How much does this cost? I've tried the bkool plans and never completed one.

Also can you export to garmin connect?

Might be worth looking at Zwift as all plans are based on your FTP (which you can adjust manually before starting a session to make it easier or tougher. All plans have been written by a Coaching firm (cant remember the name). I jumped in at week 5 of the 12 week FTP and it's good solid training - high and low cadence drills - single leg exercises... good stuff.

(PS: Have cancelled my Bkool subscription as I've had enough of giving my money to a shoddy company that doesnt care about the customers. Gails subscription is still active though so if she ever turns up to a race and isnt at the back it will likely be me! )

 

[CXRAndy]

Hi Rick, shame you won't be around as much. I can see Bkool updates have made riding a lot more realistic and has virtually eliminated, let's say adaptive techniques to get more speed. Watching a few races, you can see who and what power/speed numbers are being developed. They are to me, again more real life figures. Regarding racing, to be as near equal, everyone has to be in a Bkool pro, or we all jump onto another trainer(not feasible)

I like the racing more than the training, plus the banter

 

[LBHIFI]

Lars, have you changed your setup in any way? As your speed does seem to be down - almost the complete opposite of what was happening with your rides a few weeks ago when you thought you were going unrealistically fast? Do you think you may have a problem with your trainer? Or am I missing something about how you now have it set up (I'm a bit confused by what you're saying about the watts, other than you're comparing real watts from your BePros to the Bkool calculation of watts)

Yes actually. Race tire and tube blew up some time ago and I have been using a 25 mm Conti Ultra Sport and a normal tube for the whole of November Chaingang, and of course this is the prime suspect. The reason I didn't changed it yet, is because I got a more realistic avg. watt, but my problem is that it really underreads a lot on medium hills.
E.g. in yesterdays race BKool consistently was about 70 watts lower than my power meter. By the time I get over the hill there's noone there to draft.

 

[Monte]

Hi Rick, shame you won't be around as much. I can see Bkool updates have made riding a lot more realistic and has virtually eliminated, let's say adaptive techniques to get more speed. Watching a few races, you can see who and what power/speed numbers are being developed. They are to me, again more real life figures. Regarding racing, to be as near equal, everyone has to be in a Bkool pro, or we all jump onto another trainer(not feasible)

I like the racing more than the training, plus the banter

Agree

 

[Soarerv8]

Hi Soarer, I wanted a structured program based on my ability, which would lead me by the nose so to speak. Lazy I know. TrainerRoad, gets you to do a FTP test, then sets up all the rides based around this number, you work through them as recommended, 3 times a week or more if you pick a higher intensity workload.

I looked at Zwift, which has a workout plan(pay after free period) but it was mentioned that it was too easy for the first part. I checked out Bkool workout, this looks like you have to schedule all your own workouts( requires you to determine your plan), free since you're already a member. They all do the same, but TrainerRoad leads you.

This is my last ride I did on TR, it was quite demanding in the last interval, even though its all below FTP
https://www.trainerroad.com/cycling/rides/4519984

Thanks Andy might give that a go, seems similar in concept to the C25K which did exactly what you described and led me kicking and screaming through it.

Doing this largely so when we do the group handicaps I don't end up with beige all on my own.

 

[Soarerv8]

I have not found a way to set-up a workout the way bkool show it. To setup your own workouts is a mare. I used an edited velo session with power targets equal to my power zones (involves a lot of writing and calculating).

Be realistic with your aims. I've tried a few of the inbuilt workouts. Some are, possibly, silly easy. Others not so much. The last I did, VO2 Max 9 iirc, destroyed me. A 1hr20 workout that I only just completed 30 minutes.

First I'd advise looking at and at least trying some that are on bkool. It will give you an idea of what you want to be doing. Be warned some look very...er.....boring!!! You may be better off doing a normal flat video session and editing similar targets on to it .

Thanks for that TB