Team BKool CycleChat

[<Tommy>]

Im off to bed early tonight so i can make tomorrow, so I'll go with either.

how do i find you in morning ? just in case

Search for tommy (cyclechat)

Let's say 8am start tiomorrow if that's ok with everyone.

I'll pick out a course in a bit unless anyone else has one. This morning we did a bit of a rolling warm up for the first 5k or so. Then picked the pace up a little to approx 20mph max on the flat. Slowly ramping it up to around 25mph max by half way. After that we can see how people are feeling. These are only rough guides and we tried to keep the group together for as long as possible. Having said that if anyone wants to fly off they're more than welcome. It might be that everyone is in different form so it's better not to have too many rules!

Today we slowed for eachother at the tops and bottoms of hills and that worked well. I think I'm going to pick a similar length ride for tomorrow (approx 60km) but maybe with over 1000meters of climbing. If anyone has an objection to this or a course they like the look of let me know.

Lastly we've been using another thread to communicate during the rides so as not to clog this one too much. If anyone has any suggestions please jump in

 

[bobinski]

Search for tommy (cyclechat)

Let's say 8am start tiomorrow if that's ok with everyone.

I'll pick out a course in a bit unless anyone else has one. This morning we did a bit of a rolling warm up for the first 5k or so. Then picked the pace up a little to approx 20mph max on the flat. Slowly ramping it up to around 25mph max by half way. After that we can see how people are feeling. These are only rough guides and we tried to keep the group together for as long as possible. Having said that if anyone wants to fly off they're more than welcome. It might be that everyone is in different form so it's better not to have too many rules!

Today we slowed for eachother at the tops and bottoms of hills and that worked well. I think I'm going to pick a similar length ride for tomorrow (approx 60km) but maybe with over 1000meters of climbing. If anyone has an objection to this or a course they like the look of let me know.

Lastly we've been using another thread to communicate during the rides so as not to clog this one too much. If anyone has any suggestions please jump in

8 is good Tommy. Just enough time to get coffee and toast in me before we ride.

 

[bobinski]

BREEDON!
Great ride-i really enjoyed that tussle at the end.!
250w after 2 hours riding is not to be sniffed at.
Thanks.
TT,
Sorry to see you go-ta for setting up.
I know what you mean about background noise-apparently our ageing car wont start: i best go check it out and then call AA

 

[CXRAndy]

Oh dear, Even the boiling pan of soup beside me to simulate the threat of eruption, Just had a little taster session up Mt. Teide (EL Teide-Bkool) 5 miles took 30mins, only another 52 for up and down Cadence was good at 95-100rpm on the 6% gradients around 250W with 34-32T cassette, its the 10% ramps which bite, up the watts go to 350W, which is fine but no repeatable over such a long climb, In an effort to hold a decent cadence to lessen fatigue I will need to put on the XTR cass, so I can keep spinning and keep power spikes under control. Now i know what i have got to do roll on the New Year

(google search-fat removal surgeon ASAP)

 

[Breedon]

Got to admit it was rather strange not racing the urge to put my foot down on the inclines was rather strong. And the last bit was great side by side then BOOM of we go.
Thanks TT great idea and thanks for setting it all up, see you all later at 7.

 

[kipster]

Oh dear, Even the boiling pan of soup beside me to simulate the threat of eruption, Just had a little taster session up Mt. Teide (EL Teide-Bkool) 5 miles took 30mins, only another 52 for up and down Cadence was good at 95-100rpm on the 6% gradients around 250W with 34-32T cassette, its the 10% ramps which bite, up the watts go to 350W, which is fine but no repeatable over such a long climb, In an effort to hold a decent cadence to lessen fatigue I will need to put on the XTR cass, so I can keep spinning and keep power spikes under control. Now i know what i have got to do roll on the New Year

(google search-fat removal surgeon ASAP)

The guys and girls from the club that have done it have taken their time (about 3 - 4 hours I think, I'll check strava later). There are places to stop and admire the view.

 

[bobinski]

Doing the Christmas club runs has allowed me to ease into using the NEO and explore how it works in the bkool world, just in case anyone wants to know. It definitely seems harder to generate power but that observation is complicated by a few strange quirks. On anything between -2 and up to 0% I need to generate power or the unit slows to a standstill, and quite quickly too. Anything between 0% and 2% feels like 3-4% on the bkool pro. If I am not generating 170w+ I slow pretty quickly, especially at the transition point which over the last few days gave me lots of time to watch to watch TT and Brendon and Whorty apparently coast on past The good thing is that any perceived disadvantage seems to disappear once the incline increases to 3% and above. I know we were not racing, at least not till the end eh Breedon, but I could stay with the others up to 9%. Anything above that was frigging hard .
I think the NEO brings a few advantages, aside from the obvious of being able to stand and grind out on a sharp incline or on a sprint. Speed seems to carry over really nicely from the top of a climb into a drop or even a flat, so long as I keep pedalling though not necessarily applying lots of power. The benefit is disproportionate to the effort being applied. It's almost like an acceleration, albeit short lived unless on a gradient the drop is 4% or more. Also, unlike on my pro I don't need to pedal like crazy on a drop of 5% or more to maintain speed. As long as I turn the pedals the unit accelerates although applying a lot of power brings benefits too. Mind you it comes as quite a shock, when applying power downhill,as the gradient eases, to feel the brake kick in and slow the bike. I will have to learn to anticipate that and gear accordingly. Interestingly, none of these foibles or quirks appear in Zwift.
I know I will be at a disadvantage in the leagues but that may only be temporary. Bkool will have to find a way to even out the differences between turbos in order to attract as many non bkool turbo owners as possible. I am an optimistic guy

 

[Breedon]

Doing the Christmas club runs has allowed me to ease into using the NEO and explore how it works in the bkool world, just in case anyone wants to know. It definitely seems harder to generate power but that observation is complicated by a few strange quirks. On anything between -2 and up to 0% I need to generate power or the unit slows to a standstill, and quite quickly too. Anything between 0% and 2% feels like 3-4% on the bkool pro. If I am not generating 170w+ I slow pretty quickly, especially at the transition point which over the last few days gave me lots of time to watch to watch TT and Brendon and Whorty apparently coast on past The good thing is that any perceived disadvantage seems to disappear once the incline increases to 3% and above. I know we were not racing, at least not till the end eh Breedon, but I could stay with the others up to 9%. Anything above that was frigging hard .
I think the NEO brings a few advantages, aside from the obvious of being able to stand and grind out on a sharp incline or on a sprint. Speed seems to carry over really nicely from the top of a climb into a drop or even a flat, so long as I keep pedalling though not necessarily applying lots of power. The benefit is disproportionate to the effort being applied. It's almost like an acceleration, albeit short lived unless on a gradient the drop is 4% or more. Also, unlike on my pro I don't need to pedal like crazy on a drop of 5% or more to maintain speed. As long as I turn the pedals the unit accelerates although applying a lot of power brings benefits too. Mind you it comes as quite a shock, when applying power downhill,as the gradient eases, to feel the brake kick in and slow the bike. I will have to learn to anticipate that and gear accordingly. Interestingly, none of these foibles or quirks appear in Zwift.
I know I will be at a disadvantage in the leagues but that may only be temporary. Bkool will have to find a way to even out the differences between turbos in order to attract as many non bkool turbo owners as possible. I am an optimistic guy

I did think your trainer had broke on the first 15% i just shot by you all as i had blue numbers for quite a while, but on even on the slightest down slope you would pick up speed quite quickly so trying to give you a draft would be tricky ok on inclines but not so on the down slopes due to weight and our different trainers.

 

[LBHIFI]

Since the danes decided to cancel qualification races for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, I have be searching for a new goal and even thought of joining you guys at the DD.
But now they announced that they are back in business and will hold a qualifier event August the 12th. just one hour from my home I know that I could qualify with the watts I can produce right now, if I was only as effecient as Bradly Wiggins, but unfortunately that is not the case, so I need to gain something like 10 watts.
I hope they don't include too many hills, as my Planet X Exocet 2 is damn heavy.

 

[bobinski]

I did think your trainer had broke on the first 15% i just shot by you all as i had blue numbers for quite a while, but on even on the slightest down slope you would pick up speed quite quickly so trying to give you a draft would be tricky ok on inclines but not so on the down slopes due to weight and our different trainers.

Was that the one where I stopped or was it later? Reason was I have a 135mm hub and the NEO has a 130mm default set up. I had to add a spacer during set up and that does not sit properly when the skewer is tightened, but at slight angle and had caused the skewer to slip and so loosen. I had to get off , release and then reset the skewer and tighten.
You are a good climber so I was glad I was able to stay with you most of the time.

 

[CXRAndy]

Glad you're beginning to get your head legs, lungs around the new Neo Bob. I just cant bring myself to let go of the Bkool pro for racing, I'm just not that competitive you know










NOT

 

[Breedon]

Was that the one where I stopped or was it later? Reason was I have a 135mm hub and the NEO has a 130mm default set up. I had to add a spacer during set up and that does not sit properly when the skewer is tightened, but at slight angle and had caused the skewer to slip and so loosen. I had to get off , release and then reset the skewer and tighten.
You are a good climber so I was glad I was able to stay with you most of the time.

It was where you stopped, i actually slowed right down so you could catch up for the climbs and speeded up when you got nearer

 

[<Tommy>]

Sorry I had to cut and run earlier guys, I'm not entirely sure I have universal support for these early morning adventures. But we'll persevere!

Glad you joined us Breedon! I'm not sure I picked the right bots for the excersise... one of them stuck to me so tight I thought she was trying to sit on my lap! She was determined to give me a draft the whole way round which probably defeats the object somewhat...

Same again tomorrow guys? I like the idea of sticking together no matter what until around halfway then ramping it up a little after that. I can't do the chaingang tonight so maybe that suits me more than others who'll be sore.

 

[Breedon]

Same time tomorrow is fine tommy.

 

[Whorty]

Sorry I had to cut and run earlier guys, I'm not entirely sure I have universal support for these early morning adventures. But we'll persevere!

Glad you joined us Breedon! I'm not sure I picked the right bots for the excersise... one of them stuck to me so tight I thought she was trying to sit on my lap! She was determined to give me a draft the whole way round which probably defeats the object somewhat...

Same again tomorrow guys? I like the idea of sticking together no matter what until around halfway then ramping it up a little after that. I can't do the chaingang tonight so maybe that suits me more than others who'll be sore.

Yep, should be with you tomorrow too ... happy to push as hard as i can to stay with you until halfway, then you rockets can up the pace and i'll roll in