Team BKool CycleChat

[theboxers]

The only other downside I can see is getting it into a loft .

Is that a lawyerly way of asking for help to get one into your loft?

or leaving it in a shed or garage. Otherwise it seems a no brainier for the reasonably well heeled cyclist looking for probably the best trainer.

If you are looking at between £600-1k for a trainer and possibly a second bike to put on it, thus saving your best bike for the road. Yes it does appeal and cheaper than the other two combined.

 

[Whorty]

I look forward to that Carl

Me too . I love the speed and power I get from the Pro as I'm competitive for the first time ever in races, but it would be nice to know what I'm really putting out. Maybe I really am that strong on the turbo .... and then maybe @Daddy Pig can self propel himself through the air

 

[theboxers]

I agree, I'd need to shed 2 kg .... does that mean I can change my BKool weight to 137kg for the October CG league

NO!

 

[Daddy Pig]

Me too . I love the speed and power I get from the Pro as I'm competitive for the first time ever in races, but it would be nice to know what I'm really putting out. Maybe I really am that strong on the turbo .... and then maybe @Daddy Pig can self propel himself through the air

That depends in how many wheat beers I've drunk. More than two and by the morning I'm pretty much levitating...

 

[Whorty]

The new well reviewed Elite director is less than £600 at Athlete shop .co.uk. Price match at wiggle or Halfords then use BC membership for 10% off. A bargain.

I can't trust Elite after the fiasco on BKool. I want something you guys use so I can compete on a level playing field. I have a plan this next 6 months .... if it comes off you guys better watch out

p.s. the plan is maintain the power but lose 10 kg (get down to 73 kg). Sounds simple .... if I can stay away from the pies, cakes and beer

 

[Whorty]

You will be able to use it Tommy on any platform from what I've read. I suspect that it will be disadvantaged on Bkool against the pro units. Hopefully it has the full analytics of the original.

All the articles I've read says it works on Zwift, Sufferfest and Training Peaks but not mentioned BKool or TrainerRoad. Saying that though, BKool is rarely ever mentioned in articles so that may not actually mean anything

 

[CXRAndy]

All the articles I've read says it works on Zwift, Sufferfest and Training Peaks but not mentioned BKool or TrainerRoad. Saying that though, BKool is rarely ever mentioned in articles so that may not actually mean anything

If it works in Zwift it will work with trainer road. They both use power. Bkool works perfectly well with my Kickr, bkools only failing is the disadvantage it creates.

 

[theboxers]

All the articles I've read says it works on Zwift, Sufferfest and Training Peaks but not mentioned BKool or TrainerRoad. Saying that though, BKool is rarely ever mentioned in articles so that may not actually mean anything

It is Ant+ FE-C capable. What it transmits (cadence, power, etc) I am unsure. So it should do bkool. TT should be able t tell us shortly .

 

[bobinski]

I can't trust Elite after the fiasco on BKool. I want something you guys use so I can compete on a level playing field. I have a plan this next 6 months .... if it comes off you guys better watch out

p.s. the plan is maintain the power but lose 10 kg (get down to 73 kg). Sounds simple .... if I can stay away from the pies, cakes and beer

Eh?!? You mean you can't trust it( or anything else in bsim) which is all down to bsim? It's performance is on par with Neo and kickr elsewhere.
Go for it.

 

[Whorty]

The advantage I can see to the atom is a complete bike trainer package. The downside is what to do with it when you're not using it, where you can pack away a turbo trainer. If room is not required then atom looks good

If it works in Zwift it will work with trainer road. They both use power. Bkool works perfectly well with my Kickr, bkools only failing is the disadvantage it creates.

As Bob pointed out though yesterday, it doesn't seem it's BKool BSIM that gives you a disadvantage, it's the BKool Pro. I'm just as amazing in Zwift as I am in Bkool so appears Zwift also doesn't correctly measure/control the Pro. Had you raced me last night on the flat WBR I think you'd have struggled to beat me, but we know in real life the reverse is true.

I still can't get my head around fully why all this is the case (I know the lack of power meter in the turbo is part of the problem) but if the software is controlling the resistance based on rider weight and gradient, and the speed on screen is based on how fast the roller is turning, how does a lack of power meter cause such a big potential discrepancy? Is it quite simply that the software isn't putting in enough resistance? If so, surely a tweak to both BSIM and Zwift could resolve this?

 

[Whorty]

It is Ant+ FE-C capable. What it transmits (cadence, power, etc) I am unsure. So it should do bkool. TT should be able t tell us shortly .

On the WattBike site today the waiting time for delivery is 15 weeks .... that would drive me crazy waiting that long

 

[bobinski]

As Bob pointed out though yesterday, it doesn't seem it's BKool BSIM that gives you a disadvantage, it's the BKool Pro. I'm just as amazing in Zwift as I am in Bkool so appears Zwift also doesn't correctly measure/control the Pro. Had you raced me last night on the flat WBR I think you'd have struggled to beat me, but we know in real life the reverse is true.

I still can't get my head around fully why all this is the case (I know the lack of power meter in the turbo is part of the problem) but if the software is controlling the resistance based on rider weight and gradient, and the speed on screen is based on how fast the roller is turning, how does a lack of power meter cause such a big potential discrepancy? Is it quite simply that the software isn't putting in enough resistance? If so, surely a tweak to both BSIM and Zwift could resolve this?

Zwift have said bkool won't give them the power data the pro etc generate to allow them to write or tweak a profile for the turbo. Nor will bkool write a calibration routine for users. Zwift cannot correct or account for how bkool have written the ant fec profile- it is unique to bkool.

 

[Whorty]

Eh?!? You mean you can't trust it( or anything else in bsim) which is all down to bsim? It's performance is on par with Neo and kickr elsewhere.
Go for it.

Too risky ... if I still produce big power I'd hate to be told I still race to an advantage. I'd rather stay Pro or get something others have.

I still think one of the biggest advantages of the Pro compared to a direct drive is the tyre, both type and PSI. You can't play a direct drive in the same way as you can a trainer with a tyre on a roller. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of my extra power last night was due to pumping the tyre back to 100 from 80

 

[Whorty]

Zwift have said bkool won't give them the power data the pro etc generate to allow them to write or tweak a profile for the turbo. Nor will bkool write a calibration routine for users. Zwift cannot correct or account for how bkool have written the ant fec profile- it is unique to bkool.

I get that, but Zwift and Bkool power isn't that different on a Pro (about 20 watts less on Zwift) which at 300 watts is less than 10% error. Actually, last night I was seeing higher watts in Zwift than I normally see in Bkool. I'm out of my depth on the engineering side so don't really get what's going one (as you can tell). I pedal and hope the numbers are as realistic as possible

 

[Whorty]

@BILL S , @bridgy I see you both did the CG1 ... how did you find it? You both pushed out big power going downhill which is impressive. Could be really interesting on Thursday race night for the rest of us