Team BKool CycleChat

[BILL S]

My watts definitely seem lower when on hills compared to flats or descents. If I wanted to increase my FTP in the old days I'd do 30 mins on Alpe, now I do 30 mins in the Velodrome

It looks like its the same for most of us then. Good tip about the velodrome for updating the FTP, although I'm sure mine's been where it is now for more than 2 months and I've not been making anywhere near the power lately to maintain it where it is. I wonder if this is another feature that bkool have undone with their tampering?

 

[<Tommy>]

I've ridden in the Pyrenees a few times. Done the Raid, a couple of Etapes and spent a couple of weeks down there.

Stayed in Lourdes a couple of times (it's a crazy place) and also Luz St Sauveur.

Really like the Pyrenees, although the weather can be quite changeable.

Last time we were there, we started our ascent of the Tourmalet from Saint Marie de Campan in a humid 30C. By the time our group reached the summit, the cloud had closed in and it was snowing. Some guys sheltered in the cafe, others stayed in the ski station 4km from the summit. Unfortunately one of our group crashed on the descent and ended up in hospital!

But apart from that it's a great area!

Happy to share any information. When are you going?

We’re going late June / early July. I Can not wait!! Myself, Berty, Bobinski and Breedon from here. It’s the first time most of us have done anything like this I believe so it’s all very exciting.

 

[Daddy Pig]

Your graph looks very similar to mine Lars. I also notice the low climbing watts compared to the way it used to be. I can't understand what this could be caused by considering we mostly all have the same pro units and the same software and firmware. Some seem to be able to make decent watts when climbing but what could be different about their setup?

Old age?

 

[AAAC 76C]

Just had a quick look at your ride, and think you may have the same Bkool power curve as me. It's notable by having low climb watts compared to avg.
Best explained with a simple diagram:

...meaning that we need more real power in flat an ascend. ( Obviously the diff. doesn't keep increasing, but didn't want to spend too much time drawing ).
Unfortunately the downhill advantage gets "eaten" by blue numbers, so just give you an higher avg. watt, not higher speed.
Look at it the bright way. It means that if we ever catch the front guys in Bkool, we know that we'll absolutely destroy them in real life .

Where do the lines disect, at 0% or on a gradient (positive/negative).
My ability to create BKool Watts decreases with the gradient as well but I find its pretty relative from 0 through +5% and then it starts to decrease.
I'm not that worried about downhills as without a motor in the Turbo simulating descents properly is impossible.

 

[AAAC 76C]

It looks like its the same for most of us then. Good tip about the velodrome for updating the FTP, although I'm sure mine's been where it is now for more than 2 months and I've not been making anywhere near the power lately to maintain it where it is. I wonder if this is another feature that bkool have undone with their tampering?

@BILL S , your climbing seemed to slump round about the Nations Cup this year.
You were smashing climbs up to the day and then it all seemed to go south.

 

[Whorty]

@BILL S , your climbing seemed to slump round about the Nations Cup this year.
You were smashing climbs up to the day and then it all seemed to go south.

Old age

 

[keithaitch]

Where

We’re going late June / early July. I Can not wait!! Myself, Berty, Bobinski and Breedon from here. It’s the first time most of us have done anything like this I believe so it’s all very exciting.

Are you going si I can give you some pointers and perhaps some climbs that others haven't done?

 

[AAAC 76C]

Try jumping on the lead next time.
I accidentally stepped on the cats tail yesterday, and even though I was in the midst of pulling my jersey over my head and couldn't see anything, there was no doubt in my mind that it was not a power lead I was stepping on. I got the claw marks on my shin to prove it too.

We have a black cat as well as the tabby.
The black one likes to hide on the stairs in the dark.
Feking thing is going to kill me one day as I go downstairs in the middle of the night in the dark, bleary eyed and not wearing my glasses.
I can see it now, a big noise and a pile off flesh, peche and pussy at the bottom of the stairs spread across the landing.

 

[Del C]

We’re going late June / early July. I Can not wait!! Myself, Berty, Bobinski and Breedon from here. It’s the first time most of us have done anything like this I believe so it’s all very exciting.

Weather should be fine by then, but as I said the Pyrenees are changeable as they are affected by the air off the Atlantic. Worth taking wind jackets and arm warmers for cold days and if the weather forecast is doubtful be careful on the high passes.

But its got some great countryside, climbs and descents. I prefer it to the Alps. Where are you staying?

 

[BILL S]

@BILL S , your climbing seemed to slump round about the Nations Cup this year.
You were smashing climbs up to the day and then it all seemed to go south.

I think it happened sometime before the nation' cup and tied in with one of the software or firmware updates. I can now make around 50 to 100 watts more on the flat than I can uphill. That used to be the other way round. Not that I really mind as I'm happy competing against anyone similar to my level.

 

[LBHIFI]

Your graph looks very similar to mine Lars. I also notice the low climbing watts compared to the way it used to be. I can't understand what this could be caused by considering we mostly all have the same pro units and the same software and firmware. Some seem to be able to make decent watts when climbing but what could be different about their setup?

Bkool gave it a "special treatment" via remote.
And yes, it now does seem to be on par around 0 %, but the curve goes from something like +70 watt (< 0 %) to about -40 watt ( > 0%)

 

[LBHIFI]

Where do the lines disect, at 0% or on a gradient (positive/negative).
My ability to create BKool Watts decreases with the gradient as well but I find its pretty relative from 0 through +5% and then it starts to decrease.
I'm not that worried about downhills as without a motor in the Turbo simulating descents properly is impossible.

Very close to 0%. Just below I would say.

 

[Bored Man]

I think it happened sometime before the nation' cup and tied in with one of the software or firmware updates. I can now make around 50 to 100 watts more on the flat than I can uphill. That used to be the other way round. Not that I really mind as I'm happy competing against anyone similar to my level.

I checked to see if my legs were running on the latest firmware however, I received a message announcing that they were no longer supported. I’m looking into over-clocking now, see if that works?

As for <5% >5% - not got a clue about what anyone is talking about. We need emoji with an aeroplane flying over it.

 

[Whorty]

I checked to see if my legs were running on the latest firmware however, I received a message announcing that they were no longer supported. I’m looking into over-clocking now, see if that works?

As for <5% >5% - not got a clue about what anyone is talking about. We need emoji with an aeroplane flying over it.

Glad you admitted to that @Jim Brown , I was thinking the same but didn't want to say in case I was the only one completely confused

 

[Del C]

I've just followed some of you guys and joined Liga Multiplayer. I may need some more indoor rides now that its getting colder!

Does anybody know whether my recent weight change will mean I get a set of red crosses for the current league, as I've been getting fo this month's CG?

Obviously I've not ridden any stages of Liga Multiplayer at my old weight, but on the other hand I've changed my weight since the start date of the league. Not sure which criteria Bkool uses here.