Team BKool CycleChat

[Mark68]

Did a ride the other day thinking I'd do my Strava challenge of 100km. I did just over 61 mile. Turns out I only did 98 km so missed out on completing that.
I'll just have to do another, but I've seen a couple on Bkool that qualify so may just start on this morning.

 

[AndyMacca]

I wasn't there for amstel gold tonight because I was elsewhere! Specifically, and I know it's the enemy but the video quality and screen experience of bvr is light years ahead of bkool and I think as close to reality as you'll get without vr. Of anybody wants to take advantage of their 14 day free trial and join me for a social ride to bastonne and then back to liege tomorrow and Sunday, about 60kms each time then that would be great. I was going to do the Bkool amstel gold tomorrow morning but after yet another chain mechanical, I'm doing what doctors advice and listening to my body, in this case bike, and taking it relatively easy for a couple of days.Ihave rather abused her these last 47 days without rest.

Might look at downloading BRVR today and syncing with the bike, if it goes well will join you for the 2nd part. I fancy trying some other platforms whilst there's so much virtual cycling going on.

 

[Mark68]

How long is the brvr stage you're planning on doing. Is it 100km?

Sorry just re-read your post @keithaitch Looks like it's 60 km

 

[AndyMacca]

How long is the brvr stage you're planning on doing. Is it 100km?

Sorry just re-read your post @keithaitch Looks like it's 60 km

Do you fancy it too Mark?

Just downloaded BRVR on W10, went fairly smoothly except you have to create a 'Google Account' if you don't already have one.
Once in I needed to create an Ant+ profile and select my trainer which was simple. There's a good selection filter for rides, you can slide various dials to narrow down on distance or ascent for example or just type the name if you know it.
I found the smallest ride a bumpy 3km effort to do - well I was wearing jeans and Crocs - you're right @keithaitch the video is good, I could see snowflakes falling in that little ride.

I liked the gradient changes, on Bkool it can go from -2% to +3% whereas they've created greater granularity so a descent curves back into a ascent giving time to get the gears corrected (very useful on my glacier-esque Atom).
I'm sure there's a lot not to like too once we dig a bit deeper but first impressions are good.

@keithaitch if you're riding later let me know what time and I'll join you.

 

[Mark68]

Sorry jus

Do you fancy it too Mark?

Just downloaded BRVR on W10, went fairly smoothly except you have to create a 'Google Account' if you don't already have one.
Once in I needed to create an Ant+ profile and select my trainer which was simple. There's a good selection filter for rides, you can slide various dials to narrow down on distance or ascent for example or just type the name if you know it.
I found the smallest ride a bumpy 3km effort to do - well I was wearing jeans and Crocs - you're right @keithaitch the video is good, I could see snowflakes falling in that little ride. View attachment 518040
I liked the gradient changes, on Bkool it can go from -2% to +3% whereas they've created greater granularity so a descent curves back into a ascent giving time to get the gears corrected (very useful on my glacier-esque Atom).
I'm sure there's a lot not to like too once we dig a bit deeper but first impressions are good.

@keithaitch if you're riding later let me know what time and I'll join you.

Sorry just seen this. At the moment I'm just finishing the last massive hill.on a 100km ride to get my Strava challenge done

 

[keithaitch]

Do you fancy it too Mark?

Just downloaded BRVR on W10, went fairly smoothly except you have to create a 'Google Account' if you don't already have one.
Once in I needed to create an Ant+ profile and select my trainer which was simple. There's a good selection filter for rides, you can slide various dials to narrow down on distance or ascent for example or just type the name if you know it.
I found the smallest ride a bumpy 3km effort to do - well I was wearing jeans and Crocs - you're right @keithaitch the video is good, I could see snowflakes falling in that little ride. View attachment 518040
I liked the gradient changes, on Bkool it can go from -2% to +3% whereas they've created greater granularity so a descent curves back into a ascent giving time to get the gears corrected (very useful on my glacier-esque Atom).
I'm sure there's a lot not to like too once we dig a bit deeper but first impressions are good.

@keithaitch if you're riding later let me know what time and I'll join you.

I'll be there at 17:00 for liege bastonne liege part 3 and I'm happy to do it as a group ride, I'm tired. I've already done 30kms this morning and am going out now for another 20 with HID. There aren't many people perhaps 3/4 on BrVR and there's no drafting but we can ride together and chat on discord if you like. It feels more like real world riding, I was even tempted to stop for a coffee yeasterday when I passed a bar! Btw it's 17:00cet so in twenty minutes. If you are coming I'll hang around for you, or you could just catch up with me!

 

[Randyberlin]

Ok thanks. That put my mindset back where it should be. I've been looking at all sorts of possibilities of why.
One of those things that happen that shouldn't that are annoying and I like to find the reason why.

"Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder, 'Why, why, why?' Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand." - Bokonon
From Kurt Vonnegut's, Cat's Cradle.

Bigring VR does have great videos. A few years back @Aleman had a league with climbs. Brutal but fun.

 

[shimceltic]

"Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder, 'Why, why, why?' Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand." - Bokonon
From Kurt Vonnegut's, Cat's Cradle.

Bigring VR does have great videos. A few years back @Aleman had a league with climbs. Brutal but fun.

Looks" fun"

 

[Randyberlin]

Looks" fun"

It was a challenge. And because you could do them at any time it was like an addition to the Bkool league not competing with them. I still am paying for Zwift and Bigring but almost never ride in Swift . Well actually not riding anywhere much now, but even before December I seldom rode in Zwift.

 

[AndyMacca]

It was a challenge. And because you could do them at any time it was like an addition to the Bkool league not competing with them. I still am paying for Zwift and Bigring but almost never ride in Swift . Well actually not riding anywhere much now, but even before December I seldom rode in Zwift.

Home you can join in more soon but I'd defo pause that subscription to Zwift Randy.

@keithaitch I'm guessing you're starting 5pm UKT? I'm thinking of starting earlier as I'm honestly going to plod along and you'll catch me even quicker than in the TT's. It's estimating 2hrs20mins+ which would be the biggest ride in a while so I reckon it's 50/50 if I stay the course.
BTW my dummy Google account which I used has me by my Polish name 'Andrzej'.

 

[AndyMacca]

Home you can join in more soon but I'd defo pause that subscription to Zwift Randy.

@keithaitch I'm guessing you're starting 5pm UKT? I'm thinking of starting earlier as I'm honestly going to plod along and you'll catch me even quicker than in the TT's. It's estimating 2hrs20mins+ which would be the biggest ride in a while so I reckon it's 50/50 if I stay the course.
BTW my dummy Google account which I used has me by my Polish name 'Andrzej'.

Pity I didn't start at 4pm my fault.

When I got to the 4th climb and as per all the climbs it gives you some info of what's coming which is a nice touch, however once it said max incline 20% that 50/50 turned into 0/100, I haven't the legs or inclination [sic] to do that 3 times in a week.😜 Look forwards to trying it again though on a gentler ride.

 

[keithaitch]

Pity I didn't start at 4pm my fault.

When I got to the 4th climb and as per all the climbs it gives you some info of what's coming which is a nice touch, however once it said max incline 20% that 50/50 turned into 0/100, I haven't the legs or inclination [sic] to do that 3 times in a week.😜 Look forwards to trying it again though on a gentler ride.

Glad you enjoyed it. I'm still sussing things out. As per discord I think i've solved my technical problems caused by trying to run it on an old windows7 computer. As the video quality is so much better, it really does feel real! I think it's the ideal platform for social rides with chatter on discord. If anybody wants to join me tomorrow around 17:00 CET! for a ride of about an hour in the beautiful area around here then I'd love to ride, socially with you. I have some flexibility in terms of start time. They give you a 14 day free trial which is what @AndyMacca is using.

 

[shimceltic]

Glad you enjoyed it. I'm still sussing things out. As per discord I think i've solved my technical problems caused by trying to run it on an old windows7 computer. As the video quality is so much better, it really does feel real! I think it's the ideal platform for social rides with chatter on discord. If anybody wants to join me tomorrow around 17:00 CET! for a ride of about an hour in the beautiful area around here then I'd love to ride, socially with you. I have some flexibility in terms of start time. They give you a 14 day free trial which is what @AndyMacca is using.

I'm gonna try venturing outside again tomorrow

 

[keithaitch]

It was a challenge. And because you could do them at any time it was like an addition to the Bkool league not competing with them. I still am paying for Zwift and Bigring but almost never ride in Swift . Well actually not riding anywhere much now, but even before December I seldom rode in Zwift.

if you fancy a meet up on brvr I'D LOVE TO RIDE WITH YOU

 

[Randyberlin]

if you fancy a meet up on brvr I'D LOVE TO RIDE WITH YOU

I'm going to try another easy ride later this afternoon to see if I can start back yet. It's the most bizarre thing.My recovery is all based on nerves coming back so not anything can speed things up. I can only spin the pedals and only got up to 100 watts last weekend. Patience is not my strong suit.