Team BKool CycleChat

[gbrown]

Guys, I'm buying a new trainer and torn between the Bkool and wahoo kickr. There is a £500 price difference between the two and i'm not sure if its worth it. With all your experiences, is the Bkool a safe bet and does the trainer make it feel like your cycling on the road? My only other concern is that your locked into the Bkool software whereas the kickr is open so can use any. Is the Bkool software good? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I'd rather have the KICKR - My wife would much rather I have the Bkool
I compromised and have the Bkool and plan to get a power meter in the spring (I may forget to mention this last part)!

If you've got the money to spare, I'd be seriously tempted to look at the KICKR, but for £300-£400 the Bkool is a very nice bit of kit. The software has bugs a plenty, but it is really good, especially the 3D multiplayer and I find it very useful to ride against the times posted by others of similar age, weight, etc. No way I could manage 1 hour+ several times a week on a trainer that didn't have the virtual courses.

Cheers,

Geoff

 

[gbrown]

Talking about Power Meters, the power readings on the Bkool are my first intro to training with power, and being a gadget freak I'm now planning to get a power meter in spring.

Does anyone here ride with a power meter and have you compared it with the bkool figures? I was wondering if they were reasonably accurate, I guess since they can calculate them from speed and resistance there's no reason to think they would be far out.

Anyone recommend any particular type of meter? They all seems to have different pros and cons, cost rather a lot and there are lots of reports of problems and returns.

I am interested in the 4iiii precision that is due out around New Year. Nice to use the cranks I already own and to be able to read both legs, but probably best to wait for any teething problems.

I am also thinking about a powertap, but would have to get it built into my wheel. Would probably just buy a Stages if not for the 4iiii being so much cheaper and I have Dura Ace cranks and resent paying £200 more for the crank arm over a 105.

Anyway, got until spring to figure it out.

Cheers,

Geoff

 

[Add]

Whooooosh! All over my head Geoff! I just get on my BKool, pedal like a nutjob, throw up, go to bed! Repeat every other day!

 

[harly]

Talking about Power Meters, the power readings on the Bkool are my first intro to training with power, and being a gadget freak I'm now planning to get a power meter in spring.

Does anyone here ride with a power meter and have you compared it with the bkool figures? I was wondering if they were reasonably accurate, I guess since they can calculate them from speed and resistance there's no reason to think they would be far out.

Anyone recommend any particular type of meter? They all seems to have different pros and cons, cost rather a lot and there are lots of reports of problems and returns.

I am interested in the 4iiii precision that is due out around New Year. Nice to use the cranks I already own and to be able to read both legs, but probably best to wait for any teething problems.

I am also thinking about a powertap, but would have to get it built into my wheel. Would probably just buy a Stages if not for the 4iiii being so much cheaper and I have Dura Ace cranks and resent paying £200 more for the crank arm over a 105.

Anyway, got until spring to figure it out.

Cheers,

Geoff

Theres a post on here somewere about power readings being close enough to bkool but going out abit on the steeper climbs

 

[Add]

Guys, I'm buying a new trainer and torn between the Bkool and wahoo kickr. There is a £500 price difference between the two and i'm not sure if its worth it. With all your experiences, is the Bkool a safe bet and does the trainer make it feel like your cycling on the road? My only other concern is that your locked into the Bkool software whereas the kickr is open so can use any. Is the Bkool software good? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I did have the same dilemna when I went to buy my turbo trainer. I am VERY pleased with my Turbo Pro. But I am not Sir Chris Hoy, and am just looking to improve my stamina over winter, for the 2015 Triathlon calender. It has done wonders for me in just 6 weeks. The actual simulator software is good I think personally, its just all the set up and BKool website that needs tweaking. Once you have actually chosen your session and configured it, the on screen ride itself is ALL GOOD! If they keep improving the software as they go, I think they will be up there with the market leaders!

But take whatever I say with a pinch of salt... I fit kitchens and build houses for a living, after failing my Microsoft and Apple applications before even reaching the interview stage!

 

[Add]

Incidentally, does it fall within the remit of being a member of the Rebels, that you all come round and help put up my Christmas Decorations?

 

[RickB]

10 members in at the moment altho it only says 2

Showing up grand for me now.

Looks like a much more gentle course for Thursday (thankfully!!) I've a stiff lower back after doing last weeks Alpe duez!

 

[Asa Post]

Does anyone here ride with a power meter and have you compared it with the bkool figures? I was wondering if they were reasonably accurate, I guess since they can calculate them from speed and resistance there's no reason to think they would be far out.

I am also thinking about a powertap, but would have to get it built into my wheel. Would probably just buy a Stages if not for the 4iiii being so much cheaper and I have Dura Ace cranks and resent paying £200 more for the crank arm over a 105.

Theres a post on here somewere about power readings being close enough to bkool but going out abit on the steeper climbs

I'll repeat it, for those who weren't paying attention can't be bothered to read over 100 pages of thread have joined recently....

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/team-bkool-cyclechat.144689/#post-2799576

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/team-bkool-cyclechat.144689/post-3371427

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/team-bkool-cyclechat.144689/post-3348265

I chose a Powertap because I didn't want a crank-based system. I thought it would be easier to move a wheel between bikes. If the Garmin Vector had been available (and reliable, and cheap) at the time I would have considered it - again for ease of transfer.
My PM has failed once. It suddenly wouldn't transmit data to my Garmin 500, having worked perfectly the previous day. I tried the fixes I found on the internet, but eventually had to send it to Paligap. They replaced the head but never told me exactly what had gone wrong. The fix was under guarantee so I only paid the postage. It's been fine ever since.

I've no experience with other power meters, so I can't help with comparisons.

 

[gbrown]

Looks like a much more gentle course for Thursday (thankfully!!) I've a stiff lower back after doing last weeks Alpe duez!

Apologies if it shows up in your scheduled multiple times, deleting the stage in the league to get round crashes leaves it scheduled against the group!

I think the one you want to ride is the one that is marked as a league ride, scheduled for 17/12/2014 (that's the final day you can do it). Typically, that is showing up twice for me.

Very tempted to phone them up and offer to manage their software development for them, but my Spanish is crap and they obviously have some very capable guys as the simulator is very clever.

I guess they are under resourced and over successful!

I've tried it the other way round and you very quickly run out of cash! ;-)

Geoff

 

[Add]

Any thoughts Geoff, on why my Alpe D'Huez session isn't showing up in our league?

 

[gbrown]

Any thoughts Geoff, on why my Alpe D'Huez session isn't showing up in our league?

Perhaps it is awaiting validation by admin? I can't tell, as I'm not admin in "The Rebels".

I quite like it, as I'm still showing second even though I've been thoroughly beaten several times. I turned off the notification emails as it was getting too depressing!

Cheers,

Geoff

 

[harly]

did you do the correct version from leagues in bsim and not a copy version or favourites

 

[gbrown]

I thought I'd compare the Bkool's power figures with my Powertap, using today's ride as the source. I exported the Bkool file to Golden Cheetah, noted the figures, and deleted the file. Then I uploaded the Garmin file, which includes the Powertap data, to Golden Cheetah and noted those figures.

Time Bkool Powertap
5 secs 226 231
10 secs 208 226
20 secs 204 223
30 secs 197 213
1 min 191 187
2 mins 176 176
3 mins 167 171
5 mins 166 168
8 mins 161 163
20 mins 152 158
30 mins 149 152
60 mins 147 151

[I can't format in columns here, but you get the idea].
There's no guarantee that the Powertap is accurate, of course, but it looks like the Bkool is undercalculating for times up to a minute, and is then pretty good.
​

Very useful, thanks. It looks like the Bkool is pretty good over the whole ride, so, for example, an FTP test would be pretty accurate.

It seems to read a little lower, which would make sense as there is bound to be power loss between the hub and the trainer, just in heat generated in the tyre if nothing else.

Shame I can't add 30 or 40 Watts to my FTP values ...

Geoff

 

[berty bassett]

hi - just seen that theres a ride called sky ride 11.5 m sceduled today with 2 opponants or 17th with no opponants - does it matter what one i do as i find it easier to chase that bleeding max smart ! also are we still going up mountains on thurs ?

 

[harly]

yes dont know why its scheduled for today the proper one on the 17th should have a cup next to it for the league i think