Team BKool CycleChat

[berty bassett]

View attachment 74740
Thanks Geoff, did that and it said 0
All sorted now Geoff, I was trying to upload from my main computer and not the lap top I use with turbo
quite enjoyed the course but blimey there's a lot of going up and down gears.

done that to me earlier - said there was a error loading - but hour later it was there - and yes the wind button does make a big difference - i thought i was being sneaky and it might blow me along as i had never tried it before . seen it was a red figure up in the corner and couldn't help thinking i should be going faster down a 10 mile hill then i had a green number 1 on the flat and was going faster than down the hill ! that lasted about a minute then red the rest of the way - disheartening

 

[Runexeter]

done that to me earlier - said there was a error loading - but hour later it was there - and yes the wind button does make a big difference - i thought i was being sneaky and it might blow me along as i had never tried it before . seen it was a red figure up in the corner and couldn't help thinking i should be going faster down a 10 mile hill then i had a green number 1 on the flat and was going faster than down the hill ! that lasted about a minute then red the rest of the way - disheartening

Same for you eh, glitchy old Bkool, I wont bother with that button then....some things are best left alone.
Looks like Bkool have sorted the comments out now though because I thought I would try to reply to a comment from Geoff and clicked on the "see all" button and it worked

 

[johnny2names]

Looks like I may just have to try drafting you for the whole session then give it 600 watts on the last lap .

Bkool drafting is difficult IMO though. Its difficult to stay just where you need to be.

There is another league you might like to join that most of us are in. Its called The Rebels and the latest stage is Col de la Madeleine which I think opens today. This one is the toughest Bkool ride I've ever done (if that helps get anyone motivated ). I don't suggest anyone starts out fast. Leave the big watts until the end if there's any left.

600 Watts?!? No chance of me following that Will have to try and hone my drafting skills I really hope to join one of the live group sessions in 2015, I think it will add another dimension to the gaming element of this!
Re: the other league, La madeleine?? too hard for me I'll wait till I'm back to join any more leagues etc... Think I only have time for a half hour session Sunday AM before leaving the country till new year. Might have to do a 20 FTP to try and get a more accurate level after the firmware update. Anybody know the wattage threshold for each ranking, I.e amateur 1-10, active 1-10 etc... All I know is that I need to hold 222 watts for 20 mins to get to Amateur 4.... It would be 'cool' if bkool supplied a list of power levels somewhere- something to aim for perhaps?

 

[johnny2names]

Where is the link to run the firmware update? I can't find it anywhere!

Hi Darryn, I first updated the software without any mention of the firmware. It didn't seem to change any of my power and cadence issues. Then I read somewhere that you should do the updates with a metre between the ant+ attached computer and the trainer hub. So I deleted the software on my laptop, and re-installed whilst approx 1 metre away from the trainer. After installing the software, I then got a message about new firmware being available ( perhaps after launching the new software version, but I can't remember when it popped up tbh). After downloading it, I launched a session and it seems to have corrected bad cadence ( down from 130 to the 90s) and power ( previous software 20 min ftp was 210W, which seemed real low, whereas after new software I did a 17.5k velodrome session at 257W, which I was much happier with!). Hope this helps.
Did you ever solve your gradient and power issues? I saw them on pages 80+ of this thread or so, but couldn't read all the way through- I'm new here!

 

[johnny2names]

Yeah, more than a minute quicker than me. I think Camerauk will help to motivate me. Like you and Adski always battling

like it. A few peeps to try and hold on to!!

 

[kipster]

600 Watts?!? No chance of me following that Will have to try and hone my drafting skills I really hope to join one of the live group sessions in 2015, I think it will add another dimension to the gaming element of this!
Re: the other league, La madeleine?? too hard for me I'll wait till I'm back to join any more leagues etc... Think I only have time for a half hour session Sunday AM before leaving the country till new year. Might have to do a 20 FTP to try and get a more accurate level after the firmware update. Anybody know the wattage threshold for each ranking, I.e amateur 1-10, active 1-10 etc... All I know is that I need to hold 222 watts for 20 mins to get to Amateur 4.... It would be 'cool' if bkool supplied a list of power levels somewhere- something to aim for perhaps?

There is a table on this link that shows the levels against watts / kg
http://blog.bkool.com/2011/08/valores-wkg-de-cada-nivel-en-bkool.html

 

[Add]

Hoping I can make the Tuesday session, but have all manner of commitments to fulfill that day, so fingers crossed I can square everything away in time. Geoff and I have unfinished business, and now it's looking like Bill may have met his match.... the league is going to start looking interesting! You could quite easily be snapping at our heels too mind, Exeter.

Adam.

 

[gbrown]

With thanks to Kipster for the link ...

The levels are obtained after conducting a test UPF , or considering the means obtained watts sessions over 30 minutes.
The results are valid for two months .
During those two months you can level up by sessions over 30 minutes, but if you are down below the level reached.

 

[johnny2names]

There is a table on this link that shows the levels against watts / kg
http://blog.bkool.com/2011/08/valores-wkg-de-cada-nivel-en-bkool.html

ah, brilliant, thanks for that! now all I need is to hold 600 watts for 20 mins and I can be an elite rider.....

 

[gbrown]

The levels are obtained after conducting a test UPF , or considering the means obtained watts sessions over 30 minutes.

So the important factor is not Watts but Watts per Kg.

From looking at my own results I can see that they use the normal correction factor for a 20 minute test of 95%

So FTP is 95% of the average power maintained for at least 30 minutes, or 20 minutes during the official FTP test
An FTP test can be scheduled directly from Profile -> Fitness Level Tab or Generate FTP TEST on the No GPS tab of Search

Seems to me that the FTP test is the easiest way of getting the figure, as it is only 20 minutes and the constant 2% incline gives a steady resistance, with no downhill bits to throw you off.
I guess 30 minutes on a steady steep course would get close.

To use my figures as a scenario, I am currently 77Kg and my last FTP(20) test gave 262.81W so 95% is 249.6695 W or 3.24 W/Kg, which is smack in Active 3

So to get to Active 4 I need >= 3.3 W/Kg or 254.1 Watts at 77Kg so an FTP(20) of 254.1/95% or 267.37 (In fact it says 267.47)

Or I just need to lose 1.35 Kg, which is probably easier!

To get to Pro I need to get my FTP(20) test above 340W (not likely) or lose 14.5 Kg (definitely not going to happen)

Geoff

 

[gbrown]

Please excuse my thinking out loud, it's a terrible habit!

 

[lintax]

Could someone explain why im not getting points for the rides im completing? The time doesnt show up under rankings either.... :/

Can it have something to do with that im using an ipad? The ride i did from PC worked out as it should..

//L

 

[jaydee69]

Hi all, another new Bkool owner. Stumbled upon this site whilst doing a bit of research.

Bkool TT just arrived today, and will have a go tomorrow. Have joined the Bkool site and been looking about trying to see how it all works. Only problem I seem to have is finding the FTP test. I click on the link under the Fitness level tab on my profile and it does not work. Tried searching through the session search, but not sure which one I should be trying as a first go. Any pointers please?

Also joined the BkoolBB , and also requested to join the group on Bkool. jaydee69 - Jason Davies

 

[BILL S]

Please excuse my thinking out loud, it's a terrible habit!

But I and I'm sure others find it useful as Bkool isn't the simplest to figure out.

I just don't seem to get on with the FTP tests at all. The past few I've given up after a couple of minutes as the power just drops off below what I need. All my moves up have been going up long steep hills but to go up to active 10, I need to make 333+ Watts for 30 mins. I weigh 78 kg. Right now that's not about to happen. Probably my best bet losing a kg or two.

 

[BILL S]

Could someone explain why im not getting points for the rides im completing? The time doesnt show up under rankings either.... :/

Can it have something to do with that im using an ipad? The ride i did from PC worked out as it should..

//L

I'm not getting points or time/miles showing in the rankings either. This seems to be a recent problem which they'll hopefully fix.