Team BKool CycleChat

[S Kirk Esq]

Nicely done all! As I said, I can't make the Thursdays unfortunately, so I had a pop on the Velodrome for 55 minutes (with some other folks from around the globe) and then had a whirl on Salcombe hill...

Later (when I'd recovered from the near-death experience it induced) I marvelled at some of the times you've all got going up there. Watching Kipster's ghost speed off into the distance was a (slightly demoralising!) sight to behold. Major hat-tip to all of you

Just to add my (as others have said, frankly wholly subjective as far as the BKool unit is concerned) power-rating data point to the thread: my absence on Thursdays is because I normally do a session at my local Gym on one of their Wattbike pros (great fun by the way). From what I've read, the Wattbikes are going to be fairly accurate when it comes to what power readings they provide (they seem to make a big deal of it anyway, see here: https://wattbike.com/uk/wattbike/accuracy_and_calibration).

So far, the BKool is a reasonably consistent 10% down for me when using reasonably standard tests (e.g. the FTP test).

Anyway, looking forward to the next sessions. Today's a rest day after 3 days in a row. I'll see if I can find time to plug my way up Ventoux over the weekend, but I doubt I'll be getting anywhere near any of the Mountain Goats!

 

[gbrown]

So far, the BKool is a reasonably consistent 10% down for me when using reasonably standard tests (e.g. the FTP test).

Now that is interesting. Any chance you could post the average wattages you get over a few minutes at a steady 10mph, 20mph and 25mph on a 0% gradient?

This is a long 0% session ideal for warming up on ...

http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/330879?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1

Thanks,

Geoff

 

[S Kirk Esq]

Now that is interesting. Any chance you could post the average wattages you get over a few minutes at a steady 10mph, 20mph and 25mph on a 0% gradient?

This is a long 0% session ideal for warming up on ...

http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/330879?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1

Thanks,

Geoff

Sure Geoff, I'll give it a go at the weekend. It's worth noting that I'm on a classic trainer, not one of the new-fangled black ones. That may explain it. Anyway, we'll see what the numbers show!

Cheers,
Simon

 

[RichyRich75]

Power, power, power ...

Cadence is interesting, as you will be more efficient at certain cadences than others, depending on your physiology, but power is all that matters in the end, it's just how you produce it, and how long you can maintain it.

The pro calculates cadence the same as the power tap hub, it looks at peaks in torque and assumes two peaks per revolution of the pedals. As each foot passes the top dead centre and starts pushing down it will increase torque until a peak, and then reduce as it approaches bottom dead centre, then the other foot takes over. Counting torque peaks and dividing by two would give cadence.

The powertap is pretty good at this, so long as you are pedalling at a decent rate and not changing gear, and I understand that the Bkool Pro is also pretty good, once you have the latest (withdrawn) firmware applied. On previous firmware it is supposed to be rubbish. No way are you averaging 130 rpm over 30 miles, you'd be lucky to hit 130 rpm at all, perhaps downhill briefly!

It is thought to be better to pedal at a high cadence as this is less draining of the muscles, and more likely to use aerobic respiration (with oxygen) than anaerobic respiration. You can maintain a certain level of aerobic respiration for a very long time, so long as you can get oxygen to your muscles to sustain that rate. Anaerobic respiration, on the other hand, you can only maintain for a certain amount of time before you run out and have to stop. So a higher cadence is better for endurance.

Also, since power is torque times rpm the higher the rpm the higher the power, so long as the torque does not reduce. The highest power will be produced when the product of torque and rpm are at the highest, this is unlikely to be at a low rpm.

I have seen recommendations for pedal cadence of at least 80-90 rpm, perhaps dropping below this on a very steep climb where it is hard to maintain. However, it takes a little training to get use to using a higher cadence.

Cheers,

Geoff

Hi everyone! Thanks for the info, you all seem to know your onions! I put my gamin cadence sensor back on the bike and my cadence output is at 90rpm now! I am interested in how I can improve my overall cycling and you guys might be able to help! I did notice that my power dropped big time using the garmin sensor, struggling to reach 150 watts over 13 miles! As one of my targets is to achieve active on Bkool im wondering how this is achievable?

 

[Richylad]

Hi Richy, I had you for company a few times- gratefully sat on your wheel a while, after giving up on staying with geoff and kipster, the flying nutters! i did try and take a turn at the front, but you fell back!

Defo something not right with that session, for me Geoff won that in front of Kipster, then Bill, who should have lapped me once or twice according to av. speed but whom I never saw again after he overtook me early doors, then Richylad behind me. but we all seem to have finished 8th or DQ! total ar*e. And they claim 100+ multiplayer interface?? but they can't handle 8 riders on the velodrome... piss poor!

Also, why is Bill not showing on the climb results even though we saw him flying ahead? And although I now have my rides showing, apparently I didn't take part in the league ride, not showing up on league table?!?
EDIT: my salcombe hill ride now showing on league table. do they have runners delivering the data to the inputters at different speeds? little hamsters turning flywheels to generate power? very, very odd bit of f*ck up software this.

It didn't get a good start, I didn't even think about I shouldn't be pedalling when waiting to start, so I had to wait for my wheel to stop spinning lol, your welcome on my wheel anytime,

 

[Richylad]

KICKR without any doubt! The amount we are using these things, no point in messing around, just get the best. The TacX is not exactly cheap, after all.

I've got a Wiggle price of £836 for the KICKR.

I love the idea of the direct drive (no tyre wear, slippage or wear on the wheel bearings) and it's automatically the correct height so no front block needed and no struggle getting my leg over!

Having said that, I'd be very jealous ...

Geoff with your platinum discount you won't get that cheaper anywhere, that's what I paid, I'd click the button and treat yourself :-)

 

[Bollo]

Geoff with your platinum discount you won't get that cheaper anywhere, that's what I paid, I'd click the button and treat yourself :-)

Same here - it's still a significant purchase but the wiggle plutonium discount takes a big chunk of pain off.

I've only seen a bkool, not ridden one, but the build quality of the kickr is in another league. The kickr's Ant and Bluetooth protocols are open as well, so you can use other software if the bkool eco-system loses its appeal. I generally use TrainerRoad, but will give Zwift a good looking-over when I eventually get an invite or its on general release.

 

[BILL S]

Ventoux ridden again tonight. No show in activities or wall. Was 90% expecting it so not as hacked off as the first time.

 

[BILL S]

Hi everyone! Thanks for the info, you all seem to know your onions! I put my gamin cadence sensor back on the bike and my cadence output is at 90rpm now! I am interested in how I can improve my overall cycling and you guys might be able to help! I did notice that my power dropped big time using the garmin sensor, struggling to reach 150 watts over 13 miles! As one of my targets is to achieve active on Bkool im wondering how this is achievable?

Go to Alpe d'Huez. Ride up it as fast as you can. Repeat every day. You'll be active in no time.

Then going from active to pro..... Umm No!...... it can't be done
The pro and elites are just intelligent bots infiltrated into the bkool software.

 

[gbrown]

Ventoux ridden again tonight. No show in activities or wall. Was 90% expecting it so not as hacked off as the first time.

Looking at Strava, did you really do Mont Ventoux in 1hr 30mins?

I think you're ready for your race! Hope it goes well.

I've taken to recording my rides with my Garmin at the same time as Bkool, so I have some record if there's a no show, but so far they've always shown up.

Geoff

 

[Runexeter]

Ventoux ridden again tonight. No show in activities or wall. Was 90% expecting it so not as hacked off as the first time.

That's a kick in the teeth Bill, what the hell's going on with your uploads compared to the rest of us, it's very strange.

 

[Pedro2015]

Help with bkool. Just purchased a classic but I'm struggling to get around the website.

How do I add routes to my favourites not just schedule them?

How do I search for videos in the uk?

How do I get involved in scheduled races?

How do I join groups etc?

 

[BILL S]

Looking at Strava, did you really do Mont Ventoux in 1hr 30mins?

I think you're ready for your race! Hope it goes well.

I've taken to recording my rides with my Garmin at the same time as Bkool, so I have some record if there's a no show, but so far they've always shown up.

Geoff

Thanks
Yup. 1 hour 29: something "284 watts. Knees were hurting so I think a weeks recovery time is now in order. I do feel like I've reached a peak in my fitness thanks to the bkool which has doubled the time I've spent training for the past 3 months. I also think I'm ready for the race but must remember to keep the effort down at the start.
So how do you make your garmin work with a stationary trainer? Am I missing something? It works on GPS which is based on movement but I'll be stationary. I don't use cadence or HRM if that's what you use it to record.

 

[BILL S]

That's a kick in the teeth Bill, what the hell's going on with your uploads compared to the rest of us, it's very strange.

I have no idea what's going on but I think its a problem I'm having with league rides only. I have emailed bkool once more.

 

[kipster]

Thanks
Yup. 1 hour 29: something "284 watts. Knees were hurting so I think a weeks recovery time is now in order. I do feel like I've reached a peak in my fitness thanks to the bkool which has doubled the time I've spent training for the past 3 months. I also think I'm ready for the race but must remember to keep the effort down at the start.
So how do you make your garmin work with a stationary trainer? Am I missing something? It works on GPS which is based on movement but I'll be stationary. I don't use cadence or HRM if that's what you use it to record.

You can put the garmin into non gps, connect a speed,cadence,hrm and it records the data from those sensors.