Team BKool CycleChat

[BigonaBianchi]

i like it , im on for this one tomorrow hopefully , gotta say this bkool is a hell of alot better than any other turbo ive used its hammering me , i guess when i was using sufferfest its all gueswork as to your own input and i must of been takeing it easy ...too easy......and i must get a fan sorted out im blinded with sweat,

Ive only eve rhad this trainer but I am very happy with it. I find it much tougher than a real ride, mainly because I'm only riding against the video and the bots so far and it's an all out race with none of th eusual free wheeling, standing up out of the saddle, etc.

This thing has me rated as 'amatuer+' level, and I'm fullystretched on these rides.....it really does bring i thome just how fit the pros must be....and how unfit i am lol!

The sweat is ridikulus isnt it!....I ride with all th ewindows wid eopen even in todays storm

 

[Peteaud]

Ive only eve rhad this trainer but I am very happy with it. I find it much tougher than a real ride, mainly because I'm only riding against the video and the bots so far and it's an all out race with none of th eusual free wheeling, standing up out of the saddle, etc.

This thing has me rated as 'amatuer+' level, and I'm fullystretched on these rides.....it really does bring i thome just how fit the pros must be....and how unfit i am lol!

The sweat is ridikulus isnt it!....I ride with all th ewindows wid eopen even in todays storm

If you want to make it a bit easier put the wind behind you.

That said i did a VR ride today up a hill i normally have to walk at the last ramp (10%) but on the BKool i went up no problem.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

If you want to make it a bit easier put the wind behind you.

That said i did a VR ride today up a hill i normally have to walk at the last ramp (10%) but on the BKool i went up no problem.

i have the wind set at about 10% i think last time i messed with it... i wasnt aware you can set its direction as well...ill go look....

 

[kipster]

Just tried a video, Vuelta 2012 E16. very enjoyable, not close to the power metrics. Glad I had a fan on me and the windows open.

Got my son on it as well today, mapped out an lovely quick route near us for him. He's 15 and into athletics (hurdles, long jump) but I like to get him out on the bike to build up his leg strength. His session.

I'm loving this, although the wife thinks I'm a bit sad. I do hope I see an improvement on my outdoor rides.

 

[harly]

Waypoints and Courses. 10€ from Old Man Biking

I save the gpx as a course in Sporttracks, and then merge it with an existing activity.

Been trying to do this myself ive a fit file exported from bkool of a session ive just done , thats the only file that isn't greyed out , then I need to make a gpx file of the same route then merge them together is that right then upload to strava and it'll have all segment info on , what do you use to merge them ? Do I need sports track 3 to do that merge ?

 

[Asa Post]

Been trying to do this myself ive a fit file exported from bkool of a session ive just done , thats the only file that isn't greyed out , then I need to make a gpx file of the same route then merge them together is that right then upload to strava and it'll have all segment info on , what do you use to merge them ? Do I need sports track 3 to do that merge ?

The plugins like "Waypoints and Courses" only work within Sporttracks, so you would need the program and the plugin to do it like I do. I know it works, and I was already using Sporttracks to keep all my cycling records so the plugin was just an additional function that I decided was worth buying. It's an expensive way to go about it if you don't already have Sporttracks and wouldn't use it for anything else other than merging files, and there may be other programs that do the same job for free. Having said that, I haven't found one yet.

@Snaily found tcxcreator but that only seems to allow combining hrm and gpx files.
TCX Convertor claims to be able to convert your fit file to hrm, but I haven't used it so I don't know how (or if) it works.
In theory, you could create a gpx, and then by using both programs convert your fit to hrm, and merge the hrm and the gpx. I have no idea what the result would be. Good luck, if you try it.

 

[harly]

The plugins like "Waypoints and Courses" only work within Sporttracks, so you would need the program and the plugin to do it like I do. I know it works, and I was already using Sporttracks to keep all my cycling records so the plugin was just an additional function that I decided was worth buying. It's an expensive way to go about it if you don't already have Sporttracks and wouldn't use it for anything else other than merging files, and there may be other programs that do the same job for free. Having said that, I haven't found one yet.

@Snaily found tcxcreator but that only seems to allow combining hrm and gpx files.
TCX Convertor claims to be able to convert your fit file to hrm, but I haven't used it so I don't know how (or if) it works.
In theory, you could create a gpx, and then by using both programs convert your fit to hrm, and merge the hrm and the gpx. I have no idea what the result would be. Good luck, if you try it.

Cheers i decided to get sport track 3 and the plugin just curiosity is making me I need to see side by side comparison of indoor and outdoor rides
Right then I've opened sport track 3 up tried to import fit file and it says ( missing compressed header start time ) any idea what that is , would you mind giving me a walk through i seem to be missing something as strava is telling me time is missing wen i upload
Thanks

 

[Asa Post]

Cheers i decided to get sport track 3 and the plugin just curiosity is making me I need to see side by side comparison of indoor and outdoor rides
Right then I've opened sport track 3 up tried to import fit file and it says ( missing compressed header start time ) any idea what that is , would you mind giving me a walk through i seem to be missing something as strava is telling me time is missing wen i upload
Thanks

As you have a fit file, I'm assuming you have a Garmin. Did you use it to record the ride?

 

[harly]

As you have a fit file, I'm assuming you have a Garmin. Did you use it to record the ride?

no these rides were made using rwgps uploaded to bkool using a gpx file following peteauds instructions when it comes to saving ride from the bkool the only option open to me is a fit file ,
im going to upload one of my own strava routes and see if that gives me different options when saving from bkool

 

[Asa Post]

no these rides were made using rwgps uploaded to bkool using a gpx file following peteauds instructions when it comes to saving ride from the bkool the only option open to me is a fit file ,

Right.
I always use my Garmin when I'm on the Bkool, so I load the file from the Garmin straight onto Sporttracks and I don't get the compressed header problem.
I've just tried downloading a fit file from Bkool and importing into Sporttracks, and sure enough, "Missing compressed header start time". It seems that Bkool does something to the file headers that means it doesn't work on some programs (like Sporttracks) but does work on others (like Garmin Connect and Strava).

Annoying, but there is a workaround. It isn't free. Sorry .
You need another of Old Man Biking's plugins called Garmin FIT devices. It's 5€. Once installed, when you try to import a fit file you get a choice of import methods - the standard one, or the plugin. If you use the plugin, it works despite the compressed header. I've just tried it on a file downloaded from Bkool.
Here's a screenshot of the page where you make your choice, use the lower option with the blue triangle symbol.

Try the plugin on a trial basis first to make sure it works for you.

Assuming it does, you'll have a ride showing in Sporttracks with data but no route.
Create your gpx file. Save it on your computer.
In Sporttracks, under Other Tasks, click on Select View, then on Courses (this is the Waypoints and Courses plugin).
On the Courses menu (left hand side above Select View) click on Import (there's one in Select View as well, don't get the wrong one), then on Import from File.
Import the gpx track.
Go back to the Daily Activity view and click on the ride that the fit file has created.
On the Daily Activity menu (left hand side), click on Edit, then on Apply GPS Track from, then on Course.
Here's a screenshot of where we've got to:

At the top, you have the activity created from the fit file. At the bottom, click on the drop down box to get a list of courses.
Click on the course created from the gpx file.
Pray, sacrifice a virgin, or do whatever you usually do to appease your deity of choice.
Click OK.

Look to see if the route has appeared.

 

[harly]

Right.
I always use my Garmin when I'm on the Bkool, so I load the file from the Garmin straight onto Sporttracks and I don't get the compressed header problem.
I've just tried downloading a fit file from Bkool and importing into Sporttracks, and sure enough, "Missing compressed header start time". It seems that Bkool does something to the file headers that means it doesn't work on some programs (like Sporttracks) but does work on others (like Garmin Connect and Strava).

Annoying, but there is a workaround. It isn't free. Sorry .
You need another of Old Man Biking's plugins called Garmin FIT devices. It's 5€. Once installed, when you try to import a fit file you get a choice of import methods - the standard one, or the plugin. If you use the plugin, it works despite the compressed header. I've just tried it on a file downloaded from Bkool.
Here's a screenshot of the page where you make your choice, use the lower option with the blue triangle symbol.
View attachment 35080
Try the plugin on a trial basis first to make sure it works for you.

Assuming it does, you'll have a ride showing in Sporttracks with data but no route.
Create your gpx file. Save it on your computer.
In Sporttracks, under Other Tasks, click on Select View, then on Courses (this is the Waypoints and Courses plugin).
On the Courses menu (left hand side above Select View) click on Import (there's one in Select View as well, don't get the wrong one), then on Import from File.
Import the gpx track.
Go back to the Daily Activity view and click on the ride that the fit file has created.
On the Daily Activity menu (left hand side), click on Edit, then on Apply GPS Track from, then on Course.
Here's a screenshot of where we've got to:
View attachment 35082
At the top, you have the activity created from the fit file. At the bottom, click on the drop down box to get a list of courses.
Click on the course created from the gpx file.
Pray, sacrifice a virgin, or do whatever you usually do to appease your deity of choice.
Click OK.

Look to see if the route has appeared.

Thanks for that Asa post , I've had to get away from the computer its doing my head in but I'll give that ago in the morning looks totally different to what I was doing so hopefully itll all go well
well tried it this morning spot on exactly what i was after, worked first time
thanks for doing that walkthrough , i got trialls of the 2 plugins so ill upgrade them , might seem bit expensive just to put onto strava but that was part of the reason for getting the bkool , its worth it to me
once again cheers for ya time

 

[Snaily]

I emailed BKool just before Xmas asking about the exporting of gpx info, they replied very quickly on Xmas eve but my question was misunderstood telling me that gps info is already able to be exported. Today I emailed them asking why route data and elevation information is not included as it seems a feature what most people are asking for. I await their resonse and in the meantime I continue merging my gpx and hrm files with tcxcreator.

@Asa what is the issue you were having with tcxcreator? I assume you use a garmin whilst on the BKool and wish to use the garmin fit file? Never mind just read above

 

[Snaily]

A couple of quick questions, Im just curious to know how many people here are serious about their sports, competing triathletes or cyclists or just for fun/fitness?

Also is there anyway to have riders sessions posted to the cyclechat group wall so people can admire and challenge instead of either coming here to view them or clicking on ondividual members profiles?

Cheers

 

[kipster]

A couple of quick questions, Im just curious to know how many people here are serious about their sports, competing triathletes or cyclists or just for fun/fitness?

Just fun and fitness, although I have competed in a duathlon as the cycling bit of a relay team, my son did the running. The Bkool is my first turbo and will be used to compliment the cycle commuting and group rides, especially when the weather is poor.

 

[Asa Post]

A couple of quick questions, Im just curious to know how many people here are serious about their sports, competing triathletes or cyclists or just for fun/fitness?

Also is there anyway to have riders sessions posted to the cyclechat group wall so people can admire and challenge instead of either coming here to view them or clicking on ondividual members profiles?

Cheers

Just for fun and fitness.

I don't see any method for getting sessions to appear on the group page, but my Home page shows my rides and BOAB's. I think this is because we are "friends". If so, we could get all the sessions by befriending each other. There's an "add as a friend" link just under the name on the individual profile page.
Your privacy settings would also need to allow friends and groups to see your sessions and history.