Team BKool CycleChat

[adammada33]

So they're doing firmware updates again. Must try and get mine done this time.
Yeah, my ambition for this year is to reach pro. Getting close so hopefully soon. Must have a look at some of these leagues your doing although even just the two I'm in keep me pretty busy.
Hope you get a chance to do Bonette before Friday.

I just do the Liga Multiplayer 2015 (Teams) league extra at the moment, you have 3 months to do 9 stages as often as you want and the stages are 30 to 45 minutes so they fit in with other things.

my ambition for this year was to reach pro now its elite. I think I may have to ramp up my training to do this. From past experience high intensity interval training is the way to go. I found the best format for me is 30 second efforts and 30 seconds rest for 15 minutes whilst recording the stats and trying to improve it every day. I hate it so much but its very effective.

Maybe we can form a new competition to help motivate each other on here. Instead of a time based league - which is ability dependant why not an % effort based league. So a format might be - a minimum three 15 minute interval sessions per week to qualify (do as many as you want) and then the winner is the one with the highest average % effort from there best three sessions combined. I have a course set up to suit this and the stats and graphs from bkool are excellent for analysing these.

The winner can have the honor of being "the little goat that could" for the week. what do you think - suggestions welcome

 

[adammada33]

How do you reset bkool?

Theres a little button in a hole below the green light - or just switch it of and on again

 

[gbrown]

I just do the Liga Multiplayer 2015 (Teams) league extra at the moment, you have 3 months to do 9 stages as often as you want and the stages are 30 to 45 minutes so they fit in with other things.

my ambition for this year was to reach pro now its elite. I think I may have to ramp up my training to do this. From past experience high intensity interval training is the way to go. I found the best format for me is 30 second efforts and 30 seconds rest for 15 minutes whilst recording the stats and trying to improve it every day. I hate it so much but its very effective.

Maybe we can form a new competition to help motivate each other on here. Instead of a time based league - which is ability dependant why not an % effort based league. So a format might be - a minimum three 15 minute interval sessions per week to qualify (do as many as you want) and then the winner is the one with the highest average % effort from there best three sessions combined. I have a course set up to suit this and the stats and graphs from bkool are excellent for analysing these.

The winner can have the honor of being "the little goat who tried" for the week. what do you think - suggestions welcome

Sounds great, you run it and we'll join it!

Geoff

 

[Rob H]

Theres a little button in a hole below the green light - or just switch it of and on again

ah.. i'll get my coat

 

[Rob H]

I just do the Liga Multiplayer 2015 (Teams) league extra at the moment, you have 3 months to do 9 stages as often as you want and the stages are 30 to 45 minutes so they fit in with other things.

my ambition for this year was to reach pro now its elite. I think I may have to ramp up my training to do this. From past experience high intensity interval training is the way to go. I found the best format for me is 30 second efforts and 30 seconds rest for 15 minutes whilst recording the stats and trying to improve it every day. I hate it so much but its very effective.

Maybe we can form a new competition to help motivate each other on here. Instead of a time based league - which is ability dependant why not an % effort based league. So a format might be - a minimum three 15 minute interval sessions per week to qualify (do as many as you want) and then the winner is the one with the highest average % effort from there best three sessions combined. I have a course set up to suit this and the stats and graphs from bkool are excellent for analysing these.

The winner can have the honor of being "the little goat who tried" for the week. what do you think - suggestions welcome

This could be great as the weather improves and the ratio of time indoor to outdoor changes


EDIT: 'the little goat that tried'

 

[RickB]

I just do the Liga Multiplayer 2015 (Teams) league extra at the moment, you have 3 months to do 9 stages as often as you want and the stages are 30 to 45 minutes so they fit in with other things.

my ambition for this year was to reach pro now its elite. I think I may have to ramp up my training to do this. From past experience high intensity interval training is the way to go. I found the best format for me is 30 second efforts and 30 seconds rest for 15 minutes whilst recording the stats and trying to improve it every day. I hate it so much but its very effective.

Maybe we can form a new competition to help motivate each other on here. Instead of a time based league - which is ability dependant why not an % effort based league. So a format might be - a minimum three 15 minute interval sessions per week to qualify (do as many as you want) and then the winner is the one with the highest average % effort from there best three sessions combined. I have a course set up to suit this and the stats and graphs from bkool are excellent for analysing these.

The winner can have the honor of being "the little goat who tried" for the week. what do you think - suggestions welcome

Sounds great. I'll be up for that

 

[BILL S]

Upgrade to a Kickr? cycle surgery have them at only £759. http://www.cyclesurgery.com/wahoo kickr powertrainer/wahoo-home-trainers/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/59455

I'd like a kickr but I'm concerned with the lower wattage readout. I like watts.

 

[Runexeter]

I'd like a kickr but I'm concerned with the lower wattage readout. I like watts.

I would like one to but the missis would have none of it

 

[gbrown]

I'd like a kickr but I'm concerned with the lower wattage readout. I like watts.

I prefer to believe that the Watts read out is not lower, just much more accurate! It is certainly lots closer to my PowerTap than the Bkool Pro was at high gradients (comparing same runs as can't use rear wheel and KICKR together)

Mind you, that wouldn't stop Adski rubbing your face in it! You'd have to both agree to get one ...

However, that would remove my built in excuse every time either of you give me a whupping!

Having just swapped from a Bkool Pro to a KICKR myself, my thought is that if you are happy using Bkool software alone and not too bothered about the absolute realism of the simulations, then the Bkool Trainer is great, better supported by the software and much cheaper. The extra £500 is not worth it, I'd spend it on a Stages Power Meter instead (local shop has 20% off at the moment).

KICKR disadvantages

Mountain Goats runs are harder, and you have to watch more people disappear into the distance
Harder to swap between 10 speed and 11 speed bikes

KICKR advantages

Built in power meter for accurate power readings
Not tied to Bkool, works with just about all software; Bkool, Trainerroad, Zwift, Wahoo Strava app, Kinomap, etc.
Bluetooth and ANT+ support, and supports ANT+ trainer profile
The steep climbs make you work a lot harder, and when you get to them in the real world they should take a similar amount of effort/time
No tyre wear or wheel slippage as cassette is bolted to the KICKR
The bike is at the normal height (and perfectly level) without any front wheel block, so much easier to get on/and off and feel less perched in the air
Quieter
Much less floor space taken up

I'm thinking I may give Trainer Road a go, for the high intensity training that Elite Adam was talking about. Got to be worth $10 for a months trial (and you can get it back if you don't like it).

Geoff

 

[gbrown]

I would like one to but the missis would have none of it

Do what I did, threaten to buy a motorbike and she'll hopefully say that she'd prefer you to spend it on safe indoor exercise such as a KICKR ....

 

[gbrown]

I'd like a kickr but I'm concerned with the lower wattage readout. I like watts.

Bill, please excuse me asking, but when was the last time you did a 20 minute 2% FTP test? It would be very interesting to compare it to the 30 minute steep climbs, to see if your average watts is similar.

If it's lower, you can always discard the session instead of saving it, so it doesn't affect your fitness rating. I've done that once or twice, when I've done an FTP test but been too knackered to do it properly.

Geoff

 

[burndust]

I prefer to believe that the Watts read out is not lower, just much more accurate! It is certainly lots closer to my PowerTap than the Bkool Pro was at high gradients (comparing same runs as can't use rear wheel and KICKR together)

Mind you, that wouldn't stop Adski rubbing your face in it! You'd have to both agree to get one ...

However, that would remove my built in excuse every time either of you give me a whupping!

Having just swapped from a Bkool Pro to a KICKR myself, my thought is that if you are happy using Bkool software alone and not too bothered about the absolute realism of the simulations, then the Bkool Trainer is great, better supported by the software and much cheaper. The extra £500 is not worth it, I'd spend it on a Stages Power Meter instead (local shop has 20% off at the moment).

KICKR disadvantages

Mountain Goats runs are harder, and you have to watch more people disappear into the distance
Harder to swap between 10 speed and 11 speed bikes

KICKR advantages

Built in power meter for accurate power readings
Not tied to Bkool, works with just about all software; Bkool, Trainerroad, Zwift, Wahoo Strava app, Kinomap, etc.
Bluetooth and ANT+ support, and supports ANT+ trainer profile
The steep climbs make you work a lot harder, and when you get to them in the real world they should take a similar amount of effort/time
No tyre wear or wheel slippage as cassette is bolted to the KICKR
The bike is at the normal height (and perfectly level) without any front wheel block, so much easier to get on/and off and feel less perched in the air
Quieter
Much less floor space taken up

I'm thinking I may give Trainer Road a go, for the high intensity training that Elite Adam was talking about. Got to be worth $10 for a months trial (and you can get it back if you don't like it).

Geoff

Regarding the kickr just got one and paired it with bkool...The resistance doesn't seem to be working if I'm honest...now using the wahoo app the resistance definitely works!...This is something that happened the first time I had a kickr and paired it with bkool...am I missing something?

 

[Add]

Mind you, that wouldn't stop Adski rubbing your face in it! You'd have to both agree to get one ...

Darn right! I think you should get one Bill!

 

[Add]

I just do the Liga Multiplayer 2015 (Teams) league extra at the moment, you have 3 months to do 9 stages as often as you want and the stages are 30 to 45 minutes so they fit in with other things.

my ambition for this year was to reach pro now its elite. I think I may have to ramp up my training to do this. From past experience high intensity interval training is the way to go. I found the best format for me is 30 second efforts and 30 seconds rest for 15 minutes whilst recording the stats and trying to improve it every day. I hate it so much but its very effective.

Maybe we can form a new competition to help motivate each other on here. Instead of a time based league - which is ability dependant why not an % effort based league. So a format might be - a minimum three 15 minute interval sessions per week to qualify (do as many as you want) and then the winner is the one with the highest average % effort from there best three sessions combined. I have a course set up to suit this and the stats and graphs from bkool are excellent for analysing these.

The winner can have the honor of being "the little goat that could" for the week. what do you think - suggestions welcome

Sounds good, what does a course that suits this look like? If there are gradients associated with it, how do you gauge 30 seconds for individuals or doesn't it matter?

 

[BILL S]

Bill, please excuse me asking, but when was the last time you did a 20 minute 2% FTP test? It would be very interesting to compare it to the 30 minute steep climbs, to see if your average watts is similar.

If it's lower, you can always discard the session instead of saving it, so it doesn't affect your fitness rating. I've done that once or twice, when I've done an FTP test but been too knackered to do it properly.

Geoff

No worries Geoff. I've not tried an FTP for a month or two and never completed one because I can't keep the power up. It could have been the tyre I suppose (as it was a bit like riding through glue) so I'm planning to try again to see if I can maintain a stable decent power. I've got to make 335.5 watts to reach pro1. So far D'Huez has always been my best bet for that. Might give it a quick go tonight. Other issue of course is the firmware as I'm still stuck on the old one from months ago.