Team BKool CycleChat

[keithaitch]

I agree Tommy. Ghosts are an important part of the fun we have in the Chaingang leagues so there's no way we'd ban them. The question is only regarding this months league as it's for the Nations Cup qualifier. I think I'd be in preference of just leaving the ghosts as usual and anyone who wants to load up the grid with ghosts for a solo run is free to do so. I don't think it'll make much/if any difference to who is on the team.

I agree to that ghosts should be allowed as drafting occurs in the "live races" as does the motivation of being chased, also expecting somebody to get the same time doing a TT is just silly. I also agree that only contenders for the nations cup should be used as ghosts. In terms of the number of attempts allowed, i think two attempts, at least one of which must be a live attempt; so 2 live or 1 live and one solo, but NOT 2 solos. However, just to throw a tyre lever into the works, it is, as @Aleman said easy!!! to draft a better or equal level rider all the way, the ghost can't slow to make you take your turn on the front, and then sprint to get a better time so perhaps time penalty on solo runs say 20 seconds? Finally, have we decided how the team is being picked? Aggregate time? Points per qualifying race? Secret ballot at the end with all participants getting a vote? Tombola? Straws? Scissors paper, stone? I have no preference, but I do think team selection could be influenced by the scoring system in the nations cup itself. I'm absolutely sure Froome wouldn't get into our team, but we might pick him to get maximum points on the hilly stage, and to get us the right drugs! What do people think?

 

[BILL S]

I may have a go at a stage or two but I'm counting myself out of the NC as I'm not fit enough to go three stages balls out at the current time and still down on the power front.

I must confess I'm a bit concerned about my own fitness too. I noticed that my Nations Cup Stouby Sejet from last February is 20 seconds or so faster than my ride from last night, after which I was well done in, and didn't even have any more rides to do.
I remember the pain of the Cinctores Ares stage 2 last February and how I struggled to finish it on time before the velodrome stage 3 started. I'm rather hoping that some of our fast new riders might bump me out of the top 5 TBH (Having said that, I will be putting in my full effort to qualify).

 

[keithaitch]

I must confess I'm a bit concerned about my own fitness too. I noticed that my Nations Cup Stouby Sejet from last February is 20 seconds or so faster than my ride from last night, after which I was well done in, and didn't even have any more rides to do.
I remember the pain of the Cinctores Ares stage 2 last February and how I struggled to finish it on time before the velodrome stage 3 started. I'm rather hoping that some of our fast new riders might bump me out of the top 5 TBH (Having said that, I will be putting in my full effort to qualify).

you do yourself a disservice, probably just a stronger head wind yesterday, did you have you fan on the same setting as a year ago? Also I notice the Mourinho like mind games trying to get your rivals over confident!

 

[bridgy]

I don't have a problem with ghosts being added to Nations Cup league re-runs - good suggestion to only include people riding to qualify for the NC though.
Looking over some recent stage results I think we could have a good battle for those top 5 places - particularly with @TurboTommy throwing his hat in the ring!

The best thing would be to ride live races together as much as possible of course, but it's not always possible - for reasons like my IT failure last night or work/family commitments - and I wouldn't want to exclude or penalise a fast rider just because they couldn't make all or some of the live rides. It's true there can be an advantage to racing ghosts as they don't react to your attacks, but you still need the stamina to keep up with people.

Let's see how the qualifying league pans out and if the top 5 aren't clearly obvious we could have some kind of final one-off race to decide final selection if needed

 

[bridgy]

I may have a go at a stage or two but I'm counting myself out of the NC as I'm not fit enough to go three stages balls out at the current time and still down on the power front.

That's a shame mate, but totally understandable considering the last few months you've had! Hope you'll be back to full fitness again soon - I remember some very painful races with you last year!!

 

[peterob]

I was going to post pretty much the same. I think so long as the ghosts selected are from the original live run then ghosts are fine. The re-run (or initial run in my case) will be 'as live' and any drafting I manage, or more likely being dropped and doing a solo TT, would be the same as if I'd run the race live.

We say no to the dumb bot ghosts though as these (especially the lapdogs) can make a big difference if not because of drafting then just psychologically.

It's all kind of irrelevant for me as I know I've no chance of making the team anyway but I do think that is the fairest and consistent with what we have always done. The cream will rise to the top either way, and when it comes to the hilly climb I know the heavier riders like me will have absolutely no chance and no amount of ghosts will help.

As someone that often cannot make the live races (it's a shame the handicap is no longer on as Tuesday's are the best day for me), this makes sense. 'Solo' rides should only include ghosts from the league and no bots (not that I ever see bots anyway).

I suppose there could still be an advantage through heavy drafting of ghosts throughout the ride, which would probably not be so easy/prevalent in a live race. I don't know whether a time penalty should be applied for solo rides or leave it 'as is'. I suspect it would make very little difference to the results.

A separate question.....Does each ride need to completed within the week? - I'm still suffering with illness so may not be able to do the rides until later in the month

 

[Randyberlin]

good suggestion to only include people riding to qualify for the NC thoughd

Just a heads up that because of my residency you can't use my ghost. Sorry, it will be tempting I know.

 

[Bored Man]

Hi All - any chance a Swede could join the chain gang group on Bkool, to be able to participate in your leagues?
best regards,
per

 

[Randyberlin]

@Daddy Pig .
With the tougher competition for a spot in the team maybe look for signs of someone tampering with the parking brake on the truck you stopped.

 

[Whorty]

@Daddy Pig .
With the tougher competition for a spot in the team maybe look for signs of someone tampering with the parking brake on the truck you stopped.

 

[LBHIFI]

I must confess I'm a bit concerned about my own fitness too. I noticed that my Nations Cup Stouby Sejet from last February is 20 seconds or so faster than my ride from last night, after which I was well done in, and didn't even have any more rides to do.

You know that it's a bit of a lottery with Bkool. I'm doing worse than ever in Bkool world, but I just did my best ever 20 minute effort down here in sunny Maspalomas. There's a good chance it's not your fitness level that is to blame.

 

[bridgy]

As someone that often cannot make the live races (it's a shame the handicap is no longer on as Tuesday's are the best day for me), this makes sense. 'Solo' rides should only include ghosts from the league and no bots (not that I ever see bots anyway).

I suppose there could still be an advantage through heavy drafting of ghosts throughout the ride, which would probably not be so easy/prevalent in a live race. I don't know whether a time penalty should be applied for solo rides or leave it 'as is'. I suspect it would make very little difference to the results.

A separate question.....Does each ride need to completed within the week? - I'm still suffering with illness so may not be able to do the rides until later in the month

When the leagues run normally, we can do ride all stages for the full duration of the month - personally I don't see any reason not to do this for January too (even though we're having to bodge the league a little). I can see from the December chaingang league you're a strong rider - anyone who beats AAAC in two league stages as you did in December - is very much Nations Cup potential so I hope to see you having a go at the stages when you're back to full health!

 

[BILL S]

As someone that often cannot make the live races (it's a shame the handicap is no longer on as Tuesday's are the best day for me), this makes sense. 'Solo' rides should only include ghosts from the league and no bots (not that I ever see bots anyway).

I suppose there could still be an advantage through heavy drafting of ghosts throughout the ride, which would probably not be so easy/prevalent in a live race. I don't know whether a time penalty should be applied for solo rides or leave it 'as is'. I suspect it would make very little difference to the results.

A separate question.....Does each ride need to completed within the week? - I'm still suffering with illness so may not be able to do the rides until later in the month

Each ride does not have to be completed within the week so feel free to get better before having to put in your quickest rides. That's how the league was set up anyway.
Also, I agree that only ghosts competing in the league should be used, and no use of bots. I don't think anyone uses bots in any leagues, although I wonder how useful they'd be in the Winter Cup?

 

[CXRAndy]

Bill you cannot compare one year to the next with Bkool. They have pratted and fiddled with their algorithms so much. Your fitness is probably fine or like alot of us had a dip after Xmas. My first ride back I was nearly 40 Watts down compared to pre Xmas, yesterday was better at 20 Watts lower. Peaks and troughs of fitness

 

[<Tommy>]

Bill you cannot compare one year to the next with Bkool. They have pratted and fiddled with their algorithms so much. Your fitness is probably fine or like alot of us had a dip after Xmas. My first ride back I was nearly 40 Watts down compared to pre Xmas, yesterday was better at 20 Watts lower. Peaks and troughs of fitness

That’s what I was thinking too. 20 seconds is nothing bud. If anything it’s quite encouraging this early in the year.