I use similar to what I had before but I think a harder compound. Its a continental ultra sport but unlike the last one it doesn't get all sticky but it does slip a bit more. I've now ordered a dedicated trainer tyre to try that. In the reviews people say they run colder and quieter so I'm guessing less friction but possibly even more slippage on the steep bits.
Team BKool CycleChat
- Thread starter Peteaud
- Start date
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Mountain Goat League 2 is now closed.
Congratulations to Adam2 for winning by a significant chunk. (I think we're going to try and reduce that time gap on the next one).
Well done to everyone else who competed. It was a great effort by all.
The new league is starting on Sunday I think. First stage is Alpe d'Huez and Adski Adam is going to note everyone's times and then run a separate handicap race with everyone starting on the line but at different times with the quickest stating last. Should be interesting.
Mountain Goat league 3 is made up of 4 stages spaced out 6 days apart to finish on 31st March. All of these stages are 3D and some are quite challenging with gear change timing important to maximise speed on one or two of them.
Congratulations to Adam2 for winning by a significant chunk. (I think we're going to try and reduce that time gap on the next one).
Well done to everyone else who competed. It was a great effort by all.
The new league is starting on Sunday I think. First stage is Alpe d'Huez and Adski Adam is going to note everyone's times and then run a separate handicap race with everyone starting on the line but at different times with the quickest stating last. Should be interesting.
Mountain Goat league 3 is made up of 4 stages spaced out 6 days apart to finish on 31st March. All of these stages are 3D and some are quite challenging with gear change timing important to maximise speed on one or two of them.
I use a trainer tire also, but it is a 29er MTB version, so although it is slightly wider it seems to work pretty well and not slip even when I get out of the saddle to stretch the legs, even on the 10% parts.
I make sure it is pumped up to the specified pressure as well so as to minimize the rolling resistance.
my trainer tyre (Vitoria) sheds little red bits of rubber all over the Bkool unit. I've just changed to a slick tyre and will monitor that. I think it's my weight so have put the trainer tyre on my sons bike and will see if it sheds rubber when he uses the Bkool.
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
wardy_uk
Active Member
- Location
- Whitwick, NW Leiestershire
You need a stack of snickers bars by the bike, should still leave you with a nice calorie deficit by the end of the ride.
Mind you, they are hard to eat during the actual race, as there was hardly a moment when I wasn't gasping for air and stopping breathing to swallow was tricky. Sure I breathed chocolate several times, my wife had to check on me to see what all the coughing was about!
Alas - it was a fast day for me.. (5:2 woe) so only 600 Cals allowed
Vertego
Just reflecting on the meaning of life.
- Location
- North Hampshire
Which neatly brings me to my question that mat well have been answered but I can't recall the content of 290++ pages.
Will losing 5Kgs make a difference on the Bkool? Is hauling 95Kgs up Alpe d'Huez on the Bkool harder than 90Kgs?
No. Hauling 90 Kgs up the d'Huez is equally as hard as hauling 95 Kgs.
Please refer to rule No. 10
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
Sorry Monte, not going to make it today as the legs just don't feel recovered enough. Being a relative newbie my recovery times aren't the quickest.
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
As Bill says, it's as hard, you just go faster!
The simulator sets the resistance based on the gradient and your recorded weight, so if you can lower your recorded weight (no cheating) then the resistance will be lower, and you will go faster!
It will be easier in one sense, if you can go faster you will finish quicker!
On a steep gradient the resistance is almost entirely gravity and hence proportional to your weight. Reducing your weight from 95Kg to 90Kg is about 5% so you will go roughly 5% faster and take roughly 95% as long!
It will also make a difference to your Bkool fitness level, as this is based on Watts per Kg, assuming you can lose weight but maintain power (i.e. lose fat but not muscle).
95Kg is a lot of weight to push up Alpe d'Huez!
I've been working on my weight since I got my Bkool at the start of November and have gone down from c. 82 Kg to 74 Kg, hoping to lose around another 3-4Kg (goal is to get body fat below 17%).
Geoff
gbrown
Geoff on Bkool
- Location
- South Somerset
Bill, would be great if you could start it. I am going to try and join the start, but have to quit early as we are out this evening.
Would also be great if we could get a train going again for the first 30 mins or so. Since I am not going all the way I'll do my best to help anyone wanting to save a bit for the steep climbs in the second half. Will look to set a pace just above 22 mph as this was my average for the whole thing, but it does take a while for me to warm up so I might get dropped anyway...
Off out this afternoon for a warm up in the spring sunshine!
Geoff
Runexeter
Senior Member
- Location
- Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
I got the same a couple of weeks ago kip, thought it would be better but the rolling resistance is stiffer and it slips when I stand up as much as my road tyre did!
Laid back
New Member
Anybody have any suggestions? I'm having similar problems with my power meter. I use a saris (cycleops) powercal. The power readings, and consequently my speed in the virtual world, are about half what they are simultaneously measured on the wahoo fitness app and in other virtual worlds like Zwift and cycleops virtual trainer. This renders bkool completely useless to me as I can't get even close to an accurate ride. However, the bkool world is much more engaging and I'd love to use it. Can anyone suggest a fix? So far bkool has not been helpful.
Sorry Monte, not going to make it today as the legs just don't feel recovered enough. Being a relative newbie my recovery times aren't the quickest.
I've taken advantage of the good weather and sneaked a mountain bike ride in this afternoon, it was my 1st time out on the mtb ride since I took a bad tumble last year and broke my femur right on the shaft going into the hip joint, so had a few demons to deal with but loved every minute of it and now looking forward to getting back out on some trials. I've only had the BKOOL just over a week and I reckon my fitness has already improved... Blueface I will save my legs for the next Cyclechat session. Cheers Monte.
