Team BKool CycleChat

[GuySJ]

I was working Thursday and Saturday this week so missed the chain gang. I went to do it today. I had the choice of doing the league ride, on my own, or as I did scheduled a ride that included your ghosts. Is there a way of doing the league ride late but with ghosts?

 

[gbrown]

I was working Thursday and Saturday this week so missed the chain gang. I went to do it today. I had the choice of doing the league ride, on my own, or as I did scheduled a ride that included your ghosts. Is there a way of doing the league ride late but with ghosts?

Yep, you can challenge one of the results from the league stage page on bkool, using the challenge button on the right of each result.

It has to still be an active stage to count as a league run, and it will then go in your league tab rather than programmed tab.

http://www.bkool.com/classification/showIndividualStageClassification/3437

Geoff

 

[gbrown]

Bill, I was thinking about something you wrote a while ago, about not being able to make the power on an FTP test that you could make on a steeper climb, and then the comments about tyres.

I have definitely found the KICKR harder on steep gradients, it seems capable of giving much more stable resistance, and this means that in an FTP test it seems possible to make pretty much any level of power your legs are capable of.
It's just maintaining it that is tricky ...

No tyres to slip or get sticky I guess, and resistance up to 2000 Watts. An FTP test at around 20 mph should never trouble it, no matter how much power you can put out.

Obviously, you have also found the right tyre for your bkool as well, judging by your last FTP result!

Geoff

 

[gbrown]

My family are threatening to sound proof the spare room I bkool in, so they don't have to listen to my panting and gasping!

I was expecting adulation at my achievements and instead I got abuse ...

 

[Add]

Anyone fancy a crack at the Double Devil Sportive? Just found out about it myself. It looks completely brutal, but is quite literally on my doorstep.
It's got your name written all over it Bill!

 

[Add]

Oh and the a Tri Show was good. I set the fastest time on this competition, where you had to row 500m, cycle 1000m and then do 40 bunny hops over this barrier.
At about 3pm, I saw some guy had beaten my time by 1 second! And you know how that pisses me off Bill?
So I had another go, knocked 6 more seconds off, which held to the end of the day, and won a £120 pair of Zoot trainers! All good!

 

[BILL S]

Bill, I was thinking about something you wrote a while ago, about not being able to make the power on an FTP test that you could make on a steeper climb, and then the comments about tyres.

I have definitely found the KICKR harder on steep gradients, it seems capable of giving much more stable resistance, and this means that in an FTP test it seems possible to make pretty much any level of power your legs are capable of.
It's just maintaining it that is tricky ...

No tyres to slip or get sticky I guess, and resistance up to 2000 Watts. An FTP test at around 20 mph should never trouble it, no matter how much power you can put out.

Obviously, you have also found the right tyre for your bkool as well, judging by your last FTP result!

Geoff

Yeah, sounds like the KICKR has an advantage of stable resistance and that must be nice to have. I've been plagued by punctures lately and been really lucky when they happened. As in not half way through my latest FTP test. I could see me getting one at some point, perhaps later in the year when I deserve a new toy. The bkool does have too many variables to catch out the unwary newbe. Took me a long time to figure out the importance of the right tyres. I guess the KICKR probably feels nicer to be on too and quieter. Bet bkool pro's have a fairly decent second hand value on ebay too
And that last FTP result was the toughest thing I've done on the bkool. For the last 10 mins I was alternating between sitting and standing each minute until it was over. Average power slowly dropping off to 339 watts.

 

[BILL S]

My family are threatening to sound proof the spare room I bkool in, so they don't have to listen to my panting and gasping!

I was expecting adulation at my achievements and instead I got abuse ...

You came to the right lace with your problem Geoff. We are all impressed by your achievement and know how hard you've worked because we've done the same

 

[BILL S]

Anyone fancy a crack at the Double Devil Sportive? Just found out about it myself. It looks completely brutal, but is quite literally on my doorstep.
It's got your name written all over it Bill!

I might be interested in that Adam. I didn't really know what a sportive was until I read about it just now. It's not a race but it is type of thing. Like Chain Gang rides
I reckon we must be fit enough for it by now. I've never taken part in any road riding competitive event before but I guess its the same Idea as a mountainbike race in that you are out there to kick some ass if possible. You done anything like this before Adam?

 

[gbrown]

And that last FTP result was the toughest thing I've done on the bkool. For the last 10 mins I was alternating between sitting and standing each minute until it was over. Average power slowly dropping off to 339 watts.

I was just looking at your FTP ride and was surprised to see no last minute surge, in fact the power was tailing off, so I guessed you were really in the red. You know you gave it your all!

I always seem to have a little dip from around 10 minutes on, then as it gets to the last few minutes I'm able to pick it up again and push for the last minute or two. Not the best technique, I'm sure.

I'm sure it's psychological, doubting I can keep up the pace for 10 more minutes, then as the clock ticks down getting that belief back and able to push for the line.

Got just one more level in me, I reckon, properly rested and warmed up. Then I'll have to either lose a lot more weight (hard to imagine) and/or get some serious interval training in ...

Geoff

 

[Add]

I might be interested in that Adam. I didn't really know what a sportive was until I read about it just now. It's not a race but it is type of thing. Like Chain Gang rides
I reckon we must be fit enough for it by now. I've never taken part in any road riding competitive even before but I guess its the same Idea as a mountainbike race in that you are out there to kick some ass if possible. You done anything like this before Adam?

Nope never! But I would be prepared to give it a shot. I know some of those climbs, and they are fierce. The Devils Elbow is tough in a car! But they are relatively short climbs, just 25% incline that's all.
It's the first year it's being run, but I am friends with the Showground CEO, we used to run together, and he says they want it to become a permanent fixture in the cycling calender. So be an opportunity to be on the first one.
We could ride it as the Goats a Team, lol. £35 isn't bad either!

 

[Add]

I was just looking at your FTP ride and was surprised to see no last minute surge, in fact the power was tailing off, so I guessed you were really in the red. You know you gave it your all!

I always seem to have a little dip from around 10 minutes on, then as it gets to the last few minutes I'm able to pick it up again and push for the last minute or two. Not the best technique, I'm sure.

I'm sure it's psychological, doubting I can keep up the pace for 10 more minutes, then as the clock ticks down getting that belief back and able to push for the line.

Got just one more level in me, I reckon, properly rested and warmed up. Then I'll have to either lose a lot more weight (hard to imagine) and/or get some serious interval training in ...

Geoff

Just caught up, and seen your recent promotion. Well done Geoff, great work. So you going to sign up for the Double Devil Sportive then, definately over qualified now.

 

[gbrown]

Oh and the a Tri Show was good. I set the fastest time on this competition, where you had to row 500m, cycle 1000m and then do 40 bunny hops over this barrier.
At about 3pm, I saw some guy had beaten my time by 1 second! And you know how that pisses me off Bill?
So I had another go, knocked 6 more seconds off, which held to the end of the day, and won a £120 pair of Zoot trainers! All good!

Looks really good, well supported and a decent price as well, but too much for me. Yet to do any 25% climbs on the road and 70 miles is my max so far, so got to build up to 100+ miles and try some of the nasty climbs round here (Crowcombe, Porlock, etc.) first.

I'll look forward to seeing how you guys get on!

I've got a 54 mile charity sportive a few weeks after that, not sure about kicking ass, certainly the fast club riders are out to grind your nose in it, but most of us had a bit of a chat with anyone around us.

One young lady caught me up twice (she stopped for cakes) and could talk for England. Any ladies trying to pass me this year are going to get a bit more resistance ...

... unless they are much faster!

Geoff

 

[Broughtonblue]

Sorry to derail this thread, but I've a few questions to ask and don't want to start another thread,
I'm thinking of buying a bkool, my LBS has it for £349. As a tech novice it is easy to set up and use, also how much is the subscription and what does it give you? Can you use it and get your monies worth without subscribing?

 

[BILL S]

I was just looking at your FTP ride and was surprised to see no last minute surge, in fact the power was tailing off, so I guessed you were really in the red. You know you gave it your all!

I always seem to have a little dip from around 10 minutes on, then as it gets to the last few minutes I'm able to pick it up again and push for the last minute or two. Not the best technique, I'm sure.

I'm sure it's psychological, doubting I can keep up the pace for 10 more minutes, then as the clock ticks down getting that belief back and able to push for the line.

Got just one more level in me, I reckon, properly rested and warmed up. Then I'll have to either lose a lot more weight (hard to imagine) and/or get some serious interval training in ...

Geoff

Yeah I was totally in the red. My strategy was to be well up on what I needed and then try to avoid losing too many watts by the end. Yours was different in that you still had some left at the end and were able to do what I normally do at the end of a race. A bigger front ring would help a little for the standing part.
At level nine I thought that was it, as I was stuck there for 3 months or so then same with level10. I think the right tyre was more crucial to me than fitness.