Team BKool CycleChat

[Whorty]

I second that .... would love to see you smashing the youngsters on Zwift

 

[Brusgaard]

I thought beta version was android or ios only...

The Bkool Fitness App, yes. The Bkool Indoor simulator (BSIM) beta is available for all the usual platforms. Did a 1h30 min. ride yesterday and didn’t encounter any errors, except for the fact that it shows your name instead of your nickname on the home screen(s) and in the races. Could prove a real problem in the Danish live races with many riders with the same name...

But you seem to be riding on a somewhat different backend in the beta, as there is only a few users online and ditto live races compared to the normal version.

 

[AAAC 76C]

I thought beta version was android or ios only...

Nope 64 bit windows version available.

 

[AAAC 76C]

I second that .... would love to see you smashing the youngsters on Zwift

I think my 'smashing' days are fast coming to an end and I need to stand aside and let Gee shine.

 

[AAAC 76C]

55 Euro for a screw? Not a bad markup there!

Only just read that alert.
Is someone in Amsterdam coz that is pretty cheap!

 

[<Tommy>]

What are the noticeable differences between standard and beta Bkool? Is it to try and make the thing work better with other trainers?

 

[Brusgaard]

What are the noticeable differences between standard and beta Bkool? Is it to try and make the thing work better with other trainers?

Yes, and I’m getting reports, that it MIGHT work with external power-meter too. My watts on the Direto were a lot smoother/stable than in the non-beta. The pairing screen has changed a lot, and now recognizes other trainers. My Direto was now found as an Elite Direto and even showed an image of the model.

 

[CXRAndy]

Yes, and I’m getting reports, that it MIGHT work with external power-meter too. My watts on the Direto were a lot smoother/stable than in the non-beta. The pairing screen has changed a lot, and now recognizes other trainers. My Direto was now found as an Elite Direto and even showed an image of the model.

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Bkool has always recognised the other trainers, it's the bias in performance towards the Bkool pro units.

please show a screen shot with the function to add a separate power meter to the trainer, ideally paired to another PM

 

[Brusgaard]

Bkool has always recognised the other trainers, it's the bias in performance towards the Bkool pro units.

please show a screen shot with the function to add a separate power meter to the trainer, ideally paired to another PM

My Direto was previously found just as an “Elite Trainer”: if I remember correctly. I don’t have an external power meter (pedals/crank etc.), so I can’t deliver such a screenshot. However, one of my Bkool buddies, have paired his Stages with it, and the watts on screen were the same or very much like the same on his Garmin computer, which is paired to the Stages pedal as well.

If you have PM, why don’t you try it?

 

[<Tommy>]

Yes, and I’m getting reports, that it MIGHT work with external power-meter too. My watts on the Direto were a lot smoother/stable than in the non-beta. The pairing screen has changed a lot, and now recognizes other trainers. My Direto was now found as an Elite Direto and even showed an image of the model.

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I’m assuming (maybe wrongly?), that your direto should behave the same way as a power meter. So if one works the other should too.

This is good news to me. I’m still cynical about the guys at bkool’s capabilities in getting this thing right. But at least they are trying. Which is what we’ve been screaming out for a couple of years.

I’m not sure the Bkool pro will ever be on total parity with other trainers because it doesn’t have its own power meter. Even in Zwift it has its ups and downs in terms of consistent readings. But that’s ok. Sooner or later the Bkool pro will die as all electronic equipment does. And everyone will move on from it. At least if Bkool make the experience better for other trainers, in the future we can all race on Bkool with whatever trainer we like.

 

[Brusgaard]

I’m assuming (maybe wrongly?), that your direto should behave the same way as a power meter. So if one works the other should too.

Yes, I think you are correct, and as you can see on the last image, Power is from the Direto. But the last time I tried to get the Direto power data on my Garmin, I(t) failed, so I can’t compare.

But one of these days, when the temps in the shed goes below 33 degrees, I’ll try pairing them again.

 

[Del C]

Well now the TdF has finished I need to get away from watching my Sky Q live recordings, analysing each stage minute by minute, and get my tired 4ss back on the saddle and get some fitness back.
I am going to load the beta on my laptop because that is 64 bit and keep crappy old bsim on my turbo PC.
I may well even venture into Zwiftland later this year.

After 2 calls to Apple support either side of a pointless response from Bkool I may have recovered my MacBook after it was assaulted by the Bkool Sim beta.

I uninstalled the Beta and the install helper after my MacBook went into a series of crashes and restarts. I sent as much detail as I could to Bkool and told them that I'd uninstalled the Beta. They asked me to click on settings and send some additional information to them!! Idiots!!!!

 

[Del C]

The Bkool Fitness App, yes. The Bkool Indoor simulator (BSIM) beta is available for all the usual platforms. Did a 1h30 min. ride yesterday and didn’t encounter any errors, except for the fact that it shows your name instead of your nickname on the home screen(s) and in the races. Could prove a real problem in the Danish live races with many riders with the same name...

But you seem to be riding on a somewhat different backend in the beta, as there is only a few users online and ditto live races compared to the normal version.

Did you use your Bkool turbo or your Diretto?

Just wondering if you though the Beta Sim was an improvement on control of non Bkool turbos?

 

[Brusgaard]

Did you use your Bkool turbo or your Diretto?

Just wondering if you though the Beta Sim was an improvement on control of non Bkool turbos?

Haven't used my Pro since July 8th, only the Direto (and only 11 rides in total, most of them on Zwift).

I THINK BSIM works better with the Direto in the beta, but a side by side comparison would be necessary. Currently I'm so slow, that I can't compare my Direto BSIM rides to previous Bkool BSIM rides. And with the heat these days/weeks/months, I would be slow on the Pro as well...

 

[Del C]

Haven't used my Pro since July 8th, only the Direto (and only 11 rides in total, most of them on Zwift).

I THINK BSIM works better with the Direto in the beta, but a side by side comparison would be necessary. Currently I'm so slow, that I can't compare my Direto BSIM rides to previous Bkool BSIM rides. And with the heat these days/weeks/months, I would be slow on the Pro as well...

You'll need to get fit then.

I dare not load the Beta back on to my MacBook after it trashed it!