Team BKool CycleChat

[CXRAndy]

It would be great if people with Kickrs , Hammers,
Neos etc started a group on BKool and used the BKool simulator for rides and races as you all do here

I would thought all those who are now on the splitters thread will of at some point repeatedly told Bkool of this issue going back years.

 

[Brusgaard]

I would thought all those who are now on the splitters thread will of at some point repeatedly told Bkool of this issue going back years.

What should they do to fix it then? Do some sort of calculated deficit for a Pro(2)/Classic/Air trainer and other less accurate (wheel-on) trainers?

Neo against Neo on Bkool Simulator would by equal. Neo against a Bkool Pro would not, but that is the same on Zwift. In fact maybe even more so, as the Pro watts are used for speed on Zwift but not in Bkool Simulator.

 

[CXRAndy]

What should they do to fix it then? Do some sort of calculated deficit for a Pro(2)/Classic/Air trainer and other less accurate (wheel-on) trainers?

Neo against Neo on Bkool Simulator would by equal. Neo against a Bkool Pro would not, but that is the same on Zwift. In fact maybe even more so, as the Pro watts are used for speed on Zwift but not in Bkool Simulator.

They shouldn't bother, because all those non Bkool users realise eventually and move on to Zwift TR BRVR etc

 

[Brusgaard]

I think its a real shame BKool don`t pay attention to whats being
said and do something to make the simulator more equal to all smart trainers. It would be great if people with Kickrs , Hammers,
Neos etc started a group on BKool and used the BKool simulator for rides and races as you all do here. Maybe that would keep
people using BKool and hopefully keep it going.

In the Danish Bkool League (http://bkoolligaen.dk) we have a sub-league for all those using more accurate trainers, where you are ranked just as in the normal league. That means that those using Neos, KICKRs, Diretos etc. can compete against each other in that league, but still ride with/against the Pro users in the same race.

Usually around 100-200 riders take part in each race (Tuesday+Thursday and Sunday (usually a lot less riders)), so plenty to play with. The league runs from October til March/April, but is unfortunately only available for Danish riders.

 

[Alfonzo]

Thanks for replying CXRAndy and Brusgaard and thanks Whorty and Berty for the likes,
CXRAndy Im sure their views have been made to BKool for a few years now and Bruusgard Im not sure what they should do about it,
I think most people that have got a Neo, Kickr, Hammer or other smart trainer have moved on to the other platforms like Zwift.
I was just saying I think its a shame BKool are gradually losing their customer base and it would be a shame to lose the BKool
simulator as I myself really enjoy the real life rides in 3D mode and I don`t know of any other virtual cycling platforms that you can
send in a .gpx file and it can be made into a 3D mode ride.
Brusgaard I just read your last comment about having a sub league for the more accurate trainers, thats a great idea, not sure how
they set it up but it would be good if we could do the same.

 

[CXRAndy]

I myself really enjoy the real life rides in 3D mode and I don`t know of any other virtual cycling platforms that you can
send in a .gpx file and it can be made into a 3D mode ride

BigRingVR allows you to create rides with your own video and a GPX file. re-living the ride

@Aleman is your man, he has done quite a few I believe,. Ask him about the process

 

[shimceltic]

I think bkool are trying to improve and get new customers due to them and movistar partnering up. Maybe it's less popular but still has a market

 

[bobinski]

It is what it is. Ride what you like but don’t be afraid to try a new dish. Just be aware that sometimes a palate takes time to adapt. And that sometimes some things are more palatable with mates. I hate cheese but will always share a pizza.

 

[Brusgaard]

Brusgaard I just read your last comment about having a sub league for the more accurate trainers, thats a great idea, not sure how
they set it up but it would be good if we could do the same.

We don't use Bkool's own league system. All races are LIVE races, meaning if you miss/fail it, you don't get any points, just like IRL. The race results are pulled from the Bkool results the following 3 nights (because sometimes (very rare) the sim fails to upload until next time you use it), and points are calculated based on a number of things. Outright bogus results (extreme watts / speed etc.) are deleted, as are foreign riders. It's all done automatic without human intervention.

We usually have 2 groups riding (using w/kg to categorize them), one for the faster riders and one for the slower. Faster riders joining the slow group race (for an easy "win") WILL be given a time penalty. The results of these two races then form the basis for the final points for that stage. Each rider's points are then added to the season rankings. Only your best results count, but only for a select number of races. In this season I think there was around 60 races, but only a maximum 25 of them counted in the end. This means that if you start out the season slow, but gets better, you can "replace" early bad results (ie. low points) later on in the season.

People deliberately cheating are banned from them league when found out.

 

[Alfonzo]

BigRingVR allows you to create rides with your own video and a GPX file. re-living the ride

@Aleman is your man, he has done quite a few I believe,. Ask him about the process

I did give BigRingVR a try and the quality of the videos and the rides are really good, the thing I like about the 3D mode on BKool
is you don`t need to have a video of the ride , just a gpx file which then gets made into an animated 3D view, maybe its just me but
I prefer this view where you can see the other 3D riders in view for catching and drafting etc than video mode and the real life rides I`ve
done using my Garmin and sending the gpx file to BKool have been quite realistic times and efforts when done on my Hammer.

 

[CXRAndy]

I did give BigRingVR a try and the quality of the videos and the rides are really good, the thing I like about the 3D mode on BKool
is you don`t need to have a video of the ride , just a gpx file which then gets made into an animated 3D view, maybe its just me but
I prefer this view where you can see the other 3D riders in view for catching and drafting etc than video mode and the real life rides I`ve
done using my Garmin and sending the gpx file to BKool have been quite realistic times and efforts when done on my Hammer.

That is one feature which Bkool has a monopoly on. I understand as long you dont use video on Bkool it works fine but uploading problems arise from HD video quality clips

 

[<Tommy>]

They shouldn't bother, because all those non Bkool users realise eventually and move on to Zwift TR BRVR etc

It is what it is. Ride what you like but don’t be afraid to try a new dish. Just be aware that sometimes a palate takes time to adapt. And that sometimes some things are more palatable with mates. I hate cheese but will always share a pizza.

Honestly. You two are like the Jehovah’s Witnesses of cyclechat. It doesn't matter how many times people tell you to sod off and slam the door in your face, you still don’t take the hint!

 

[<Tommy>]

You are absolutely right Tommy. I, like everybody have no idea what the future holds, I suspect that due to its appalling customer service and total lack of regard for its users' experience bkool will go bust, in the medium term, as it continues to lose users to zwift. At that point I will need to make a decision what it is I don't know. I am blessed in having good, rideable weather through out the year ,I've only had to abort two rides because of weather this winter so turbo trainer is an extra for me, not an essential winter need. Until I need to I'll stick to bkool and hope we can keep the small group of diehards going to give us the option of racing and video on the same platform. The video rides, on alpine and pyrenean climbs that I know are more important for me, s a climber, than the racing but when bkool does go bust look out for me drafting behind you on zwift and failing to out sprint you at the end!!

I’ll hold you to that mate! And if @berty bassett Bassett is anything to go by. You’ll of dropped me well before the finish...

 

[CXRAndy]

Honestly. You two are like the Jehovah’s Witnesses of cyclechat. It doesn't matter how many times people tell you to sod off and slam the door in your face, you still don’t take the hint!

From Yorkshire,

When summat is shoot, we say so.

Bob with his last name must be a northern interloper

 

[bobinski]

Honestly. You two are like the Jehovah’s Witnesses of cyclechat. It doesn't matter how many times people tell you to sod off and slam the door in your face, you still don’t take the hint!

Don’t know what you are on about. I was taking about food mate. Ummh...food!