Team BKool CycleChat

[Darryn007]

Yep mine moves all over the place, the back wheel is traveling a good 70% of the roller width. It flexes right at the point yours broke. Wish I found this forum first, there is no way I would have bothered with this unit.
On a brighter note I managed to complete a 1hr session tonight - with no HR strap paired though, I just used my polar as a reference. Tomorrow I'll try the same course with the HR strap to make a comparison - it is a coded one, I dunno if that makes any difference?.

I'm just wondering how do they make firmware updates if there is no hard-wire connection to the unit, or is it also possible wireless?

 

[BILL S]

Arrghh gutted for you...about your trainer seems like a fair few issues with the pro model...very disappointing indeed

Agreed. It does work well and its quieter than the classic model but its cheaper made IMO. Definitely weaker. I'm having to run mine right now with the round cover off as the blades hit it. After it arrived, some bits of broken cast plastic and some metal cuttings even fell out of the unit. I'm guessing it was thrown together in China .

 

[jiberjaber]

I'm half tempted with a kickr but I'd have to swap the cassette for an 11 speed

 

[burndust]

Well I can definitely say the build quality of the kickr is way way better.....like a tank

 

[Bollo]

Well I can definitely say the build quality of the kickr is way way better.....like a tank

Hell yeah - I can hardly lift the thing!

I'm half tempted with a kickr but I'd have to swap the cassette for an 11 speed

Campag or Shimano? I think shimano are fine but there's a slight issue with campag 11 speed where the chain can catch the casing in the lowest gear. After that I suppose it's the additional expense of another cassette after shelling out much cash for the kickr.

 

[jiberjaber]

Hell yeah - I can hardly lift the thing!

Campag or Shimano? I think shimano are fine but there's a slight issue with campag 11 speed where the chain can catch the casing in the lowest gear. After that I suppose it's the additional expense of another cassette after shelling out much cash for the kickr.

Shimano, I also take it it doesn't come with a ANT+ usb dongle either?

 

[burndust]

I think it's a built in ant + blue tooth combo dooda

 

[jiberjaber]

I think it's a built in ant + blue tooth combo dooda

Yep - but you still need a USB device for the laptop / tablet / end...

So its 900+ 38 for a cassette +20+ish for a ANT+ USB device ... then a subscription to bkool (or similar) to ride on... which is what made the Bkool Pro attractive in the first place, but it just doesn't feel safe to ride (for me)... I am always wondering when I am going to shoot off it! LOL....

Not had a response from BKool on the break yet, don't think I want to risk riding on it in its current state... (I am secretly hoping that if I mention not having a response yet, an email will magically turn up! LOL)

 

[Bollo]

Shimano, I also take it it doesn't come with a ANT+ usb dongle either?

No. Wahoo are very tablet/apple focused with their own software, which uses the bluetooth connection for ipads/iphones.

They're very keen on open ANT standards though and make a big thing of it in their blurb. My Kickr works with a bog standard SUUNTO ANT+ USB dongle that I already owned. I've had it connected up to Trainer Road, BSim, Cyclop's Virtual Trainer and a few other more obscure PC apps without a problem. OK - one or two issues with BSim.

 

[Bollo]

So its 900+ 38 for a cassette +20+ish for a ANT+ USB device ...

Sorry - took so long to type my last response. Cheap it most certainly not. FWIW, I thought they could have chucked in a USB ANT+ dongle for the money they're asking. Also, even though my bike is 10-speed shimano, I'm contemplating getting a new cassette for the kickr as the supplied cassette just doesn't seem to run smoothly. I've checked for chain wear and it's not as bad as I thought. It occurs to be that I need to check the spec of the cassette to see if it's shimano OEM or just something 'compatible'.

 

[burndust]

I have read in reviews that even with a direct swap from a 25-11 to the kickr cassette it's still a bit rough...i had considered giving the kickr another go but my bike service and new wheelset have tapped me out....maybe next year...

 

[theedge]

Yep mine moves all over the place, the back wheel is traveling a good 70% of the roller width.

Its not much help but, I have the classic and it seems fine (I hope thats not tempting fate)

 

[theedge]

More annoyingly, my video went live this afternoon.... grrr... broken turbo and can't ride my own vid! LOL

http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/524877

Road it this evening, nice bit of a hill in the middle.. thanks for that one...

 

[Paulf1566]

Bkool said to me to do it in 720p. 1080p was 10gb, 720 4gb.

I need younger legs.

Any tips on uploading videos please. I have recorded rides using a GoPro Hero and the quality is superb. However, by the time I have adjusted the file size to be accepted by BKool the quality on the website is poor. What are the best video settings to use when you get to the export stage please?

 

[jiberjaber]

I haven't had time to ride my video yet as the Turbo is not safe to ride on.... but I re-rendered my Gopro footage in Power Director to give me 1280x720 25fps and about 7032kbps MPEG4. The preview looks pretty rubbish on the site though, hopefully its better when its running as a route.