Team BKool CycleChat

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

Listener666

Regular
Location
Durham
Can anyone tell me please, if I wanted to get a heart rate monitor, would I have to buy the BKool one in order for it to be compatible with the software, or are there other cheaper, equally satisfactory options I can explore?
I had a few problems with my Garmin soft strap HRM when I first got it................after the last Bkool software update it appears to have sorted itself out

Its loads more comfy than the polar one I use at the gym as well
 
  • Like
Reactions: Add

Rayvon

Well-Known Member
Location
Yorkshire
Just ordered my Bkool after reading your comments on it guys. It cant arrive quick enough.
 

BILL S

Guru
Location
London
I am 78kg. Used 100psi on my last ride but got very low wattage in the decents. Bkool showed around 120w average while my stages showed 220-240w.
Wattage always seems very low on the descents to me so when I'm looking for a good average power I avoid them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vux

burndust

Parts unknown...baby
I think the reason why wattage is low on decents is because the trainer is helping you out..what I mean is when you see the speedo in blue...don't see the point in going daft on decents anyway I don't on the road rather save my energy for the climbs
 

BILL S

Guru
Location
London
I think the reason why wattage is low on decents is because the trainer is helping you out..what I mean is when you see the speedo in blue...don't see the point in going daft on decents anyway I don't on the road rather save my energy for the climbs

Yes, out on the road with the garmin the figures show that more power is used while going slowly uphill than fast downhill, however I think one of the quirks of the bkool is that uphills and downhills are exaggerated a little. I've seen stupid speeds going downhill on the trainer and very slow speeds uphill compared to out on the road.
I downloaded my usual ride loop from my garmin then rode it on the bkool and it showed about +10mph on the downhills and - 5mph on the uphills. On the flat about the same. Overall the bkool lap was about 1-2 mph slower compared to the real thing.
 

vux

Member
I think the reason why wattage is low on decents is because the trainer is helping you out..what I mean is when you see the speedo in blue...don't see the point in going daft on decents anyway I don't on the road rather save my energy for the climbs

Hmm, that doesn't explain the big difference in my powermeter readings compared to bkool doing the decents (Reading at the same time using my garmin headunit and bkool during the trainer session). Can also be my powermeter is wrong but I kind of doubt it because it really feels like 230W not 120W as the bkool shows.
 

Darryn007

Über Member
Location
Belgium
Hi guys,
Have purchased the pro model last week, everything works, except that the resistance transmitted when the gradient goes uphill makes it totally unusable, has anyone else heard of this issue, I assume it is a calibration problem? I've used tacx for years, so have a pretty good idea what it should feel like when using a vr system.
I've tried it with a tablet and different pc's with the same result.
When I stop pedaling the guy on the screen just keeps on going and registering watts which is also kinda hinting at a calibration problem I guess. Problem is, how are they gonna fix this issue remotely as I see no possibilities to connect a usb?
I've mailed them last week, but haven't heard back yet, so in the mean time any self help ideas would be appreciated!
cheers
Darryn.
 

Asa Post

Super Iconic Legend
Location
Sheffield
Hmm, that doesn't explain the big difference in my powermeter readings compared to bkool doing the decents (Reading at the same time using my garmin headunit and bkool during the trainer session). Can also be my powermeter is wrong but I kind of doubt it because it really feels like 230W not 120W as the bkool shows.
Here's a comparison chart from a ride I did a few weeks ago. The blue line is the Bkool power, and the red is from my Powertap. The altitude also shows as a blue line, which is a bit confusing but it's still possible to see how the power figures compare.
There's a slight offset in the timings of the 2 sets of data, and they both should be a bit more spread out so that the sudden power drops are when I get to the top of a slope, not when I'm doing the last bit of the climb. Even so, it's obvious that the Bkool power generally rises higher and drops lower than the Powertap. On descents, the degree of drop is greater.
I believe that the Powertap is more accurate. The Bkool power is a good approximation, and may improve if they fiddle with the algorithm which I presume they use to do the calculations.
5Sep14ride.jpg
 

BILL S

Guru
Location
London
Hi guys,
Have purchased the pro model last week, everything works, except that the resistance transmitted when the gradient goes uphill makes it totally unusable, has anyone else heard of this issue, I assume it is a calibration problem? I've used tacx for years, so have a pretty good idea what it should feel like when using a vr system.
I've tried it with a tablet and different pc's with the same result.
When I stop pedaling the guy on the screen just keeps on going and registering watts which is also kinda hinting at a calibration problem I guess. Problem is, how are they gonna fix this issue remotely as I see no possibilities to connect a usb?
I've mailed them last week, but haven't heard back yet, so in the mean time any self help ideas would be appreciated!
cheers
Darryn.

Does this happen on all of the standard Bkool rides? I ask because I did one where the calibration was way out. I was doing 15mph up 20 degree slopes and 90 mph on downhills. This was just on one ride I found on the site whereas all others have felt more or less as expected. It therefore seems that the file that the trainer is following can have a major impact on the calibration of the ride.
 

Darryn007

Über Member
Location
Belgium
Does this happen on all of the standard Bkool rides? I ask because I did one where the calibration was way out. I was doing 15mph up 20 degree slopes and 90 mph on downhills. This was just on one ride I found on the site whereas all others have felt more or less as expected. It therefore seems that the file that the trainer is following can have a major impact on the calibration of the ride.

Hi Bill,
I have only had it since Wednesday last week, but have tried it on various 2d/3d/video rides, about 8-10 attempts using different files found on the site. I thought that it may be a corrupted file as well, so to test that theory I tried the Alp D'huez ride assuming it was thoroughly tested, but to no avail, I could keep it up for about 5mins before climbing off! My FTP is around 310 at the moment, so its not that I am unfit if you were wondering :smile:.
I tried the FTP test actually 20mins ago, I lasted 9mins with an average around 180watt at a hr of 140-145, normally im at 260-270watt for that hr. The other issue is the watts that keep jumping around - in one pedal revolution I will be at 300+ then all of a sudden at 160... kinda doing my head in to be honest haha!

Here's the link to the ftp test: http://www.bkool.com/bkoolSessionHistory/showSessionSummary/826318
it is all very unstable readings compared to what I would expect to see at a steady effort test
 

vux

Member
Bkool ride: La Vuelta 2013 E11

100psi in tires. Learned now that 120psi is more correct.

Bkool ride imported into Strava : https://www.dropbox.com/s/whpvpfu7mkegj31/Uten navn2.png?dl=0

Same session recorded with Garmin 910xt, Stages powermeter and Garmin speed/cadence: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5jmvg0u7dt9l0c5/Uten navn.png?dl=0

The Garmin session includes warm-up as well so they are not exactly in sync. Tried to keep the same intensity all the way during the session.

I see quite difference in speed and power from 45min and out (mostly long decent).

It is OK for me as long as I know there is a difference and the trainer behaves about the same each ride though.
 
Top Bottom