Zwift Chat

[Whorty]

That has to be right. I would say especially so for those using bkool trainers and getting a watts advantage over accurate trainers or PM users. Don't hang with the C's if for whatever reason/s you can ride with the B's.

Do you think the bkool trainer is out a lot on zwift too then? If so it would sound like the bkool software isn't the issue but it's the hardware..... Either that or online I'm a stronger rider than in the real world

 

[rob01792]

Do you think the bkool trainer is out a lot on zwift too then? If so it would sound like the bkool software isn't the issue but it's the hardware..... Either that or online I'm a stronger rider than in the real world

whorty from my limited experience I done a route on bkool with the neo I found it very close on flat sections except at the start and during speed pick up and the neo was slower down hills on bkool sim
go on whorty treat ur self after such an improvement u deserve it

 

[bobinski]

Do you think the bkool trainer is out a lot on zwift too then? If so it would sound like the bkool software isn't the issue but it's the hardware..... Either that or online I'm a stronger rider than in the real world

'Fraid so Whorty and I speak from experience and other user experience. It's the way the units calculate and transmit power. And different units seem to produce different numbers. With me a good 30-80w advantage often had me bowling along the flat at 330-350w so 4w/k for very little effort. The advantage dropped on gradients over 4% but never fell away. My effort over last 10 months has been to beat my bonkers bkool pro times and power. Sadly I will never hit the 1300w sprint I did in bkool- more like 800w tops.I follow a guy on Strava who Zwifts with a bkool pro and races in Zwift and his online numbers are way ahead of IRL rides. Anyway, the nub of it is you are racing and I think you should race to whatever combination of increasing fitness and advantage the unit gives you rather than holding back. That way greater fitness lies young Whorty

 

[bobinski]

And Whorty, your HR numbers 163/174 show you were really making an effort so well done

 

[Monte]

@Whorty - my bkool trainer was awful on zwift. Prior to owning a neo I used the bkool on a kiss race, entered into the C Cat and was disqualified for being in the wrong category, now I'm using a Neo I qualify for the D group but chose to ride in the C group last night but if you look at my 95% w/kg I still qualify for D group.

Don't get me wrong still a sterling effort last night...

 

[kipster]

So I think I need to try a cat C, draft @Whorty on his bkool, so if you can let me know when your racing, that’ll be great

 

[bridgy]

I suspect there's some variance in the way Bkool trainers behave in Zwift. When I did a couple of races in Zwift my w/kg were much lower than in Bkool. Last couple of Bkool rides = 4.4 - 5.4 w/kg whilst both Zwift rides were 3.6 w/kg. I don't use a power meter so obviously don't know how accurate the Zwift power was, but obviously much closer to reality. It's only estimated watts (as it is on Zwift), but a real life 20 mile ride I did the other day showed Strava estimated average of 3.2 w/kg (https://www.strava.com/activities/1202972003). If (and I know it's a big "if") that's reasonably accurate, a slightly higher w/kg of 3.6 on the turbo is kind of what I'd expect as you can obviously work harder on the trainer than on real roads (no coasting, slowing for corners etc so higher average speed - and higher average HR).

With the absence of a power meter, my gut feeling on Zwift was that the speed and resistance I got was pretty much what I'd expect in real life (unlike Bkool)

 

[Whorty]

I suspect there's some variance in the way Bkool trainers behave in Zwift. When I did a couple of races in Zwift my w/kg were much lower than in Bkool. Last couple of Bkool rides = 4.4 - 5.4 w/kg whilst both Zwift rides were 3.6 w/kg. I don't use a power meter so obviously don't know how accurate the Zwift power was, but obviously much closer to reality. It's only estimated watts (as it is on Zwift), but a real life 20 mile ride I did the other day showed Strava estimated average of 3.2 w/kg (https://www.strava.com/activities/1202972003). If (and I know it's a big "if") that's reasonably accurate, a slightly higher w/kg of 3.6 on the turbo is kind of what I'd expect as you can obviously work harder on the trainer than on real roads (no coasting, slowing for corners etc so higher average speed - and higher average HR).

With the absence of a power meter, my gut feeling on Zwift was that the speed and resistance I got was pretty much what I'd expect in real life (unlike Bkool)

My zwift watts is probably 20-30 less than bkool. I certainly ride harder on the turbo than outdoors as I can always stop if I bonk and not worry about getting home, but I do know the numbers look too high. The effort I put in online I wouldn't even attempt outside. For me it's chalk and cheese riding.

I think I'll stick with the bkool pro for now and bask in the glory. Don't want to knock my confidence whilst I'm improving so much

I did think zwift would control the trainer more accurately as it has no incentive to give the bkool unit an advantage.

 

[CXRAndy]

Up my weight?? You mean eat more pies? Sounds like a good plan to me

Numerically not physically

 

[CXRAndy]

I think Zwift now builds a profile over several rides for non Power Meter turbos to try and level them up against their research/power profiles

 

[bobinski]

Problem is perhaps all other smart trainers have a calibration routine whereas the pro does not. Zwift have said they cannot really do anything about a profile coz each pro reports differently. So, non calibration and no consistent profile to rely upon. I remember as well if I used my pro immediately after using bsim I would fly! I would have to turn power supply off then on.

 

[Breedon]

Well having used my classic on zwift and then upgraded to the neo i can honestly say that it was a shock to the system felt like i was riding through mud on the neo much harder.

 

[Whorty]

Numerically not physically

Spoilsport

 

[JLaw]

@Whorty - my bkool trainer was awful on zwift. Prior to owning a neo I used the bkool on a kiss race, entered into the C Cat and was disqualified for being in the wrong category, now I'm using a Neo I qualify for the D group but chose to ride in the C group last night but if you look at my 95% w/kg I still qualify for D group.

Don't get me wrong still a sterling effort last night...

It was a respectable showing though, particularly for a route which a fair amount of climbing -- and I suspect we would have rode together more if I hadn't gone out and set my #1 and #2 times on those first two laps. By the end you were just 30 seconds behind.

You might consider the Monday KISS race as well. It alternates between C/D and D. The competition is a bit weaker and its a smaller field so you'll be more competitive. To get a sense, I can pretty consistently podium in that race.

You might also consider riding D when there's a lot of climbing and C for flatter courses. I did that for a while, but felt I got more out of trying to push in the C group even if I wasn't competitive on climbing courses.

 

[Norry1]

Hoping to do my first ride for nearly 3 weeks today.

Had a week's jolly with the company in Venice - and then had the flu which I'm just getting over now. Not sure how much fitness I will have lost. I guess I'll find out shortly.

Looking forward to getting back to racing