Originally Posted by
BelgianAlien
I just got mine (Bkool)... can't wait to get it set up and ride. I tested it out at a bike expo here in Wisconsin a few months ago and was hooked. If you don't like the Bkool simulator (software), the trainer itself is compatible with other virtual training apps and software that may give you more of the social aspect one of the comments was talking about.
What sold me on the Bkool was the ability to make my own routes... living in a different country from where I grew up, I am looking forward to making the routes that I used to make in my home country.
I am almost positive I know who you talked to at the bike expo....
Craig is a great guy. I have worked with him for years on a lot of things even before he took over BKOOL.
Full Disclosure: I have a relationship with BKOOL. We are technically sponsored and I have a demo unit in the shop/training center.
I have a computrainer multirider studio in house as well.
BKOOL works with any smart trainer. You can use BKOOL with a regular trainer as well you just need a bluetooth or ANT+ speed sensor and a device like a non-ios tablet, phone, computer, etc. If you run it with a smart trainer then it will control your resistance. It will even work with computrainers.
I use it to run simulated track racing in the shop. Kind of like goldsprints. I believe Zwift can do the same as they just had an event downtown at SRAM's place and it was posted all over social media here.
Between the two Zwift is more popular but the basics behind them - BKOOL is the better application. The people in the company also look at this as a subscription service - not a hardware company so they sell their smart trainers stupid cheap.
At the end of the day its all still riding your trainer indoors. pick your poison.