Bkool vs Cycleops

[Bateleur1]

Morning guys.  I am in the market for a virtual trainer.  I would like to buy something before the next winter here in Europe.  I have been looking around a bit and was pretty much set on a Cycleops Powerbeam Pro. Then Bkool caught my attention.  Not much have been said on theHub before about Bkool.

 

Is there anyone who can give an objective overview on this?

 

What I have gathered so far is that it is not a bad trainer but backup was a problem in SA.  It seems here in Germany that would not be a problem.  I am however battling to get a dealer for Cycleops whereas I could quickly find one for Bkool. 

 

I had a look at the setup of Bkool and it seems pretty straight forward and does not require alot of storage space at all.

 

Once again your input would be greatly appreciated.

[Iwan Kemp]

Hi Bkool does not have an official SA ditributor. CyclOps and Wahoo does so trainers are readily available to buy and both provide back up and the usual warranty. 

[RocknRolla]

OP is in Germany.

 

Never heard of this Bkool...will have to investigate.

[Christian van Zyl]

Morning guys.  I am in the market for a virtual trainer.  I would like to buy something before the next winter here in Europe.  I have been looking around a bit and was pretty much set on a Cycleops Powerbeam Pro. Then Bkool caught my attention.  Not much have been said on theHub before about Bkool.

 

Is there anyone who can give an objective overview on this?

 

What I have gathered so far is that it is not a bad trainer but backup was a problem in SA.  It seems here in Germany that would not be a problem.  I am however battling to get a dealer for Cycleops whereas I could quickly find one for Bkool. 

 

I had a look at the setup of Bkool and it seems pretty straight forward and does not require alot of storage space at all.

 

Once again your input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Definitely check out the Wahoo KICKR Snap. Worthy competitor. 

[Mongoose!]

All I can say is that after about two years odd my Power beam is still amazing. Believe the Kickr is also good, but my budget hardly reached the Power Beam price bracket at that stage.

[Iwan Kemp]

OP is in Germany.

 

Never heard of this Bkool...will have to investigate.

 

Yeah, should have expanded a bit more on my answer. Reason for saying that for the OP to know that advice on those two will be a bit one sided as we don't have the option of the Bkool.

[Bateleur1]

Yeah, should have expanded a bit more on my answer. Reason for saying that for the OP to know that advice on those two will be a bit one sided as we don't have the option of the Bkool.

 

Understood and also expected that.  But Rouxie did mention it about two years ago so thought maybe someone in the mean time has had some experience in Bkool as there is quite a price difference between the two.  We are talking almost 300€ (R5000+). Bkool has a dealer here in Munich.  I am sure Cycleops also has but is more difficult to find though.

[SwissVan]

Understood and also expected that.  But Rouxie did mention it about two years ago so thought maybe someone in the mean time has had some experience in Bkool as there is quite a price difference between the two.  We are talking almost 300€ (R5000+). Bkool has a dealer here in Munich.  I am sure Cycleops also has but is more difficult to find though.

Hi Bat

 

These guys are the official dealers in Germany

http://www.sportimport.de/revoke_portfolio/cycleops/

 

Don't know them at all, not sure if you have read the reviews on DC Rainmaker

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/08/training-platform-updates.html

 

I hear alarm bells, seems like the price and ride display are the only strong points.

Imo I'd stick with Kikr or Cycleops, you have the summer months to save up for the higher price

[Oxter]

From What I've read bkool is an awesome product, but the only drawback is that they did not open their trainers to 3rd party apps after promising it to their clients. kinda like tacx before their "smart" trainers...

Edited March 26, 2016 by Oxter

[ActionMan76]

All I can say is that after about two years odd my Power beam is still amazing. Believe the Kickr is also good, but my budget hardly reached the Power Beam price bracket at that stage.

Hi There, Do you  have the bluetooth version of the power beam? If so have you  have any luck calibrating it?

[Cyclewizz]

Hi There, Do you  have the bluetooth version of the power beam? If so have you  have any luck calibrating it?

 

As you can probably see this thread is from 2016.

You might want to send Mongoose a DM

[HdB]

Or contact https://www.bicyclepower.co.za/, their support is quite good.