BKOOL offers new indoor training possibilities
Inside the indoor cycling app organizing the Giro d’Italia Virtual
BKOOL is the most realistic virtual cycling simulator you’ve ever seen. With millions of real-life cycling routes that include 3D topography, maps, and POV video, you’ll be fully immersed as the real world meets virtual on the BKOOL app. The platform hosts rides and races with professional riders, including races on 3 different virtual velodromes which you won’t find on any other indoor cycling app. BKOOL includes custom workouts, instructor-led classes, and real-life riding simulation unlike any other.
The platform is also offering a 30-day free trial for new members – perfect timing to check out the app which is hosting the Giro d’Italia Virtual happening now through May 2022.
BKOOL offers many different indoor training options
BKOOL offers a real-life cycling simulator designed to bring the thrill of outdoor riding indoors. With real routes, hill climbs, and race simulations, there are a huge number of possibilities on BKOOL. You can even upload your own virtual video routes to the BKOOL cycling simulator, and compete in leagues, multiplayer challenges, and even ride with professionals. You only need to record your cycling rides outdoor registering the GPX data of the route with a typical action camera. After that, upload both files (video and GPX) to BKOOL and you will be able to repeat the same route from home, sharing it with thousands of cyclists worldwide.
One of the best parts of BKOOL is the ability to upload your own routes using GPX data – you can even carry a camera and upload footage of your favourite ride, sharing it with the rest of the world on BKOOL. You only need to record your cycling rides outdoor registering the GPX data of the route with a typical action camera. After that, upload both files (video and GPX) to BKOOL and you will be able to repeat the same route from home, sharing it with thousands of cyclists worldwide.
The virtual platform is compatible with all the major smart trainers and smart bikes, creating a wider range of users which can explore the possibilities on BKOOL.
In addition to real-life cycling POV, BKOOL has a number of other features that make it the most complete indoor cycling app. You can create your own workouts on the platform, and ride almost anywhere in the world. You also can import your own workouts from Training Peaks and ride them indoor in the BKOOL simulator.
BKOOL simulator is also compatible with Strava and Garmin Connect so you are able to upload your BKOOL training sessions to these sport social networks too.
In the app, users can choose to ride using the 3D view which feels like watching a real-life bike race; or ride using video view which uses stored and user-uploaded POV videos from real-life cycling; or the map view which simplifies the experience and shows your avatar and progress from above a virtual map.
BKOOL also offers Fitness classes with professional instructors, giving it a leg-up on other training apps like Zwift or Rouvy. Competing platforms struggle to match the versatility of BKOOL, which has even more options in the virtual cycling world alone.
Events and workouts
Unique to BKOOL is the velodrome – no other virtual cycling platform offers such an experience, making BKOOL stand in the virtual world flooded with training and fitness apps.
You can compete in the individual pursuit, team pursuit, Keirin, strategy, and sprints, all with BKOOL’s incredible 3D simulation of the London velodrome, the Valencia Velodrome, and the Galapagar Velodrome in Madrid. The official partner series of the UCI Track Champions League, BKOOL is known for high-quality and ultra-realistic virtual simulation on the track.
In addition to the velodrome and Virtual Giro d’Italia, there are many other competitive and non-competitive events on BKOOL. You can compete with other users at any time of day, but you can also find challenges and rides with professional riders and BKOOL ambassadors Chris Froome, Sergio Higuita, Oscar Freire, or the cyclists from Deceuninck-QuickStep team, like Julian Alaphilippe or Remco Evenepoel. All of them take part in a number of special virtual events on BKOOL, sharing their experience with thousands of BKOOL users around the world.
BKOOL also includes a massive library of indoor cycling workouts designed by professional trainers. These workouts are specifically designed to improve your performance and fitness, while you also have the option to your create your own workouts easily using the BKOOL “Workouts Creator.” You can find more information about BKOOL workouts on their website.
BKOOL Fitness
BKOOL has created a true challenge to Peloton, and all the other complete indoor training apps. While competitors like Zwift and TrainerRoad focus on more specific aspects of fitness and racing, BKOOL offer BKOOL Fitness, a group of instructor-led training sessions that will help you push yourself and reach your goals. You can control your own goals and rhythm from the BKOOL Fitness app, and structure your workouts on your own time from the comfort of home.
The BKOOL Fitness app gives you unlimited access to the best indoor cycling sessions led by expert coaches; and on top of that, there are hundreds of hours of workouts to choose from. The app syncs with Google Fit and Health (iOS) apps, with Strava compatibility coming soon. On the BKOOL website, you can find step-by-step instructions for downloading the app, pairing your devices, and completing your first workout.
30-day free trial to new members
At just 9.99 €/month, BKOOL is the most affordable indoor training app. The app is free to download on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, and BKOOL is offering a 30-day free trial to new members. At a yearly price of 96 €/year, you can save even more by getting BKOOL for the long haul. With so many training and racing possibilities, from the Giro d’Italia Virtual to the velodrome, to millions of real cycling routes, the possibilities are endless.
Giro d’Italia Virtual
In collaboration with RCS Sport, BKOOL hosts the Giro d’Italia Virtual from 15th October 2021 to May 2022. It is a non-competitive cycling events designed for riders of all abilities – no matter how experienced you are, you will feel like a professional cyclist in the Virtual Giro d’Italia.
BKOOL is using new 3D technology to overlap virtual cycling avatars with real live video taken directly from the roads of the Giro d’Italia 2021 edition. The exclusive content includes the same Giro d’Italia stages, and every rider will be eligible to win a number of great prizes.
Stages and Prizes
Ride the four stages of Grande Partenza – Parte 1 (the first big round of the event), and you will be entered into the prize draw and get a 50% discount on upcoming rounds. To get started, all you need to do is download the BKOOL app, link your devices, and sign up for the Virtual Giro d’Italia!
You can ride the Virtual Giro d’Italia stages at any time, and complete them as many times as you wish. While the event is not competitive as a whole, there will be rankings for the best time completing each stage. You don’t need to be the fastest rider in the world in order to win prizes – you can gain points for the prize entries by signing up, finishing stages, completing rounds (groups of stages), and earning double points for completing the final round – the Grande Arrivo.
Here’s what you’ve all been waiting for: the list of prizes. By competing in the Grande Partenza – Parte 1 and in the coming rounds, you could be eligible to win: a Giro d’Italia official jersey, vouchers for BKOOL Premium, hospitality for two people at the Giro d’Italia next edition, hospitality for two people at Strade Bianche 2022, hospitality for two people at Milano-Sanremo 2022, and a Giro d’Italia merchandising pack which includes a T-shirt, bag, and hat. Now get out there and start riding!
Follow BKOOL:
Web: bkool.com
Facebook: @bkoolcycling
Instagram: @bkool_official
Twitter: @BkoolSport
Strava: @bkool
In addition to elite-level road, track and Zwift racing, Zach Nehr is a freelance writer and the head of ZNehr Coaching. He contributes written articles on a variety of cycling-related subjects, including product reviews and advertorials, as well as feature articles and power analyses. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Marian University-Indianapolis, Zach spends his time working with endurance athletes of all ages and levels at ZNehr Coaching. Having entered the sport at age 17, Zach has had a successful racing career, winning the 2017 Collegiate National Time Trial Championships and a 9th place finish at the 2019 US Pro National Time Trial Championships. These days, Zach spends most of his ride time indoors, racing on RGT Cycling and competing in the Zwift Premier League with NeXT eSport.