We recently made some changes in the video ranking and it's possible that your performance is no longer displayed. Indeed, the ranking wasn't really fair as this one compared two kinds of users:
- The ones having an interactive machine
- The ones having a non-interactive machine.
We found that the best performances were mainly done with non-interactive fitness equipment, on which we can't manage the resistance level, meaning that the users can climb the 'Alpes D'huez' stage with a poor resistance whereas the ones having an interactive machine need to climb it with a very high resistance applied by the app.
We know that a lot of riders play the game by changing the resistance level when the app asks them to, but some of them always apply the same resistance level all along with the video, even if they are climbing a mountain and so, it's completely easier for them to maintain a high speed.
That's the reason why we decided to remove all the non-interactive equipment from the global ranking.
Note that we are looking for a solution to let you know your 'virtual' ranking even if you'll no longer be in the official one. By the way, for interactive machine users, we also flagged 'suspicious' activities, which contain inconsistent values and these ones have been removed from the ranking.
Comments
18 comments
Hi Cedric i agree with your article, about some people that play dirty game. but people like me that don't have an interactive equipment, and use the equipment in the correct way (changing the resistance level when the app asks them to) what we have to do when there is a long descent and we must ride like crazy for keep the speed? maybee you could introduce some algorithm in the app that work on climb and descent, that can help people without interactive equipment to get the right perfomance.
thank you.
best.
Hello Carlo,
The algorithm works well, either on climb or descent.
If users apply the resistance we suggest to him, the calculated performance is good. But if a user doesn't change the resistance when we ask him to, then his speed is clearly higher than it should be.
Best regards,
Cedric.
I'm experiencing something similar to what Carlo is describing, however I do own an interactive trainer.
In descents, even when I increase the gradient feel to the max, I can hardly feel any resistance at all, and I have to maintain an unnatural cadance. It's like I'm riding a bike with insufficient gears; Great for climbing, but uncontrollable in descents. Or am I missing some hidden settings?
I think it would be a great addition if users could set the range of this gradient feel according to their preferences.
Thanks!
Hello,
Which bike have you got?
Note that we apply the lowest resistance possible when you are on a descent. Unfortunately, an exercise bike isn't really calibrated the same as a bike trainer on which you install your own bike
Best regards,
Cedric.
Thank you Cedric for your swift reply.
So if the resistance is as low as possible in descents, there's no way to produce more power other than pedaling 'like crazy'? I think it would be more realistic to have at least some resistance so that there is still a way to affect speed in descents, even with a lower cadence, wouldn't you agree?
Best, Erwin
Hello,
It's hard for us to reproduce exactly the same behavior than a real bike on an exercise bike. We try to do our best to reproduce the most accurate experience possible but an exercise bike is not a bike trainer.
If you are looking for the same realism than the road, I would suggest you buy a home trainer on which you install your own bike. Then you would be able to change the gears on your bike like you were on the road.
Best regard,
Cedric.
Cedric, totally in agreement, the interactive app controlled exercise bikes should be kept apart.
Good Job
I also have the VirtuFit iConsole HTR2.1.
Is it because of the simulation model for exercise bikes that I got caught up by 2 players on a track, even though I put a higher wattage on the pedals? This is somewhat frustrating to be honest.
best regards,
Trappert
Hi Cedric,
The issue described by Erwin F is something I clearly recognize. I understand that it's difficult to reproduce the behaviour of a real bike to a virtual environment. Therefore I have a feature request: please increase the difficulty level from 150 to 200%, giving us the opportunity to select a higher virtual gear. That could compensate for the gear loss on slight downhill descents.
:)
Trappert
Hello Trappert,
That's an interesting idea indeed.
Let's see what's possible to do.
Cedric.
Hi, I have a Miweba Sports MC300 with a I-Console+0250 console and just did a sprint and came in the middle of the rankings with my time but it does not show. I did it in challenge mode. What am I doing wrong?
Regards Berkeley
I have a BH Fitness I.Spada II and have the same problem with lack of resistance on descents, changing the difficulty level to 200% or more is a good idea. Any news on if this is likely to be implemented?
Regards
IainJ
Hi! You should adress another unfair question regarding the rankings. It makes no sense at all that those who use a treadmill are competing with those using an ellipitical machine. The ones using treadmills will never be able to compete for the top places. So unfair and discouraging...
Witam, uważam że ci co jeżdżą na sensorach, także powinni być uwzględniani w rankingu, przecież widać po kadencji ,czy zmienił opór.
I have an elliptical interactive trainer (Cardiostrong EX 90 Touch, recognized as CYE Elliptical - Chang Yow), but although my activity is displayed at the top of the activity it is not displayed in the rankings. This is for cycling activities but not for running activities. Can you explain why this is the case?
https://dashboard.kinomap.com/de/activities/3436444
User: kfrank
Until you can work out an algorithm, why can't you rank by time, wattage, cadence, and other variables? This provides a ranking while exposing those who (admittedly or not) are taking "shortcuts." If the time is short but the average wattage is low... we know somebody has taken a shortcut. Okay, it's virtual, not perfect, but rankings are fun and create a competitive spirit.
Hi- does ‘Challenge’ mode have to be selected for a ride to appear on the rankings ? If so that seems a way simpler answer to the question and could perhaps be made clearer elsewhere on the site.
Since a few days ago (January 2023) this apparently applies also to the rowing equipment: No more Concept2 equipment in the leader boards on the web. (They are indeed still there in the app, and even on the web in the small leader board of a training session.) I do not think that Kinomap should be so strict about rowing. I believe that everyone is very good aware of intrinsic problem of comparing the rowing equipment. It was nice to be able to select a single brand (including Concept2) and compare oneself with the others using the same brand (knowing that their used resistance can still be wildly different).
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