Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
  • Get Started
    • Create Zwift Account
    • How To Get Started On Zwift
    • Zwift Course Maps
    • How to Race on Zwift (Setup, Strategy, and More)
    • Women’s Racing on Zwift
    • Links Every Zwifter Must Have
    • More “Get Started” Posts
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Training & Nutrition
    • Racing
    • Zwift Hacks
  • Reference
    • How Zwift Works
    • Course Calendar
    • RoboPacer Calendar
    • Climb Portal Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Game Updates
    • Smart Trainer Index
      • Current Models
      • Exhaustive Trainer List
    • Achievements & Unlocks
      • XP Basics for Riders
      • XP Basics for Runners
      • Kit Unlock Codes
      • Master List of Badges
    • Frames & Wheels
    • Routes & Maps
      • Master List: Routes
      • Master List: Climb Portal
      • Master List: KOMs
      • Master List: Sprints
      • Master List: Rebel Routes
      • Downloadable Watopia Map
      • Printable List of Routes by Difficulty
    • Speed Tests
    • Tiny Races
  • Women
    • Race Calendar
    • Why race?
    • Women’s Teams
    • Racer Spotlights
    • More Women’s Racing posts
  • Shop
    • Watopia Map and Other Posters
    • ZI Indoor Cycling Kit
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Get Started
    • Create Zwift Account
    • How To Get Started On Zwift
    • Zwift Course Maps
    • How to Race on Zwift (Setup, Strategy, and More)
    • Women’s Racing on Zwift
    • Links Every Zwifter Must Have
    • More “Get Started” Posts
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Training & Nutrition
    • Racing
    • Zwift Hacks
  • Reference
    • How Zwift Works
    • Course Calendar
    • RoboPacer Calendar
    • Climb Portal Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Game Updates
    • Smart Trainer Index
      • Current Models
      • Exhaustive Trainer List
    • Achievements & Unlocks
      • XP Basics for Riders
      • XP Basics for Runners
      • Kit Unlock Codes
      • Master List of Badges
    • Frames & Wheels
    • Routes & Maps
      • Master List: Routes
      • Master List: Climb Portal
      • Master List: KOMs
      • Master List: Sprints
      • Master List: Rebel Routes
      • Downloadable Watopia Map
      • Printable List of Routes by Difficulty
    • Speed Tests
    • Tiny Races
  • Women
    • Race Calendar
    • Why race?
    • Women’s Teams
    • Racer Spotlights
    • More Women’s Racing posts
  • Shop
    • Watopia Map and Other Posters
    • ZI Indoor Cycling Kit
More
    TrainersZwift Hacks

    Upgrading Your Bkool Trainer (Classic or Pro, pre-August 2014) to ANT+ FE-C

    Alberto Roura
    By Alberto Roura
    October 17, 2021
    LAST UPDATED October 17, 2021
    19

    Hopefully this is useful for more people like me who had an old Bkool Classic in a corner as they couldn’t use it.

    Last week I purchased a Bkool trainer through Wallapop (Spanish second-hand app) and it didn’t get recognized by anything like Zwift or other simulators (even the BKOOL software itself). In the beginning I thought it was broken, as my ANT+ receiver didn’t get any information about it. What a bummer.

    My “new” smart trainer

    Usually, if you have a Bkool trainer, you’ll probably need to upgrade your ANT+ FE-C protocol before you can use it with Zwift, and this is done by using the “Bkool toolkit” app. The problem is that Bkool stopped being very “kool” as it doesn’t support old trainers like mine anymore. This means if you have one you would only be able to use it as a traditional “dumb” trainer, no more resistance change, only one speed. 

    In my case, the trainer didn’t have ANT+ FE-C because this protocol didn’t even exist when the trainer came to the market. Obviously, Bkool does this to force you to buy a newer model, even though yours is perfectly capable of dealing with modern software.

    What is a smart trainer?

    A smart trainer is, like a normal trainer, a stationary device attached to your bike which offers resistance to mimic the real world, but with the added benefit of allowing the resistance to be controlled by software. Let’s say you begin to climb a hill, then the resistance will go up and you will have to pedal harder, just like when riding outdoors. Software like Bkool or Zwift offer 3D worlds where you can move your own bike and train like if you were outdoors. Pretty cool stuff.

    Zwifting on a smart trainer

    How to upgrade an Old (Pre-August 2014) Bkool Trainer

    Because I won’t give up on stuff like this, I did some research and found an older version of the Bkool software that was able to update the firmware of old trainers for a limited time. This software is no longer available on the Bkool website.

    Okay, let’s do it! First of all, you’ll need a USB-B cable to connect the trainer to your computer and a Windows computer.

    USB-B cable

    Then, follow these steps:

    1. Be sure you have a valid Bkool account and your computer doesn’t have any other Bkool software on it.
    2. Download this older version of the Bkool Indoor software for Windows, install it, but DON’T RUN IT YET.
    3. To avoid the software from updating to the latest version, go to the Bkool website and find out what the latest version of the Bkool Indoor/Simulator is (right now it’s 5.64).
    4. Replace the contents of the C:\Program Files (x86)\Bkool Indoor\BkoolIndoor_Data\StreamingAssets\version.bat file with the latest version (5.64 in our case).
    5. Switch on the trainer, connect the ANT+ and the USB-B and run the Bkool Indoor application.
    6. Bkool Indoor should ask you to upgrade the firmware of your trainer. Upgrade it (if it fails, just restart the application and try again).
    Bkool firmware upgraded

    Connecting to Zwift

    If everything goes fine, your trainer should have ANT+ FE-C up to date. Open Zwift and enjoy!

    Our BKOOL is now connected as both the “Power Source” and “Controllable”

    Related Posts

    Facebook
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    ReddIt
      Alberto Roura
      Alberto Roura
      Alberto is a cloud engineer from Spain who, after living around Australasia for 7 years, is back home trying to get back into one of his passions: cycling. Follow him on Strava

      19 COMMENTS

      Subscribe
      Notify of
      guest

      guest

      19 Comments
      Oldest
      Newest Most Voted
      Inline Feedbacks
      View all comments
      wpdiscuz   wpDiscuz

      Get Started on Zwift

      Sign Up (Free Trial)
      Buy Zwift Ride
      Buy KICKR CORE One
      Read More...

      Newest Featured Posts

      Garmin Releases Tacx Alpine Gradient Simulator

      Hardware/Equipment

      All About the New DT Swiss Wheels in Zwift

      Speed Tests

      Support This Site

      Write a post, shop through us, donate or advertise. Learn more

      NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

      Zwift tips and news every 2 weeks! Click to subscribe.

      More Posts

      “Allez Allez Allez!” ZRacing Series Details

      Events

      Zwift RoboPacer Cycling Route Schedule

      How Zwift Works

      Elite Announces New Zwift-Ready Avanti and Rivo Trainers

      Trainers

      Zwift Charts: Rate of New Road Construction from 2015 to Present

      Game Updates

      This community-driven site is maintained by Eric Schlange and a team of Zwift enthusiasts. Zwift Insider is independent of Zwift corporate (www.zwift.com), although Zwift does provide funding to help defray site costs.

      This site contains affiliate links to Amazon, Wahoo, and other brands. Zwift Insider makes a small commission on purchases made from these links, so please shop through them to support our efforts.

      Terms of Use/DMCA Copyright Policy

      Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent

      [email protected]

      Latest articles

      Garmin Releases Tacx Alpine Gradient Simulator

      Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of June 28-29

      All About the New DT Swiss Wheels in Zwift

      Popular Categories

      • Racing1501
      • Events1007
      • News833
      • Training & Nutrition710
      • Interviews562
      • Routes & Maps442
      19
      0
      Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
      ()
      x
      | Reply
      Comment Author Info
      :wpds_smile::wpds_grin::wpds_wink::wpds_mrgreen::wpds_neutral::wpds_twisted::wpds_arrow::wpds_shock::wpds_unamused::wpds_cool::wpds_evil::wpds_oops::wpds_razz::wpds_roll::wpds_cry::wpds_eek::wpds_lol::wpds_mad::wpds_sad::wpds_exclamation::wpds_question::wpds_idea::wpds_hmm::wpds_beg::wpds_whew::wpds_chuckle::wpds_silly::wpds_envy::wpds_shutmouth:
      ‹ Back to Categories
      You are going to send email to

      Move Comment

    • Related Posts