MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
My road cycling buddy is the same age, height and weight as me yet for four years he's been faster most of the time. I can only match him on our hooligan rides mid summer when I'm getting out 2-3 times a week. The difference is that in winter, in between rides he has a couple of 30 minute sessions on the rowing machine, in which he gives himself a good beasting and he's suggested I get one for the overall CV fitness and core strength. Cycling is currently my ONLY activity so I think I would benefit.
Any suggestions? His is old with a big fan, very good quality.
Concept 2 machines are the mainstay of rowing clubs. Great quality and a reasonable action. Well enough built for years of use by many strong rowers. It'd need to be something special to make me look elsewhere.
(I wouldn't buy one myself, I still have nightmares about the 2k tests I did years ago..)
Concept 2.
EOT.
They certainly do a good training session...
Concept 2s are the gold standard and if you get one second hand, there's a good chance you'll be able to sell it for what you pay as they hold their value very well.
Concept 2s have various iterations. Model Bs are good buy noisy. Model C and Ds are smoother, quieter and have better computers on them.
As ever with rowing though, technique is really important. Make sure you look at the Concept 2 site for the tuition videos and video yourself and compare as what you think you're doing will almost certianly not be what you're actually doing 🙂
I love rowing but it is almost as bad as riding a stationary bicycle. Go running or join a rowing club imo, you will get very bored of a rowing machine if you are on your own.
To be fair, much as I hated rowing machines, they're not as bad as turbo trainers...
clubber +1 - not quite sure why the difference - maybe that I tend to spend less time on one in a session. The kayaking ergo I now have is also not all that bad compared to a bike turbo (note to self - really must get round to computerising that properly!) The most obvious difference is that a rowing/kayak ergo more accurately simulated the experience of being out on the water than a turbo does to being on a bike, given that you don't get to go up and down hills, whizz round corners etc. on either.
I found with an ergo that there was more to focus on (in terms of technique) so the time seemed to pass faster than it does now with a turbo.
If you go down the Concept2 route it's well worth installing and subscribing to [url= http://www.digitalrowing.com ]RowPro[/url] - a much easier interface for setting up irregular intervals, visualising HR/pace/cadence limits, online racing, training plans and so on. Makes things a bit more interesting.
Further inspiration available in a "[url= http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/wod ]workout of the day[/url]" email.
(Owner of a Model E/PM4 and about to go over 3,000,000m.)
Edit: probably generates as much noise as a turbo trainer, doesn't like to be too close to curtains and will slide on a smooth floor
What about that waterrower thing?
What about that waterrower thing?
I have one, computer isn't as good as C2, but it is a pleasing noise and easy to stow
The power profile graph is good on the C2, you get instant feedback on your technique with each stroke and can correct lapses in technique quickly.
Main downside of the C2 is the length - they're about 8'!
[quote=sweaman2 said]I found with an ergo that there was more to focus on (in terms of technique) so the time seemed to pass faster than it does now with a turbo.
Actually that must be it - not sure why I didn't think of that as it's so obvious. Even more so with the kayak ergo than a rower (given I care a lot more about technique as I actually race kayaks).