Is a rowing machine the silver bullet to weight loss?

[So]

gareth h said:

With all the rubbish weather since xmas I decided to try some longer (for me) sessions, used to do intervals and a long row was 6k.
Built up over a couple of weeks to 3 x 10k per week, the breakthrough in upping the distance from 8k to 10k was increasing stroke rate, I used to row at 20-22 spm and would be burnt out by the time I got to 8k, increased this to 25-26 spm and pretty much cruised to 10k, not great splits 2.10 the first time but managing to knock a second off each time so down to 2.05 now and not feeling too bksed at the end, feeling quite motivated

I trained next to a couple of proper rowers last year. Both were rating 18/min.

One of them was a girl and doing ridiculous splits. Legs like my torso, complete focus and like an extension of the erg. Impressive to watch.

[bloomen]

All the people I know with rowing machines used them once or twice and them propped them up forever.

I had a go on a waterrower which was much more civilised but I couldn't find a comfortable fit on it no matter what I did and it was, er, too tiring. Waterrower also do a rental program which might make more sense.

[So]

bloomen said:

All the people I know with rowing machines used them once or twice and them propped them up forever.

I had a go on a waterrower which was much more civilised but I couldn't find a comfortable fit on it no matter what I did and it was, er, too tiring. Waterrower also do a rental program which might make more sense.

Hah, I row several times per week but very rarely on the Concept 2 I have just in front of my desk here. Almost always at the gym.

Quite apart from preferring the atmosphere at the gym, my C2 doesn't feel as nice as the machines at the gym that are well worn in. There they are smooth, whereas mine is a bit graunchy.

[KrissKross]

Question if anyone can assist.

https://log.concept2.com

Can you also log your heart rate and any other info alongside your rowing session data?

Maybe this is not possible?

Thanks.

[anonymous-user]

Made the mistake of getting back on my C2 on Sunday ( I stopped a few years ago when I delaminated my bicep tendon - ouchie).

A single 1:40 500m was enough to make me go for a lie down in a darkened room, then revisit what I could actually do in the next session

My mind remembers the repeat 500m, the 2k and the 50-500-50 - surprisingly having not done anything like this for years my body did not want to play along.....

Stuff that I used to do for rugby fitness (can't hide from the C2 numbers even if I tried regularly...)

- 50m-500m-50m. Work/rest 1:1 maximal effort. Increase distance by 50m each time
- 3 people doing 500m, so work 1 rest 2. Aim below 1:30/1:35 and see how many before you blow up and puke on your shoes
- 500m below 1:42 (or 1:45 when lying to self). 2min rest. As many as possible, I think when I was attempting this best scoring pros were above 12, but this was over a decade ago, so they'd be much better now
- 1000m - 3 minute rest, 750m - 2:30 rest, 500m - 2:00 rest, 250m - 2:00 rest, 750m - total work time below 11 minutes (sub 1:41.5 average) - again 10years+ ago so current pros should be much better

I must try again, but really don't want to screw up my arm again

[clonmult]

KrissKross said:

Question if anyone can assist.

https://log.concept2.com

Can you also log your heart rate and any other info alongside your rowing session data?

Maybe this is not possible?

Thanks.

Yes. It is possible.

Oh, you want to know how?

- Install ergdata onto your phone (available for iOS or Android).
- connect a bluetooth HRM to the erg
- connect ergdata to the erg
- row
- it'll automatically upload the session, along with all splits and heart rate data. Well, apparently it will.

[clonmult]

bloomen said:

All the people I know with rowing machines used them once or twice and them propped them up forever.

I had a go on a waterrower which was much more civilised but I couldn't find a comfortable fit on it no matter what I did and it was, er, too tiring. Waterrower also do a rental program which might make more sense.

All the people I know with rowing machines use them regularly, very regularly ....

The water rower is, er, rubbish. They don't give a consistent workout, the monitor on them is amongst one of the worst pieces of computerised gear ever to be used on fitness equipment - it is probably comparable to the monitor first used by C2 on the Model A rower.

There's a reason why the C2 is the mainstay in boathouses and gym (plus crossfit) - they're sensibly priced, ridiculously reliable and just work. The only comparable device is the rowperfect RP3, which costs something like 3 times the price. The waterrower is not comparable.

[So]

clonmult said:

All the people I know with rowing machines use them regularly, very regularly ....

The water rower is, er, rubbish. They don't give a consistent workout, the monitor on them is amongst one of the worst pieces of computerised gear ever to be used on fitness equipment - it is probably comparable to the monitor first used by C2 on the Model A rower.

There's a reason why the C2 is the mainstay in boathouses and gym (plus crossfit) - they're sensibly priced, ridiculously reliable and just work. The only comparable device is the rowperfect RP3, which costs something like 3 times the price. The waterrower is not comparable.

I own a C2 but rarely use it. I row at the gym.

I use my own C2 to stand on when changing light bulbs in the office.

[louiebaby]

So said:

I trained next to a couple of proper rowers last year. Both were rating 18/min.

Indeed. If I'd had a £1 for every hour we did at 18spm, I'd have a few quid...

[clonmult]

So said:

I own a C2 but rarely use it. I row at the gym.

I use my own C2 to stand on when changing light bulbs in the office.

Barely use either of ours at the moment; they're in the shed, weather has been horrible. All of my rowing for the last 5 months has been done at the office gym.

Am still making regular use of the ski erg that we have at home - managed to set PBs over 500m, 2k and 10k on the recent "tour de ski".

[smudgerebt]

Just started gym (2 months now), and part of it is the rowing machine.

4 x 500 with 60 seconds break inbetween.

Dropped from 12min 40s now down to 9min 30s.

Stick with that or do 1000m x 2?

Full of snot at moment so breathing not that easy.

[KrissKross]

clonmult said:

Yes. It is possible.

Oh, you want to know how?

- Install ergdata onto your phone (available for iOS or Android).
- connect a bluetooth HRM to the erg
- connect ergdata to the erg
- row
- it'll automatically upload the session, along with all splits and heart rate data. Well, apparently it will.

thank you!

[clonmult]

smudgerebt said:

Just started gym (2 months now), and part of it is the rowing machine.

4 x 500 with 60 seconds break inbetween.

Dropped from 12min 40s now down to 9min 30s.

Stick with that or do 1000m x 2?

Full of snot at moment so breathing not that easy.

Depends on what you want to train for. I do a mixture of intervals, steady state, or steady state heart rate cap. Mix it up to stop it getting boring.

[smudgerebt]

Not training for anything but general health.

Not looking at weight loss (comes with it) muscle build, just being healthier.

[Woody John]

Buy a bike and enjoy life. Rowing is boring

[smudgerebt]

Haha.

Whilst in general terms I agree, however it's gym time.

I do use the exercise bike as well.

Will be reading the two most popular threads to learn about how to breathe whilst rowing.

Today's effort was hard work down to breathing.

[Birdster]

Been trying to hunt down a Pre-owned Concept 2 for a while. Saw one on Gumtree last night for £350 and the ad is no more, removed two hours after I saw it. Wasn’t able to call at the time. Possibly a fake listing though as thought it’s too good to be true when they re going for £600. Or someone got a bargain. I looked for rowing forums for sale sections and didn’t find any.

Starting to think new for £860 direct from Concept might be less hassle.

[clonmult]

smudgerebt said:

Haha.

Whilst in general terms I agree, however it's gym time.

I do use the exercise bike as well.

Will be reading the two most popular threads to learn about how to breathe whilst rowing.

Today's effort was hard work down to breathing.

Rowing is a better all round workout than cycling; but yes, sat there on any bit of gym equipment for potentially hours on end can be a tad boring.

Breathing whilst rowing is a pain, but it isn't something that I've ever thought about that much - other than my partners son saying that he couldn't breathe when he tried rowing (at that point he was suffering chronic cystic fibrosis - now he's now a couple of months into having new lungs).

Try doing 5k or a half hour at low rate - say 20 SPM. Alternatively, do minute intervals - minute on/minute off, but strive to keep up the rate and pace.

[smudgerebt]

The breathing bit is still got a bit of lurgi or cold going on so full of snot which makes it harder to get the rowing breathing sorted.

[Tiggsy]

clonmult said:

All the people I know with rowing machines use them regularly, very regularly ....

The water rower is, er, rubbish. They don't give a consistent workout, the monitor on them is amongst one of the worst pieces of computerised gear ever to be used on fitness equipment - it is probably comparable to the monitor first used by C2 on the Model A rower.

There's a reason why the C2 is the mainstay in boathouses and gym (plus crossfit) - they're sensibly priced, ridiculously reliable and just work. The only comparable device is the rowperfect RP3, which costs something like 3 times the price. The waterrower is not comparable.

On the other hand..... I bought one (with adjustable resistance) and find it great. I use it (6ft6 17 stone) she uses it (5ft6 8 stone) and can adjust resistance as needed. The action is lovely and smooth and looks nice enough indoors and is quiet enough to use at 6am without waking the house.

I've plenty of experience on c2 (done a few sub 6m 2K's in my youth) and I cant see a benifit of a C2 over the water rower for home use.

UNLESS....you are fixed on the monitor...its not as good as the C2 and doesn't relate to a C2 either as the calibration is out. I can do well under a sub 1.30 500m with ease on a C2 but would kill me on mine. Maybe the water unit is too full? Doesnt matter, I row for a set time at a set heart rate or HIIT. For both of those I need a clock and heart monitor only and dont even use the rowers display sometimes.