Is a rowing machine the silver bullet to weight loss?

[anonymous-user]

clonmult said:

Model E; I get vertigo when I sit on these, and tend to feel like I'm about to head butt the monitor. I'm so used to the slightly lower seating position on the C and D. Although I did get a 200m PB on one last year (1:19.5 average - must have been a bad month, as I averaged 1:19.3 doing the same on the ski erg).

Due to the single "foot" arrangement at the front, they're actually easier to hold down with a couple of weights than the Model C & D.

I'm 6ft 6" and struggle to get up and down on the C/D without looking very ungainly. They do move about a bit when you give them some welly, I use 10 on the resistance thing at the side as this tends to keep things a bit more sensible when you're going for it.

Loving the PM5 automatically uploading my times to my log via the app and connecting to my HRM.

[Derek Chevalier]

Zod said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Zod said:

Birdster said:

Perhaps up and over is the wrong term. In the Concept 2 training video as the rower is at the beginning of the catch she raises the handle up and then drives and as she starts the recovery she lowers it slightly from her chest/ribs. Plan is when my partner is at home the weekend to have her video me when I'm not looking to monitor my form. At the moment I seem to be thinking about it too much,

She's just trying to replicate rowing in a boat, where you have to drop the oar in at the catch and extract it at the finish. Nobody does that on an erg.

I recall getting told off in training for being sloppy on the Concept 2 and not following a similar technique as I would use in the boat.

Really? Just watch the Olympians. It's absurd to put the hands up and down. It's not as if it's going to affect your technique in a boat.

My coach was a commonwealth gold winner - to be fair I think I was very sloppy on the recovery and let the handle drop.

[clonmult]

Coin Slot. said:

clonmult said:

Model E; I get vertigo when I sit on these, and tend to feel like I'm about to head butt the monitor. I'm so used to the slightly lower seating position on the C and D. Although I did get a 200m PB on one last year (1:19.5 average - must have been a bad month, as I averaged 1:19.3 doing the same on the ski erg).

Due to the single "foot" arrangement at the front, they're actually easier to hold down with a couple of weights than the Model C & D.

I'm 6ft 6" and struggle to get up and down on the C/D without looking very ungainly. They do move about a bit when you give them some welly, I use 10 on the resistance thing at the side as this tends to keep things a bit more sensible when you're going for it.

Loving the PM5 automatically uploading my times to my log via the app and connecting to my HRM.

Could be worth looking up videos about drag factor on youtube - either from Concept 2 themselves or the dark horse rowing channels. Dialling it up to 10 is normally only used for shorter sprints - say the 100m or minute, maybe the 500m. Having higher drag tends to pull more on the lower back.

I just lob a couple of 20kg plates on the end of the erg, that stops a lot of the movement (but not all) - if the erg is moving around a fair bit, you need to work on technique .... and yes, I do need to work on being way smoother.

[anonymous-user]

clonmult said:

Could be worth looking up videos about drag factor on youtube - either from Concept 2 themselves or the dark horse rowing channels. Dialling it up to 10 is normally only used for shorter sprints - say the 100m or minute, maybe the 500m. Having higher drag tends to pull more on the lower back.

I just lob a couple of 20kg plates on the end of the erg, that stops a lot of the movement (but not all) - if the erg is moving around a fair bit, you need to work on technique .... and yes, I do need to work on being way smoother.

I'll Youtube the resistance, I'd be interested in knowing a bit more about it. It was my PT that suggested me using 10 to stop the machine wandering about as much, plus it makes me work harder.

I did a 3:33 1000m this morning with 10 on the dial, for a 23 stone bloke that's nearly 50 years old I thought it was a decent effort.

[clonmult]

kevinspear said:

How do you choose the best choose the best product among the ones listed here?
https://rainydayfitness.com/best-rowing-machines/

That is the most embarrassingly bad set of "reviews" that I have possibly ever seen.

Concept 2 Model C, D and E all give absolutely identical workouts. The only differences between the D & E are that the E is slightly taller, which allows slightly easier access for some people, and the D has a flexible neck for the monitor.

Actually seems like whoever wrote that commentary hasn't actually ever used a rowing machine, or they don't know a damn thing about them.

For example, a pro of the water rower is that they don't make any noise. Yes, they do make noise.

The best built and longest lasting rowing machines are the concept 2 devices. They truly are built to last. And they are the only ones to consider (other than the RP3) if you're seriously thinking of getting into rowing. They also give the most consistent workout, which can be handy.

Interesting that the "review" talks about maintenance and after sales service. Aside from the build quality, the other big selling points of the C2 devices are the after sales (which really is beyond reproach) and the online community.

[Davey S2]

Birdster said:

Model D arrived yesterday, had a 30 minute row on it this morning. Great start to the day. Feel like my technique is two thirds there, using the concept 2 guide here: http://www.concept2.co.uk/indoor-rowers/training/t...

I feel the drive through my legs, arms straight, lean back, bring my arms in and then reverse, and start over. It's the up and over motion with the handle that throws me as I'm so used to just bringing the handle back and forth in a near straight line. Next step will be to video it and have a look and maybe be brave enough to post it on here.

Have a look at this Vid which I found really useful. The guy rowing is Josh Crosby who is a former Olympic rower and founder of Indo Row in America (like spin studios but for rowing) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebvUpjlfO3M

And what's the battery charger by the door for? is it so your wife can attach the crocodile clips to your nipples and get you going again in the event you keel over with a heart attack