The Rowing Thread!

The Rowing Thread!

Author
Discussion

lankybob

Original Poster:

1,701 posts

190 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
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Sorry if there is already a thread going on this, the search function is 'under maintenance' and I thought that it would be good to post up here about what we are up to, what training we are doing, tips and so on.

I have just been told that I and rowing Nottingham Head of the Trent on Sunday and I have never rowed in this boat before and due to injury I haven't been in a boat since early/ mid December!
I am bricking it as I cannot bear (bare?) the thought of letting the crew down with my fitness or catching a crab!

So here we go chaps, The Rowing Thread!

Roman

2,031 posts

219 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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Competed in the HORR, Tideway, Chester & a few others last year - my first season.

Fancied sculling this year but sadly have other commitments so won't be rowing either frown

lankybob

Original Poster:

1,701 posts

190 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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I have always fancied sculling, I'm probably going to try it in the summer away from uni. I have heard it brings on your technique loads.

Roman

2,031 posts

219 months

Thursday 23rd February 2012
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lankybob said:
I have always fancied sculling, I'm probably going to try it in the summer away from uni. I have heard it brings on your technique loads.
yes Balance & smooth slide to front stops in particular (early focus on erg times led to me bombing up the slide!). Plus you don't have to spend ages rigging & de-rigging or spend all day tied to 8 other people.

I'm actually considering getting a cheap kayak for now as my local water is a busy canal where you tend to spend half your time pulling over to the bank for other crews or narrow boats!


Lefty

16,146 posts

202 months

Friday 24th February 2012
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lankybob

Original Poster:

1,701 posts

190 months

Sunday 26th February 2012
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Not quite what I was looking for. This was more about rowing and sculling rather than rowing on a machine in the gym.

Came third in my category in Nottingham Head of the Trent. Bearing in mind that we had only had 2 outings prior to the race and I have been out of a boat since December, I thought that was a good result.

Roman

2,031 posts

219 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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Well done!

I thought there were more rowers on here TBH!

Zod

35,295 posts

258 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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I rowed seriously for ten years from about fifteen (would win the odd round at Henley and finish in the thirties in the HORR). Then work just became too much for the level of training required.

louiebaby

10,651 posts

191 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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I used to do a lot of rowing. The thing I miss the most is getting out in the single early on a cold winter morning, and working up a sweat whilst the world wakes up. Either that or late summer, at dusk.

I haven't got the time to do it any more, or at least I prioritise my life differently so I can't. If I have the opportunity in a few years, I'd go back to it, but only in a single. I'd hate to get involved with club politics again.

If you can, get a single, it will bring on your technique massively.

lankybob

Original Poster:

1,701 posts

190 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
I thought there would be more on here too.
Zod, I know what you mean about the training. There is a lot of it if you want to be good.

Sculling will be in the summer. I like the thought of being in a boat on your own with only yourself to blame for any mistakes. It also just seems a pleasant way to exercise.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

198 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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:wave:

I did circa 5-6 years at Uni and just after. Couple of HORRs, Student champs final but cox took us over the lane buoys in a cross wind - I hate Notts as a venue. We wouldn't have won, but we should have medalled.

Nice collection of tankards though and proud of my PB on the Erg - 6:15 which isn't bad for someone who was only 14 stone at the time and on a student diet hehe

I miss the early mornings on the river in winter when the sky was clear and the mist sat on the river and all was still. Can't beat that wuffling sound that a four or an eight makes in still air and that gentle bobbing sensation when all is balanced.

Don't miss the fecking Erg though - hateful things.

I have just bought a 3 man inflatable kayak though and have some plans which I'll start a thread about if they come to fruition.

Roman

2,031 posts

219 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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rhinochopig said:
I have just bought a 3 man inflatable kayak though and have some plans which I'll start a thread about if they come to fruition.
Be interested to hear about that..

Pretty slow compared to most here - 6:41 is my P.B. so far but then I am a novice vet!


Edited by Roman on Monday 27th February 20:56

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

198 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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Roman said:
rhinochopig said:
I have just bought a 3 man inflatable kayak though and have some plans which I'll start a thread about if they come to fruition.
Be interested to hear about that..
One of these http://www.headtothehills.co.uk/outdoor-clothing-s...


lankybob

Original Poster:

1,701 posts

190 months

Monday 27th February 2012
quotequote all
6:15! yikes I need to up my game!
I know what you mean about the erg. I wish they had never been invented.
I have to say though, I don't miss the early winter mornings! As I am not a fresher anymore, we go out in the afternoon. Coming in from an outing last year at half 7 AM with ice on the blades a a horrible feeling hehe

louiebaby

10,651 posts

191 months

Tuesday 28th February 2012
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rhinochopig said:
Roman said:
rhinochopig said:
I have just bought a 3 man inflatable kayak though and have some plans which I'll start a thread about if they come to fruition.
Be interested to hear about that..
One of these http://www.headtothehills.co.uk/outdoor-clothing-s...
Curiously, I just bought the wife one of these for her birthday:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/hudson-21-man-kayak-id_...

I hope she wants one. hehe

Highway Star

3,576 posts

231 months

Tuesday 28th February 2012
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Another ex-rower here, took it up at uni and progressed to do a two Henleys, HORRs and a lightweight Boat Race reserve race (though I was too heavy to make the weight for 'proper' lightweights). Erg times are only part of the story with rowing, especially with lightweights.

After uni I rowed briefly in London before work took over and time pressures became too much to do it properly anymore. Now I'm out of London, but am living quite a way from a decent club and have taken up competitive swimming again which I did before rowing. I'm not sure I'll ever get back in a boat again properly and certainly not on an erg!

Zod

35,295 posts

258 months

Tuesday 28th February 2012
quotequote all
lankybob said:
6:15! yikes I need to up my game!
I know what you mean about the erg. I wish they had never been invented.
I have to say though, I don't miss the early winter mornings! As I am not a fresher anymore, we go out in the afternoon. Coming in from an outing last year at half 7 AM with ice on the blades a a horrible feeling hehe
I've been wishing they'd never been invented since about 1983 when they were made out of a bicycle wheel with an iron band in place of a tyre and plastic vanes through the spokes with a bike speedo/odometer to record scores that were comparable only on the same machine.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

198 months

Tuesday 28th February 2012
quotequote all
Highway Star said:
Another ex-rower here, took it up at uni and progressed to do a two Henleys, HORRs and a lightweight Boat Race reserve race (though I was too heavy to make the weight for 'proper' lightweights). Erg times are only part of the story with rowing, especially with lightweights.

After uni I rowed briefly in London before work took over and time pressures became too much to do it properly anymore. Now I'm out of London, but am living quite a way from a decent club and have taken up competitive swimming again which I did before rowing. I'm not sure I'll ever get back in a boat again properly and certainly not on an erg!
Couldn't agree more. My first uni Erg times were irrelevant; we used to seat race for 1st boat. It's how fast you move the boat that counts.

It's all well and good been able to rip the ergo to bits, but if you have the sense of balance and timing of a drunk man on a bouncy castle then you're a passenger.

johnfm

13,668 posts

250 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
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Just bought a water rower - I couldn't live with the noise of a concept 2 - and I don't want to get too serious about it.

Looking forward to 'competing' with my 14 yo son.

He doesn't play any sport (I don't know why??) but is already about 6'1" and a rowing machine will be something he can 'master' - as it isn't as steep a learning curve as hitting a golf ball or playing tennis.

I am dreading the pain...

louiebaby

10,651 posts

191 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
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johnfm said:
He doesn't play any sport (I don't know why??) but is already about 6'1" and a rowing machine will be something he can 'master' - as it isn't as steep a learning curve as hitting a golf ball or playing tennis.
You say that, but there is a lot of technique to using one in a way that best replicates what works to make a boat move.

Also, be aware of injuries that you can develop through terrible technique. I've had to call gym staff over to other users because I've been scared for their backs before now. I think it's a bit rude to interrupt someone training, but when they're likely to REALLY hurt themselves, I can't walk away from it.