Rowing machine recommendations please

[123Tricky]

Not sure if this is the right topic area for this, but I fancy investing in a rowing machine.

I like my bike, but getting out on it is a bit of a hassle, especially in the winter.

I miss my old cheap excessive bike too, and like just being able to go from couch to bike to shower to couch again in less than an hour having had a decent sweet.

A lad in work recommended a rowing mach, but no particular model...any thought, views, experience?

Budget would be about 300-400 ish, I guess if needs be, but am after something just to get my fitness and toning up....am 47, 80kgs and 5'11' so not too bad, but nnoticed swimming on hols recently that I've lost a fair amount of fitness...just play footie once a week...jogging about mostly....its all gone a bit middle aged, but there we go.

Any thoughts would be v much appreciated

[Sway]

Second hand Concept 2.

You'll struggle to find a rower that uses anything else. Built like a tank, and if you ever want to sell you'll get your money back.

I'd look for one with a broken/missing computer - for your use it really doesn't matter, and it'll bring them within budget.

[lufbramatt]

Sway said:

Second hand Concept 2.

You'll struggle to find a rower that uses anything else. Built like a tank, and if you ever want to sell you'll get your money back.

I'd look for one with a broken/missing computer - for your use it really doesn't matter, and it'll bring them within budget.

+1

Plus you'll be able to sell it for what you bought it for when you get bored of it. Other rowing machines just don't feel the same.

Or you could get a turbo trainer for your bike. Your budget will get you a "smart" trainer you can connect to Zwift and do "virtual" bike rides.

[anonymous-user]

As above - there can only be one!

[Stuart70]

As above - concept 2

[Chaffs]

Second vote for a concept 2, we picked our's up for that sort of money a few years back and have upgraded the computer, which was about £130 if memory serves. I find the computer useful, just in terms of making sure you're making progress, whether it's how quick to do a particular distance or how far you can row in a set time. Good luck!

[ozzuk]

Concept 2 model D seems to be about the best, used by gyms, military etc. I'm sure I read the rowing clubs use them as benchmarks as well. There is a thread in the health area on them - on the back of that I just bought one with PM3 for £400 delivered and its fantastic (ebay). The model C is available for £2-300, I can't remember the difference but its on the manufacturers website and was enough for me to stretch to the model D.

[kingBadger]

I have a Concept 2 (D) - hired for £14 a week, let me know if you want company details as I'd highly recommend the service. I hired one because it gives me the flexibility to move over to something like a cross trainer if I get bored.

[Europa1]

As an ex-rower I can vouch for the fact that the Concept 2 is the machine predominantly used by rowing clubs.

Quite a few use the Rowperfect, but the benefits of that in terms of technical focus aren't worth it for what you are planning.

[RowntreesCabana]

I use a concept II at the gym and have a WaterRower in the house. The WaterRower movement is far superior in my opinion. Much more fluid and natural, it looks good too, almost like a piece of furniture.

[123Tricky]

a belated thanks for all these, gents...very much appreciated...not done anything about it yet....ha!

[BlackLabel]

If you have the space get a concept 2. If you don’t then get a water rower.

[jimPH]

I've got a concept 2, but I really liked the water rower my friend bought. The resistance change was much more variable. The difference between 1 and 10 on the concept isn't very noticeable. But I bought it because it's the industry standard. Is it the best though? Now I'm not so sure. I think the game has changed tbh.

Try them both.

[hyphen]

BlackLabel said:

If you have the space get a concept 2. If you don’t then get a water rower.

As above, a concept 2 is lovely will need some space as it is quite long. But it is full body workout and will hold its value well.

As you already have a bike, and enjoyed your old exercise bike, as an alternative you could always get a indoor trainer that your bike fits into? Aldi are doing one this week: https://www.aldi.co.uk/bikemate-indoor-bike-turbo-...

[clonmult]

hyphen said:

BlackLabel said:

If you have the space get a concept 2. If you don’t then get a water rower.

As above, a concept 2 is lovely will need some space as it is quite long. But it is full body workout and will hold its value well.

As you already have a bike, and enjoyed your old exercise bike, as an alternative you could always get a indoor trainer that your bike fits into? Aldi are doing one this week: https://www.aldi.co.uk/bikemate-indoor-bike-turbo-...

With all due respect to those suggesting the water rower, don't. They do not give a consistent workout - the C2 models are the rower of choice across the world for 99% of professional atheletes for a reason. They're the only ones that actually work well and last.

The C2 can be folded up and take little space, it only needs space when training.

The only real difference between the Model C and D is that the D is a little quieter. The workout you get is absolutely identical. We have 2x Model Cs at home, and at work and a local gym I use model Ds and Es - really, no appreciable difference between them.

And to say that they last is an understatement. I know of someone who bought an ex army erg that had been literally used in war zones - a basic service/clean and it was working absolutely perfectly (it was okay before that, just looked tired).

[clonmult]

RowntreesCabana said:

I use a concept II at the gym and have a WaterRower in the house. The WaterRower movement is far superior in my opinion. Much more fluid and natural, it looks good too, almost like a piece of furniture.

Interesting; within the on-line rowing community, the Water Rower is generally viewed as being a good looking joke. The C2 is calibrated to give a consistent workout - a given input will always give the same output. The water rower doesn't.

[johnxjsc1985]

I have had a few Concepts model C's and they are simply the best available for the money and I am sure the British team do quite a bit of work on them.
I would probably sell mine if I could be bothered to advertise it.

[lufbramatt]

I'm sure I read somewhere that the clever bit about Concept 2 rowers was they re-calibrate themselves on the fly after each stroke by measuring how quickly the fan is slowing down, which is what makes the workouts so consistent.

[clonmult]

lufbramatt said:

I'm sure I read somewhere that the clever bit about Concept 2 rowers was they re-calibrate themselves on the fly after each stroke by measuring how quickly the fan is slowing down, which is what makes the workouts so consistent.

Drag factor - you can display it on screen before a workout, or if you install the C2 "Ergdata" application on your phone and connect it up, one of the screens it can show on your phone displays the drag factor for each stroke.

johnxjsc1985 said:

I have had a few Concepts model C's and they are simply the best available for the money and I am sure the British team do quite a bit of work on them.
I would probably sell mine if I could be bothered to advertise it.

Most national teams use the C2 erg for off season training, and erg tests are sometimes a pre-requisite for being in a team - demonstrate that you can do that 2k in under 6 minutes at a standard drag factor (iirc its in the 120-130 range to emulate on the water resistance)

Depending on your PoV, there are two other decent rowers.

The rowperfect RP3 is apparently better than the C2 models, but costs more.

One of the italian fitness manufacturers has released an erg that uses both magnetic and air resistance, which they claim is "more accurate" than the C2. But the few people that I know of that have used them say that theyre no good. And they cost close to £3k. The C2 devices are well under £1k.

[Sway]

Or, if feeling particularly sado-masochistic, look out for an old gjessing ergo - over 15 years on and the thought of one still brings out the cold sweats!