Category: Health and Wellness
Hello,
I have recently purchased a Concept2 rower for my apartment and begun rowing again. I had previously rowed, however, I took a break from rowing when I graduated from college and started my job as I no longer had access to the rowers at my college. If you have never heard of indoor rowing, check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_rower. That certainly explains it much better than I could. Rowing is a full body exercise that uses many muscle groups and I find it to be exhilarating and enjoyable as well. Concept2 who make this rower also offer excellent customer support. When I was setting up the rower, I had a few questions and the customer service representative was more than happy to clarify some bits about assembly to me over the phone. The machines are made in the United States and are extremely high quality pieces of workout equipment. The Performance Monitor which is a computer that is included with the rowing machine and displays work out data now offers bluetooth functionality. Concept2 makes an app for the iPhone which offers VoiceOver support as well as having text to speech functionality to announce work-out data based on a time interval configured in the iPhone app. This is excellent functionality for blind users because it provides accessibility to workout data such as time and meters rowed as well as many other statistics. I have read that it is even possible to buy a piece of wearable technology to provide heart rate information during workouts. Concept 2 also provides an online log book where you can submit your results to compare times against yourself and others who row. For people who use the health app on the iPhone, there is integration so you can see your rowing workouts alongside your other workouts.
I thought I would create this board as a general place to talk about rowing technique, sharing times for workouts, providing advice for starters, discussing the technology aspect such as use of the online logbook and iPhone app as well as any other questions or comments people may have.
I have thought about purchasing a rowing machine for my gym, but haven't really done much research on the different brands and such available.
I don't much care about the bells and whistles, like comparing myself to others, or all the data, just that it is sturdy and works well.
I can tell how much I've put in to it because of how tired I am after.
Also, I'd be going for distance, and time, so some data would be interesting, but I believe we've gotten hooked on stats so much we don't pay attenchen to what our bodies can tell us naturally.
Really interesting though. Almost like you came along at the right time.
I took a look. These are in the upper price range for workout equipment.
I know you purchased one, so you think it is worth it.
I'd want to look around. Seems a bit high to pay for a rowing machine maybe.
What model did you get, and why?
I chose a Model D and I think it is definitely worth it. I will include some of the reasons.
This is a United States based company with both support and manufacturing in the United States that stands behind their products. Technical support has been excellent during the few times that I required it.
Concept2 has also been interested in providing accessible access to their products. The iPhone app is currently the way someone blind is likely to get workout data, however, before that, there was an app for the computer that would speak work out data if the machine was connected.
For me, I like to have the data because as I get more in shape, I tire less easily. Its nice to know how I am improving especially as it gives me the motivation to continue rowing twice a day. Concept2 offers software updates and replacement parts for rowers and rowing computers that were made many years ago. This is a product that you buy and keep for many years. I have a friend who bought a Model C rower in the 1990's and he uses it every day. It still works as well as it did when new. Concept2 Machines are also the rowing machine you see in most gyms and rowing clubs because they hold up to even professional athlete training and are commercial grade products. I had room for one piece of workout equipment in my apartment so I wanted something I could use every day that I knew would be reliable and would last for many years.
you are correct that other machines are cheaper, however, many lack key features that the Concept2 includes. This is a market where you get what you pay for. In the Concept2 machine, air resistance is provided by a spinning flywheel in a housing. This provides a smooth range of motion as you pull the rowing handle. It is also realistic in that the harder you pull the handle, the harder it becomes to row. The handle is also attached to the flywheel by a chain on the Concept2 model which allows the handle to move up, down, left, and right for a more comfortable row. I am 6 feet 3 inches tall and have no trouble rowing on the Model D with the standard length monorail. If you are extremely tall, they do offer a longer monorail for this machine and it is not difficult to request this as you can purchase direct from factory on the Concept2 website. I purchased my machine directly from Concept2 and would recommend purchasing this way as I had a good experience.
The cheapest rowers are often using fluid cylinders to provide resistance. On these rowers, the handle is usually fixed to the cylinders so the handle cannot move up, down, left, or right as you pull it. These machines are usually not a good choice for taller rowers because of their short monorail length. It is usually not possible to get a longer monorail as often these rowers are mass produced by no-name companies to be resold through big box stores. The pistons can also heat up, wear out, and leak oil over time.
Yes, I did a bit of reading on this machine. It does seem like a good pice to have.
Does it also offer more resistance to the legs as well?
Let me try and explain the leg resistance. The way that the rowing stroke works is that you sit on a seat and push with your legs against the foot stretchers which are stationary. To begin the stroke, you first straighten your legs. As you do this, your body is moving backwards with the seat on the monorail which is causing the bar in your hands to move backwards. Basically the resistance in your legs is caused by the resistance of the rowing bar because as you move backwards, for the initial part of your stroke, you are keeping your back mostly straight and your arms mostly extended so the resistance from the bar is transferred down your body and this is felt in the legs as you begin the stroke. Once your legs are extended, you pull the rowing bar to your chest. Since at this point of the stroke the legs are almost fully extended and you are pulling the bar to your chest, it is during this part of the stroke that the arms get most of the work out. There is no resistance adjustment for the seat sliding on the monorail. In fact, you want this to be as smooth as possible.
There is a lever on the side of the flywheel housing that adjusts the resistance for the rowing bar. Basically, it either allows more or less air to enter the flywheel based on its position which makes it harder or easier to row.
Okay, so it works as I thought.
I've used rowing machines some, but not often.
I always used them as a sup to a workout instead of the workout, if that makes sense?
I should probably spend a bit of time on one again to get an idea of it really be something I should add.
I like it over say a treadmill for cardio, but didn't relize they were so pricey until you got me looking.
Laughing.
For the better quality ones that is. Nordic has one on sale at 600, but the regular price is same as this one.