Erging in a small studio apartment, help!

[bds323]

Hi all,

I've done some research and I've seen the previous posts about those who own ergs in small apts. Storing the erg is not a problem for me, but the noise absolutely is! I know they say that the model D is quieter than the C, but jeez! If I want to get some resemblance of a workout in, the erg is screaming against the small confines of the room- I can't do a 2:45/500m workout, in order to get my heart rate up, I need at least a 2:05/500m. I simply can't do it. I am very worried that the landlord (who lives down the hall) and the neighbors will complain. I wouldn't do it at an unreasonable hour (ex: probably planning for 8:45am), I'm on the first floor, so there is no one underneath me, but the walls here are paper thin!
What can I do? I really want to use this erg and not let it collect dust - are my manners getting the best of me?


Thank you in advance!!

[jamesg]

Noise within the room can only be damped by using something like heavy drapes and carpets that reduce reverberation between walls and floor to ceiling. I've seen an amateur sound studio with egg boxes glued to the walls (the shapes cause sound wave cancellation), and of course there are more professional spiky-shaped heavy foam slabs around for this very purpose. Color black if you like..

You could also put a heavy plank of wood between you and the flywheel. I've found this cuts the high frequencies quite well. I once tried encasing the wheel completely, but drag gets too low even for me.

If the problem is yourself only, when no one else is listening, you might use earplugs or a headset. Fine for radio, muzak and TV too.

[Citroen]

the erg is screaming against the small confines of the room

How small? You need at least 11ft by 4ft for an ergo.

[Ergmeister]

Most mechanical Erg noise is going to be transferred to the floor by way of the legs. An uncleaned rail with embedded stainless dust in the seat roller wheels also will make noise, but the majority of noise is going to be from the front of the machine. As others stated, hanging something on the wall will help as will placing some foam rubber padding under the front leg "foot" that is on the floor.

Insulate the rower from all contact points where it's in contact with any hard floor as much as possible and the only noise will be whatever the rower normally makes to the air. They are not necessarily quiet machines, but I'm sure that that partially deaf neighbor's TV will win the noise fight if you put some foam under the legs. It will also be a bit like a poor man's "shox box" (http://www.shoxbox.biz/) and help your core strengthen if it has enough thickness to require balancing to stay perfectly vertical.

[bds323]

Thank you all for the responses. I may have been hyperbolic, but as far as NYC studio apartments go, it is small. I do have enough room to store and to set up the erg though. I will definitely try some of the suggestions above. As of right now, I've returned back from work on my extended lunch hour and got in a good steady state (when I presume no one was in the building). I tried something interesting, by letting the shower run (cold water, not to waste heat!) in hopes that the decibel noise from the shower would somehow muffle a bit of the decibel noise of the erg.

We'll see what happens as I continue using it, I will be sure to keep you all updated.

Does anyone have any pictures of their "soundproof" setup that I could take a look at?


Thanks again!

[OarConsequences]

How about a white noise generator or some white noise sounds played over a stereo system? Running water, even cold water, during all of your workouts doesn't seem like the best solution since it is still wasteful and the cost, though small, will add up depending on how long and how often you erg.

[bds323]

This is very true, I think I was trying to get at the "white noise" sound with the water, but you're right, even cold water will add up in the long run (considering I am erging 4 days per week). Thanks for your response!

[joe80]

There's no substitute for talking to your neighbours, telling them what you are doing and inviting them to tell you if/when it is a problem. If you stick to 8am to 10pm, it's hard to see how this would lead to any objections.

If you use the noise reduction strategies already mentioned and your neighbours are reasonable people, there shouldn't be a problem.

Regards,

Joe

[bds323]

Thank you , Joe! That is one simple suggestion that I didn't even consider, sadly, haha. I actually just went over to speak with one of my neighbors on one side of the apartment and she said she had no problem with it. Now to catch the guy who lives on the other side, he's a mysterious one...

[Quatroux]

Now to catch the guy who lives on the other side, he's a mysterious one...

You might want to make a quick exit if his apartment smells like rotting flesh, he has more than 3 cats, or he's growing plants in multiple fish tanks.

[bds323]

You might want to make a quick exit if his apartment smells like rotting flesh, he has more than 3 cats, or he's growing plants in multiple fish tanks.

Haha, one can never be too careful...

[OarConsequences]

Thank you , Joe! That is one simple suggestion that I didn't even consider, sadly, haha. I actually just went over to speak with one of my neighbors on one side of the apartment and she said she had no problem with it. Now to catch the guy who lives on the other side, he's a mysterious one...

Or just leave a note on his door. Actually, maybe even leave a note in the lobby of your floor letting people know what that whooshing sound is and ask them to let you know if anyone has any issues with your scheduled workouts. A C Breeze might help too reduce noise too along with keeping you cool.

[bds323]

Or just leave a note on his door. Actually, maybe even leave a note in the lobby of your floor letting people know what that whooshing sound is and ask them to let you know if anyone has any issues with your scheduled workouts. A C Breeze might help too reduce noise too along with keeping you cool.

Brilliant idea! We're lucky in the sense that it is a whooshing (white-noise esque) sound as oppose to something obnoxious like drums or something to that effect. I have heard many things about the c-breeze, and it seems like a valuable investment, but from what I've heard, no one has confirmed that it actually reduces sound output. The note idea seems great though! I'll definitely try that out.

[djh]

Brilliant idea! We're lucky in the sense that it is a whooshing (white-noise esque) sound as oppose to something obnoxious like drums or something to that effect. I have heard many things about the c-breeze, and it seems like a valuable investment, but from what I've heard, no one has confirmed that it actually reduces sound output. The note idea seems great though! I'll definitely try that out.

If there's anyone on the floor below you, check it out with them also. Any thudding will be noticeable below, whereas white noise probably won't penetrate your walls/ceiling/floors. And make no mention of your keen interest in taking up bagpiping.

I don't think C-Breeze will help with noise.

[brianh]

I have heard many things about the c-breeze, and it seems like a valuable investment, but from what I've heard, no one has confirmed that it actually reduces sound output.

It reduces the noise a bit to the sides of the machine and redirects it towards you. It's not a huge difference. The breeze part of it is definitely nice for delaying overheating, though.