Skillrow vs Concept II

[paule23]

I know this is a Concept II forum so any talk of other rowers might be al little frowned upon, but my gym has jut changed to Techgym SkillRow machines. I'm not looking for an argument on the merits if different machines (either way they are definitely a step up from the water rowers they had!), I'm after any experience people have calibrating the times between the two machines.

Clearly not all rowers are the same, the water rowers vastly overstated distance (at the start of my gym cycle i was breaking pbs so there was clearly something up given the weight and floppy arms I was carrying!). The Skillrow is much more like a concept II, but I wonder if it is too harsh and underreporting distance (or I really am in worse shape than I thought!).

I'm just about to start the Pete Plan (24 week version) and whilst the accuracy of the time for the plan is not really important (consistency is) i would eventually like to benchmark myself again others on here, and I'm not sure that is possible with the Skillrow.

Any thoughts

[lindsayh]

I'm just about to start the Pete Plan (24 week version) and whilst the accuracy of the time for the plan is not really important (consistency is) i would eventually like to benchmark myself again others on here, and I'm not sure that is possible with the Skillrow. Any thoughts

There is really no way to compare times and performance on the C2 to any of the other rowers. Doesn't mean you cant train on one and benchmark for you but you would need to then do similar sessions on the C2 to compare with others here or on the rankings.

[Citroen]

I know this is a Concept II forum so any talk of other rowers might be al little frowned upon, but my gym has jut changed to Techgym SkillRow machines.

Your better option is to change gym to one that has the gold standard of rower.

[jamesg]

http://row-360.com/technogym-skillrow-r ... ne-review/

This site says Technogym "have calibrated their machine to produce scores that are directly comparable to the Concept2." If it has a flywheel that's possible, whatever the brake system.

At 3500 €, almost 4000 USD I won't be in the queue, whatever the monitor reads.

On the technogym site I couldn't find the word Watts; which for some would be an essential.

[paule23]

http://row-360.com/technogym-skillrow-r ... ne-review/

This site says Technogym "have calibrated their machine to produce scores that are directly comparable to the Concept2." If it has a flywheel that's possible, whatever the brake system.

At 3500 €, almost 4000 USD I won't be in the queue, whatever the monitor reads.

On the technogym site I couldn't find the word Watts; which for some would be an essential.

There's definitely watts on there. One thing Ive not found is the average/500m. You can get a live showing, but not a workout average. Might have to break the habit of a lifetime and talk to a gym instructor!

[Carl Watts]

At over 4 times the price of a Concept 2, why would you even look at it ?

I would have expected something absolutely stunning made out of carbon fiber for that price, I mean it would have had to be a piece of Art.

Looks like all the money went on their facility and not on the rower if you ask me.

[paule23]

I know this is a Concept II forum so any talk of other rowers might be al little frowned upon, but my gym has jut changed to Techgym SkillRow machines.

Your better option is to change gym to one that has the gold standard of rower.

I'd love to but this gym works really well for me (and my wife). Much as I like rowing to train it is not everything I do. My main cardio work but I need good free weights as well, not a combo readily available with the Concept II close to home.

[sekitori]

At over 4 times the price of a Concept 2, why would you even look at it ?

The Skillrow is produced by a company called Technogym which specialzes in selling fitness equipment at ridiculously high prices. They have treadmills, elliptical trainers, and exercise bikes in the $12,000-$15,000 range.

As with the C2, you can buy a piece of exercise equipment that's probably better than anything they sell for far, far less. This company is obviously aiming at buyers who consider that spending the most money possible is better, and there apparently are a lot of them around.

By the way, if you're interesting in purchasing a pair of 1 kg. dumbells which includes Velcro straps, carrying bags, and an instruction manual, Technogym will sell them to you--for $160.00. If you think I'm kidding, check this out:

https://www.technogym.com/us/wellness-weights.html

[RoidbotPR]

The real math to do, instead of trying to compare apples to oranges, is this: How much do you and your wife pay for the gym membership per year?

Take that number, for example, $300 per year. Divide it by two (you didn't say if your wife uses the rower). $150 per year. In 6 years you could own your own Concept 2. Does it take up room in the house? Absolutely. Will you ever have a reason to skip a workout because you can't make it to the gym? Absolutely not.

I made the big, big, BIG mistake of purchasing a First Degree Fluid rower...AFTER....after...lurking the boards here. I may have even asked if anyone ever used one. I paid nearly twice as much and the damned thing didn't last 6 months before breaking. Maybe your gym knows something the rest of the world doesn't, but there's a reason the Concept 2 is the defacto erg. And, frankly, seeing that it costs 4x as much, I'd have to question where the membership fees to the gym are really going. Maybe they have outstanding training, IDK. Seems like a fools errand to buy anything else erg-wise than a Concept 2.

[Anth_F]

So whats better about this machine over the C2? To warrant that astronomical price tag Which is pretty much 4 C2 machines.

Looks like something James Bond would be seen on! But aside from looks i don't see a great deal else out of the ordinary you are getting for your megabucks.

[paule23]

A lot of posts here about whether it's worth it. Looks bloomin' expensive to me and I'm certainly not considering buying one (or a Concept II for that matter!). I was just looking for experiences of how it compares re. distance/times to the Concept II (probably because my times are rubbish on this new rower, but I think that's more fitness than machine, I was just hoping.....

[jamesg]

Technogym supplies complete sets of equipment to new gyms. Maybe they they include long term financing, as used to set up icecream parlors or bars. These pay for later supplies, but TG has little to sell later, so list prices double. Add in the cost of development and tooling, magnetic brake, wiring and fancy electronics, doubling again and 4k$ probably looks cheap to the accounts office. But TG had a hole in their catalog that had to be filled.

Pity it's not dynamic, nor even on slides. Despite the 4k$ and all the help they got from oarsmen, the TG is earthbound.

[Rowerrick]

I am a keen on the water rower and have my own C2 in the garage which we all know well. It’s well maintained and often I use it on sliders to simulate on water rowing more accurately.
I have to travel with my work and when faced with the choice of using a gym C2 or a Technogym rower I go for the Technogym. A gym C2 is often badly maintained and feels horrible. For a static rower the Technogym is close to rowing and I like the feel. Obviously I’m not paying the high purchase prIce.
Back to the original question - I think the splits on the Technogym are about 4 sec per 500 slower. But consistent so you can benchmark training sessions and progress.

[H2O]

I was on one of these once. My feeling is that the splits are somewhat slower given the same effort (subjectively maybe 1-2 secs). The machine is not bad, not sloppy at the catch, very smooth action, monitor less well organized than concept2. The worst thing is the handle - it is _much_ too heavy.

All in all I would not buy it even if it were only 800 bucks, still would go for the concept2.

[warnie]

I've used one at my gym when i couldn't get on my concept rower (building a gym at home) but now that has finished and I've left the gym I definitely don't miss it. The skillrow felt smooth when it was new but within a few months and neglect from the staff it's not great.

I agree though the handle is awful!!! Would definitely not buy one.