Erg slipping on floor mat

[Jarryd]

I bought the concept2 floor mat for the erg (I have a model d) and for months there was no problems at all with slipping around. It would stay in the exact same spot because when I'd take the erg on and off the mat I'd put it back on the same marks left by the ergs rubber feet. In the last few weeks I've started slowly slipping forward over time during steady state to the point where I will move a few inches over 10k's or so. If I put the erg directly on my lino floor I start slipping around too. I know it's not a form thing because nothing has changed and the same form on ergs at the gym results in no movement.

I checked the erg's rubber feet the other day and found they were really slippery, as though maybe dirt or something had polished them up over time and created a really low friction effect. The same dents in the mat where the erg sits are really slippery like they've been polished from the erg moving back and forth. I've tried cleaning the erg feet with isopropyl alcohol and noticed I got a little bit of friction back but not enough to stop the movement completely.

Does anyone know a way to clean the floor mat and rubber feet effectively so that I stop sliding around when erging?

[nates]

what sort of stroke rate? I was making it bounce around a bit on my first interval sessions, but I soon learned I didn't need to go 46spm to get my heart rate maxed out.

Cut the stroke rate down to 20 and see if it doesn't stay put.

[Jarryd]

It was sliding regardless of spm. I could get it to slide just by going 18spm all the way up to 30+. It would even slide if I was just sitting at the catch and I'd push off too hard with my feet. It's less to do with technique or stroke rate and more to do with getting the rubber feet of the erg to a point where they're almost frictionless (maybe because of wear or dirt buildup?). Has anyone had this problem before and solved it?

[Ombrax]

I never used the C2 mat, but a while back I did have issues with my Model C sliding on a linoleum floor.

My solution was to use some of that rubbery waffle-type sheeting used to line tool boxes drawers between the erg pads and the floor. It worked very well. I got the stuff from a Harbor Freight store (for my tool boxes), but I know it's available lots of other places too.

[Citroen]

Is it slipping on the drive or the recovery or both?

For competitions we used to do two turns of gaffer tape round the front legs, one twist (so it was then sticky side out) then two more turns. Sit the ergo back on the floor and stand on the front legs to connect the tape with the floor. That was good down to a 1:25 pace (beyond that we'd need extra weight on the front legs).

[Jarryd]

I never used the C2 mat, but a while back I did have issues with my Model C sliding on a linoleum floor.

My solution was to use some of that rubbery waffle-type sheeting used to line tool boxes drawers between the erg pads and the floor.

I did swap to a 'waffle-type' style yoga mat for a while and that stopped the slipping completely for a month or so and then it slowly crept back again to frictionless.

Is it slipping on the drive or the recovery or both?

It slips on both. When I drive it slips forwards (in the direction of where you are looking) and on the recovery it slips forwards too, Not because I'm rushing the slide on the recovery but just because coming back into the catch at ANY pressure is enough to overcome the friction-less state between my ergs feet and the lino floor or the c2 mat.

Note that the mat is only slippery on the imprints left by the ergs feet. If I turn the mat around and use new areas of the mat it solves the issue but only for another month or two before that new imprint becomes slippery and friction-less. I'm looking for a longer term solution or to see if anyone else has noticed this before and solved it.

[jamesg]

Try thick cotton bathrom mats under the feet. Also make sure your style is long and smooth, not short and jerky. What makes ergs move is the inertial forces we apply to it when the chain is not engaged.

[Ombrax]

Also make sure your style is long and smooth, not short and jerky. What makes ergs move is the inertial forces we apply to it when the chain is not engaged.

Along these same lines, try rowing strapless for a while (which one should be able to do unless going super-hard in a race). If you can't that may be one reason the erg's moving around.

[Cyclist2]

There was a thread on oily residue from feet on slides a while back. There was no real resolution. Perhaps there is some residue on the feet of your erg, or under the feet on the bar ends, that slowly leaks out over time and causes the slipping. Try removing the rubber feet and cleaning everything up. Grasping at straws here...

[Jarryd]

I might try getting a couple of cheap yoga mats and position them like they are in this video.

https://youtu.be/mSmYuN_8ips?t=214

See how that goes.

[Citroen]

Note that the mat is only slippery on the imprints left by the ergs feet. If I turn the mat around and use new areas of the mat it solves the issue but only for another month or two before that new imprint becomes slippery and friction-less. I'm looking for a longer term solution or to see if anyone else has noticed this before and solved it.

Have you tried thoroughly cleaning the mat and/or the floor?

[Nomath]

I bought a pair of anti-slip mats such as used on car dashboards to prevent items from moving around. They last for years.
Only use them for the rear legs; the front legs should be free to move a few millimeters.

[Jarryd]

I bought some rubber 'indoor gym' style mats from my local hardware store to put under both feet and it has stopped the slipping entirely. These mats are just a little more robust and thicker than the concept2 mat. The texture is grippier as well.