Intro and questions re Model D

[jtlapp]

Hello,

My name is Joe Lapp and just joined the Concept2 forum. I just received my newest Erg - model D. I took up rowing over 40 years ago back on Long Island with a Alder Ocean Shell and then later in Oakland, CA with a Mass Vancouver 21. I didn't row in college but love to be on the water - either foiling (UFO Foiler) or rowing. I've owned 2 previous Concept2 Ergs including the one with the bicycle wheel, lead tire, and plastic baseball cards on the spokes.

I retired in 2018 and moved to Duluth MN and built an Angus Row Cruiser last year in the garage using Concept2 oars. This background leads to two questions.

1. Damper setting. The Duluth Rowing Club (DRC) recommends setting it at 3-4. Considering my Row Cruiser is no shell (19ft @ 150 lbs) I've been setting the damper at 10. Any recommendations?

2. My wife wants to start on the erg. How do we keep our sessions separate?

Thank you,
Joe

[Soulsurfer]

To answer your questions, that is pretty easy.

• A damper setting between three and four is ideal. Most rowing videos on YouTube recommend that setting.

• If your wife and you both have smart phones like Apple or android, you can use the Ergdata app and it will track your sessions separately as it pairs up with the PM5 monitor.

[Rick]

Welcome to the forum!

The setting around 4 is a good all-around setting. One of the C2 Rowerg inventors has posted videos showing how settings as low as 1 can be a tremendous training aid. The idea that “10 is hardest, I’ll put it there” can actually be counter-productive to good rowing technique and results. I’m sure it has valid usage, though I haven’t run into anyone recommending 10 as a setting for normal use.

As mentioned, the ErgData app is the way to go. My wife and I both have it on our cell and iPads and use it with the PM5. You log into your user account (free) on Ergdata, and it connects via Bluetooth to the PM5. The individual account will keep your workouts separate. The PM5 will have a aggregate listing of all workouts. It works really well!

[MPx]

Try to get away from talking about damper setting numbers - as their effect varies too much between machines. You need to get your head around Drag Factor, which is altered when you move the damper leaver. Most of what you will read here suggests setting a drag factor between 110 and 130 ish purely dependent on what feels best to the individual. A new clean machine will have a drag factor around 220 on 10 and under 100 on 0. An old dusty machine may range from 50 to 90. You can display drag factor on the pm - from the main menu press more options and then display drag factor. You'll need to row 2 or 3 strokes before it displays and possibly a few more to get a settled figure. A high drag factor is very rarely best for any distance over 500m or 90 seconds. But putting the damper on 10 is what most new people do and once you get used to it, a more normal setting takes a bit of adjustment so you end up slower before you get quicker. Its maybe worth noting that the best of the elite don't erg at damper 10 for any mid/long distance...

[jamesg]

I think it's best to use a drag factor that lets us pull a full length stroke quickly, at low ratings and relatively low force, to produce about 2W/kg.

The full length stroke uses the legs and helps maintain strength and flexibilty, and also endurance if we stay on for long enough at that power level. We need all three.

I use drag 90 or less, reached by covering the air inlet with a filter. This keeps the fan clean too. I do most work at 19-21 and 110-130W, but can do a 500m at under 2 minutes if I want to (220W), so in practical terms the low drag is not a limitation. Ergdata says 33-35kg average and 120-125cm.

120W is about 6 times our basic metabolic rate so I'd say qualifies as exercise.