Concept2 Forum

Found this on the UK forums, since nobody had posted about it here, I figured it'd be nice to share.

The new and improved C2 rowing machine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTN_9msFKTg

space saver???

Greypuller wrote:space saver???

Yes and the benefit of slides.

has anyone here actually pulled on one? It seems like a good idea but I worry it feels awkward. Id sure like to try one though, I returned my slides because I take apart my machine between uses for storage so it wasnt convenient but if this machine feels good to row on Ill be selling my model D for sure when this comes out.

Anyone heard rumors of release dates?

EDIT: I wonder if a C-breeze pointed up at you would work? Might even feel better from that angle if it can fit under there. I hope the C2 designers thought of that, because that might be a deal breaker for me

The "dynamic" C2 erg shown in the Youtube link above is the first of several prototypes being developed and has been superceded by a new design, as reported by C2JonW on the UK C2 forum. No mention of if or when a productized C2 model will be available to compete with the Oartec Slider and new RowPerfect:

by C2JonW on 10 Feb 2010, 20:03
The prototype shown in the first post of this thread was at the Head of the Charles regatta in Boston. We have since developed another prototype that is more forgiving of different rowing techniques and has a more finished look to it, though it is still far from production. This latest version (there are three in existence) has been shown at several coaches conferences and has been used by the US National team and several crew programs in the Boston area. Feedback has been positive, and we will have one at our booth at CRASHB for anyone to try out. C2JonW

The user did not look comfortable on the machine but too short to tell really...

Absolutely loved it today. I spent about 500m on it early in the afternoon, then used it to cool down after my race. I was able to hit 70spm, which was amazing to row at. Definitely an upgrade from the stationary C2.

LOL...figures i just purchased a C2E.........like progress though!

Pictures! Videos! Help us out here C2JonW!

There are pics and further discussion on the UK forum at http://concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19847
All three of the new prototypes are on the road at the moment so I can't post anything new. I will say that the feedback from CRASH-B was almost all positive and in the next couple of months we'll make a decision about what the next step should be with this project. C2JonW

Try fixing the seat, as Warren Berger did with his fixed seat rowing ergometer.





http://www.rowvelo.com/

This is mechanically a lot like the current C2 prototype, though we quickly learned that you need to have some amount of free seat movement. Locking the seat on the prototype and then trying to row it is an adequate demonstration of this requirement- it feels pretty awful. C2JonW

Maybe there was some other issue.

I have seen a video of Warren rowing on his design and the movement was excellent.

Compare with Nav's photo of the prototype.

Warren may be one of those rare individuals who doesn't need the seat movement, and if you put him on the prototype the seat might not move much at all. Our observations are that everyone moves the seat when they row the prototype- anywhere from 1-2" for a smooth Danish lightweight to quite a bit more for larger, less experienced rowers. Warren may have figured out a way to make it work either by altering his style or just putting up with the discomfort. C2JonW

The video that I saw was of Warren rowing on his ergometer, not the prototype.
I wonder if you rowed on Warren's ergometer.

In any case, the machines are different in a number of ways, for example in the size of the pulleys,
Warren's being much larger, and most notably the height of the pulleys and foot plates in relation to the railing.
Both are high in regards to the railing on Warren's erg, but they are both quite low on the prototype.

Regarding the seat moving, it seems to me that any time force is applied from a movable base, it would certainly move.
For example if baseball pitchers threw from a movable base, it would move, and they would not throw as well,
but that would be no reason to have all baseball pitchers throw from a movable base.