Concept2 Forum

Will the drag factor change on any given concept two change over time? How can I check if the drag factor has drifted? Is there a way to re calibrate if there has been significant drift?

Any help is much appreciated.

Yes it will, over time the fan collect dust, this will lower de drag, clean it out and drag goes up again.
If you erg in a dustfree place drag will hardly change. If the holes around the cage start collection dust, you can be sure drag starts to get lower. If it stayes clean, drag does not alter.

rlovatt wrote:Will the drag factor change on any given concept two change over time? How can I check if the drag factor has drifted? Is there a way to re calibrate if there has been significant drift? Any help is much appreciated.

Yes as Henry says it drops as the fan gets dirty so it is a good idea to check the DF each time if you are using a machine in a gym as they will all be different. At a less dusty home it changes only very slowly. The best thing to do is vacuum the fan cage each month or so. It is easy to check the DF through the PM - there is a heap of stuff here on the forum..
http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/t ... etting-101

hjs wrote: If you erg in a dustfree place drag will hardly change. If it stayes clean, drag does not alter.

This^^

Cleaned mine many months ago and checked max drag other day, still a nice 221 DF on 10.

Thanks for the info guys.

so what drag should I be looking for on say setting number 5?

rlovatt wrote:Thanks for the info guys.

so what drag should I be looking for on say setting number 5?

With the lever on five on a factory fresh machine you'd expect a drag factor around 120. The clean machine runs from about 90 (damper 0) to 220 (damper 10). The usual advice is test at 0, test at 5, test at 10 (and enjoy the hardwork doing that). Then see if the range is close enough.

The worst I've ever seen got a drag of just under 110 at damper 10 (in a machine that hadn't been clean in the ten years since it left the factory).

Will the drag factor change on any given concept two change over time

Yes, but not a problem. As you learn to row you'll find you can still work hard even with very low drag.

The purpose of drag is to make the flywheel slow down between strokes. This gives us a chance to pull the next stroke, and the electronics has some differential speed data to calculate work done on the atmosphere by the fan. So if the PM works, drag is high enough.

Although I clean the flywheel cage thoroughly after every 50 hours of use and do the same with the perforated cover, the maximum drag factor on my almost 14 year old Model D has decreased, but not by that much. It was well over 200 when new and is now down to the mid-190s. I was told by the people at C2 that this is normal for a machine that old. However, no one has ever been able to give me specific reasons why that happens.

This talk of maximum drag factor seems somewhat theoretical to me. Since I have no intention of ever rowing anywhere close to it, it doesn't really matter that it now is somewhat lower than that of a newer machine. I usually row at a drag factor of between 120 to 130 and if I have plenty of room where if I choose, I can go well over and under those numbers, I can't complain. Regular maintenance will assure that I will.

I'd hazzard a guess that if you actually took the air band off and literally washed it you would see the drag go back up over 200. But it really doesn't matter. I check the machines I clean and service just like Dougie said. 1= 80 or so, 4=110 to 115, 10= over 200. But in the end it doesn't matter if you're setting for moderate mid range numbers.

sekitori wrote:Although I clean the flywheel cage thoroughly after every 50 hours of use and do the same with the perforated cover, the maximum drag factor on my almost 14 year old Model D has decreased, but not by that much. It was well over 200 when new and is now down to the mid-190s. I was told by the people at C2 that this is normal for a machine that old. However, no one has ever been able to give me specific reasons why that happens.

This talk of maximum drag factor seems somewhat theoretical to me. Since I have no intention of ever rowing anywhere close to it, it doesn't really matter that it now is somewhat lower than that of a newer machine. I usually row at a drag factor of between 120 to 130 and if I have plenty of room where if I choose, I can go well over and under those numbers, I can't complain. Regular maintenance will assure that I will.

Got my D in 2004 so same vintage, I've never been close to using max DF and have done everything at 123. Most of my sessions over the years have been done with the erg outdoors. Dust build up in the fan cage has never been a problem and can't remember ever cleaning it out. Just checked DF on lever setting 10 and it comes in at 198. Must say, I can't see why anybody would even want to use the erg with the DF set at 198?

nick rockliff wrote: I can't see why anybody would even want to use the erg with the DF set at 198?

I think thats just for specific guys such as Shawn Baker for instance. He does his work on max DF, 200df + usually, because it's all short fast hard work stuff. He is a big well built fella so it's optimal for him and what he does.

Anth_F wrote:

nick rockliff wrote: I can't see why anybody would even want to use the erg with the DF set at 198?

I think thats just for specific guys such as Shawn Baker for instance. He does his work on max DF, 200df + usually, because it's all short fast hard work stuff. He is a big well built fella so it's optimal for him and what he does.

I think it is just a matter of what you feel comfortable with - I am nowhere near Shawn's size or strength(I am under 5' 9") and do all my training at 250-350DF.
I suspect your preference will also be determined by what your goals are - I have no ambition(or the necessary talent) to rewrite the record books so not looking for the optimum DF in that regard - however, having the goal of improving my overall strength, find that a heavy DF serves my purpose well.

Paul G

gouldilocks wrote:

Anth_F wrote:

nick rockliff wrote: I can't see why anybody would even want to use the erg with the DF set at 198?

I think thats just for specific guys such as Shawn Baker for instance. He does his work on max DF, 200df + usually, because it's all short fast hard work stuff. He is a big well built fella so it's optimal for him and what he does.

I think it is just a matter of what you feel comfortable with - I am nowhere near Shawn's size or strength(I am under 5' 9") and do all my training at 250-350DF.
I suspect your preference will also be determined by what your goals are - I have no ambition(or the necessary talent) to rewrite the record books so not looking for the optimum DF in that regard - however, having the goal of improving my overall strength, find that a heavy DF serves my purpose well.

Paul G

Indeed, I myself like a low drag much more, certainly for longer work, fan keeps spinning nicely and the stroke can stay quick. But sprinting on a low drag would be tough. A guy like Shawn is lots slower on low drags, his body is suited for a heavy slow stroke. Even his current 1.15 500 meters look "slow". But every stroke is hard and long. You need a back of steel to pull that off.