Concept2 Forum

Hi all,
I wonder if anyone can point me in the direction of a wide handle option for the erg?
The current handle feels way too narrow, certainly narrower than I hold a sweep oar and its beginning to put a strain on my hands / forearms - I feel a handle that allowed me to hold my arms parallel to each other with my hands matching my shoulder width would help with this.
I see some people have used motorbike bars but they tend to sweep up and back..., and think it would be better if they just swept back slightly.
I wish concept made a wider handle!
Cheers!
Jake

It connects with two bolts. I suppose one could get a thick broom handle or something and make one themselves.

Or find a pipe, cut it to length and bend it a little. Drilling two holes in a pipe should also be pretty doable if you have access to some basic power tools.

Drilling precisely located holes in a flat object is much easier than doing the same into a pipe or other cylindrical object. I know plenty of people with a drill press, but only one with suitable hold-down gear.

Seems like two lengths of suitably-sized pipe that just slipped over the handles might work.

Are you using the plastic C2 handle or the old C2 wooden one ?

Pretty sure the plastic one is wider and its unlikely that you need anything wider than that.

I found the old wooden handle too narrow. I changed to the newer one - and still thought that narrow! But after a million metres or so I’ve got used to it and it doesn’t trouble me at all now. I hang my pinkies off the end so row with only three fingers on each hand.

Tony Cook wrote: ↑

July 16th, 2021, 5:17 am

...I hang my pinkies off the end so row with only three fingers on each hand.

Snap - that's what I do Tony - this also lets me rotate my wrist outwards a bit more which relieves the tendon issues in my right shoulder.

A have seen a few pictures on the Zwift rowing group of those that have switched to mountain bike bars - some with proper sculling grips on the bar ends. Might be an option:

Might be a few to many Gym bunnies getting on the erg that are used to the chrome steel bars that are supplied on the end of weight stacks.

Take a look at an actual rower, the hands pass a point where one is actually under the other.

Yes I'm also hanging my little finger over the end recently but thats mainly to reduce the load on it, they don't seem happy in recent times as its like they are taking to much of the load.

Carl Watts wrote: ↑

July 16th, 2021, 4:23 pm

Take a look at an actual rower, the hands pass a point where one is actually under the other.

Very true Carl - for sculling anyway. But then you aren't stuck in one position each arm moving in a arc. Last night I was in a double scull and the blades I was using I think had a bit inboard than usual and hands consequently had more overlap.
Sweep more akin to indoor where hands fixed position apart. Haven't rowed sweep for years so cant remember how far grips are apart compared to the erg.
I'd like more downward tilt on the erg handle each side, but as above I generally grip right on the end so roll my hands outboard more that way to help my shoulder.