Concept2 Forum

I know you're supposed to leave the handle up by the cage for any extended period of time, but I noticed many, many people don't. I've been told it stretches the bungee. Is that correct?

I always leave the handle in the front stops, because the bungee is too tight.

When it starts to loosen up a bit then I'll leave it up by the cage.

How do you determine if the bungee is too tight/loose? I have always felt that my bungee is too tight...as it seems I can't hit splits on my model D whereas at school I see a significant difference in splits on our machines at school. For example, the lowest split I can hit on my model D is 1:29-1:31 but on the model C's at school (about 12 of them) I have hit 1:21-1:23...and before it gets mentioned same spm, full rest, and same drag factor...

I forgot to mention that I also leave my handle up against the cage when not in use...something our coach harps on frequently...so it has become habit.

Elamonta wrote:How do you determine if the bungee is too tight/loose? I have always felt that my bungee is too tight...as it seems I can't hit splits on my model D whereas at school I see a significant difference in splits on our machines at school. For example, the lowest split I can hit on my model D is 1:29-1:31 but on the model C's at school (about 12 of them) I have hit 1:21-1:23...and before it gets mentioned same spm, full rest, and same drag factor...

The difference in power between 1:30 and 1:22 is 32% (about 150W). There is no way that is due to a bungee cord. Something else is going on.

I assumed this was the case also...but I have called Concept2 and it seems the problem is a mystery because it is uncommon for power to not be "measured" by the monitor...due to several factors accounting for lack of power (drag factor, etc)...it just always seems that the power I exert does not reach the monitor as such...I am a third year competitive rower...so I am fairly consistent/knowledgable about what I can maintain etc lol

Couple of topics here. When we came out with the Model A in 1980, the bungee that we used was prone to stretching out if the handle was left on the hooks rather than on the chain guide. With changes to the material used in the bungee and configuration of the return mechanism in the C,D & E this is really not much of a problem any more- the cords have much better memory so leaving them in the hooks isn't a problem. The only time you would want to be sure to store the handle in the relaxed position is when the erg is in a very cold place- like below freezing. The bungee goes limp, and it will take either warming up or some easy rowing to get its elasticity back.
Variations in bungee tension are not measured by the monitor. Like a rusty chain or tight seat rollers, bungee tension has no influence on the flywheel. Tests that we have done here indicate that as long as the tension is within normal working range (approx 6-8 lbs at the catch), effects on scores are negligible. The bungee stores energy when extended and returns it as you come back up the slide. Of course some energy goes into internal friction of the cord and pulleys, but again this is small and comparable between machines within normal working tensions. That said, if you want your machine to give you the best score possible, lube the chain, make sure the seat rollers are not tight on the rail and set the tension of the bungee as loose as possible while still giving you adequate return force.......C2JonW