Concept2 Forum

The lifecore rowing machine has some interesting features.
If anyone here has tried it, I'm interested to see your opinions.

These include the following:
heavier frame
longer warranty
quieter and smoother
belt drive - no chain
pivoting foot plates
backlit high definition lcd monitor
adjustable cooling vent
folds easily for storage

Another huge plus is that the railing appears to be level.
The cost is somewhat higher though.

If anyone here has tried it, let me know your opinion of the various features.

Hi, John!
You just copied the data from the Lifecore website, didn't you?

The Lifecore seems a copy of the C2, and they do very aggressive marketing against Concept.

Just asking myself about the real advantage of:
- Heavier frame? (Concept sure isn't heavy enough)
- Longer warranty: maybe an issue, but I haven't ever heard anyone complaining about C2 warranty issues.
- Quieter: maybe, smoother ¿?
- Belt drive: I've had a go on the Waterrower and others with belt drive, and it feels kind of strange. No complaints about the chain from my side. A matter of personal preference, I suppose.
- Pivoting footplates: I've tried that on other machines, and found it useless/annoying
- Backlit high definition LCD monitor : now that's a REAL advantage! The monitor seems stuffed with functions, will be interesting to see how they all work. Should be an issue specially to you, as you are so sensible to the PM3 inaccuracies.
- Adjustable cooling vent: nice, if it works
- folds easily for storage. Here is an image of the folded erg. Decide for yourself if it's a better option than the C2.


I don't know how the features related to the adjustable magnetic resistance and the related programs work, but it could be a point.

How do you know the rail is level? I don't think that this is a huge plus, as you can adjust that at home quiet easyly. And there are a few pages on this forum discussing if it's usefull oro not rowing on a level rail...

I've read something about this machine in a German forum (can't trace it right now), and feedback wasn't very good.

Would also be very interested on feedback from a direct experience with the machine.

Hi Ancho,

The website is the only place that I've seen one.
There seem to be a lot of sales of them.

Weight of the frame is not a factor, though C2 is having issues with ergs breaking.

I definitely like the idea of a belt drive, as the C2 chain has a lot of vibration.
Adjustable angle of the foot plates would be highly desirable.
A back light and easier to read monitor would be great.

A cooling vent would work well. I get this by rowing with the mesh off the C2.

I don't know how well or consistently the mag/air combo resistance works either.
A lot of people like mag resistance on bike trainers as it's quiet, but I like the air
resistance better for consistency - and also for the airflow.

The railing appears to be level in the photos. There is no obvious dipping.
Adjustable railing and adjustable foot plates would be HUGE pluses for me.

I like that the Lifecore appears to have a firm stand under the foot plates, which
would make it much more stable than C2.

I've read something about this machine in a German forum (can't trace it right now), and feedback wasn't very good.

It will be interesting to see more feedback on the features.

John I found the German forum discussion, the only thing they like is the monitor display. It's apparently made in China or Taiwan.

Of course you could check into their forum but there isn't any.

ancho wrote:How do you know the rail is level? I don't think that this is a huge plus, as you can adjust that at home quiet easyly.

You can raise the feet on one end, but are NOT able to adjust the angle from the feet to the axle, or the angle from the axle to the handle. These remain the same all the time regardless the position of the feet. Other than the rower bobbing up and down, the major problem is the resistance being up in the air.

Consider which is easier to do, and easier on the body, to lift a 100 pound weight from the floor, or to pull a 100 pound weight towards you with arms outstretched off a table. Obviously from the floor is easier, and the weight off the table could do some damage to your ribs, chest, arms, body. Such is the design of the c2 erg that has the axle up in the air.

As pointed out previously, the modelCDE axle is 2 inches higher in relation to the railing than was the modelB axle.

Got someone in NZ trying to sell one of these and they put up the following link to compare it to the C2.

http://rowing-machine-reviews.elliptica ... eviews.htm

Personally if it doesn't run RowPro it's a DNS.

Some of the Amazon reviews compare the Lifecycle100 with Concept2 rowing machines.
http://www.amazon.com/Lifecore-R100-Com ... roduct_top

I would need to see and row one to do a valid comparison.

Carl Watts wrote:Got someone in NZ trying to sell one of these and they put up the following link to compare it to the C2.

http://rowing-machine-reviews.elliptica ... eviews.htm

Personally if it doesn't run RowPro it's a DNS.

It's basically a copy of a C2 with a few minor differences which really depend on an individual's personal tastes. I own a Trek belt drive bike which is certainly low maintenance, quite and excellent for riding in the rain. However in an indoor environment it's no real advantage.

I can't see why you'd want to copy a C2 erg, which is now old world design. The future is in dynamic movement.

C2 users need Rowpro to relieve boredom. That's the problem with static ergs. The movement is so boring to do and motivation can be a real problem. No such problem on dynamic ergs though. Most of you reading this would have absolutely no idea what it's like to row on a good dynamic erg( not a C2 on slides) hence still think that the static C2 erg is king. It's not by a long shot.

Roland,

Did you ever get a dynamic erg, and how do you like it?

johnlvs2run wrote:Roland,

Did you ever get a dynamic erg, and how do you like it?

Fer chrissake John, read the bottom line of his message.

Bob S.