Concept2 Rower Vs. Other Brands

[[old] trevor reznik]

Hi everybody,<br /><br />I'm a dutch cyclist and I've been doing short sessions on the Concept2 model D as an overall strength training for a while now. I use the highest drag, but it doesn't feel very heavy at all.<br />Last week my sister tried my rower and was surprised how easy and light it was, even at drag 10. She is used to another type of rower at her local gym which is far more heavier.<br />My question: anybody out there who has experience with other brands of rowers and can compare the differences in drag ?<br />By the way: no offence to the concept2 rower. It's a great machine and I love to train with it, but I would prefer it if it had a heavier drag.<br /><br />Cheers.

[[old] Alissa]

<!--quoteo(post=59030:date=Mar 11 2006, 08:33 AM:name=trevor reznik)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(trevor reznik @ Mar 11 2006, 08:33 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Hi everybody,<br /><br />I'm a dutch cyclist and I've been doing short sessions on the Concept2 model D as an overall strength training for a while now. I use the highest drag, but it doesn't feel very heavy at all.<br />Last week my sister tried my rower and was surprised how easy and light it was, even at drag 10. She is used to another type of rower at her local gym which is far more heavier.<br />My question: anybody out there who has experience with other brands of rowers and can compare the differences in drag ?<br />By the way: no offence to the concept2 rower. It's a great machine and I love to train with it, but I would prefer it if it had a heavier drag.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /> Hi Trevor. Most people don't use the C2 for strength training, but you might check to see if the cage around your flywheel is dirty, as that will lower the drag factor. Try vacumming the dust out and see if it helps. I believe there are instructions on the C2 site for how to do this. Separately, C2 also sells a "Dyno" which is intended for strength training (although I've never seen one).<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />Alissa

[[old] rspenger]

<!--quoteo(post=59030:date=Mar 11 2006, 08:33 AM:name=trevor reznik)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(trevor reznik @ Mar 11 2006, 08:33 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Hi everybody,<br /><br />I'm a dutch cyclist and I've been doing short sessions on the Concept2 model D as an overall strength training for a while now. I use the highest drag, but it doesn't feel very heavy at all.<br />Last week my sister tried my rower and was surprised how easy and light it was, even at drag 10. She is used to another type of rower at her local gym which is far more heavier.<br />My question: anybody out there who has experience with other brands of rowers and can compare the differences in drag ?<br />By the way: no offence to the concept2 rower. It's a great machine and I love to train with it, but I would prefer it if it had a heavier drag.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />If you can find a model B, which has an open cage and 2 different gears, you will have the option of a significantly higher drag factor. The lowest I can get on mine, without providing additional covering, is about 150. With the vent open it is 210. I use the larger gear, which provides a lower resistance. Switching to the small gear would give me 15% more resistance (15/13) which would give it quite a heavy feel at the vent open drag of 210. Incidentally, the B doesn't need to have the cage cleaned. Since it is open, it does not collect dust. Note that there is a difference to the drag factor, which is solely dependent on the rate at which the wheel slows down, and the resistance, or feel of the pull, which is dependent on the force needed to increase the speed of the wheel, which is, in turn dependent of the gearing as well as the air resistance. The C's and D's have only one gear, which I believe is a 14 cog - midway between the 13 and 15 cog gears of the B.<br /><br />Bob S.<br /><br />

[[old] Atorrante]

<!--quoteo(post=59030:date=Mar 11 2006, 11:33 AM:name=trevor reznik)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(trevor reznik @ Mar 11 2006, 11:33 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Hi everybody,<br /><br />I'm a dutch cyclist and I've been doing short sessions on the Concept2 model D as an overall strength training for a while now. I use the highest drag, but it doesn't feel very heavy at all.<br />Last week my sister tried my rower and was surprised how easy and light it was, even at drag 10. She is used to another type of rower at her local gym which is far more heavier.<br />My question: anybody out there who has experience with other brands of rowers and can compare the differences in drag ?<br />By the way: no offence to the concept2 rower. It's a great machine and I love to train with it, but I would prefer it if it had a heavier drag.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I don't know how much time are you working on the erg, but after 20 minutes rowing at 220+ watts, you can be sure you'll be more than satisfied with the resistance perceived, even at drag 4.

[[old] michaelb]

Most of us seem to use the lower damper settings, so 2-5 on the lever, or 105-130 in terms of drag. The lower drag/damper means you have to be faster and more explosive in the drive, and feels more like a fast boat. The high drag settings are slow and feel like a row boat, so there is little or no reason to regularly row at high drag.

[[old] DavidW]

You can't say that it's too easy without saying how fast you're rowing. That's like saying riding a bike is too easy, even in 21st gear. <br /><br />The faster you spin the flywheel (i.e. the harder you pull) the harder it will be. What 500m splits are you pulling?

[[old] Ducatista]

<!--quoteo--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quotec-->You can't say that it's too easy without saying how fast you're rowing. That's like saying riding a bike is too easy, even in 21st gear. <br /><br />The faster you spin the flywheel (i.e. the harder you pull) the harder it will be. What 500m splits are you pulling? </td></tr></table><br />That's the beauty of the erg. Not hard enough for you? Pull harder. <br />

[[old] Ben Rea]

<!--quoteo(post=59103:date=Mar 12 2006, 09:56 AM:name=Ducatista)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Ducatista @ Mar 12 2006, 09:56 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quotec-->You can't say that it's too easy without saying how fast you're rowing. That's like saying riding a bike is too easy, even in 21st gear. <br /><br />The faster you spin the flywheel (i.e. the harder you pull) the harder it will be. What 500m splits are you pulling? </td></tr></table><br />That's the beauty of the erg. Not hard enough for you? Pull harder.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />simple as that!

[[old] trevor reznik]

Hi everybody,<br /><br />Thanks for the comments, but I would rather have an answer to my question...<br />My question was NOT: how can I get more drag out of the C2 (of course I know that the harder you pull, the harder it gets !).<br />My question was: How does the C2 compare to other brands/types regarding the drag (for example magnetic resistance).<br /><br />Greetings from da Lowlands.

[[old] PaulS]

<!--quoteo(post=59185:date=Mar 13 2006, 04:51 AM:name=trevor reznik)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(trevor reznik @ Mar 13 2006, 04:51 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Thanks for the comments, but I would rather have an answer to my question...<br />My question was NOT: how can I get more drag out of the C2 (of course I know that the harder you pull, the harder it gets !).<br />My question was: How does the C2 compare to other brands/types regarding the drag (for example magnetic resistance).<br /><br />"My question: anybody out there who has experience with other brands of rowers and can compare the differences in drag ?"<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Yes, Tunturi makes a rower with a magnetic resisted Flywheel which you can dial up so that the flywheel comes to a complete stop between drives. Of course this doesn't resemble rowing at all, but you apparently don't care about that. Do you want a rower, or a cable resisted isokinetic 'clean' machine? <br /><br />If you feel that you can simply not get the resistance you want on the C2, I'd suggest that you get in touch with a rowing coach and get technique sorted. There are folks that can produce more than 120kg of handle force at any of the Drag levels offered, and the machine will support more than that.<br /><br />Perhaps you could elaborate a bit more on what it is you are attempting to work on and the group would help with some suggestions.<br /><br />