Concept2 Forum

Hi - this is my first post here. I am looking for some way to assess my rowing. <br /> I am 49 y/o ex- skier, rock climber, mountaineer who had a ski accident 3 years ago and broke my back (T12) , injured my spinal cord, and have a paralyzed left leg and a spine fusion from L4 to T11. <br /> I am grateful to find erging - it is about the only way I can get fit with just one leg working.<br /> So when I row, I am really utilizing just my right leg and the left one just goes for the ride. <br /> I wonder if any of you able bodied rowers could indulge me and do a workout with one leg only and let me know what percent lower your times are than your norms. Maybe if I had a consensus of a few rowers, I would have a framework for knowing how I am doing. Or if any one else has any thoughts - let me know.<br /> Thanks ahead of time...

<!--QuoteBegin-arndog123+Dec 6 2005, 03:34 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(arndog123 @ Dec 6 2005, 03:34 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi - this is my first post here.  I am looking for some way to assess my rowing. <br />      I am 49 y/o ex- skier, rock climber, mountaineer who had a ski accident 3 years ago and broke my back (T12) , injured my spinal cord, and have a paralyzed left leg and a spine fusion from L4 to T11. <br />      I am grateful to find erging - it is about the only way I can get fit with just one leg working.<br />  So when I row, I am really utilizing just my right leg and the left one just goes for the ride.  <br />  I wonder if any of you able bodied rowers could indulge me and do a workout with one leg only and let me know what percent lower your times are than your norms.  Maybe if I had a consensus of a few rowers, I would have a framework for knowing how I am doing. Or if any one else has any thoughts - let me know.<br />  Thanks ahead of time... <br /> </td></tr></table><br />Hi<br />First of all do you use the slide by concept2? If not you should invest in a pair.<br />Secondly, I have worked with a rower here at the Iron Oarsman who can not bend one knee further than quater slide. He opted to row with one leg the Long Beach Sprints last year and got a 7:09 as a lightweight in his fifties.<br />Can your row with both legs strapped in?<br />I am excited that made the decision to share your story, because I strongly believe that indoor rowing is a GREAT form of exercise with people who do not have mobility with all their limbs.<br />By the way, would you be interested in logging your miles with IRON OARSMAN for the world ranking on the concept2.com website? We need all the rowers we can get. We are currently third behind a couple of groups who only row all day long. <br />I wish you a great week!<br />XENO

<!--QuoteBegin-arndog123+Dec 6 2005, 05:34 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(arndog123 @ Dec 6 2005, 05:34 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi - this is my first post here.  I am looking for some way to assess my rowing. <br />      I am 49 y/o ex- skier, rock climber, mountaineer who had a ski accident 3 years ago and broke my back (T12) , injured my spinal cord, and have a paralyzed left leg and a spine fusion from L4 to T11. <br />      I am grateful to find erging - it is about the only way I can get fit with just one leg working.<br />  So when I row, I am really utilizing just my right leg and the left one just goes for the ride.  <br />  I wonder if any of you able bodied rowers could indulge me and do a workout with one leg only and let me know what percent lower your times are than your norms.  Maybe if I had a consensus of a few rowers, I would have a framework for knowing how I am doing. Or if any one else has any thoughts - let me know.<br />  Thanks ahead of time... <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi there, welcome to the forums. I am mostly able bodied now days but I got into indoor rowing because of a nasty knee injury.<br /><br />The first part of my rowing I had limited flexibility in my right leg and it was painful to bend, much less apply force. I started with the right leg resting on the floor as I pulled and later as flexibility increased and pain decreased was able to row with both feet strapped in.<br /><br />Anyway, years later, I can row steadily for 10km in the 2:05/500m range. At the time I was only using one leg I would row 20sec @ 2:30, 20sec @ 2:15, and 20sec @ as hard as I could which was about 2:05 and repeat. <br /><br />Normal pace, with one leg, for cruising was in the 2:15 range. 2:30 or so for warm up cool down and I couldn't get under 2:00 to save my life. Now I warm up at 2:15 and can get down into the 1:40's during intervals or less during stupidity testing.<br /><br />Numbers aside I am a much better rower now than I was back then. I had no technique when I started out and the upper body mass of a road racing cyclist/runner (none). So, if you have good technique and good upper body mass my one leg times would be too slow for you. On the same note, focus on your own ability/improvement/feeling rather than targeting someone elses splits. From the background you mentioned you should have a great gut feeling of whether you are challenging yourself or not. Use a heart rate monitor to see if your heart rate goes down for a given pace as fitness/technique improves.<br />

<!--QuoteBegin-anomad+Dec 6 2005, 05:13 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(anomad @ Dec 6 2005, 05:13 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />At the time I was only using one leg I would row 20sec @ 2:30, 20sec @ 2:15, and 20sec @ as hard as I could which was about 2:05 and repeat.  <br /><br />Normal pace, with one leg, for cruising was in the 2:15 range.  2:30 or so for warm up cool down and I couldn't get under 2:00 to save my life. [right] </td></tr></table><br /><br />That is very impressive.<br />

Thanks for the prompt responses Xeno and Anomad.<br />Xeno - for the first year after the injury , I did not have enough adduction power in the injured leg and my knee would flop to the outside at the catch. So I initially took a fastex strap around both knees and the good leg kept the bad one from flopping to the outside. The other challenge was having no sensation on my seat and wondering if I am not moving off the seat.<br /> Now I have enough adduction to keep my knees properly aligned. So yes, I do strap both feet in. Thanks for the story about the lightweight guy who did a 7:09. Wow , this means I have to give up using this as an excuse for slow times ! <br /> Anomad - thanks for giving me ball park figures on what you could do one legged and 2 legged - that is the kind of info I was hoping for. It isn't that I want to target other's splits, I just want to get a feel for how much slower one is on an individual basis with one leg -then I can get a general feel from look at the "two-legged rankings. Thanks<br /> Hopefully, I will get some more data points out there !

Arndog:<br />I read you love open air sport.<br />If you are able to erg, why don't give it a try on the water?<br />Mabe you can look for a rowing club somwhere near?<br />All the best!

Hi Arndog,<br /><br /><!--QuoteBegin--><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'><!--QuoteEBegin-->If you are able to erg, why don't give it a try on the water? </td></tr></table><br /><br />I agree with Ancho, but we should warn you that it is very addictive. In addition to that, there is the option of rowing on land. For example with an Irish Mail you could attach your feet to the footrests and use your good leg for steering. <br /><br /><a href='http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/cycle/irishmail.html' target='_blank'>http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/cycle ... tml</a><br /><br />added later: Oh yes, I almost forgot. The DVD's by Xeno are great, and especially great if you're using slides. If you use the DVD's you'll have a head start if you decide to row on water also. You'll have the basic stroke, and all you'll need to learn is how to keep the boat set and some bladework such as feathering, getting the blades in and out on the square, and keeping the hands at the correct height. Nothing to it. Heh, heh. Well, OK it's a challenge, but watch how easy Xeno makes it look. The introduction of the first DVD shows Xeno rowing on water. <br /><br /> Byron

I live in Reno, NV and the nearest rowing clubs are probably on the other side of the Sierras in Sacramento. <br /> I have taken my sea kayak to lake Tahoe for a good upper body workout ( I know it is not exactly rowing).<br /> The water at Lake Tahoe is so often choppy, I wonder if a rowing skiff would be a good option. I have been eyeing the Heritage 15 rowing skiff from Little River Marine. Anyone ever use one? <br /> I do own a 3 wheel recumbent (tricycle) made by Catrike and basically do one legged pedaling in the summer.<br /> Byron, I did check out your irish mail cycle - have you ever looked at the handcycles (3 wheeled) used by paraplegics? - check out Quickie, Top End, or Freedom Ryder.<br />

Hi Arndog,<br />What a coincidence. I also have a Catrike. <br /><br /><a href='http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/cycle ... g_side.jpg' target='_blank'>http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/cycle ... jpg</a><br /><br />I have a neighbor who had polio as a youngster and one of her legs has very little strength or feeling. She rides on the back of my trike tandem sometimes. We think just the motion of the bad leg being dragged around in circles has helped her get more circulation into her bad leg. I wonder if the one-legged power application is helping the other leg a little.<br /><br />Yes, I've seen the handcycles. I'm not an expert, but from what I gather paraplegics are restricted to handcycles in races, although pushing and pulling a lever back and forth is more efficient that turning the hands in circles. <br /><br />Is the water at Lake Tahoe choppy early in the morning? Lots of people, including me, row before sunrise in the summer. The water is usually flat, and there are no power boats except for the coaches' launches. We all use flashing lights. When the water is rough, which sometimes happens even before sunrise, I usually go out in an open water boat such as a Maas Aero.<br /><br />Byron<br />

Come to think of it, the Ultra model of the Irish Mail might be a problem with just one good leg. You might have trouble on the uphills staying in a straight line. Ferez Industries makes a model that has cable steering. Also Scott Olson makes a rowbike that is a quad and that might work. If you like to go fast, and I am guessing you do, there is the Thys rowingbike:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.rowingbike.com/main.php?sNewLang=US' target='_blank'>http://www.rowingbike.com/main.php?sNewLang=US</a><br /><br />I've never seen one and I don't know anything about them. The Vogabikeiii looks neat:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.vogabike.com/english/idea.html' target='_blank'>http://www.vogabike.com/english/idea.html</a><br /><br />Byron<br /><br />

Hi thanks Bryon for your support.<br /><br />I found a kayak by Hobiecat.com that you can move by using your legs also. I am pretty sure that when you pull one leg back the other moves forward because of the mechanical system. So it should be possible to use if one leg does not want to play ball.<br />My father in law loves to be in Truckee/Northstar. We will be spending a week up there at the beginning of January.<br />All the best,<br />XENO

Byron - that is cool that you have a Catrike. They are great. Actually, it sounds like you have a gaggle of toys that you can choose from.<br />I will check out the other websites that you and Xeno refer to.

Here are some cool links about a forward facing row boat.<br /><br />On Water<br /><a href='http://www.forwardface.com/includes/mov ... ing_01.AVI' target='_blank'>http://www.forwardface.com/includes/mov ... AVI</a><br /><br />Propeller System<br /><a href='http://www.forwardface.com/includes/mov ... tan_02.AVI' target='_blank'>http://www.forwardface.com/includes/mov ... AVI</a><br /><br />Home Page<br /><a href='http://www.forwardface.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.forwardface.com/</a>

Here is a link to a kayak that Xeno mentioned:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models_mirage.html' target='_blank'>http://www.hobiecat.com/kayaking/models ... tml</a><br /><br />So many neat toys, so little time.<br /><br />Hi Arndog,<br /><br />Yes, the Catrike is a great trike, and fabulous cross training for rowing. Or you can take rowing as cross training for cycling. Either way makes sense. Rowing is more related to recumbent cycling than it is to riding an upright bike (sometimes called upwrongs by 'bent cyclists.)<br /><br />Hi John,<br /><br />That forward facing rowboat looks cool. I wonder if it would be faster than a kayak. I suspect not because of the propeller, but I don't know anything at all about kayaks or that forward facing rowboat. <br /><br />I'm so used to using a mirror when I cycle that for me it is easy and natural for me to use a mirror when I'm on the water in a shell. Still, I know some people just don't like the idea of not facing the direction they're traveling and so they choose kayaking over sculling. That forward facing rowboat might make a nice option for people who want to row but don't want not to face the direction of travel.<br /><br />Hi Xeno,<br /><br />That sounds like fun being in California. I'm having terrible withdrawl symptoms. The river is frozen, and I won't be able to row on water till spring. Still, there is winter cycling on my trike, the C2 and your DVD's, the Irish Mail, etc. so I'll manage. <br /><br />Byron

Byron,<br /><br />The link said the forward facing style is faster, but I didn't find any results to verify.<br /><br />I always rode with a mirror on my bike.<br /><br />Guys would get frustrated because I could see them coming on breakaways.