Can Strapless Rowing Be Faster?

[[old] DougB]

For all you strapless rowers out there, here's an interesting question. Do you think it's possible to get a faster time rowing a long race strapless as opposed to strapped? And by "long race" I mean sometime like 4000m or longer, where the pace doesn't exceed one's maximum strapless pace and energy expenditure is a concern. I'm thinking it's possible because strapless rowing can be more energy-efficient.<br><br>This weekend I did two races, 8000m strapped and 12000m strapless. The 8000m race was the first time I've rowed strapped in about six months, and my rate was 30 spm, higher than the 27 or 28 spm I was expecting. It was quite painful (probably just below my AT). The 12000m race was much easier (probably just above my AT), and although it was at a deliberately slower pace, I kept my stroke rate under control and felt comfortable the whole way. In fact, I ended up rowing the last 1000m faster in the 12K than I did in the 8K, despite the longer distance and lack of straps.<br><br>My guess is that I was rushing the recovery in the 8K (because the straps allowed it), so I was less efficient and just tired myself out more. (Rowing 3sec/500m faster also played a big part.) Strapless rowing encourages more control in the recovery, which seems to me to allow more rest and thus faster times over longer distances. The drawback to rowing a race strapless is that a sprint finish isn't possible, but I bet the increased efficiency the rest of the way more than makes up for that.<br><br>On the other hand, one could row strapped and row as if strapless, controlling the recovery on every stroke. But this might be hard to do without concentrating on it real hard, which is a challenge during a long race.<br><br>A better test to answer this question would be rowing the same distance in the same conditions both strapped and strapless. But without this result, I'm guessing that for strapless rowers, racing long distances strapless is faster, or at least no slower. Any thoughts? Has anyone tried such a test?<br><br>Doug<br>

[[old] Bill]

Hello,<br><br>I've been wondering about this recently. I dont know enough to say anything definitive, however here is what I think. I did a 10k sb strapless 2 weeks ago.<br><br>I suspect that if I was strapped I would always cheat on the final sprint and get a better time.<br> <br>I think if you calculate your pace just exactly right so that its an even pace all the way through emptying both the aerobic and anaerobic tanks as you cros the line and you havent got any energy to sprint at the end then it might be possible.<br><br>Are you out there Paul S ? Any comments<br><br><br>Bill<br><br><br><br><br>

[[old] PaulS]

Since it would be likely to keep the focus on generating power with the legs and making a good finish, while at the same time not allowing a rushed recovery to become an energy sink due to reversing a lot of momentum at the catch I would say "Sure, it's quite possible."<br><br>When the straps are on, you should still try to maintain the good habits you had without them, but can use them very slightly to increase SR a bit (trading rate for pace, maintaining SPI).<br><br>Once technique starts to fail, due to fatigue, being strapped in generally compounds the problem rather than covering it up.<br><br>- Paul Smith

[[old] michaelb]

When I did a 10k PB last winter I strapped in (after 6 months of rowing strapless for everything but sprints), and I was surprised how uncomfortable I was during that row. Maybe it was mental that day, but next time I try a long row for PB, I am going to leave the straps loose, so I get a little bit of give in the foot. I think that will be a better balance between training strapless and racing over long distances.

[[old] raverlaw]

I haven't gone strapless yet, but do most of my erging with the straps loose. If I over do it on the drive, the straps keep my feet from leaving the pads, but I don't rely on them for brakes. I think this is helping my technique. I do find that when I'm strapped in I row at a higher s/m, but my pace stays about the same. I think rowing with the straps loose is improving my strength more quickly than with the straps tight.<br>