Hitting The End Of The Thing, A Beginner Question.

[old] Tom Scott · Post by **[old] Tom Scott** » September 2nd, 2004, 3:40 pm

Just started rowing a concept 2 at my health club (okay, I've done it twice, I'm really a beginner). I find that I hit the end when my legs are extended. I'm a long-limbed, 6'5", 240 lbs, 40+, marathon-running, weight-lifting guy, for what it's worth. The fact that many rowers are taller than me suggests to me that I'm doing something wrong. I think I have my size 16 feet in the straps about the only way possible, but maybe I'm missing something. Some years ago I picked up a used similarly styled rowing machine (not Concept 2) and modified it but still hit the end. I figured that was just a cheapo machine and got rid of it. The Concept 2 isn't as bad, but it is a bit annoying when I hit the end. I can't modify the club's machine, obviously. So I have two-part question: a. is there a way to set up to avoid hitting the end? and b. if we get a home system, is there an XL or something? My 6'1" wife has legs as long as mine and my 6', 13yr old daughter has legs even longer. btw, we saw that the rowers in the olympics were our size and decided that rowing was going to be our thing, so we're looking to get into both indoor rowing and the real thing. We'll see if stick to it or if it's a passing fad for us. Our daughter is sports-adverse, but attracted to unusual things, especially anything with an old British feel to it, so maybe she'll get into rowing. I have to say, Concept 2 rowing feels really smooth, natural, and good for me. I'll be real embarrassed if I'm hitting the end because I'm doing something really dumb.

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » September 2nd, 2004, 4:10 pm

Tom, Sounds like you're doing it right, as there's not much to go wrong when extending the legs. Check to make sure the seat is on right, with the indentation to the back and the ridge to the front, though that shouldn't make much difference as to hitting the back. My inseam is 32 5/8 inches and the under roller housing (I just checked) is 9 or so inches from the back, so your inseam must be around 42 inches? If all checks out, then C2 should be able to provide a longer railing for you. They might be reading this and will comment. Otherwise you could give them a call and find out.

[old] Tom Scott · Post by **[old] Tom Scott** » September 2nd, 2004, 4:27 pm

Thanks. I'll check out the machine more closely tomorrow (model, seat, etc.). My inseam is 36 or 37; if you're 9" from the end, something's wrong with my setup. It looks like if I position my feet higher, it would help. Maybe I could fiddle with that somewhat.

[old] mtnbiker · Post by **[old] mtnbiker** » September 2nd, 2004, 4:41 pm

Tom look on the bottom of erg you can adjust the roller set up it isnt much but it might help Leon

[old] mtnbiker · Post by **[old] mtnbiker** » September 2nd, 2004, 4:47 pm

sorry i mean the bottom of seat the back roller is adjustable check it out Leon

[old] raverlaw · Post by **[old] raverlaw** » September 2nd, 2004, 4:50 pm

Tom, I don't know which model your club has, but the newest model (D) has multiple holes for mounting the seat to the rollers- you can select holes which lengthen the travel by about an inch. This requires unbolting and rebolting the seat, but maybe your club would agree to do it for you, as it doesn't really affect use of the rower by any other persons, except maybe midgets or munchkins. Also, if you're wearing shoes with really thick soles, that might cost you an inch or so. I like to row in my cushioned running socks, sans shoes.

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » September 2nd, 2004, 5:23 pm

Tom, I just sat there and stuck a ruler underneath, so it might actually be closer than 9 inches when I'm rowing. Good points about the rollers and shoes though. I row barefoot, which saves about an inch. Both the foot plates and the rollers are in the middle positions.

[old] Cran · Post by **[old] Cran** » September 2nd, 2004, 5:27 pm

put the feet higher, it might give a few extra inches, and higher feet is probably not a bad thing anyway.

[old] c2jonw · Post by **[old] c2jonw** » September 2nd, 2004, 10:44 pm

Hi Tom, As mentioned above, the top, back seat roller can be easily repositioned to give you another inch or so of travel, and raising the flex feet will also help, though with a size 16 shoe you may not have much room there. Sitting a little further back on the seat (with a seat pad, if that helps) is also a possibility. And if none of the above works, we have a longer monorail available (usually used by NBA players!). Not sure about the extra cost, I'm at home now. Give us a call anytime and ask about the extra long monorail for details......Jon Williams

[old] c2jonw · Post by **[old] c2jonw** » September 3rd, 2004, 7:59 am

Hi Tom, Whew, back at work now....A model D with the longer monorail costs an additional $50 in the US. It is 4 3/4" longer than the standard length........Jon W

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » September 3rd, 2004, 3:56 pm

You might also have someone observe what the seat is doing at the end of the drive, just to make sure it's really hitting the leg at the back etc.

[old] Tom Scott · Post by **[old] Tom Scott** » September 8th, 2004, 4:18 pm

Problem solved. I just put my feet up higher, and no problem. If I use notch 4, it goes right to the end, but doesn't hit hard and the balls of my feet are still on the footplate (on notch 2 I don't hit the end but my feet are off the top of the footplate). I think I'm remembering the numbers right.

[old] eurofoot13 · Post by **[old] eurofoot13** » September 8th, 2004, 8:31 pm

Side note to all of this - apparently putting the feet at the top notch helps power transfer....or something? I just noticed that on all of our ergs and in all of our boats the footplate was set so the toes extended beyond the actual plate. Just a thought.

[old] Carl Henrik · Post by **[old] Carl Henrik** » September 9th, 2004, 8:09 am

On the side note, setting feet higher: It makes the stroke shorter because you can not lean as much forward with your upper body. It gets harder to begin leg drive without engaging the back wich is bad if you are trying to learn that technique . Also it has in my own experience a big negative effect on balance in the boat because of higher positioned centre of mass. This may have no impact on boat speed for olympic rowers who knows how to balance themselves, but it has for me. The win is a better angle of attack for the legs wich improves power and also lesstendency for bouncing the boat.

[old] grams · Post by **[old] grams** » September 9th, 2004, 10:38 pm

Silly question: are you 'locking' your knees at the end of the stroke? That's a no-no. If you are, then maybe not doing it would shorten your slide length. grams

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