Concept 2 Rail

[vsaksena]

My concept 2 rail is it an incline i.e. the foot-rest end is about 2.5 cm lower than the far end. Is it OK or the rail has to be absolutely horizontal? Any feedback will most appreciated.

[Citroen]

My concept 2 rail is it an incline i.e. the foot-rest end is about 2.5 cm lower than the far end. Is it OK or the rail has to be absolutely horizontal? Any feedback will most appreciated.

Entirely normal. The rail is never horizontal on a model D or E.

There was a product recall for machine purchased between August 1, 2006 and April 19, 2007. http://www.concept2.com/us/service/indo ... atigue.asp

[Bob S.]

My concept 2 rail is it an incline i.e. the foot-rest end is about 2.5 cm lower than the far end. Is it OK or the rail has to be absolutely horizontal? Any feedback will most appreciated.

The C2 indoor rowers were originally designed to simulate rowing in a shell as close as possible. In most shells, there is a slight decline in the seat tracks, i.e. slightly higher at the bow end than at the stern end. I don't know if there is some standard angle for this and I don't know why it is standard practice to have that decline. I did find it advantageous to be assured that the seat was always at the same place (closest to the footboards) when I sat down. You can't see that seat as you are getting into the boat, so it is a good thing to know that it is always in the same place without having to check it each time. There were a few times that I have gotten into boats with "sticky" seats — in other words, seats that did not roll freely and would be hung up, especially those stuck near the bow end. It is quite disconcerting to find yourself sitting on the bare tracks with the seat behind you while you are trying to keep the blasted boat balanced. This situation usually requires getting up out of the boat again, trying to get the seat to stay in its proper place, and then reboarding. Another option is to raise yourself up to get your rear back onto the seat, but this requires using your hands on the gunnels to lift your weight up while at the same time you are using a hand on the outboard oar handle to keep the boat from flipping. Note: On the other side, the rigger or the oar will be on the dock, keeping it from flipping in that direction. If you have drifted away from the dock you have to hang on to both oar handles. If you are launching from a beach, it would probably be too shallow to flip. However I remember the first time that I ever tried out a single shell. It involved launching from a beach and I was having a big problem with the shell tipping to the point where it was shipping water and getting swamped. That incident was not a matter a sticky seat, but a case of a singles novice who had never been in any shells other than the big, very stable eights. I was doing it on my own, so there wasn't anyone one around to give me instructions.

Sorry to be so long-winded about this. I just got carried away. But, yeah — that slope in the rail is deliberate — not a flaw in your machine.

Bob S.

[vsaksena]

You guys rock. This is the best support group.

[c2jonw]

We put the slope in the rail of the original model A (and all models thereafter) to counteract the additional energy required to haul your body back up to the catch- to make the erg feel more like rowing on the water. On the water the boat comes to you during the recovery. We were not trying to imitate the slope of the tracks in a boat......C2JonW

[Nosmo]

Ideally the recovery in rowing is completely relaxed. (there should be no wind up as in say swinging a base ball bat). With the rail on a slope, one can get the hands out and body angle set and you can completely relax as the seat comes to the catch. There is no need to pull oneself forward, and in a boat pulling oneself forward can slow the boat down. On the erg I doubt it makes much difference but a lot of really ugly technique doesn't matter much on the erg but would in a boat.

[Bob S.]

We were not trying to imitate the slope of the tracks in a boat......C2JonW

Whoops! I screwed up on that one. But jumping to conclusions is one of my regular exercises.

Bob S.