I am normally a runner, but as a result of an achilles injury I have being rowing in the gym on a Concept2 a couple of times a week for the last 4 months, trying to keep up my fitness. My current PB's are 7:11 for 2k and 19:01 for 5k.
To date all of my rowing has been at a damper setting of 10 at stroke rates of between 25 and 32.
When I found this site yesterday, I was surprised to discover that damper settings of 3 to 5 are recommended, so I went to the gym and tried to row at these levels, but found it difficult to maintain splits below 1:50 for 500m, without upping stroke rates to 32 or beyond, which felt too fast and inefficient.
I a 6' and weigh roughly 95 kilo. Should I persist with high damper settings or keep trying at lower settings but change my technique. If the latter, can you give me some pointers as how to get more power at these lower damper settings?
Since I am new to this forum and Concept2, please accept my apologies in advance if I use the wrong terminology.
Damper Settings
Check the drag factor. (Do a search if you don't know how.) Machines with dust in them can have low drag at high damper settings. You want the drag in the 120-140 range.
If your drag is high gradually lower the damper settings. You need good technique. Again do a search on the forum and you will find videos of people rowing and advice given to them as well as examples of good technique.
If your drag is high gradually lower the damper settings. You need good technique. Again do a search on the forum and you will find videos of people rowing and advice given to them as well as examples of good technique.