skin cancer or indoor rowing-what to choose?

[hbwhite3]

Even though indoor rowing has been growing in popularity and positive publicity, here is an example how in a club's membership family, rowers and rowing are treated like a distant cousin, a red headed step child, or a weird uncle.
Even though I got as enthusiastic and as amped up about indoor rowing as all of you, I have not been able to row but four times in the last two months. Back and knees forced me to give up tournament racquetball. Last fall I eased into rowing very slowly and decided to make that my alternative. I wondered if I would be able to do the holiday 100,000 meter challenge and ended up getting carried away and squeezed out 160,000. I decided to go for the half marathon. Until the beginning of April and the spring sun came out and my plan was altered.
The club has three Concept 2s which is more than most clubs. Well, that is the good news. They are in a west corner facing a picture window that is floor to almost the ceiling. AND, on that west corner side is another floor to almost ceiling window where the afternoon and evening sun is nothing short of brutal. Sharp and bright as can be.
My skin pigment resembles a piece of chalk. Michael Jackson could call me Casper. Combine my skin with the strength of the nuclear west sun beaming down on the Concept corner and it is a recipe for all those dire skin cancer warnings.
WHAT TO DO?
-I can dress like a beekeeper. Well actually I have tried that with gloves, shirt, hat, and face wrap from a sun precautions company but the face wrap impedes breathing. All that plus sun glasses gives me a Ted Kazinsky look that most would strive to avoid.
-I can be a rowing vampire and only row during sundown hours but in the summer those hours of opportunity are quite lessened.
-I can wait to row for the cloud cover of severe thunder storm or tornado warnings or I can really play it safe and row only during solar eclipses.
ORRRRRRR,
I can use one of over 20 elipticals, one of over 20 treadmills, one of over 15 bikes that are not exactly in that west corner that do not get the full force of the blazing west sun like the 3 Concept 2's receive. Asking to move one of the three rowers for a member of 16 months is something that already has been asked and answered/ignored.
Now maybe all those increasing skin cancer stats are actually just propaganda and are phony press releases from the vast right wing/left wing conspiracy. I can't take that chance.
Unfortunately right now I can't do the other option and purchase my own Concept 2.

Harry

[Snail Space]

If the windows are closed the glass will filter out the harmful UV rays, so the only adverse effect will be the radiant heat.

If you do buy your own C2 you can stop paying gym fees and the ergo will have paid for itself in a relatively short time.

It's win win all the way.

Cheers
Dave

[kirbyt]

Have to agree with Dave about the windows, they must have UV block but that sure sounds like it'd be some damn hot conditions for rowing. See if you can get them to move them, you're paying fees afterall.

Kirby

Oh, I just read the end of your post about being ignored. You should think about buying one, I don't know what your gym fees are but for me, the cost will be recouped in less than two years and it's so much easier for scheduling, convenience and just plain sanity I think it's worth it. Resale is very good too.

[Nosmo]

Why ask? Just move it to where you want to row and put it back when you are done. It is easier to ask forgiveness then permission.

It is really easy to move: there are wheels on the front, just lift the back and roll it out of the sun.