newbie...

[mattmor]

Hello,

I'm new here, and just wanted to introduce myself. I've always found the different forums a very helpful community. I just purchased a C2 last week and have been rowing pretty steady. I'm a 36yo male 5'11" 175# pretty fit cyclist, but wondering how much improvement is likely with better technique and training.

I've currently done a few of the benchmark tests - 500m - 1.48, 2000m - 7.55, and 5000m - 20.39. I feel as though I've decent form, but will try to take a video and maybe post it here for critique. I just can't wrap my head around how much faster a lot of your times are. I'm rowing with a DF around 130 and r24-28 for most of my workouts.

Any tips, comments, or thoughts would be great. Thanks!

-matt

[bobkwan2007]

Welcome, Matt.

You've got pretty decent numbers for a newbie. No doubt as you log more meters on the erg your times are going to come down drastically.

Technique is critical. I didn't realize this until eight months after I started erging. But improving my form has gotten me much faster. Yeah, I thought my form was pretty sound too, until I watched a video of myself. Still lots of room for improvement, but focus on good form and you'll progress much faster.

I'd suggest using a training plan of some kind. It gives you some kind of direction in your training. Wolverine Plan is kind of like the gold standard around here, but there are others that are also great.

[Bob S.]

I'm rowing with a DF around 130 and r24-28 for most of my workouts.

The DF is a bit higher than average, but not out of line. r24-28 is a reasonable rate for say the 5k trial. But for workouts, it should vary much more, from as low as 16 or even lower on up to 40 or more, depending on the kind of workout. Use low rates on the long pieces and high rates on intervals and sprint trials. The Wolverine Plan is a good one for getting used to working at different rates.

Bob S.

[chgoss]

Hi Matt!
Those are plenty respectable numbers fella, you'll see them drop quickly if you erg regularly.

Check out this technique vid, the important part is leg drive first, then back, then arms, and opposite on recovery.
http://www.concept2.com/us/training/technique.asp

As far as training plans, I always recommend the "Just Show UP" tm plan.. so get RowPro and row with us online! Free eval copy at: http://www.digitalrowing.com/Downloads/index.htm

Good luck!
-chad

[mattmor]

Hi Matt!
Those are plenty respectable numbers fella, you'll see them drop quickly if you erg regularly.

As far as training plans, I always recommend the "Just Show UP" tm plan.. so get RowPro and row with us online! Free eval copy at: http://www.digitalrowing.com/Downloads/index.htm

Good luck!
-chad

Thanks for the positive comments.

Regarding RowPro, I've already downloaded it and tried to row online, but was unsuccessful. The one room I signed up for, I couldn't figure out how to actually enter the room and once I figured it out it was already started.

If it was scheduled for 7:00am, how do you do warmups? Do a "just row" for a few minutes before the scheduled time? Thanks.

-matt

[chgoss]

You get to RowPro's main session window by selecting "session setup", then "online", you should see the row that you have entered in the main window at that point.
Be sure to open the "chat" window, the button to do so is at the bottom of the main session window. You can see who else is online.

From the main session window, you can do two things:
1) join a schedule race (SR) that you have previously signed up for
2)create a quick race (select the quick race button next to the chat button)


your first race, sign up for it at: http://www.digitalrowing.com/Oarbits/Schedule.htm
show up 10 min early, open the chat window, then just let the other participants know that this is your first race, could they walk you thru it. They will be more than happy to do so.

hope to see you online