Fan to keep cool while rowing

[aussieluke]

A simple thing but I thought I'd ask before I make the wrong purchase...

I want to get a fan to point at me while I'm on the C2. I was planning to get one of those industrial looking 45cm floor fans, with the plan to put it on the floor underneath the erg between the footplate and the flywheel, pointing slightly upwards.

But had a couple of doubts: will the fan interfere with the airflow from the flywheel in any way? (I know having it too close to a wall etc can have an effect.) and also could having a strong airflow over the rail cause problems with sweat and the black gunk drying on the rail too quickly?

[Carl Watts]

Some of those "Industrial" looking fans can move some serious air, probably a bit much but then they are also pretty expensive in the $300-$400 area over here for a serious one.

Just use the el-cheapo pedestal variety myself, these cost $30-$40. The one in the rowing room is just the desktop version and it gets propped up in the open window to blow in fresh air.

Heat is one thing but the fan isn't going to help the humidity which is the bigger problem over here. Ideally your rowing room would be pretty big and incorporate a heatpump to control both the temperature and humidity. Personally the 18-20 Deg C temperature range is ideal.

[aussieluke]

Hi Carl,

I'm in Perth Australia btw. I have my erg in the front room and there is an aircon unit right on the wall above it. It cools the room down but I can't get any direct airflow onto me from where it is. Even if I set the aircon to 18 deg and it pumps out freezing cold air it doesn't seem to help much!

It is coming into winter here now and it is cool in the mornings and evenings, but I think I just need some direct airflow on me.

I am just talking about the floor version of one of those pedestal fans, as I find those too noisy and annoying.

[bisqeet]

Cbreeze ?
Fixes onto the c2. Cools yourself directly from the rower.
Row faster and harder to cool yourself more...errrr...

[Carl Watts]

I figured your in Aussie from your Aussieluke.

Mate sounds like you need to harden up, been rowing in the early 30's over here with humidity in the 80-90% region !!!

I would just put a pedestal fan in front of the rower and point it at you or else a small fan pointing at your back behind the rower is also effective. If the air temp is already 18 Deg C you just need to move it about a bit. The smaller cheap fans are also almost silent, got one in the bedroom and it runs all night in the summer.

Your not sweating until you can see it run down the slide and form a pool at the plastic !!!!

[aussieluke]

Mate, I have never sweat as much in my life as I do on the erg!

I have to put towels on top of the foam jigsaw mats I have underneath the rower, because the sweat pools up so much it runs between the mats.

I get puddles of sweat on the slide, two puddles behind me from my elbows and two big ones in front of me where it drips off my hands at the catch!

I took my erg out into the patio a couple of times and even though it was around 30, it was better because there was some air movement. Can't take it out there very often though unfortunately.

None of the big shops seem to be stocking any fans at the moment as its winter, but I have just found one on Gumtree and am picking it up on my way home tonight. Hopefully it is not too big to fit under the front of the erg. If it is I will find somewhere else for it.

[j1huegel]

I use the CBreeze and it's quite nice. It directs a flow of air along your right side. Once you are up to speed the airflow is very cooling.

[Drivetofast]

I also use CBreeze But i have it turned the other way so my Lab get's the air She likes to lay under the Fan

[left coaster]

Sweatiest Rower = AuzieLuke for the Win!!!

That's some serious drippage you got going on there bro

I live in Victoria, BC. Just did a row in front of an open window, it's about 14 degrees (Celsius) outside. How sweet it is

[kini62]

My rower is on my deck (concrete floor).

I live in Hawaii at around 1600' elevation and even when it's relatively cool (low 70s) I sweat buckets just like you Luke.

I wear a t-shirt just to help soak up the sweat and keep it from splashing all over the place when I bring the handle to my chest. So even though I'm outdoors more or less and get some breeze here and there the sweat is always plenty. I've tried using a pedestal fan. It didn't do much so I don't bother anymore.

[aussieluke]

Sweatiest Rower = AuzieLuke for the Win!!!

At least I am finally better than everyone else on here at something! lol

[aussieluke]

My rower is on my deck (concrete floor).

I live in Hawaii at around 1600' elevation and even when it's relatively cool (low 70s) I sweat buckets just like you Luke.

I wear a t-shirt just to help soak up the sweat and keep it from splashing all over the place when I bring the handle to my chest. So even though I'm outdoors more or less and get some breeze here and there the sweat is always plenty. I've tried using a pedestal fan. It didn't do much so I don't bother anymore.

Ha yeah I get that too - if the handle hits my chest a little too hard there is a spray! (yeah gross huh)

I got a fan last night - bigger than I thought and it won't quite fit under the front of the rower. It is pretty intense too even on low, but the way my set up is, it is plugged into the wall behind me - so i can easily reach back and switch it on mid workout - or off if need be.

[gcanyon]

I like to have two box fans (20 inches -- half a meter), one in front, one in back.