Beginners at Concept2

[bernardocharles]

Greetings,

This was my first time rowing. To start, it was not easy, how to use the digital pad and also connect to bluetooth.
But I was brave and start a new workout as a beginner and I had been rowing 2km in 9:04. I'll try to record all my scores and share with you.

My name is Bernardo Charles and I'm from México.

Cheers!

[Citroen]

Just sit on the rower and pull the handle. Worry about Ergdata and connecting your phone later.

Head over to https://log.concept2.com and create an account.
Head over to https://www.concept2.com/service/software/ergdata and get the Ergdata version for Android or iOS.

Press

the third button down on the right to get to the connection menu. [Connect | ●]



Simplemente siéntate en el remero y tira del mango. Preocúpese por Ergdata y conecte su teléfono más tarde.

Dirígete a https://log.concept2.com y crea una cuenta.
Dirígete a https://www.concept2.com/service/software/ergdata y obtén la versión Ergdata para Android o iOS.

prensa

el tercer botón hacia abajo a la derecha para acceder al menú de conexión [Connect | ●]

Perdón por mi español, lo hace el Sr. Google.

[Dangerscouse]

Greetings,

This was my first time rowing. To start, it was not easy, how to use the digital pad and also connect to bluetooth.
But I was brave and start a new workout as a beginner and I had been rowing 2km in 9:04. I'll try to record all my scores and share with you.

My name is Bernardo Charles and I'm from México.

Cheers!

Welcome to the forum Bernardo. Don't try and rush your progress and just patiently keep increasing your pace and distances.

Take a bit of time to get used to the monitor and press buttons so you can learn from your mistakes. Once you get used to it, it is very user friendly but sometimes Bluetooth can let you down

[mitchel674]

Welcome! Keep us posted with your progress. Any specific questions regarding the PM monitor?

[jabbba]

Hi guys,

Another beginner here... I bought the machine afraid of the full lockdown to substitute for my running. Been rowing for about a week now and love it. I am not trying to be a great rower but would like to gradually improve and hopefully also get some benefits for running.

Is there a benchmark workout so I can calculate my paces. It is usual in running to use your most recent 5k result and calculate training paces for your intervals/tempo/long runs. Something similar in indoor rowing? What are the common workouts, types of sessions, training distances? I have been using the default ones (they are lots of fun), but have a feeling that I might get bored or that they may not give me the best bang for the buck.

Thanks in advance...

[Citroen]

Is there a benchmark workout so I can calculate my paces.

Not really unless you count the 2K.

The important things (in sequential order) are:
1. Learn to row
2. Improve technique
3. Cure the problems you've introduced at step 1 & 2
4. Start rowing to a plan like https://thepeteplan.wordpress.com/beginner-training/
5. Row a 2K

You'll get the rowing and technique improvements from YouTube
You can do #3 by posting your own video on YT and posting the link on here

If you build in technique faults and don't do step 3 you'll have those faults forever (in a boat that could send you swimming).

[Dangerscouse]

Hi guys,

Another beginner here... I bought the machine afraid of the full lockdown to substitute for my running. Been rowing for about a week now and love it. I am not trying to be a great rower but would like to gradually improve and hopefully also get some benefits for running.

Is there a benchmark workout so I can calculate my paces. It is usual in running to use your most recent 5k result and calculate training paces for your intervals/tempo/long runs. Something similar in indoor rowing? What are the common workouts, types of sessions, training distances? I have been using the default ones (they are lots of fun), but have a feeling that I might get bored or that they may not give me the best bang for the buck.

Thanks in advance...

Welcome to the forum. A 2k pace is usually the benchmark that is used for pacing.

Programmes all depend on your goals, but ideally you want to do a variety of long and short distances, fast and slow, & high and low rates (18spm-30spm). As mentioned the Beginners Pete Plan is a great programme to follow.

Also check your drag factor. Don't set it too high, and it's probably best to play around with it but usually it's best somewhere between 110-130 but you might like it higher or lower.

[jabbba]

Thanks for the info guys... That plan seems to be exactly what I was after... Some guidance and variety.

I usually develop unhealthy obsession with things I like, really quickly, and seems like it may be the same with rowing. Already watched a ton of videos on youtube. Reading everything I can find on this forum and other websites. I have to be honest, I think I am really fit for my age (49) and been running regularly over the last 5 years, and it will be a challenge for me not too get too carried away with rowing. I want running to stay my number one sport (for as long as I am healthy and injury free) and if I try to be the best I can in rowing, I feel that it might be detrimental for my running.

These are the last two workouts I did:

https://log.concept2.com/profile/1335482/log/42998773
https://log.concept2.com/profile/1335482/log/43070107

My upper body is weak and I have a very bad posture. I hope you can share some tips how to improve that. Any tips how to start generating some serious watts

[Citroen]

My upper body is weak and I have a very bad posture. I hope you can share some tips how to improve that. Any tips how to start generating some serious watts

Rowing is NOT an upper body sport. Your upper body is just used to transfer the power from your legs to the handle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXnKyJdA01w

[Dangerscouse]

Ok, this isn't always the case but a good runner usually doesn't make a good rower and vice versa (I'm a terrible runner and I'm struggling after five mins but I'll happily row for 90 mins with no hesitation).

What you hopefully have got is strong legs so don't worry too much about not having upper body strength as pushing rather than pulling is the predominant factor. Posture is important but I don't know of any way of improving on that other than being mindful and rowing slowly so you can consider your posture. Loose shoulders, sit tall, rock backwards and forwards etc

Try and imagine jumping horizontally away from the rower and get used to the discrete parts of rowing (catch, drive, finish, recovery). For a seemingly simple exercise it's surprisingly technical and easy to leak power.

They are good times as a beginner and it's good to see you have got low drag too. What you will get is newbie gains without much effort so don't overthink it for the moment apart from getting your technique right as improvements naturally follow on from that.

[winniewinser]

Hi,

I found this quite useful.....row along.

https://youtu.be/b-yiSfzl2dU

Cheers

[hjs]

My upper body is weak and I have a very bad posture. I hope you can share some tips how to improve that. Any tips how to start generating some serious watts

Rowing is NOT an upper body sport. Your upper body is just used to transfer the power from your legs to the handle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXnKyJdA01w

Rowers needs to have a strong back, to transfer the power, compared to runners, cyclist etc rowers have strong upperbodies. Talking about the pulling muscle.

[lindsayh]

this is a useful thread with a lot of good information to start with
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=185257&hilit=newbie

[jamesg]

Any tips how to start generating some serious watts

This can only be done if you learn to row first, using standard rowing technique that engages the legs: they're strong, but using them effectively is not automatic.

As a benchmark, once you've seen how rowing works, try pulling 500m as fast as you can, and note the Watts. Around half that power will keep you fit. Or develop about 2 W/kg at low ratings, 19-22 as to height.

[Citroen]

this is a useful thread with a lot of good information to start with
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=185257&hilit=newbie

Good idea. I've made that a "sticky" post so it stays at the top of the list.