Drive with heels or toes?

[Cyclingman1]

Toes. Can you row hard without straps? If not pushing with toes, pretty hard to stay on foot rests without straps.

[jamesg]

Is it normal for heels to come up and drive through toes before the heels come down?

If we reach a catch posture with vertical shins, the heels will lift for most people. That's why the heels of the shoes, boat or erg, are not bolted down.

If we take the catch with the legs on an erg, then by the time the chain engages on reaching flywheel speed, the hips will have moved back at least 20 cm. That's enough to get the heels down. There's no need to think about it, just relax. Keeping the heels up would be a lot of pointless effort.

[gooseflight]

The heels going down is an important cue for opening the back. If you really do drive off the heels you are probably opening to early.

[H2O]

The heels going down is an important cue for opening the back. If you really do drive off the heels you are probably opening to early.

That's an interesting observation. I put much effort in to keep the heel down and feel that that has corrected my posture and gotten rid of my back problems.
But I have also been told by the coach at my club that I am opening a little too early.

[Jeromeno]

Depends on your flexibility and strokerate related to distance.

[gooseflight]

Depends on your flexibility and strokerate related to distance.

Eh? You mean you vary your stroke according to stroke rate and distance?

http://www.biorow.com/RBN_en_2008_files ... News07.pdf

[gmos]

Dumb question: at the stroke finish should the heels remain planted or to the toes extended? I assume heels down, otherwise the style of rowing strapless would be near impossible. I rowed for years by extending my toes at the finish for that extra bit of pull (probably also way over-extending my back). Then my knee started to hurt and I figured I must be doing it wrong.

[Dangerscouse]

Dumb question: at the stroke finish should the heels remain planted or to the toes extended? I assume heels down, otherwise the style of rowing strapless would be near impossible. I rowed for years by extending my toes at the finish for that extra bit of pull (probably also way over-extending my back). Then my knee started to hurt and I figured I must be doing it wrong.

I think it depends on how hard you are pulling. For a TT I always end up straining on the straps at the end but for a steady pace they are always planted