Newbie Questions - Training Question - Drag Factor

[Lachlan]

Hello, I am only 1 month into training on my Concept2 Indoor Rowing ERG. I'm wondering what Drag Factor I should be aiming for when doing the Interval in and interval training session? What does drag factor mean? Any advise appreciated. Thanks Lachlan

[Citroen]

https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/ ... etting-101

[lindsayh]

it varies a bit from person to person but think 110-130 for most unless you are super strongman and it will help to experiment to find your sweet spot.
IMO where you set it in that sort of range won't make a lot of difference for nearly all your training - just find a number and leave it there.
Don't forget that if using gym machines the actual df will vary hugely depending on how clean the machine is so best to get into the habit of checking with each session - not so important at home on one machine
It's one of the most discussed subjects on this forum and a search will find a lot of stuff which will help a lot
Apart from the ..df101 link above here are some others that may help

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uc2HQILJhU&t=41s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxKlIdwk-bI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEqWFHH1yeU

[max_ratcliffe]

Bizarrely, one of the ergs at the gym I go to has a DF of 58 with the lever pushed up to 10. One of the others only goes up to 80ish.

It feels very hard to get any force into the stroke. Those machines must be filthy on the inside.

[lindsayh]

Bizarrely, one of the ergs at the gym I go to has a DF of 58 with the lever pushed up to 10. One of the others only goes up to 80ish. It feels very hard to get any force into the stroke. Those machines must be filthy on the inside.

not seen 58 max but they should be 200+ so your diagnosis is correct! I teach them how to clean them and show them the results - need a screwdriver, a brush, small vacuum cleaner and 10 minutes. Well worth doing.

[jimmyshand]

When I used to row at the gym one of the four rowers I think had a max DF of 76. I told the guys at the gym and they cleaned them all and I was very impressed but in general I find gym ergs very badly maintained and often almost unusable.

Haven't checked max DF on my own machine lately so this is a good reminder.

[hjs]

Bizarrely, one of the ergs at the gym I go to has a DF of 58 with the lever pushed up to 10. One of the others only goes up to 80ish.

It feels very hard to get any force into the stroke. Those machines must be filthy on the inside.

Thats more or less a record, those fans are really dustholes...

[Ted12]

Checked the DF on the rower I was using at gym last night, with the setting on 3 it was only showing a DF of 55 when I put lever up to 10 it was showing 85. Obviously another filthy one !
Would this effect my times I have been producing ? and should I now put lever up to 10 when using it ?

[jamesg]

85 is enough but only just, best get it cleaned.

The lower the drag the faster you can go, if you know how.

To get fit all you need do is pull about 2W/kg for 30-40 minutes a day. With low drag this can be done if your stroke is full length, even at low ratings.

[hjs]

Checked the DF on the rower I was using at gym last night, with the setting on 3 it was only showing a DF of 55 when I put lever up to 10 it was showing 85. Obviously another filthy one !
Would this effect my times I have been producing ? and should I now put lever up to 10 when using it ?

Yes, but really tell the people who are responseble for the machines.
“Normal” drag, as in drags that mimic otw rowing are in the 120/140 range. No serious rower use drags far below 100.

[mitchel674]

Bizarrely, one of the ergs at the gym I go to has a DF of 58 with the lever pushed up to 10. One of the others only goes up to 80ish.

It feels very hard to get any force into the stroke. Those machines must be filthy on the inside.

Someone should get a photo of the inside of that erg.

[max_ratcliffe]

Bizarrely, one of the ergs at the gym I go to has a DF of 58 with the lever pushed up to 10. One of the others only goes up to 80ish.

It feels very hard to get any force into the stroke. Those machines must be filthy on the inside.

Someone should get a photo of the inside of that erg.

They had 5 machines until March, including a relatively new model E. The two best machines disappeared, stolen according to the gym staff. I find this astonishing. How do you walk out with an erg under each arm?

To be fair to them, they have installed a pristine skierg as a replacement.

[Ted12]

So I have told the guy at the gym that the machines are in need of a good clean (got a blank look when trying to explain DF) did not really get the response I was looking for, so will have to have the setting on 10 for a DF of 85 for the time being.

Looking at changing gyms with hopefully better maintained machines or do you think this is a common problem with general gyms.

[Cyclist2]

It's the same at every gym, although the degree to which they let them collect dust will vary. Gyms are dirty places and the machines get dusty pretty quickly. They, generally, do get a lot of use, albeit in abusive 5 minute increments. Offering to clean them yourself is an option, but they probably won't be willing to do that either. Good luck.

[Dino]

So I have told the guy at the gym that the machines are in need of a good clean (got a blank look when trying to explain DF) did not really get the response I was looking for, so will have to have the setting on 10 for a DF of 85 for the time being.

Looking at changing gyms with hopefully better maintained machines or do you think this is a common problem with general gyms.

sounds all too familiar. chap at my work was complaining couple of months back his gyms 2 ergo were too easy to pull so I asked him to check drag factor, one was 72 and the other 120, that's on max damper setting of 10. They aren't interested either in doing anything about it.
My C2 Model D goes from DF 82 on damper setting 1 to DF 216 on 10, I checked it this morning out of interest. Think that's the first time I have ever moved the lever to 10!