Concept2 Forum

http://www.concept2.co.uk/wirc/race_ana ... sen&race=3

They call it a 2000M sprint. Henrik Stephansen SPRINTED!

Does anyone know what the damper was set at?

I plan on lowering the damper setting (4), 120df and trying a higher stroke rate.
I think this may be a good strategy for a not so powerful lightweight like me.
Has anyone experimented with this?

kipkeino68 wrote:http://www.concept2.co.uk/wirc/race_ana ... sen&race=3

They call it a 2000M sprint. Henrik Stephansen SPRINTED!

Does anyone know what the damper was set at?

I plan on lowering the damper setting (4), 120df and trying a higher stroke rate.
I think this may be a good strategy for a not so powerful lightweight like me.
Has anyone experimented with this?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/4024 ... de9ccb.jpg

Hard to tell about drag factor, but brand new machine, damper looks like 4-5 so in the region of 125-135 maybe, but then again I am just speculating

He always rates high 30's low 40's for 2km for his last few outings and make it look quite relaxed as does Eskild Ebbesen. You have to learn to use what tools you have. Stephansen is obviously very aerobically gifted, strong and powerful. High rates work well for him and the other danish lightweights. Others rate lower as to do otherwise may be counter productive.

Video of the race can be seen here
http://www.concept2.com/movies/race14.mov

Ray79 wrote:Hard to tell about drag factor, but brand new machine, damper looks like 4-5 so in the region of 125-135 maybe, but then again I am just speculating

On my new machine at the event, damper 5 equalled about 118. I didn't have time to set the drag precisely. Several folks commented on the need to crank up the damper substantially to raise the drag to familiar levels. If my machine was comparable, drag 4-5 would be closer close 110-115. Just more speculation.

kipkeino68 wrote:http://www.concept2.co.uk/wirc/race_ana ... sen&race=3

They call it a 2000M sprint. Henrik Stephansen SPRINTED!

Does anyone know what the damper was set at?

I plan on lowering the damper setting (4), 120df and trying a higher stroke rate.
I think this may be a good strategy for a not so powerful lightweight like me.
Has anyone experimented with this?

The lever was pointing straight back. I'm not sure what that is but probably around 120. Ebbesen uses a drag factor of 117 to 121.

I am experimenting with higher rates and would like to get my 2k above 40 spm. The key to this is relaxation and practice.

John Rupp wrote:

kipkeino68 wrote:http://www.concept2.co.uk/wirc/race_ana ... sen&race=3

They call it a 2000M sprint. Henrik Stephansen SPRINTED!

Does anyone know what the damper was set at?

I plan on lowering the damper setting (4), 120df and trying a higher stroke rate.
I think this may be a good strategy for a not so powerful lightweight like me.
Has anyone experimented with this?

The lever was pointing straight back. I'm not sure what that is but probably around 120. Ebbesen uses a drag factor of 117 to 121.

I am experimenting with higher rates and would like to get my 2k above 40 spm. The key to this is relaxation and practice.

John,

You will be underminning your own success by trying to rate too high for a 2k, as your stroke count is going to be far in excess of what would be optimal. R40 may be okay for someone who is going to be done in about 6 minutes, but if you are going to require nearly 300 strokes instead of 240, it's going to be very tough going indeed.

Who was the guy next to Stephansen? Stephansen didn't look that tired at the end of the 2k, but the guy next to him sure did.

He had fellow Danes on each side. Mads Rasmussen on #8 and Eskild Ebbsen on #10. The amazing thing about Stephansens piece was that his erg was galloping forward on the first 10 strokes before a volunteer put her foot on it to keep it from moving. I suspect that cost him a WR. But it was his WR already so I suspect it's only a matter of time befor he lowers it.

Facing them from the front, Rasmussen on the left and Ebbesen on the right.

The erg moving sure must have cost him some time, and still he did 1:29.5 the first 500 meters.

He's not been close to the WR yet but looks like he'll give it a shake very soon.

PaulS wrote:John,

You will be underminning your own success by trying to rate too high for a 2k, as your stroke count is going to be far in excess of what would be optimal. R40 may be okay for someone who is going to be done in about 6 minutes, but if you are going to require nearly 300 strokes instead of 240, it's going to be very tough going indeed.

Hi Paul,

Yes it is more strokes. We'll see what happens. I'll give it a go and it gives me something to do anyway.

Henrik Stephansen in action. As Coggs wrote, with a volunteer standing on the erg (Is that Linda Muri?)

Thanks for the photo.

Quite a muscular fellow.

I wonder if the one behind him is his dad.

I guess it was Eskild Ebbsen I was talking about. He looked dead after that 2k, yet Stephansen doesn't look THAT tired. I think he will break 6min sooner or later.

That is indeed Linda....

jbell wrote:I guess it was Eskild Ebbsen I was talking about. He looked dead after that 2k, yet Stephansen doesn't look THAT tired. I think he will break 6min sooner or later.

Here is Eskild, on Henrik's left (our right, watching from the stands):

And here is Mads, on Henrik's right (our left, watching from the stands):


Sorry for the poor quality. I'm still learning how to use this "modern" digital device. Giving up my old SLR Minoltas and Canon hasn't been easy.