Concept2 Forum

First of all, I just want to introduce myself. I'm a new rower (less than a year), but I swam competitively for a very long time, including during my undergraduate studies. All the aerobic and anaerobic conditioning has definitely helped with the transition to rowing, although I did have a 2-year training gap in there after graduation. I've got a C2 model C w/PM1 in my basement at home that I use 2-3 days per week, and I'm also an avid gymgoer--doing a variety of olympic lifts and powerlifting for 3 workouts per week.

Anyway ... here's the question:

In your experience (or, as a matter of fact), do different PM's vary significantly from each other? I seem to row faster at home than I do on the ergs at my gym. I'm not sure if that's mental, or if there are measurable differences or calibration issues on different PM's.

(And yes, I know about damper settings, drag factors, etc)

(And yes, I also know that my PM1 doesn't output drag factor information)

Thanks guys and gals!

milkman21 wrote:First of all, I just want to introduce myself. I'm a new rower (less than a year), but I swam competitively for a very long time, including during my undergraduate studies. All the aerobic and anaerobic conditioning has definitely helped with the transition to rowing, although I did have a 2-year training gap in there after graduation. I've got a C2 model C w/PM1 in my basement at home that I use 2-3 days per week, and I'm also an avid gymgoer--doing a variety of olympic lifts and powerlifting for 3 workouts per week.

Anyway ... here's the question:

In your experience (or, as a matter of fact), do different PM's vary significantly from each other? I seem to row faster at home than I do on the ergs at my gym. I'm not sure if that's mental, or if there are measurable differences or calibration issues on different PM's.

(And yes, I know about damper settings, drag factors, etc)

(And yes, I also know that my PM1 doesn't output drag factor information)

Thanks guys and gals!

It may be the machine, not the screen itself. But I don't think there's a lot of variation; I sometimes put my model-D in a gym where others work out, and it feels different there, even though it's the same machine. guess it's the environment, comfort level, people standing around you, etc.

milkman21 wrote:
In your experience (or, as a matter of fact), do different PM's vary significantly from each other? I seem to row faster at home than I do on the ergs at my gym. I'm not sure if that's mental, or if there are measurable differences or calibration issues on different PM's.

There are some slight engineering tolerances (as there always will be) but for the average man in the street he won't be able to tell a model C with PM2 from a model D with PM3 from a model E with a PM4 (and all the other valid configurations). [I'll discount model As, Bs and anything with a PM1 from that assessment.]

It's more likely to be ambient temp, general well being, hydration, how much training/rest before the row or stress (as in who likes doing a 2K test) than anything to do with the equipment.

Thanks for the input, guys.

Drag factor vs. damper setting can also make a big difference. Gym ergs are frequently filthy inside, which decreases the drag factor for a given damper setting significantly. Make sure your gym and home ergs are set to the same damper for your workouts.

Just to emphasize what Citroen said, there will be a difference between your PM1 and any later unit. I don't think the difference is massive, but it's real. I'd still guess that it's the other factors mentioned here that are causing most of the difference though.

PaulH wrote: I don't think the difference is massive, but it's real.

Search on here, IIRC PaulS posted a graph to compare monitors.

Citroen wrote:

PaulH wrote: I don't think the difference is massive, but it's real.

Search on here, IIRC PaulS posted a graph to compare monitors.

I haven't been rowing for long enough to put together a really good comparison. When I get some more training under my belt, I'll put times head-to-head from my erg at home versus the ergs at the gym. It would be interesting to compare.