Blisters

[left coaster]

this is emerging as one of the more entertain threads for me

I like using the batting gloves, with my hands in better condition I don't need to think about them when I'm working out. When I wasn't using them I always had a sore spot somewhere on my hands and I would change up my grip to prevent blisters. Now I just grab the handle and go, no muss, no fuss, no distractions from my hands. The gloves don't get overly sweaty either as they go up my wrist a bit and have a velcro wrist strap. My hands don't sweat on their own, it's the sweat running down my arms that makes my hands wet. My hands are much drier using the gloves.

I might row on the water one day, but I'll probably need a doppelgänger to find enough time. There is a nice, and accessible, rowing club about 10 minutes from where I live.

I worked in trades when I was younger, met lots of fella's who swore gloves slowed them down, reduced the feel for their work etc. I always wore glove, and earplugs, eye protection etc. and I was also smart enough to stay in school and leave all those guys behind. I also worked most of those rednecks into the ground, chuckle.

[sekitori]

And if you're holding the handle with hooked fingers rather than crushing it to death with your whole hand, then there is not much skin in contact with the handle and there shouldn't be much rotation going on.

It's true that there isn't much skin in contact with the handle. Using proper technique, it should be just the skin covering the heads of the metacarpal bones of the fingers. My problem was that rowing for an hour day, six days a week, over a period of several years caused the skin over those bony prominences to become callused despite the fact that my hands were holding the handle properly without any rotation. The calluses appeared because of only one reason--consistent pressure on that area over a very long period of time.

The calluses caused my hands to toughen considerably, to the point where they caused me no discomfort at all. But they looked terrible and felt extremely coarse. I reduced their size by filing them down. That made them look and feel a lot better but they no longer protected my hands as well. The only solution for me was to start wearing gloves and eventually, the calluses disappeared. If people can row with unprotected hands and avoid having large calluses form, they're fortunate. In my case, I wasn't that lucky.

[Carl Watts]

Anyway moving on what about that Lycra ?

Its great stuff, especially a double layer in the seat, anyone else going to admit wearing it ?

Anyway a bit of a plug for Aussieluke with a company across the ditch that make good gear.

http://www.oarsome.com.au/

[Edward4492]

Never had problems until I recently started logging 100k weeks. Only way around it for me was band-aids on the bottom and middle of the middle finger and then a pair of weight lifting gloves. I row on Model "C"s with the wooden handle on the weekend and did a pain free FM today on one; I'm seriously considering ordering the "C" wooden handle with foam pads for my home machine. Seems much more comfortable for the long stuff. As most of us know, the handle is still available from c2.

Carl, I wear a rowing uni or a tri suit for several reasons. First, nothing loose flopping around. Second, lycra wicks away the sweat as compared to cotton which just gets wetter and wetter. Last, at 6' and 163lbs at age 60 I'm cut to shreds. I ain't dieting and working this hard to keep in shape to keep it hidden under an old pair of sweats.

[jackarabit]

I got shorts and bibshorts from the bikie days but they all got sewn in chamois that do nothing to pad the ischeal tuberosites. I like Arizona board shorts (the ones with the big flower print fabric) for indoor erging. Gotta watch those drawstrings though. Don't want one jammed under a seat roller! Cotton Ts are an abomination. Any cheap polyester T from Walmart is preferable for the wicking capability. I get a water blister now and then. Turn into callouses mostly on the ring and middle fingers of both hands. I ignore them.

[Joebarbs]

Whats the best way to minimize getting blisters? I'm not a big fan of wearing gloves. I never wear them when I bike or lift weights.

Is there a way I should hold the Model D handle to minimize blisters?

[left coaster]

you could try gripping it with your teeth.

[gregsmith01748]

Whats the best way to minimize getting blisters? I'm not a big fan of wearing gloves. I never wear them when I bike or lift weights.

Is there a way I should hold the Model D handle to minimize blisters?

The best way to avoid blisters is to hook your fingers around the handle so that you have flat wrists and the first joint of your fingers (the one at the base of your fingers) is just slightly bent. Hold the handle lightly, a death grip is not required, even at maximum pressure. When you are doing steady state rowing (not going for a best time or doing a sprint) I suggest that you wiggle your fingers on recovery, sort of like playing the piano. If you do this every few strokes, it helps to distribute the load and encourages you to have a light grip.

[aatari]

Is there a way I should hold the Model D handle to minimize blisters?

Relax your shoulders. If you’ve got them all tensed up, it transfers to your arms and hands. Also, like everyone else has pointed out, consciously relax your grip. Doesn’t mean you have zero grip. Relaxed doesn’t mean weak. I think there’s no single way of holding the handles perfectly. It really depends on you. I have small hands, so I tend to hook my first and second knuckles around the handles so that the third knuckles are at the top, while the thumb just hands off relaxed to the side. If you’ve got big hands, you might do well with hooking just the first knuckles over the handle.

[Parky]

Hello all. I'm new to the forums but have been rowing for about 10 years. Now 70, my hands have softened with all the washing up and blisters were a curse for me. I thought I'd try something new so got a pair of memory foam insoles and cut them to the width of my hand. They soon form to the shape of the handle, reduce friction and soak upy sweat from the grips. No blisters for months now and I row between 5 and 12.5k for 4 or 5 days a week.