New starter

[johnlvs2run]

I'm new to rowing, 67 years old in November. Had the concept2 for about 2 months. I'm rowing 20 minutes almost every day at the moment.
Currently at 4370m. I want to maintain strength so I row on the 10 setting.

Welcome to rowing.
Doing 4370 meters at 2:17.3 pace is very good your age, size, and just getting used to it.

Contrary to rampant superstition, rowing at damper 10 is quite fine. When I start rowing again after a 15 year
break at the beginning of August, my daily routine was 4x 10 minutes at drag factor settings of 220, 163, 113 and 80.
Now the drag factor is right in the middle at 132, but I still use the 220 drag factor setting (#10 damper) for sprints and it's fine.
In conclusion, use whatever setting that you wish.

[JaapvanE]

Contrary to rampant superstition, rowing at damper 10 is quite fine.

It is such an issue that Concept 2 made a post about it, where Olympians and World Champions are asked what they think about damper setting 10 ( see https://www.concept2.com/news/damper-and-drag-olympians). In short: don't do it.

[johnlvs2run]

It is such an issue

that it isn't an issue.

You must not have read the comments you posted, because 4 of those 5 people still use damper 10.

1- male heavyweight: Was told to use DF 130 as a junior and always competed at 130 on the erg from
then on, but uses everything from 1 to 10 in training. He does one minute repeats with the damper on 10.

2- female heavyweight: Was told to use DF 120 as a junior, and always used 120 or 125 from then on.
She thinks using damper 10 is a "recipe for injury." However she uses damper 10 for interval workouts.

3- female heavyweight: Always uses df112. Does not give a reason. Thinks damper 10 is a "recipe for injury" but
hasn't tried it. Uses damper 0 when there is rib or back tenderness. (Note that low settings are worse for injuries.)

4- female coach: Uses a df from 115 to 125, but does 20 repeats at full power on damper 10.

5- male heavyweight coach: Usually uses df140 now and usually used higher when younger.
Still uses damper 10 as hard as possible for 20 pieces, at low ratings (which tend to cause more injuries).

[Ombrax]

At a minimum new ergers shouldn't assume that "10" is the right number for them, simply because 1) Well, it's higher, so it must be better, or 2) Everyone else at the gym uses 10, so that's yet more proof that they should too.

They ought to try a range of values and see what works best for them.

[Dangerscouse]

At a minimum new ergers shouldn't assume that "10" is the right number for them, simply because 1) Well, it's higher, so it must be better, or 2) Everyone else at the gym uses 10, so that's yet more proof that they should too.

They ought to try a range of values and see what works best for them.

This sums it up perfectly. I'm not going to say never use '10', assuming it's a clean, well maintained erg, as the drag factor is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

It's only there to make you more efficient, so if that's a very high or very low drag, it doesn't compromise your technique or increase risk of injury then it's the correct damper setting/ drag factor.

It is a very pertinent point that it should never be assumed that '10' is best, which is almost ubiquitous opinion in every gym I've ever been to.

[JaapvanE]

You must not have read the comments you posted, because 4 of those 5 people still use damper 10.

I have read them several times. I used to own a NordicTrack which maxed out at DF450, and I trained on the maximum setting there as well a couple of times. And to validate software I developed I rowed half marathons at DF225 on the C2. So I know what I'm talking about the effects of the DF on the body.

The people talking are people with near-perfect technique. They are Olympians or World champions. DF135 is generally considered as close to water as possible, that is why most train near that DF. And they do a handfull of strokes on DF225 as part of a preperation for these events. And even they indicate they are extremely cautious.

Let's consider the average rower with considerate less technical perfection and less training. As soon as people swing open or break arms too early, higher DF's result in a huge load on the lower back or elbows. Thus results in damage to these joints.

[Elizabeth]

You must not have read the comments you posted, because 4 of those 5 people still use damper 10.

I have read them several times. I used to own a NordicTrack which maxed out at DF450, and I trained on the maximum setting there as well a couple of times. And to validate software I developed I rowed half marathons at DF225 on the C2. So I know what I'm talking about the effects of the DF on the body.

The people talking are people with near-perfect technique. They are Olympians or World champions. DF135 is generally considered as close to water as possible, that is why most train near that DF. And they do a handfull of strokes on DF225 as part of a preperation for these events. And even they indicate they are extremely cautious.

Let's consider the average rower with considerate less technical perfection and less training. As soon as people swing open or break arms too early, higher DF's result in a huge load on the lower back or elbows. Thus results in damage to these joints.

It read like they had done a handful of training sessions at max drag, but that it was not a regular part of their training. The vast, vast majority of my erg meters are at DF 110. I think I have maybe a thousand lifetime meters at max drag. They're answering the question close to how I would, if pressed about what those meters were.

[Dangerscouse]

The vast, vast majority of my erg meters are at DF 110. I think I have maybe a thousand lifetime meters at max drag. They're answering the question close to how I would, if pressed about what those meters were.

Same here, although I row at circa 120-125

[hikeplusrow]

I'm 63, and have found dropping the DF to about 90 (middle of '2' section on my machine) has been a revelation in terms of improving technique. Even prior to this, I never went beyond 110.

[Aquaman]

Check out this video by one of the makers himself (Peter Dreissigacker) regarding how you can get great value out of low damper settings as well: https://youtu.be/hiQ0Mqlk_Lo?si=Jhljwyp5VvWO3YWp

[hikeplusrow]

Cheers, that's a very informative video.