Concept2 Forum

I am about 180,000m away from my first million. In the beginning of this journey i used old rowers at the gym. My form was wobbly, but I had fun and I decided to get serious, learn better form and buy my own rower.

I took some time away since March to bike and run, now I have returned to rowing to get this million done and have not had that same fun experience. Lately I find my knees feel twisted? I turn them in (like a stretch) prior or in the warmups. When Pushing off the machine if I remember to keep my knees tight and bring them toward each other I get a good stroke. I have tried both feet in and out of straps, where did all my power go?

Anyone else expereience this? I feel like I have lost strength in the legs, which is mind boggling since I run and bike reguarly. Any tips would be appreciated.

I would guess that it is only because you haven't rowed lately. I know when I bike or hike without rowing for a while, it takes some time to get the body "untwisted" and used to the rower again. That many meters, while it seems a lot now, is about what it takes to actually learn to use the erg with good form, so with a layoff it isn't surprising you're having to relearn it a little.

Start slowly, make sure your technique is good; review some videos and check your form. After a few sessions, it will likely start feeling OK again.

Cross training is good, so keep that up, it will make you stronger overall and improve ALL your sports. (And don't stop with one million meters - it only gets better )

Did you check whether the drag factor on your own erg is about the same as in the gym?
A much higher drag factor makes you feel like you lack force.

Thanks for the quick replies. Yes drag factor same, gym meters were only 200,000 or so all the rest were on new rower. I think you may be on to something about being all twisted up. I am probably trying to do too much and since I got my running where i want it, my biking better, my rowing went kaput! I have been trying to do all with this time at home...guess one of them had to give me a reality check

I am thinking some Yoga pre-Erg to loosen up might help. I have been having this weird knee thing and over I bet I over compensate into other areas. I will watch the vids again, surely can’t hurt.

Most problems with rowing are down to technique. But if you can pull 2W/kg at 20, you can't be far off. So some data might help: age, sex, height; rating and Watts in a typical training piece.

The erg has only two settings that can have any effect: drag factor and foot height. Keep both low.

Running and cycling put limits to how we can move. Rowing almost none at all. Consequently there's a number of ways of doing almost nothing on the erg, but very few ways of using the legs, where the muscle is.

The accepted method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0dzPz0tD5I

Note the sequences and posture.

Thanks...that is a video I have never viewed before. Will add it to my library to keep referencing.